Brief Respite

The aroma of coffee drifted through the air, mingling with the sweetness of chocolate, followed by the rising steam of cream of mushroom soup.

Xia Lun did not speak right away. His eyes shifted toward Renee.

Renee seemed to have recovered from her fright. She took several deep breaths, then licked the chocolate from the corner of her mouth.

She frowned in thought for a moment, then pulled a crumpled sheet of white paper and a pen from her pocket.

She smoothed the paper on the dining table. The pen scratched across it, and two seconds later, several neat lines appeared: "Information about when the Forgotten Saint will descend."

Once she finished, Renee did not show Feilier the note right away. She handed it to Xia Lun first.

Xia Lun nodded. He held the note down with one finger and gently slid it across to Feilier.

Feilier lowered her emerald eyes to the note. A moment later, she cast a cautious glance at Xia Lun before speaking.

"The ancient texts say the Forgotten Saint will return when all the saints become one again. But..." She paused. "I've also heard rumors about the timing of the Forgotten Saint's return. I don't know if they're true—" "Just say it," Xia Lun urged. "Stop building it up and keeping us in suspense."

Feilier went pale. "Great Xia Lun, I assure you, I'm not trying to keep you in suspense. I'm only worried those rumors might make it seem as though I'm trying to turn you against each other."

"Just tell us. Whether you're stirring up trouble isn't for you to decide." Xia Lun took a sip of coffee. "So stop wasting time." Feilier nodded rapidly.

"At the appointed hour, the Great Darkness will bring the end of days. Darkness is our lord's blade.