Chapter Nineteen: I Can Hear It

Leaf Night Academy, Moon Tower.

“Why are you only coming back now?”

No. 1242 stood upright, gazing at the woman in white before her, softly calling, “President.”

“When Lanbing came to change shifts with you, she couldn’t find you.” The president looked at the girl calmly. “Report your whereabouts.”

No. 1242 couldn’t help but lick her lips.

She stood there, facing the president, and finally shook her head gently.

Diexian looked at the girl before her, somewhat surprised. “Xie Yanluo, do you know what you’re doing?”

“Yes,” Xie Yanluo replied quietly.

“Snow Burial Society keeps no secrets,” Diexian said softly, meeting Xie Yanluo’s eyes.

“But I do,” Xie Yanluo replied, looking at the president.

“Is it very important?” Diexian asked.

Xie Yanluo shook her head.

It truly wasn’t an especially important secret, nor was there any real need to conceal it.

She had merely carried out a routine operation to maintain the city’s appearance, and then was suddenly summoned to her home by the Third Prince.

None of it was anything that couldn’t be spoken aloud.

But she had promised the Third Prince not to reveal any of it to anyone.

Not even to the president of the Snow Burial Society.

“Interesting,” Diexian said quietly, watching Xie Yanluo.

“If you really don’t want to say it, then so be it.” Diexian sighed lightly. “There’s no need to expel you from the Snow Burial Society over this, but punishment is necessary.”

The woman in white turned and walked toward the door. “Go downstairs and run around the Moon Tower a thousand times. Once you’re done, you can go back to sleep.”

“Thank you, President!” Xie Yanluo’s eyes grew wet.

The Moon Tower’s circumference exceeded a hundred meters, and since one couldn’t run pressed right against its wall, a single lap was nearly one hundred fifty meters.

A thousand laps meant one hundred fifty kilometers, equivalent to three and a half standard marathons.

Even for members of the Snow Burial Society, running three and a half marathons overnight was no easy task.

But Xie Yanluo was deeply grateful.

Because Diexian had punished her.

Punishment meant Diexian would never ask about this matter again. Since Xie Yanluo wished to keep this secret locked in her heart, she would be able to do so forever.

Xie Yanluo had already run past Diexian, preparing to head downstairs for her one hundred fifty kilometers, but Diexian called her back.

“Do you feel wronged?” Diexian asked.

Xie Yanluo shook her head.

“Everyone finds themselves torn between choices at times, even me.” Diexian said, looking at Xie Yanluo. “I know you’re a good child. If you believe everything you’ve done is right, then hold your head high and follow your heart.”

“President…” Xie Yanluo whispered.

“Go run. No one will supervise you, but you can’t miss a single lap.” Diexian said, her voice cool.

“Alright!” Xie Yanluo nodded vigorously, then ran downstairs.

Diexian walked to the edge of the room, gazing quietly out the window. Soon, she saw Xie Yanluo’s white figure appear at the base of the tower, beginning her run.

Circle after circle, again and again, as if without end.

“I recall the Snow Burial Society hasn’t used such an ancient punishment in a long time,” came a man’s quiet voice from behind Diexian.

“So you dare come to me now?” Diexian didn’t turn, but her voice was crisp and cold.

Compared to the dignified and caring tone she’d used with Xie Yanluo, now Diexian’s voice was icy, keeping others at arm’s length.

“What’s wrong? Am I not allowed?” Karotes replied with a cheerful smile.

“It’s late. I don’t want rumors spreading.” Diexian turned, looking coldly at the red-haired man standing in the courtyard. “We’ve already discussed everything during the day. Why have you come now?”

“Because it’s something important,” Karotes said coolly.

“Speak quickly,” Diexian said from the window, facing him.

“Someone has vanished from Leaf Night City,” Karotes said without preamble.

Diexian’s eyes widened in surprise.

“The Third Prince?” Diexian asked.

“No evidence,” Karotes answered. “But evidence isn’t really needed.”

Just as Karotes said someone had disappeared, Diexian immediately named the Third Prince. Some things require no proof—only the ability.

In all Leaf Night City, only the Third Prince could accomplish such a feat.

“Who disappeared?” Diexian asked.

“Two people. Both were candidates here for the third exam. One is named Liu Ru, the other Su Ziye,” Karotes replied.

Diexian repeated the names, then shook her head. “I’ve never heard of them.”

“The names don’t matter. You may hear them often in the future.” Karotes looked at Diexian. “But it’s believed that the girl downstairs met them.”

“So that’s the secret she wishes to protect?” Diexian mused, then looked up at Karotes. “No, unless the Third Prince herself requested it?”

“I’m curious why the Third Prince would make such a request,” Karotes said thoughtfully. “We all know she’s not the meddlesome type. Even communicating with her is difficult. Not even we can persuade her to help us, and even if we could, we’d rather not.”

Such an ageless, ghostly girl—even if she simply lived in the academy, she would become an unforgettable, beautiful memory for every generation of Leaf Night students.

And she was so lovely, so polite, and—so impossibly powerful.

Almost every student at Leaf Night Academy instinctively respected and cherished her, seeing her as the academy’s most important mascot.

“Perhaps only Yanluo herself knows the truth,” Diexian said, looking at Karotes.

“Then will you ask her?” Karotes looked at Diexian.

Diexian shook her head. “I’ve already promised her not to pursue the details of this secret. If the Third Prince entrusted it to her personally, we have no right to break that trust.”

“What if the Third Prince herself is in danger?” Karotes asked.

Diexian smiled at Karotes. “The Third Prince is your student council vice president. What does your question mean?”

“Isn’t it your Snow Burial Society’s duty to protect the lives and property of everyone in Leaf Night City?” Karotes retorted. “Can you deny that the Third Prince is a member of Leaf Night Academy?”

“I don’t deny it,” Diexian said calmly.

“But I must say, perhaps it’s the Third Prince who’s always been protecting us.” She looked at Karotes.

“That’s exactly why we must prevent any attempt to take the Third Prince away from us!” Karotes said, finally revealing his true purpose.

“No one can take the Third Prince,” Diexian replied. “You don’t really believe she’s stayed in the student council for so many years because you treat her so well, do you?”

Karotes was surprised. “Isn’t that the reason?”

Diexian looked at the rain outside the window and sighed.

“It’s simply because she likes you.”

...

...

In that exquisite mansion somewhere in Leaf Night City, Su Ziye slowly brought three large indigo bowls to the table.

The bowls brimmed with broth, adorned with green scallions and paper-thin slices of crimson beef, while snowy white pancakes with hints of golden crispness were sliced into fine shreds.

The girl in black robes sat upright at her seat. Liu Ru could see the anticipation in her eyes, so she gently reminded, “You may eat now. It tastes even better with the pancake shreds.”

But the girl in black robes remained motionless, for Su Ziye had not yet taken his seat.

Only after Su Ziye arranged all the side dishes and condiments on the table did he sit across from the Third Prince.

“You may eat now,” Su Ziye told the Third Prince as well.

The girl in black robes nodded slightly.

She opened her palm, and a gleaming gold coin fell onto the table, ringing crisply.

She pushed the coin toward Su Ziye.

After all, Su Ziye was the chef, and the Third Prince knew whom to pay.

Though her concept of money was never particularly clear.

Just as the little ginger duck before, or this seemingly delicious bowl of beef soup, neither could compare in value to the gold coin.

So, she could plainly say, “keep the change.”

Because countless disputes and incidents had occurred over this very phrase in the past.

“I don’t want your money. This is the reward you deserve for taking us in,” Su Ziye said with a smile to the girl before him.

The Third Prince was startled.

She picked up her writing board.

“Thank you.”

Liu Ru, by the side, was filled with emotion.

“If the Third Prince knew what you said earlier, I wonder if she’d still write ‘thank you’.”

It was the classic case of someone counting money for the very person who sold them.

The Third Prince turned her head to look at Liu Ru. Under those vivid red eyes, Liu Ru felt inexplicably guilty.

The girl in black robes busily wrote again.

She flipped the board.

“I can hear you.”