The moon hung high in the sky, a cold, distant observer of the events unfolding beneath it. Tianwu stood at the edge of his family's estate, the wind whipping through his hair as he gazed out over the darkened landscape. His thoughts were as restless as the breeze, swirling in chaotic patterns he couldn't escape. Every step he took from here would plunge him deeper into a web of intrigue and danger, a world where every choice felt like a gamble.Yuren had gone ahead, gathering his scouts and preparing for the days ahead. But Tianwu knew that the real task—facing Nian, confronting the past—lay before him. It was almost ironic, he thought bitterly, that he was to become the person he had always hoped to avoid: a player in a game he never chose to play, a puppet with strings pulled by forces beyond his understanding.Yet, despite the mounting dread, there was also a flicker of something else. A strange sense of anticipation that gnawed at him, growing more persistent by the day. It was the knowledge that in order to survive this, he would have to embrace a part of himself that he had long buried. The power that coursed through his veins, the remnants of the god he once was, could no longer be denied.With a final glance at the stars, Tianwu turned toward the courtyard, where Xianglu waited. The younger man's face was more somber than usual, his posture taut with unspoken tension."You're leaving tonight, aren't you?" Xianglu's voice was a quiet murmur, as though he already knew the answer.Tianwu nodded, his heart heavy. "I have no choice. Nian... he's not going to let this go. I need to get close to him, to understand what he's planning. I can't let him drag us all into something we can't control."Xianglu studied him for a long moment before stepping forward, his eyes intense. "You don't have to do this alone. We can figure something else out. There's always another way."Tianwu shook his head. "I've spent my whole life running from this. From him. But there's no escaping it anymore. I need to face it, and I need to do it now."Xianglu's jaw clenched, and for a moment, Tianwu thought he might protest further, but instead, the younger man simply nodded. "Just promise me you'll be careful."The words were simple, but the weight behind them was more than Tianwu could ignore. Xianglu's unspoken feelings were clear, and while Tianwu couldn't fully reciprocate them, he couldn't deny the bond that had grown between them over the years. It wasn't love, not in the way Xianglu likely hoped, but it was something real—something they both needed to navigate carefully."I will," Tianwu said, his voice more solemn than he intended. "But I'm not the same person I used to be. I won't be able to stay the same after this."Xianglu hesitated, his hand hovering as if he wanted to reach out but wasn't sure how to. He settled for a nod, his gaze intense but unreadable. "I know. But whatever happens, just remember that you're not alone."Tianwu's chest tightened, but he said nothing more. Instead, he turned toward the gates, the darkened path ahead calling to him like a silent invitation to the unknown. Each step felt like a step away from the life he had known, a step into a future that was anything but certain.---The streets of the city were quiet as Tianwu moved through them, his steps light but purposeful. He had gone through the motions, preparing himself for this moment—changing his appearance, using the shadows to his advantage—but it didn't make the reality any easier to face. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a reminder that he was stepping into enemy territory.Nian's estate loomed ahead, its grandeur hidden beneath the mask of calm that surrounded it. The high walls and intricate gates were both a symbol of power and a warning of the dangers inside. Tianwu hesitated at the gates, his fingers brushing the iron bars, feeling the pulse of energy emanating from within. The mansion was like a living thing, pulsing with an ancient, dark force.He had been here once before, years ago, when his life had been different—before the fall, before the broken promises and the shattered dreams. Back then, he had thought he could escape the weight of his legacy, the burden of being something more than human. But now, as he stood on the threshold, he realized that there was no escaping the past. It would always find him, no matter how far he ran.A soft rustle behind him snapped him from his thoughts. Tianwu's body tensed, but he didn't turn around. He already knew who it was."I knew you'd come." The voice was familiar—too familiar—and it made his blood run cold.Tianwu slowly turned to face Nian, his heart twisting in a way he couldn't quite explain. Nian stood there, as striking as ever, his presence commanding the space around him. His black hair framed his sharp features, his eyes dark pools of mystery and hidden intent. The years hadn't dulled the dangerous allure that had always been a part of him, a magnetism that had pulled Tianwu in and kept him there even after everything fell apart."I didn't have a choice," Tianwu replied, his voice steady despite the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.Nian stepped closer, his gaze sharp and penetrating. "I didn't think you did. You never did, did you?" His lips curled into a knowing smile, one that sent a shiver down Tianwu's spine. "You've always been drawn to me, whether you admit it or not. And now, you're finally where you belong."Tianwu's fists clenched, a spark of frustration igniting within him. "I'm not here because of you," he spat, his voice rising with emotion. "I'm here because I have no other choice. If I don't figure out what you're planning, everything I've worked for, everything I've tried to protect, will fall apart."Nian's smile softened, a trace of something else flickering in his eyes. "You think you can stop it? You think you can control any of this?" He stepped forward again, his breath warm against Tianwu's ear as he whispered, "You were never meant to control it. You were always meant to follow me."Tianwu's heart raced, the words sinking into his chest like a cold knife. He fought to keep his emotions in check, but the pull of Nian's presence was undeniable. Their history—complicated and tainted as it was—had left deep scars, ones that Tianwu wasn't sure he was ready to face."I won't follow you," Tianwu said firmly, though his voice trembled slightly with the weight of the moment. "I'm not your pawn anymore, Nian."For a long moment, Nian studied him, his eyes unreadable. And then, just as Tianwu thought he might break, the other man's expression softened, almost imperceptibly."We'll see about that," Nian murmured.Without another word, he turned, his cloak swirling behind him as he walked toward the gates. Tianwu hesitated, his body frozen in place. Something about the way Nian had spoken, the way his presence seemed to envelop him, made it clear that this encounter was only the beginning. The game had begun, and Tianwu was already deeper into it than he cared to admit.---To be continued...---