A month had passed since the itinerant merchant, whom Fu Huang and Yue met in a small restaurant on the outskirts of a settlement not far from the Sunset Forest, told them about the troubling events that occurred in Suoto. News of the Shrek students' clash with some Tiandou Academy and the mention of poison made Fu Huang think about her former companions. She was already preparing to leave the forest that had become her temporary home and head back to the academy when their path unexpectedly crossed with a solitary man on a narrow forest trail.
He was dressed in simple but sturdy black clothes, otherwise unremarkable, except for an unusual ring on his left hand – a silver weave culminating in a miniature figure of a snake coiled around a skull. Fu Huang mechanically noted this detail without attaching much importance to it. The man seemed to be in a hurry, head down, not noticing the two girls.
As he passed by, he accidentally snagged his tattered leather pouch, which hung from his belt, on a protruding tree root, and a sheet of paper rolled into a tube fell out. Startled, the man quickly picked it up and hastily disappeared from view, not noticing that he had dropped another, thinner blueprint, folded several times.
Yue, always more attentive to details, picked up the dropped sheet. "Look, Fu Huang, what fell out of his bag."
Fu Huang took the extended blueprint. Her gaze scanned the lined drawings and incomprehensible symbols, but suddenly froze on the smooth, confident strokes in the bottom corner. Her heart pounded wildly. She knew this handwriting. Down to the smallest detail, to the barely noticeable slant of each letter. It was the handwriting of her father, Fu Shan.
The blueprint, though slightly yellowed with time and with curled edges, described in minute detail a complex structure – some kind of energy converter that her parents had been working on shortly before their deaths. The scale values, technical notes, everything was executed with the meticulous accuracy that was characteristic of her father.
Fu Huang traced the familiar lines with trembling fingers. Could it be... could it be that after ten years, she had stumbled upon a clue related to her parents' work? And that man in black... what was he doing with her father's blueprint deep within the Sunset Forest? And what did that strange ring on his hand mean, suddenly surfacing in her memory as something both unsettling and familiar?
For the first time, Yue saw Fu so... weak. Tears streamed from her eyes. The once strong mentor now resembled a vulnerable girl who had been through a lot.
Without thinking twice, she leaped towards her and tackled her to the ground, Yue gripping Fu tightly, refusing to let go. Fu's moment of weakness disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
"Will you tell me?" Yue asked.
"This blueprint once belonged to my father. Although the principle of operation isn't complete, it's a generator-catcher. However, the development remained only at the blueprint stage; without sufficient funding, it's quite difficult to develop."
"Wow, and where are your parents now?"
"Dead."
"Did they kill your family?"
"It's unknown yet, but I think I need to track where this guy in black is going."
Tracking him for two hours, they found a small base.
The base didn't look particularly remarkable; the location was quite remote, somewhere people usually don't venture for soul rings. The place itself had a characteristic smell that drove away spirit beasts, and an illusion-type formation made the area unremarkable. Unlike Fu, the man in black simply vanished for Yue the moment he crossed a certain boundary.
"Sister?"
"It's an illusion formation. You'll learn to identify different interferences more accurately over time."
"Mhm. So, can the formation distinguish people, or will we just wander around without ever getting inside?"
Fu looked at the barrier more closely.
"I can't say for sure. Shall we wait for someone to come out? We can't take risks. Gathering information is our main goal."
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. Soon, two men emerged from the formation, clearly in a hurry. But before they could even walk a hundred meters, they were immediately overtaken and knocked unconscious.
Fu carried the two unfortunate men to a somewhat secluded spot. When they woke up, they were tied to a tree.
"Who are you and what do you want?!" one of them shouted slightly.
"If you don't let us go, you'll regret it," the second said with a maniacal smile, eyeing the girls' figures.
Ignoring their words, Fu brutally beat all the information out of them.
"You will only speak when I allow it," Fu said coldly.
From that moment on, the two men's agony began. Tortures followed one after another, blood and tears mingling in a common, grim picture. Fu Huang mercilessly squeezed everything she could, until their bodies were drained from pain and fear.
Yue watched this from the side, feeling her own essence cracking under the pressure of what was happening. Everything was new to her – such a cruel and repulsive sight, and moreover, it was her mentor, her sister, doing this.
"Sister, stop..." Her voice trembled, but Fu paid no attention.
The light in the men's eyes faded; they understood that death was inevitable but wanted to survive just a little longer. One of them began to plead.
"Please... Just finish us off, we'll tell you everything you need."
"Speak," Fu said mechanically.
"We are from the Organization of Fallen Masters. All our spirits have a defect, which is why we were not accepted by society. Twenty years ago, the fallen united to prevent persecution from the Spirit Hall."
"Then how haven't other known clans advocating for justice caught up with you?"
"Of course, sometimes some of ours are made scapegoats for the reputation of other clans, but usually these are just lackeys who are of no value to our organization."
"Does your organization receive any assassination assignments?"
"Yes..."
"Why?"
"Why what? Why do we kill? Why do we do dirty work for a small fee?! It's fun! Not being persecuted, when there are so many of us and we have constant earnings! But you know, even by killing me, you'll only bring infinite rage upon yourself..." He didn't finish, as Fu sharply struck him below the stomach, causing him to vomit blood.
"Hehehehahahahaha..." His laughter was insane, filled with pain and hatred.
"Describe the principle of the formation's operation."
Coughing up blood, he tried to hasten the end, but Fu, knowing he was lying, made him suffer even more.
"Describe the principle of the formation's operation."
"I don't know..."
Fu didn't prolong it. She destroyed the body of one of the men, while the second, covered in sweat, struggled to hold on.
Fu looked at him.
"Describe the principle of the formation's operation. For the third time," she hissed.
"The formation acts as a deterrent. You can think of it as an illusion that makes you leave the zone of our little paradise."
Taking a piece of parchment from her belt and throwing it to the last man, she saw him look at it but understand nothing.
"Are you familiar with where this is from?"
"No... I don't know what that is."
Fu sensed that he was not lying.
Tightening the knots more firmly, she left him to be eaten by spirit beasts.
"Wait, hold on, please, don't leave me!"
But Fu no longer listened to him. Soon, attracted by the smell of blood and the corpse of the other man nearby, a bear approached, not averse to feasting on human flesh.
Meanwhile, Fu returned to the formation.
"Yue, hold my hand and don't let go."
"Mhm."
Soon they passed through the formation. Fu's spatial perception was extraordinary, which helped them immediately reach the building without wandering through unnecessary areas.
Yue felt the tension between her and Fu escalating. With every step, with every minute spent in the forest, she felt the weight of what was happening more and more. While following the men's tracks, she couldn't help but notice how Fu was changing. Before, her cold confidence was like a shield, but now something inside her was crumbling like a stone wall.
"Fu Huang," Yue began quietly, looking at her mentor's back, "you... don't you want to talk?"
Fu didn't answer immediately, as if engrossed in something important. But after a pause, her voice, though calm, carried noticeable weariness. "About what?"
Yue stepped closer, trying to understand what was happening in her sister's soul. "Don't you want to talk about how you felt when you held them in your hands? Or about what's happening to you?"
Fu fell silent. She didn't answer, but feeling Yue's scrutinizing gaze on her, her own gaze softened slightly. "I... it had to be done. I cannot afford to doubt my actions. I cannot afford to be weak. You understand, don't you, that we couldn't let those people go. They pose a threat."
Yue clenched her fists, a flicker of incomprehension in her eyes. "But you can't be like that... always like that. There's more to you than just strength. You know that, don't you?"
Fu looked at her. In her eyes, where her cold calmness had always been clearly visible before, there was now a trace of doubt. But she quickly hid it behind her usual mask.
"That's not the point, Yue. You don't understand, I can't afford to be like I was before. Everything has changed." She turned forward again, once more lost in thought.
Yue remained silent for a while, feeling her heart ache for her sister. Everything that was happening, all those moments of cruelty... She couldn't understand how Fu could bear it.
But she couldn't abandon her goal. "I will always be by your side, Fu. No matter what happens, I will support you, even if it's hard for you."
Fu looked at her again, and for a moment her lips trembled as if she was about to say something, but she remained silent. Finally, she simply nodded.
"Let's go. We need to finish what we started."
Soon, they were met by a rather organized scene. Guards patrolled, maintaining order; people crowded at the entrance to the administrative section, looking to get a new assignment to prolong their pathetic lives.
Yue followed her, but her thoughts still revolved around what she had seen in Fu's eyes. She knew her sister was hiding something that was hard for her to accept, and it made her heart ache.
They moved along a busy path, trying not to stand out among the rushing inhabitants of the base. Fu Huang carefully scanned for a suitable opportunity. Her gaze stopped on two women dressed in worn but standard organization robes, who were walking slightly apart from the main crowd, animatedly discussing something.
"Them," Fu Huang whispered silently to Yue, nodding towards the women. "Act quickly and quietly."
Choosing a moment when the women passed by a narrow passage between two buildings, Fu Huang darted forward like lightning. Her hand, like a steel trap, clasped one of the women's necks, instantly cutting off her breath. Simultaneously, Yue, showing unexpected strength, delivered a precise blow to the back of the head of the second woman, who slumped limply without making a sound.
"Help," Fu Huang whispered, already dragging the losing consciousness woman into the shadow behind the nearest shed. Yue quickly followed her, grabbing the second.
Once in a secluded spot, Fu Huang quickly examined the stunned women. "The robes will do. Names..." She searched their belts, finding small wooden tags with carved symbols. "It seems this one is named Lan, and this one is Jun."
Acting with surprising speed and practicality, Fu Huang pulled the robe off one of the women and put it on herself. Yue, after a slight hesitation, followed her example. The robes were a little too big, but they hid their faces and figures.
Fu Huang quickly looked around. "We need a few more small things to look more convincing." She noticed a small canvas pouch hanging from one of the women's belts. Opening it, she found a few simple tools, some food, and another wooden tag with a name. "This could be useful." She took the pouch and handed one of the tags to Yue. "You are Jun." She herself took the tag with the name Lan.
Having finished changing, they made sure the stunned women were in the shade and wouldn't be immediately discovered.
"Let's go," Fu Huang said quietly, adjusting the hood of her robe, trying to hide her face. "Keep a low profile and don't attract attention."
As they mingled with the crowd, a mental channel was open between Fu and Yue the whole time.
Yue, act like a stranger, I am Mo Yao, and you are Ying Mei, we are acquaintances at most, so it's preferable that you don't hold my hand.
Okay, Sister, I understand. And yes, Sister, I hope we can become stronger. Together and always trust each other. These people are connected to your parents' death. When I was being chased, you helped without hesitation, I want to help too, I want you to no longer be so distant and for there to be just you and me.
I think that's possible, but not now, you also have a desire for revenge, don't you? And I already told you, I will help you no matter what.
Then is it a promise? A promise that after we help each other, we can get rid of the shadow of the past and live the way we want? Sister.
I promise.
Inside, everyone was anxiously looking at the job board wall.
Fu and Yue also approached the racks; there were many announcements from small nobles to medium ones. Assignments from large nobles and great sects were absent, but this was obvious, as the racks provided minor tasks; more serious ones could only be obtained directly from the branch leader if one had enough merit to complete the task with high probability.
The branch leader, his face hidden under a wide hat, sat in the shadow of the corner, stroking the rim of a mug of hot tea. His gaze, barely noticeable glistening from under the brim, stopped on the two figures who entered. First – a glance, then – longer, more wary. Something was wrong.
He knew those girls. Knew them too well. Talkative, a bit foolish, but lively – they had been part of this organization for a long time. Back then, he was still quite a gigolo and had shared lounges with these charmers.
Their badges on their chests – correct. Names – match. But it wasn't them. Neither the walk, nor the expressions on their faces, nor that predatory squint hidden in the shadow of one of their eyelashes. No, he wasn't mistaken. These were others.
And at that very moment, when one of them glanced at the job rack, and the second – as if by chance – slowed down by the doors, he understood everything.
Before him were not just disguised guests. Before him were strangers. And possibly – a threat.
Even with their first steps inside the premises, the branch leader understood – these were not at all who these two girls claimed to be. He effortlessly recognized them as those very ones his men were supposed to escort – two young, but unusually dangerous girls, now clothed in others' masks. Shadows of doubt didn't even touch his mind. He knew – their exposure was only a matter of time, and that time had come.
However, instead of fury or a desire to use the guards, he felt a vague anxiety. Something about these girls broke the usual logic. Their presence was not accidental, and their very audacity indicated a hidden strength. Especially the older one – her gaze was like a drawn bowstring, ready to strike at any moment. A direct fight promised too much risk – even for him.
The decision came instantly: a destruction seal, carefully embedded in the walls of this room, was to erase them from reality. He had once used a similar technique to destroy a Soul Emperor outright, and in the case of a Soul Saint – to leave them barely alive. Everything was calculated, thought out. All that remained was to draw them into conversation to buy a little time before activation.
He created a perfect illusion – subtle, yet tangible. His silhouette, completely identical to the original, appeared beside the girls, as if he himself had descended from the throne in the shadows. His voice was hoarse, confident, with that very note of cold superiority that couldn't be faked. Anyone else would have taken the deception at face value.
"Kids, you want to show your usefulness and get more important assignments, don't you?"
Fu looked into the face of this unknown man around 40 years old.
Unlike most people's attire, his stood out; a stately outfit, gold trinkets screamed of his high status.
Fu nodded noticeably, Yue also followed with a nod.
"Then follow me."
They arrived at a building nearby. The building itself was quite large; polished stone walls, refined design clearly distinguished the building from others.
She caught a barely noticeable distortion in the air, an echo of alien pressure emanating not from a body, but from the space around. Her spiritual sensitivity had long crossed the boundary of ordinary perception. And the moment she saw the thinnest tear in the fabric of reality, everything became clear – before her was just a phantom, and the real threat was hidden behind the walls.
Understanding the intent, Fu shot a glance at Yue. But it was too late.
The room trembled. From all sides, a stream of unnatural heat surged, and the air filled with a deathly hum. Space flashed crimson. A second – and everything could have been over. An explosion, crushing the laws of form and energy, was already tearing through space.
There was no time for thought; perhaps Fu could withstand the explosion, but not Yue.
"Yue, you trust me, don't you, like before?"
"Mhm."
Taking Yue's hand, Yue quickly reoriented herself, understanding Fu's intention. A figure of divine beauty appeared in their place. Fu's 5th Soul Skill activated, the black ring rose and immediately expanded, enhanced by the fusion with Yue and immediately Yue's 3rd Soul Skill.
5th Soul Skill: Spatial Reverse!
3rd Soul Skill: Glimpse of the Future!
A powerful energy stream touched Fu and Yue, but all the explosion's energy, as if pliable, rushed into their hands, and Yue's skill allowed for the analysis of this energy, as it provided a glimpse three seconds into the future.
The branch leader, anticipating an explosion, saw only a destroyed building and a figure in the distance, unfamiliar, yet resembling the two girls.
5th Soul Skill: Reverse!
All the accumulated energy, amplified by Fu's energy, instantly flew towards the branch leader.
The former branch leader now stood scorched, bruised, and bleeding. He wanted to escape; the once Soul Saint now trembled throughout his body. The fusion skill of Fu and Yue gave no chance for defense.
The room plunged into an unnatural silence – as if reality itself held its breath.
"Stay here," Fu Huang said calmly, letting go of Yue's hand.
She stepped forward, and it all began.
There were over a hundred spirit masters in the camp. Some were resting, some were training, others were discussing assignments – no one expected death.
The first flash – and the air groaned from the tension.
"What's happening?!"
"No, wait! We're on your side!"
"Help!"
"A-a-a!!"
Panic. Spirits awakened in a desperate attempt to resist, but space seemed to stop obeying the laws of the world. Blades flew into the void, techniques crumbled to dust, and bodies – after them.
Two minutes later, it was all over.
Fu Huang stood in the middle of a hall filled with silence and ash. Of the hundred – no one remained. Not a single groan. Not a single look.
Yue silently walked up and took her hand. No more words were needed.
Fu Huang took a step forward, surveying the ruined camp. The mist from the torn bodies still hung in the air, but she didn't linger on it with her gaze.
"Let's go back," she said quietly, not looking at Yue. "We have a lot of work ahead, but I'm tired."
Yue nodded in agreement. Their bodies were filled with fatigue, but the emotional weight was even more palpable.
Together they began to descend the hill, leaving a place that had become for them just another step on the path to a more important goal. Only one question circled in Fu's mind: when could they just go back and rest?