"Who are these guys anyway?" Jinxiao asked, standing behind Baiying, his sword already gleaming in his hand.
"They're in a gang. And you killed their leader, Lan Shen," Baiying replied as the two stood back-to-back, surrounded.
"The one from last night?" Jinxiao scoffed. "Yeah, he deserved getting his head cut off."
"You'll pay for what you did to our leader!" one of the men growled and lunged forward.
Without hesitation, Jinxiao sank into his shadow. In a blink, four dark assassins burst from the ground where he stood, each with ink-black blades and glowing eyes, slashing at the approaching enemies with swift, precise movements.
Baiying didn't flinch. His sword moved like water-calm, but deadly. He parried the first strike with a slight tilt of his blade and retaliated with a clean upward slash that sent his attacker stumbling backward, bleeding.
One man tried to flank Baiying. In response, Baiying spun with practiced ease, slicing a shallow line across the man's arm before landing a sharp kick to his stomach, sending him flying into a fruit stall.
"Showoff," Jinxiao's voice echoed just as he emerged from a wall, stepping out of the shadows like smoke taking form.
"You dove into the ground just to dodge one guy," Baiying muttered, blocking a pair of incoming blades with a swift cross-guard.
"I wasn't dodging. I was tactically repositioning." Jinxiao smirked, twisting his sword midair and catching it by the hilt as he slashed through an enemy's chestplate.
A huge man with spiked armor and a massive cleaver came roaring toward them.
"Split?" Jinxiao asked.
"Go." Baiying nodded.
Jinxiao ducked under the cleaver's swing and slid along the dirt, slicing the back of the man's knee. The giant roared and staggered. Baiying dashed forward, leaping off a fallen barrel to gain height, and brought his sword down hard into the man's shoulder. The brute crashed to the ground with a howl.
Another group came at them from behind-six more fighters, fanned out, surrounding them.
"They just keep coming," Jinxiao sighed.
"Good," Baiying said, sword glowing faintly with energy now. "I was starting to get bored."
Jinxiao grinned. "Now you sound like me."
They moved together-synchronized like twin blades of the same weapon. Baiying swept low, disarming one with a clean twist of the wrist, while Jinxiao flipped over him, stabbing downward into another attacker's shoulder. Steel clashed, sparks flew, and blood misted the air.
Within minutes, the last of the gang members fell, groaning and defeated.
Jinxiao wiped his blade clean against a fallen man's robe. "That was messier than I hoped."
Baiying sheathed his sword with a little flourish. "Messy, yes. But satisfying, now that they're gone this town feels so calm now."
Jinxiao raised an eyebrow. "They're locals here?"
"Yeah, they're thieves, I was the only one guarding this part of the town so it was hard defending it."
Jinxiao looked around. "Think more will come?"
"I don't know," Baiying said. "but you should move now."
"You're staying here?."
"What do you want me to do? Come with you." Baiying chuckled. "Someone has to protect this town."
"Is no one governing this place?" Jinxiao asked, brows furrowed as he glanced around the ruined area.
"Of course there is," Baiying replied, turning his back to him. "But the Magistrate doesn't probably care. He never has."
"Who is he?" Jinxiao pressed.
Baiying hesitated before muttering, "My father."
Jinxiao blinked. "So you're a young master? Then why are you here... alone?"
"Enough questions. Guanlin is waiting for you," Baiying cut him off and walked away without another word.
Jinxiao stood there, momentarily stunned. He looked around at the carnage. "Who's going to clean up all these bodies?" he shouted after Baiying.
"I'll handle it. I just need some rest," Baiying called back without turning around.
Jinxiao shook his head, then sprinted off, his goal to reach the desert.
Meanwhile, in the Pengjun Desert
"This place is enormous..." Wen Lu murmured in awe, eyes locked on the towering palace rising from the sands.
"I think this is where the dragon's beard is kept," Guanlin said, his tone resolute.
Suddenly, the sharp ring of blades echoed behind them. They turned around to find a group of guards with swords drawn.
"Who are you three?" one of the guards demanded.
"Uh... we're here for the dragon's beard," Yuanli replied, raising her hands slowly in surrender.
"You," another guard pointed at Wen Lu. "You're an assassin from the Golden Palace, aren't you?"
Wen Lu gave a slight nod.
"Please, we're not here to cause trouble," Guanlin quickly interjected. "We only need the dragon's beard. We'll leave immediately after."
"Stop!" a commanding voice rang out from behind the guards.
A tall, elegant man stepped forward, his presence instantly shifting the atmosphere.
"What business do you have in the Dragon Lands?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.
"Bow before Clan Leader Cao Laikuan," one of the guards instructed.
The three quickly dropped to their knees. "Clan Leader Cao, our deepest apologies," Yuanli said respectfully. "We had no idea. We are simply visitors seeking aid."
"Guests should be treated with courtesy," Laikuan responded. "Come inside and have tea with me. We'll discuss your concerns properly."
He turned, walking up the massive stairway that led to the palace.
"Of course the last cure has to be up a thousand stairs," Wen Lu groaned.
"Just climb it. You talk too much for someone afraid of walking upwards," Yuanli scolded.
They followed the Clan Leader up the stairs and into the palace.
Inside, the three knelt once more before Laikuan, who sat on his throne like a man carved from still water.
"What brings you to my land?" he asked with a graceful smile.
"We're here for the dragon's beard," Guanlin replied. "My mother was poisoned by dark magic. The beard is the final cure I need to save her."
Laikuan nodded slowly. "I see. A noble cause. And your names?"
"I'm Lai Guanlin."
"Song Yuanli."
"And Wen Lu."
Laikuan's gaze lingered on Wen Lu. "You're from the Golden Palace, aren't you? An assassin?"
Wen Lu nodded. "Yes. And so is Guanlin."
"I'm from Silent Hill," Yuanli added.
Laikuan chuckled. "Interesting. There's a proper entrance to the Dragon Lands, yet you chose to brave the shifting sand barrier."
Guanlin rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled awkwardly. "We're... not familiar with the terrain."
"There are five major Sects in the Dragon Lands," Laikuan explained. "Sha Mo Long, Shui Long, Huo Long, Tu Long, and Feng Long. Though Sha Mo Long is not tied to the elemental dragons, it's known as the Healer Sect."
Laikuan paused. "The beard of the Desert Dragon is a sacred relic-it can cure any illness. You've come to the right place."
"How many days do I have left?" Guanlin asked, turning to Yuanli.
"Probably close to seven days," she replied softly.
Guanlin immediately fell forward onto his hands, crawling closer to Laikuan. "Please, Clan Leader Cao, I'm begging you-may I have the beard now in advance? There's no time left."
Laikuan raised a hand gently. "No need to beg. I understand." He called out, "Han Junxiao!"
"Yes, Clan Leader?" a man answered promptly, entering the hall.
"Bring the dragon's beard for this young man."
Han Junxiao bowed and hurried out.
Suddenly, Guanlin's back tingled. Like someone is touching him uncontrollably.
Then his sword began to tremble in its sheath.
"Wen Lu... stop it," he whispered.
"Stop what out? I'm not doing anything," Wen Lu replied, confused.
The next moment, the sword unsheathed itself and struck an arrow mid-air-one that had been aimed at Guanlin's head.
Everyone gasped. The sword returned to Guanlin's hand, as if nothing had happened.
"Gao Jiying!" Laikuan stood abruptly, his tone sharp. "How dare you fire at my guest?"
A guy standing in the shadows lowered his bow and raised his hands. "Master, I didn't know they were your guests. I apologize."
"What are you even doing here?" Laikuan asked, visibly displeased.
"I came to check on you. The guards said you've been roaming around despite being ill."
"I don't know if should be more concerned about this situation or be more worried about that sword," Wen Lu whispered. "It... it moved on its own."
"I didn't do anything..." Guanlin muttered, staring wide-eyed at the blade.
"That movement-it's similar to martial techniques from the Heaven Sect," Wen Lu said. "Have you ever trained there?"
"Lai Guanlin," Laikuan said seriously. "I've never seen swordsmanship like that before-not even in the Golden Palace. Where did you learn it?"
"From-"
"Heaven Sect," Yuanli interrupted.
Laikuan raised a brow. "You chose the Heaven Sect over your homeland's Shadow Sect? Interesting... but to each have their own choices."
He turned to Jiying. "You brat, your training isn't even done yet. Get out of here."
Jiying bowed and left the hall silently.
"My apologies," Laikuan said, his voice returning to warmth. "You could've been seriously hurt."
At that moment, Han Junxiao returned, carrying a chest. He placed it before them and opened it, revealing a small pouch.
"The dragon's beard is inside the pouch," Laikuan said.
Yuanli stepped forward and inspected it. Once satisfied, she handed it to Guanlin.
The three bowed deeply. "Thank you, Clan Leader Cao."
"Anytime," Laikuan said. Then, glancing at Wen Lu, he added, "Tell Zhao Lianyu I said hello."
Wen Lu smiled and nodded.
The group descended the stairs slowly, the desert sun casting golden shadows across the palace.
"You should visit the Heaven Sect when we're done," Wen Lu said to Guanlin. "Maybe they can explain your sword."
"My father won't be home, so we can't ask him there," Yuanli commented.
"What? Why?" Wen Lu asked, confused.
"He serves the Heaven Sect. He's a disciple there."
As they reached the base of the stairs, a figure emerged from the bottom-Zhong Jinxiao.
"Zhong Jinxiao?" Guanlin blinked.
Jinxiao jogged up and handed over a small pouch. "Here. We managed to get half of the passion fruit."
Guanlin took it slowly, holding both pouches-the final pieces of the cure.
"I... I finally have all four," he whispered, then broke into a smile. "I can save my mother!"
"Let's not waste time," Wen Lu said. "We're going home."
"Who was the person who gave you the cure?" Jinxiao asked curiously.
"It was the Clan Leader of this land, Cao Laikuan." Guanlin replied with a smile.