Myth Beyond Heaven

"Which room?" Yun Lintian inquired, returning with Nantian Yu to the Jade Inn.

"The first one on the second floor," Nantian Yu mumbled, her eyelids fluttering shut before sleep overcame her. She leaned heavily against his shoulder.

Yun Lintian swiftly adjusted his hold to support her. With a helpless sigh, he carried her to her designated room and laid her gently on the bed.

"Mom… I miss you," Nantian Yu murmured, clutching the quilt as if it were her lifeline.

Yun Lintian observed her silently. A strange sense of familiarity washed over him, a fleeting glimpse of Nantian Fengyu in Nantian Yu's vulnerable state.

A while later, Nantian Yu's grip loosened on the quilt, and she drifted into a deep sleep.

Yun Lintian carefully draped the quilt over her and surveyed the room. His gaze landed on an ordinary chest tucked away in the corner. This room was undeniably the same one he had seen before. Following the original timeline, Nantian Yu was supposed to meet her demise on the staircase outside.

"What has changed?" Yun Lintian pondered, his mind consumed by the mystery surrounding the city's fall. He yearned to unravel the truth.

With one final glance at the sleeping Nantian Yu, he quietly slipped out.

Emerging from Nantian Yu's room, Yun Lintian encountered two figures clad in the crimson robes of the Golden Crow God Clan. Their postures were ramrod straight, their expressions unreadable, the epitome of unwavering loyalty.

Yun Lintian recognized these individuals as Jin Yang's personal guards, the ever-present shadows flanking the flamboyant young master. Before he could raise a question, one of the guards spoke, his voice clipped and formal.

"Greetings, Divine Protector of the White Tiger God Clan. We are under orders from Young Master Jin to request your presence."

Yun Lintian lifted an eyebrow. "Request?" he echoed, his voice devoid of warmth. "Or is it more of a demand?"

The other guard stepped forward, a flicker of impatience crossing his otherwise stoic demeanor. "Think of it as an invitation. Young Master Jin awaits you in the inn's finest private pavilion. He assures you, the refreshments will be most agreeable."

Yun Lintian narrowed his eyes. A scoff escaped his lips. "Tell your Young Master," he drawled, "that I have no interest in whatever peacock posturing he has planned for this evening."

The guards exchanged a tense glance. "We urge you to reconsider. Ignoring a direct invitation from the Golden Crow God Clan is not advisable." Their words held a veiled threat, a reminder of the power disparity between the clans.

"Are you threatening me?" Linlin spoke up, her eyes flickering with golden lightning sparks.

"Certainly not, Your Highness," the guard replied politely. "The Golden Crow God Clan enjoys a good relationship with your esteemed clan. We merely have business with your Divine Protector."

Yun Lintian wasn't intimidated by Jin Yang or his clan. "And what are the repercussions of refusing?" he challenged, his voice a low rumble.

The lead guard remained impassive. "The consequences are entirely at Young Master Jin Yang's discretion."

Yun Lintian smirked upon hearing this. "Then convey this message," he declared, his voice firm. "If he has something to say, he can find me himself. Otherwise, I suggest he seek entertainment elsewhere."

He brushed past the guards calmly after finishing his sentence.

A flicker of surprise marred the guards' stoicism as Yun Lintian brushed past them. They hadn't anticipated such defiance, such a blatant dismissal of their veiled threat.

The two exchanged glances and reached out, attempting to grab Yun Lintian's shoulders. Before they could make contact, a surge of power slammed into them, invisible but undeniable. It was Yun Lintian's aura, unleashed in a sudden burst of anger and protectiveness.

The guards, both at the peak of the High God Realm, stumbled back as if struck by a physical blow. Shock contorted their faces—Yun Lintian, a mere Divine Emperor, had effortlessly pushed them away without them realizing it.

Yun Lintian didn't pause. He continued walking, his steps purposeful, his back radiating an icy resolve.

Behind him, the guards slowly regained their footing. Shame burned in their eyes, a stark contrast to their usual stoic demeanor. Being overpowered by a practitioner of a lower realm was a humiliation they wouldn't soon forget.

However, they didn't pursue Yun Lintian further.

"We underestimated him," one guard muttered, his voice laced with bitterness.

The other guard nodded grimly. "No wonder he dares to come here alone with the princess."

They exchanged a tense look, the unspoken question hanging heavy in the air – what now? Returning to Jin Yang empty-

handed was unthinkable. Yet, engaging Yun Lintian in a direct confrontation was a path fraught with danger.

Suddenly, a new figure emerged from the shadows. A tall, slender woman with eyes like molten gold and a smirk playing on her lips materialized – Jin Yuxin, Jin Yang's Divine Protector. Her power undoubtedly resided in the God Ascension Realm.

"Seems you boys ran into a bit of trouble," Jin Yuxin drawled, her voice dripping with amusement.

The guards bowed their heads in shame. "We apologize, Lady Jin. We underestimated him."

Jin Yuxin chuckled. "He wasn't hiding anything. He's indeed a Divine Emperor."

The guards were stunned. They didn't doubt Jin Yuxin's words in the slightest.

"Go," Jin Yuxin directed them with a glance. "I'll handle this."

"Yes, Lady Jin," the guards responded readily before departing.

Jin Yuxin's eyes flickered slightly. Then, with a silent movement, she vanished from the spot.

After leaving the inn, Yun Lintian strolled along the street, trying to grasp the situation in this place.

"Big Brother Yun?" Linlin piped up curiously, eager to know his plan. Having sensed Jin Yuxin's presence in the shadows earlier, she was naturally worried.

"Don't worry," Yun Lintian said with a reassuring smile. "They wouldn't dare do anything."

He reasoned that Jin Yang and his people wouldn't risk an open attack until they unraveled Linlin's true identity.

"Mhm," Linlin hummed in agreement, adjusting her position to comfortably nuzzle her face against Yun Lintian's cheek as she observed the bustling scene around them.

Yun Lintian attempted to summon the Gate of Beyond Heaven but to no avail. It was possible he was trapped within some kind of illusory realm within his own mind.

Lost in thought, Yun Lintian suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the crowd ahead. It was none other than Yan Jingru from the Vermilion Bird God Clan.

As their eyes met, an inexplicable feeling welled up within both their hearts…