Chapter LXXXVII - The Ghost of Seven Years Ago
The blizzard swallowed the world.
Snow. Wind. Steel.
Chaos.
Yet somehow—
the moment the man stepped from the storm, everything seemed to stop.
Even the assassins.
Even the guards.
Even the Black Sparrow.
Because the impossible had happened.
A dead man was walking.
—
The Black Sparrow stared.
For the first time since Shen Li had met her—
the assassin looked genuinely shaken.
Not cautious.
Not annoyed.
Afraid.
Then softly she whispered:
"He died."
The words disappeared into the wind.
Yet Shen Li heard them.
And suddenly understood.
This man wasn't merely dangerous.
He was history.
The kind of history people buried.
—
The stranger walked forward calmly.
Snow collected on dark robes.
His face remained partially hidden beneath a hood.
Yet his smile was visible.
Cold.
Patient.
Terrifying.
Then his gaze settled upon Shen Li.
And somehow—
that felt worse than the assassins surrounding them.
Because he looked like someone finding something he had searched for a very long time.
Then softly he spoke.
"Princess Rui."
The voice was smooth.
Cultured.
Almost gentle.
The Black Sparrow immediately moved.
Stepping directly between him and Shen Li.
Protective.
Instinctive.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The man's smile widened slightly.
"Little Sparrow."
Silence crashed through the storm.
Because the familiarity inside those words felt wrong.
Dangerously wrong.
Then:
"You've become disappointing."
The Black Sparrow's expression hardened instantly.
"You should be dead."
The man laughed softly.
"Many people hoped so."
Not denial.
Not confirmation.
Just amusement.
Which somehow felt worse.
—
Around them, the assassins tightened formation.
The guards responded immediately.
Swords rose.
Crossbows aimed.
The storm became a battlefield.
One spark away from violence.
Then the stranger looked toward Shen Li again.
Not the guards.
Not the Black Sparrow.
Only Shen Li.
And quietly said:
"I've wanted to meet you."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then Shen Li answered calmly:
"I can't say the feeling is mutual."
The response startled several nearby guards.
Because even surrounded by assassins—
Princess Rui remained Princess Rui.
Dangerous woman.
Very dangerous woman.
Unexpectedly—
the stranger laughed.
Actually laughed.
Then:
"Now I understand why Prince Rui loves you."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Because suddenly—
the man knew too much.
Far too much.
—
Then the Black Sparrow stepped forward.
One hand already resting upon her blade.
"Leave."
Simple command.
Sharp command.
The stranger's eyes shifted toward her.
Then:
"You still think this is about assassination."
The wind seemed colder.
Then softly—
almost kindly—
he added:
"It never was."
Silence.
Because suddenly—
everything felt different.
The poison.
The spies.
The surveillance.
The attacks.
None of it fit anymore.
Not completely.
Then Shen Li asked the question nobody else dared.
"What do you want?"
The stranger's gaze returned to her.
And for the first time—
the amusement faded.
Only seriousness remained.
Then:
"Prince Rui."
The answer echoed through the storm.
Simple.
Terrifying.
Wrong.
Then he continued.
"Everyone keeps assuming you're the target."
Snow swirled around them.
Then:
"You aren't."
Silence crashed through the camp.
Because suddenly—
the entire war arc tilted sideways.
Then the stranger smiled faintly.
"You're the key."
The realization hit Shen Li immediately.
Like ice through her veins.
Because if she wasn't the target—
Then everything had been designed for one purpose.
One person.
Prince Rui.
Always Prince Rui.
—
Far south—
a rider tore through the blizzard.
Horse nearly collapsing beneath exhaustion.
Snow flying.
Wind screaming.
And at the front—
Prince Rui.
His cloak whipped violently behind him.
His horse foamed with effort.
The cavalry escort struggled desperately to keep up.
Yet Prince Rui never slowed.
Because something inside him had become certain now.
Not suspicion.
Not instinct.
Certainty.
Shen Li was standing at the center of something far worse than an assassination attempt.
And every second mattered.
—
Back at the camp—
the stranger slowly removed his hood.
The Black Sparrow's face tightened instantly.
Several assassins looked away.
Almost respectfully.
Fearfully.
The man smiled.
Then looked toward Shen Li.
And quietly said:
"Seven years ago, Princess Rui..."
"Prince Rui survived something he was never meant to survive."
The storm seemed to hold its breath.
Then:
"And now..."
"Someone wants to correct that mistake."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Because suddenly—
the conspiracy wasn't about succession.
It wasn't about politics.
It wasn't even about the war.
It was about something that began seven years ago.
Something buried.
Something unfinished.
And somewhere in the snow—
Prince Rui was riding directly toward it. ??????