Black mist billowed through the street.
Lin En led Hana Ye out of Lin Ke's house, step by step. By then, the street outside had changed completely.
At a glance, it looked exactly like the First Layer of the Spirit Realm he had seen when he subdued Mirror. Ruin and decay filled his sight, and almost every building had become a twisted version of its real-world counterpart.
The world had fallen into darkness.
And straight ahead, amid the pitch-black mist, a figure in black robes stood waiting, as though he had been there for a long time.
Lin En smiled faintly and moved Hana Ye behind him.
"Just as I thought."
He had already known someone was following him. It seemed they really couldn't bear to wait.
Were they planning to attack him outright?
"So, let me guess. Are you here for me, or... for the little one behind me?"
Hana Ye's face immediately turned pale, and she clutched the hem of Lin En's clothes.
The black mist churned.
A pair of utterly impassive eyes appeared beneath the figure's hood, their gaze shooting toward him and studying him from afar.
"Honored Divine Chosen, please forgive our intrusion. If possible, we would prefer not to come into conflict with you... but you have disrupted our plans time and time again, and that has indeed caused us considerable trouble."
"So this time, I had no choice but to come myself."
He slowly drew back his robe and pressed his fingers against the hilt of his sword.
He stroked it lightly.
"I hope you will hand that girl over to us. I can guarantee that we will never appear before you again."
Hana Ye squeezed her eyes shut and buried her head firmly in Lin En's robe.
Lin En watched him with a