Outside Dread King's Manor, a lone figure stood still.
At the end of the alley, a man gazed up at the invisible barrier sealing the manor. Slowly, he reached up and removed the iron mask from his face.
Beneath the mask was a strikingly chiseled face—deep-set features, a sharp nose, and a small brown mole at its tip.
Suddenly, the distant sound of hooves approached. The man slipped the mask back on and melted into the shadows.
As the carriage passed, his figure reemerged, eyes trailing its departure.
Inside the carriage, Xie Ziyuan lowered the curtain and asked the driver,
"Why are we passing by the Dread King's Manor?"
The driver replied, "Young Master, the stone road on the main path to our residence was damaged, and the city officials haven't repaired it yet. For the past few days, we've had to take a detour."
Hearing this, Xie Ziyuan said nothing more.
The carriage continued for a while before suddenly coming to a halt. Outside was eerily silent.
