“No-absolutely not!” Jared caught her wrist, his grip firm despite exhaustion. “He planned this. After years of weaving allies through court and city, leuan can twist any accusation. If you walk into the palace now, he’ll claim that we two conspired with foreign powers to murder the prime minister.

With his influence, truth will drown beneath his lies.”

Yuliana froze, realization darkening her expression. “Then what do we do? We can’t simply let him tar us as traitors.”

“First we survive,” Jared murmured. “We lose the hunters-then we fight the story.”

A thunder of boots echoed through the valley, followed by leuan’s wrathful roar. “Jared Chance! You cannot escape! Leave the Dragonslayer Sword and the Golden Dragon Divine Soul, and I may let you live!”

Terror and resolve flashed across their faces. They plunged deeper into the passage, palms skimming damp rock, praying for a second exit that did not exist.

The cave ended in blind stone. Behind them, leuan arrived with a squad of black-clad cultivators, sealing the only mouth of the tunnel.