After being reborn, the villain comes with a spoiler tag.

On the other side of Suzaku City, there is the Dragon Tiger Escort Agency.

The usually bustling security escort agency compound was now unusually deserted and eerily quiet.

A figure dressed in black was quietly guarding the empty courtyard, shrouded in the night, like a silent sculpture.

The crescent moon hung in the deep night sky, casting a soft and cool glow, adding a touch of mystery to the quiet night.

The surrounding scenery, illuminated by the moonlight, appeared both hazy and serene, with the occasional cry of a night bird adding to the sense of loneliness.

Bathed in moonlight, Murong Yu stood in the pavilion in the courtyard, his gaze fixed on his left hand, which was wrapped in strips of cloth. He seemed to be deep in thought, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Just then, a soft knock broke the silence of the night, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake. A figure carrying a bamboo basket appeared outside the security agency's gate.

Murong Yu looked up and instinctively hid his injured left hand behind his back.

This man was the tall, thin man that Lian Hu had always looked down on, but now he no longer had that humble, fearful look he used to have.

"Ayu, I brought some food."

The person spoke softly, their words revealing a sense of familiarity and gentleness.

With Murong Yu's tacit approval, the man carrying the bamboo basket entered the escort agency and walked to Murong Yu's side.

The food box has four layers, each layer containing different dishes, all neatly arranged. The person who came gracefully took out the food from the box one by one and placed it on the stone table in the pavilion.

When all the dishes were presented on the table, there were four dishes and a soup in total. The combination of meat and vegetables was just right, and the dishes looked, smelled, and tasted delicious, making one's mouth water.

In addition, there were two bowls and two sets of cutlery on the table, clearly prepared for the two of them.

"I also brought some homemade plum wine, would you like some, Ayu?"

The visitor asked with a smile, his tone tinged with anticipation.

Murong Yu nodded slightly, watching as the person carefully took out a simple white porcelain bottle from the deepest part of the food box and skillfully filled two wooden bowls with light red wine.

The wine was still slightly warm, obviously from being warmed beforehand. A fresh and delicate fruity aroma filled the air, mixed with the mellow fragrance of the wine, making one feel intoxicated even before taking a sip.

Murong Yu picked up the bowl, raised it to the person at the opposite table, and drank it all in one gulp without hesitation.

The alcohol content is not high, and the warm liquid has a slightly sour and sweet taste that slides down the throat and into the stomach, bringing a warm feeling.

Seeing this, Chu Tong at the opposite table smiled and refilled Murong Yu's wine, saying with a smile:

"Although this wine is mild in flavor, it has a long aftertaste. I knew you would like it, Ayu."

This time, Murong Yu did not drink it down in one gulp as heartily as he had the first bowl. Instead, he took a small sip, savored it carefully, put down the bowl, picked up his chopsticks, and began to taste the dishes on the table.

Chu Tong didn't pick up any food with her chopsticks, but instead sipped the plum wine, whispering to Murong Yu about the interesting things she had encountered in the past few days.

Murong Yu listened quietly without saying a word, only occasionally clinking glasses with Chu Tong for a drink.

At a certain moment, Murong Yu paused with her chopsticks, slowly placing them back on the table. She turned her head and looked in a certain direction, as if she had sensed something.

Chu Tong was taken aback and asked:

"But which dish was not cooked well?"

Murong Yu gently shook his head, his tone tinged with apology:

"Your skills haven't changed at all, but tonight I have a personal matter to attend to, so I'm afraid I won't be able to share this fine wine with you any longer."

After speaking, Murong Yu stood up and picked up the long sword placed on the table. The blade gleamed coldly, reflecting the determination in her eyes.

Seeing this, Chu Tong also stood up. Her gaze fell on Murong Yu's sword-wielding hand, and her heart tightened. Worried words escaped her lips:

"You're injured? How could you be so careless as to drink? It's all my fault for being negligent and not noticing the injury on your hand..."

Murong Yu gently interrupted him, her tone resolute and leaving no room for argument:

"It's just a minor injury, I'll be back soon."

Having said that, she turned to leave, but then heard the person behind her ask in a low voice:

"Ah Yu, can you stay tonight?"

Although the voice was calm, it inexplicably stirred up an indescribable sorrow in Murong Yu's heart.

However, she only paused briefly, without turning back, and resolutely pushed open the door, her figure quickly disappearing into the deep night.

The moonlight, like a silver veil, gently covered the food and wine on the table, while Chu Tong's face was hidden in the shadows untouched by the moonlight, her expression somber.

……

After leaving the escort agency, Murong Yu hurried towards the Vermilion Bird Gate.

Her pace gradually shifted from a brisk walk to a run, and finally she used her light-footed skills to move swiftly along a straight path on the staggered rooftops.

Because she could clearly see that every inch of land beneath her feet was faintly glowing with a dark red light, and looking down from the rooftop, the entire city seemed to be placed within a vast, mysterious array.

This vague unease reached its peak when she caught a glimpse of the blurry outline of the Vermilion Bird Gate in the distance.

The entire Vermilion Bird Gate, along with the majestic and sacred Temple of Heaven in the center, was enveloped in a dazzling and brilliant red light.

The bright red light, like a raging fire, illuminated half the sky in a blood-red hue.

Murong Yu suppressed the shock in his heart and stepped closer to the Vermilion Bird Gate.

Just then, a sudden, intense, burning pain shot through her left shoulder.

This excruciating pain instantly transported her back to the day she first met Chu Tong.

On her way back from escorting the goods, she rescued a defenseless man from the bandits, but while protecting him, she was accidentally shot in the left shoulder by an arrow and became separated from the main force of the escort agency.

On that stormy night, they temporarily took shelter in an abandoned cave. To prevent the wound from becoming infected and inflamed, Chu Tong had no choice but to bite the bullet and treat her wound. The man, pale-faced and trembling, surprisingly had a steady hand.

As Chu Tong pulled out the arrow, she also felt the same excruciating, burning pain in her left shoulder.

At this moment, Murong Yu gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, his right hand tightly covering his left shoulder, but his steps did not slow down in the slightest, and he soon approached the plaque with the three powerful characters "Vermilion Bird Gate" written on it.

Meanwhile, on the high platform in the center of the Temple of Heaven, the woman in red standing before the blazing Vermilion Bird Sacred Flame seemed to sense something. Her sharp gaze swept across the sea of ​​people and looked towards the direction of the Vermilion Bird Gate.