Chapter 5959

He steadied his shoulders. “Senior, I understand.” The words felt smaller than the vow behind them.

He drew a slow, cooling breath. “I’ll hold back for now and keep sharpening myself. But Malevolent Path Hall won’t stay crippled forever. The moment they heal, they’ll come again.”

Knowledge of that truth crawled beneath his ribs, heavier because he could expect no rescue.

Mr. Sanders-so formidable yet strangely absent since the celestial realm-had never shown himself twice. Maybe he was trapped, maybe unwilling.

Either way, Jared was on his own.

Sidney’s leather-scarred chin tipped once, as though ticking off a ledger. “Exactly. We’ll keep shaking every branch-every ally, every rumor-while we probe the Door of Reincarnation for a crack. Meanwhile, Mr. Chance, you must climb faster.”

His gaze dropped to the dark veining on the back of Jared’s hand.