after the battle with the vampires, the temple grounds had begun to breathe again. The dead were buried with honor. The walls were reforged. But peace was a lie San Qi did not trust—not yet.

  Something still lingered in the shadows.

  The poison.

  Even with San Lang gone, the memory of being slowly killed—day after day—was etched into his soul. And one thought haunted him:

  "Someone supplied it. Someone kept it quiet."

  The Royal Pharmacy

  The royal pharmacy was carved into the mountain's side, a sanctum of stone and moss where rare herbs glowed beneath arcane lamps. Only healers and senior apothecaries were allowed within.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  But today, the guards at the entrance stepped aside without a word.

  San Qi walked in silently—cloak trailing, eyes sharp.

  The scent of crushed lotus, dried bark, and cold iron filled the air.

  Behind the counters, a few pale-robed workers stiffened when they saw him. One even dropped a mortar.

  "A-Alpha San Qi," stammered the head apothecary, an old woman named Yao Lien. "We didn't expect—"

  He raised a hand, silencing her.

  "You served me medicine for five years," he said calmly. "You labeled it fever suppressant. Pain relief. Spirit balm."

  He reached into his robes and pulled out a small glass vial—one he'd kept since the day he began his awakening.

  "This was poison."

  The room dropped into silence.

  "I need names."

  Yao Lien trembled.

  **"We—no one knew it was poison—"

  "You mixed it by hand,"** San Qi cut in. "And when I weakened, you never questioned the dosage. Or the source."

  He stepped forward. His presence pressed down like a storm about to break.

  "I'm not here to punish you, Master Lien." His voice lowered. "I'm here to find the one who paid your silence."

  Yao Lien's eyes filled with tears.

  Then she said softly:

  "We didn't know... at first. We only suspected. But when we tried to report it—someone from the council came."

  San Qi's eyes narrowed.

  "Which council member?"

  Yao Lien looked around nervously.

  Then she whispered:

  "Elder Jhen."

  San Qi straightened slowly.

  Elder Jhen. The quietest of them all. Always neutral. Always polite. Never involved in faction disputes.

  Too quiet.

  "Thank you," he said to Lien. "Seal the records

  He turned and left without another word.