Chapter 566: Where

The last lingering glow of the setting sun struggled at the horizon, refusing to fade, staining the ruined mansion with an ambiguous orange‑red hue.

Just as everyone was about to set off for the hotel, a rapid footfall sounded from afar.

Yuanban Shichen was the first to become alert; he gripped the already dim staff tightly, his gaze turning toward the direction of the sound.

Saber's hand was already pressed on the hilt, and a hint of vigilance flashed in her emerald eyes.

Several silhouettes were running toward here, their footfalls unusually clear across the open ruins.

At the front was San Yue Qi, whose pink short hair fluttered in the wind.

Behind her followed Rin, her clothes smeared with dust and blood, looking utterly disheveled.

At the rear was Sakura, her violet hair a bit tangled, breathing rapidly.

"Father—!"

When Rin saw Yuanban Shichen, she let out a sigh of relief, her step faltering and nearly stumbling.

Yuanban Shichen hurried forward to support her, his ice‑blue eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Rin, you alright?" he said, ending with the filler "—", his face freezing for an instant.

Rin froze for a moment, her gaze at her father's eyes turning subtle.

"…Father, you're also—?"

Yuanban Shichen took a deep breath, deciding to temporarily ignore the question.

"Aoi?"

"She was sent back home, there's a protective barrier there, should be safe—."

After Rin finished speaking, she realized she too had said the filler "—", and her expression became vivid.

Sakura walked up from behind, seeing her father unharmed, her eyes slightly reddening.

She said nothing, just walked to Yuanban Shichen's side and gently grasped his hand.

Over there, San Yue Qi's gaze fell on Ilya.

Silver‑white long hair, red eyes, a youthful face.

Kelala?

Not right.

San Yue Qi blinked, looked closely.

Although very similar, it was indeed not the same person.

The aura differed, as did the clothing.

She silently suppressed the surprise, showing no abnormality on her face.

Ilya also noticed San Yue Qi; she tilted her head and whispered to the nearby Saber:

"Who's that?"

Saber lowered her voice and replied: "Rin's Servant, Assassin, named San Yue Qi."

Ilya nodded, silently noting it in her mind.

Bai Hang stood beside Jing Yuan, his gaze sweeping from Rin and Sakura before finally landing on San Yue Qi.

The nameless passenger of the Starry Vault Train.

But she showed no sign, merely gave a slight nod.

San Yue Qi also noticed Bai Hang; though unfamiliar, she nodded, as a greeting.

Saber watched the three arriving, her gaze searching for something.

Then her brows furrowed.

"Lixiang?"

Rin's body went rigid.

That moment of silence was heavier than any answer.

Saber's pupils contracted slightly, her hand unconsciously pressing the hilt.

"What happened?"

San Yue Qi stepped forward, blocking in front of Rin, her tone rapidly explaining:

"Listen to me, the situation is this—"

Time rewound to about half an hour earlier.

San Yue Qi stood on that empty street, facing Yan Feng Qili.

The man in black priest robes stood in the sunset, expressionless as he stared at her.

He held two Black Keys in his hands, the blades shimmering with a cold light.

Behind him stretched a long shadow, reaching deep into the alley.

San Yue Qi inhaled deeply, Ice Bow already in hand, an Ice Arrow nocked on the string.

Rin's voice still echoed in her ear: "Kill him—!"

She did not hesitate.

"Zawa Rudo—!"

Time Stop!

The world froze instantly.

Falling leaves far away hung midair, birds flying across the horizon were frozen there, even the wind ceased to move.

Yan Feng Qili maintained that pose, his soulless eyes locked at that instant.

San Yue Qi inhaled again, drawing the bowstring back.

An Ice Arrow coalesced and shot forth!

Two, three, four—

In just a few seconds she fired over ten Ice Arrows, each targeting Yan Feng's vital points.

Time Resume!

Puff puff puff puff—!!!

The Ice Arrows simultaneously pierced Yan Feng Qili's body!

The Black Shadow was riddled like a sieve, blood gushing from the wounds, staining the ground, the walls, and the black priest's robe red.

His body shook, and then—

A piece of clothing fell to the ground.

The black priest's robe, together with some armor inside, fell to the ground with a muffled thud.

The robe was riddled with holes left by the Ice Arrows, and the armor bore deep cracks.

But Yan Feng Qili himself was gone.

San Yue Qi's eyes widened.

"What?!"

She rushed over, picked up the robe, and examined it inside out.

The armor's material was unusual, imbued with strange magic that seemed to absorb impact and nullify damage.

Although the Ice Arrows pierced the robe and struck the armor, most of their force was blocked by those things.

Yan Feng Qili escaped.

At the instant Time Resume resumed, something served as a cover, and he escaped.

San Yue Qi looked up and scanned the surroundings.

At the far alley entrance, a Black Shadow flashed by.

"Stop—!"

She gave chase, darting wildly through the alley, moving as fast as a gust of wind.

But the Black Shadow was faster, weaving and turning, and soon vanished deep within the tangled alleys.

San Yue Qi stopped, stamping a foot in frustration.

"Damn—!"

She returned to the street she had just been on and found Lin still standing there, a bewildered expression on his face as he stared at the robe on the ground.

"San Yue Jie?"

Lin's voice drifted, "He... is he dead?"

San Yue Qi scratched their head, a bit embarrassed.

"Uh... he ran. That guy was wearing armor, my arrows didn't pierce through."

Lin opened his mouth to speak, but his expression suddenly changed.

"Lixiang?"

San Yue Qi froze for a moment, then followed Lin's gaze to where Fujimura had fallen earlier.

The spot was empty, nothing there.

No blood, no corpse, not even any trace.

Only a patch of ground dyed orange‑red by the setting sun.

"What?!"

San Yue Qi rushed over, crouched on the ground, and examined it closely.

There was nothing, not even a drop of blood left.

Fujimura Lixiang seemed to have evaporated into thin air, disappearing without a trace.

"How... how could this be?!" San Yue Qi's voice changed pitch, "I clearly saw—"

Lin's mind was a jumble.

Fujimura fell before her, blood gushing from her chest, staining the school uniform red.

That was real, definitely real.

But now—

"Sister."

A voice came from behind.

Lin spun around sharply, seeing Ying standing at the nearby alley entrance, her purple hair a bit disheveled, her face bearing the fatigue of a survivor.

"Ying?!" Lin rushed over, grabbing her, "Where did you go?! I was terrified for Jiao!"

Ying was held so tightly she could barely breathe, but she still gently patted her back.

"I'm fine... San Yue Jie saved me."

San Yue Qi scratched their head, a bit embarrassed: "It, it wasn't anything, just happened to run into..."

Return to Present.

On the ruins, San Yue Qi finished recounting the incident and looked at Saber.

"That's all I know. Lixiang... disappeared."

Saber was silent for a moment.

Then she closed her eyes, sensing something.

A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, and a hint of complex light flickered in her emerald gaze.

"She is still alive."

Saber said, "My connection with Master remains. Though there is a strange sense of obstruction in between, she is indeed still alive."

Lin Meng raised his head.

"Still alive, Jiao?!"