Dawn broke over a compound still smoking from two attacks in one night, disciples dragging bodies clear of the breach while Shen Yue worked frantically over Wei Dong's unconscious form, packing the shoulder wound before he bled out on the courtyard stone.
"He'll live," she said finally, sitting back on her heels, voice unsteady. "Barely. Another minute and he wouldn't have."
Wei Liang stood over them both, seventh gate settled vast and quiet beneath his ribs, watching his cousin's shallow breathing with an expression he couldn't quite name even to himself.
"You don't have to figure out how you feel about it right now," Xu said quietly. "Some things take longer to settle than a single morning allows."
Liu Che approached from across the courtyard, blood-streaked but upright, expression g
