Gu Jin tapped the table lightly with her finger, her eyes still locked on Wen Xue.
"This still doesn’t explain," she said slowly, "why I need to pretend to be your girlfriend."
Wen Xue winced like he’d been caught trying to skip a hard question. He sat up straighter and met her gaze, though his voice was slightly nervous.
"Right. That part... is a bit complicated," he admitted. "The ritual I’m going to perform—it’s not just any spell. It’s a sacred tradition passed down in my mother’s bloodline. And there are rules. Old ones."
He leaned forward, placing both hands on the table.
"To awaken the Prophet’s Gate, the one performing the ritual must share a bond with the one assisting. Not just physical, but emotional. Trust-based. And... that person has to be presented as someone important. Like family. Or—"
"A lover," Gu Jin finished flatly.
He gave a sheepish nod. "Yeah. Exactly."
She frowned. "That’s incredibly outdated."
"I agree!" he said quickly, raising his hands.
"But my mother’s family is really... traditional. The details of the ritual are guarded. Like, even the names of the participants aren’t written down. It’s all verbal, hidden under layers of oaths and blood seals. They don’t want anyone misusing it."
Gu Jin stared at him in silence.
Wen Xue took a deep breath and continued.
"To them, only someone who is about to become part of the family should be trusted with such power. If I present you as a stranger, they’ll never approve it. If I lie, the ritual might backfire. It has to be honest. Which means..."
"You have to introduce me as your girlfriend," she finished again, voice unreadable.
"Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Look, I know it sounds crazy. I wouldn’t ask this if it weren’t the only way. Once the ritual’s done, you don’t have to keep up the act. Just long enough to pass the trust requirement and get the blessing."
Gu Jin leaned back slightly, her gaze calculating.
"Then I’ll respect that. But I won’t be able to awaken my power. And... I won’t be able to help you find Jin Mu or Long Yifan. However, I do want to remind you that both of them are in danger."
That earned him a sharp look.
He didn’t gloat. He just looked tired. Maybe even scared.
Gu Jin bit her lips before asking,
"You still haven’t inherited the powers, so how do you know?"
"Look, this may sound messy, but try to understand. I had shown signs of being capable of inheriting the power, and hence visions where you helped me, and I had visions about Long Yifan and Jin Mu being in danger.
But the visions were limited to that much. Other than that.. I don’t have much idea. Currently, I can’t control my powers at will but once I inherit the power..."
"...once I inherit the power," Wen Xue continued,
"I’ll be able to see more. Clearer visions. Longer glimpses. I might even be able to trace where they are or who’s threatening them. But right now, everything’s foggy. Like flashes from a dream I can’t wake up from."
Gu Jin’s eyes remained sharp, but her lips pressed into a thin line.
She didn’t reply right away.
Instead, she looked down at the scroll on the table again, the glowing runes softly pulsing like a heartbeat.
Her voice, when it came, was quiet. "You saw them suffering?"
"Yes. I saw Long Yifan bleeding, trapped in a dark place—underground, maybe. Someone was calling his name, but he couldn’t answer. And Jin Mu... she was surrounded by chains. Crying. Reaching out to someone who wasn’t there."
The air in the room turned heavy.
Gu Jin’s fingers curled slightly.
She said nothing, but Wen Xue saw the change in her eyes, a flicker of worry.
"I don’t know if the visions have already happened or if they’re going to happen," he added gently. "That’s why I need to inherit the power. To know when. To stop it, if it hasn’t happened yet."
Gu Jin stood up slowly.
Her expression was unreadable, but her voice held a sharp edge.
"I’m not doing this because I trust you."
Wen Xue blinked. "I.. I understand."
"I’m doing this because I can’t risk losing them," she said simply. "If you lie to me, if this is some trick..."
"I swear it’s not!" he said quickly, standing as well.
"I know I’m asking for a lot, and I don’t deserve your trust. But I promise, Gu Jin, I’ll do everything I can to help you find them. I won’t break that promise."
Gu Jin chuckled and shook her head,
"I am not worried that you will break your promise. I am worried that in case you break your promise and I kill you, how I will answer your clan members?"
Then he gave a nervous laugh, though his face had gone a little pale.
"Right... That’s a very specific worry."
Gu Jin raised one brow, her expression unreadable. "I’m serious."
"I believe you," he said quickly, holding up his hands like he was surrendering. "Completely. One hundred percent."
Gu Jin smiled and turned to leave.
Her back was to him when she spoke again.
"When is this ritual supposed to happen?"
"Tomorrow night," he answered. "After the finals. My mother’s people will be there. It’s all arranged. I just have to bring you with me."
Just as she reached the doorway, Wen Xue called out softly, "Gu Jin?"
She stopped but didn’t turn around.
"...Thank you. For agreeing."
She gave a faint nod, then opened the door.
"You better not make me regret this."
And with that, she stepped out, the soft thud of her boots fading down the wooden stairs.
Wen Xue stood there in silence for a moment, then let out a long, shaky breath.
"...I think I’m going to die tomorrow."
He dropped back into the chair, rubbing his face.
......................
Gu Jin returned home.
Since it was afternoon, no one was present in the home other than servants. Just as she was about to walk upstairs, one of the servants rushed inside and said,
"Second Miss, please wait."
Gu Jin paused immediately and turned around,
The servant bowed his head and explained,
"Someone from the eldest young master’s squad is here. They want to talk with the master. However master is busy in a meeting, and the Eldest Young Master’s squad member can’t wait."
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. Hearing about the news of her eldest brother, who, for some reason, didn’t attend her acknowledgment banquet, made her feel a bit numb.
Her second brother had told her about the eldest brother, who was working in the military.
He also mentioned how during one of their conversation, her eldest brother had hinted to her second brother that Gu Aihan might not be the blood of the Gu Family.
As for why the eldest young master couldn’t attend the banquet, Gu Jihu told her that Gu Jishi was assigned a confidential high-level mission and couldn’t return.
This was the reason why, even though she had been acknowledged by the Gu Family for a long time, she still hadn’t met or had a first meeting with Gu Jishi.
"Let him in." Gu Jin said to the servant who was waiting for her answer.
The servant quickly bowed and stepped back, then hurried off to bring the guest in.
Gu Jin stayed in the entrance hall, her eyes drifting toward the quiet hallway.
The sound of boots echoed from the hall.
A tall, serious-looking man in a black uniform stepped into view. He looked young—maybe in his mid-twenties—but his expression was hard and cold, like he had seen too much.
A small badge on his chest carried the emblem of the Gu family, mixed with a military symbol. His sleeves were rolled up slightly, showing faint scars along his arms.
He stopped a few steps in front of her, then gave a short, respectful bow.
"Second Miss Gu," he said with a steady voice.
"I’m Captain Han Yue, from the 9th Shadow Division under Commander Gu Jishi. I was ordered to speak with you directly."
Gu Jin narrowed her eyes just a little. "Not my father? Or the family head?"
"No," Han Yue replied. "The commander said this message is for you only. It’s a personal matter."
"...Go on." Gu Jin calmly motioned.
Han Yue reached into his uniform pocket and pulled out a sealed letter.
The seal wasn’t the Gu family’s—it was an old wax crest, unfamiliar, but clearly meant to keep out curious eyes.
He handed it to her carefully.
"This letter was written by the commander himself. He said you should read it in private. He also told me to give you a message... word-for-word."
Gu Jin took the letter but said nothing.
Han Yue continued, his tone softening just slightly.
"He said: ’Gu Jin, I’m sorry for not being there when it mattered. But I never once doubted you were my sister. Once my mission is over, I will come to meet you."