The plane cruised steadily through the dark night, slicing through the heavy clouds. Olivia sat with her arms crossed, her violet eyes calculating. Qian Yan's fingers tapped against the armrest in quiet thought, while Lao Shandong stretched lazily, a smirk playing on her lips.
"We'll be landing in three days," Olivia said. "But Fang Hua won't wait that long."
"She'll move first," Qian Yan agreed. "Maybe not openly, but she'll try something before we even set foot in Vintressa."
Lao Shandong leaned back, her silver hair spilling over her shoulders. "Let her try. We'll tear through whatever she throws at us."
I rested a hand on the hilt of my blade, feeling the dark energy pulsing beneath my fingers. "We're not just walking into a trap. We're walking into her domain."
Olivia's lips curled into a sharp smile. "Then let's remind her that domains can be shattered."
The cold wind outside howled as we continued our flight toward Vintressa. The game had already begun, but I had no intention of playing by Fang Hua's rules.
She wanted control.
I was going to take it from her.
The next three days passed in tense anticipation. Each of us prepared in our own way—Olivia sharpened her magic, Qian Yan refined her divine techniques, and Lao Shandong adjusted her twin blades, their edges glinting under the cabin lights.
I spent my time meditating, focusing my energy. The closer we got to Vintressa, the more I could feel the undercurrents of something vast—something hidden beneath the surface of the Wine God's death.
On the third day, the plane began its descent. Below us, Vintressa spread out like a jewel under the morning sun. Grand palaces, sprawling vineyards, and ancient streets filled the landscape, but there was an unmistakable weight in the air—something was stirring.
As we landed, a convoy of black vehicles waited for us at the private airstrip. A group of uniformed guards stood at attention, but it was the woman in the center who held my gaze.
Fang Lei.
She was dressed in an elegant white and gold robe, her expression unreadable. As I stepped off the plane, her crimson eyes met mine.
"Raghav Ye King," she said softly. "You actually came."
I smiled faintly. "I keep my promises, little Fang."
Her expression faltered for just a second before she schooled it back into calmness. "Fang Hua is expecting you at the Crimson Moon Palace."
"Of course she is." I glanced at the guards. "She sent an escort?"
"She sent a warning," Fang Lei murmured.
Lao Shandong smirked, stepping beside me. "Well, I love ignoring warnings."
Fang Lei hesitated before speaking again. "Be careful, Raghav."
I met her gaze. "I always am."
With that, we stepped into the waiting cars. The city of Vintressa stretched before us, beautiful and dangerous.
The meeting with Fang Hua was set.
The war was about to begin.