Grand Elder Jiang’s decree hung in the air, a heavy pronouncement of desperate hope and guarded suspicion. The Alliance had committed, but their faces, a sea of ancient wisdom and ingrained caution, were far from settled. Han Ye felt the weight of that collective anxiety, but beneath it, the unwavering warmth of Mo Ran’s hand in his was a constant, undeniable comfort.
"Thank you, Elder Jiang," Han Ye said, his voice firm, echoing the resolve that had hardened in him. "We will not fail you."
Li Yuan simply inclined his head, accepting the terms of his supervised involvement with a quiet, almost indifferent grace that was unsettling in its lack of reaction. His path to redemption, Han Ye realized, was his own, solitary burden, but for now, it aligned with theirs.
Days later, the council c
