The Next Day
Qi Ruhan sat silently in a bustling tavern in Luoyu, his form cloaked in a heavy robe with his face partially hidden beneath a worn dōulì hat. The noise around him was loud with laughter, clinking cups, and lively chatter, but he remained still, sipping calmly from his tea. The scent of hot broth and vinegar drifted through the air, mingling with the murmur of conversations.
His gaze stayed fixed on the tavern door, eyes sharp and wary. When the door suddenly slid open, he narrowed his eyes beneath the brim of his hat. A group of young men in dark uniforms entered with loud laughter, their steps light and confident. Until he realized it was some Assassins from Jade Gong.
"Mister, table for three!" one of them called out, and a server promptly guided them to a table just near enough for Ruhan to hear without raising suspicion.
He immediately shifted his posture, turning his back slightly as to not meet their eyes. He reached for his tea again, his fingers tense.
After his sip, he quickly reached some silver inside his robe and left it on the table to pay. He stood up slightly but froze immediately.
"I can't believe Senior Master is leaving again," one of the assassins grumbled as they sat.
"I know, right? We're stuck with Master Gu Huailin and Young Lord Zhao again. They don't let us breathe during training," the other complained, slumping back into his seat.
Qi Ruhan stilled, his eyes filled with confusion. "Senior Master? Are they talking about the Sect Leader, Zhong Jinxiao?"
"And Gu Huailin's away too, he's in Hueding right now. So it's just Master Zhao now to train us again."
"Was the Sect Leader really leaving today? I missed the announcement."
"Yeah, he's heading to Heaven Sect in Guangzhen this afternoon. Said something about him cultivation lessons. Didn't even take anyone with him."
Ruhan's mind raced. "This is the moment and I shall not miss it. Jade Gong is weaker without its trusted assassins the most."
He took one last sip of his tea and decided to leave, but as he rose, he heard a voice call out.
"Mister!"
He froze mid-step, his spine tightening, hands clenched as his eyes widened.
"You left your mask on your table!"
He turned swiftly unnoticed, snatching the mask from the table without revealing his face. "Thank you," he muttered, and quickly exited the tavern, vanishing into the crowded streets outside.
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At the Lai household, Guanlin stood outside with a hand resting on his sword, a traveling pack strapped to his back. The morning wind rustled through the trees as he glanced toward the horizon, waiting for Zhong Jinxiao to come as he said.
Meanwhile, in Jade Palace, Zhong Jinxiao sat in his quarters polishing his sword. He paused for a moment, staring into the steel reflection before sheathing it with a soft shhhh. He stood, tying his robe and heading out. As he slid the door closed, someone grabbed him from behind.
With lightning speed, he twisted around grabbing the man by his hand and pinned him to the ground with ease.
"Childe Zhong, it's me!" Wen Lu yelped, struggling.
Jinxiao released him at once, frowning. "You should've spoken before touching me." He said as he helped him up.
Wen Lu winced, rubbing his arm. "Sorry, sorry. I just wanted to ask—do you really have to go to Heaven Sect?"
"If I didn't have to I wouldn't announce it to everyone." Jinxiao replied coldly.
"Then... Can I come with you?"
"No. I already have someone with me," Jinxiao replied flatly.
Wen Lu blinked. "With someone? Who?"
"Lai Guanlin."
Wen Lu gasped. "So it is about the sword! I can't believe he really wants to learn Heaven's Wind martial arts."
Jinxiao said nothing, continuing down the path in the hall.
"Please, Childe Zhong," Wen Lu chased after him. "I miss bro Lin too. Let me come. We need more people in case of danger."
"I told you no." Jinxiao replied, his eyes narrowing.
Wen Lu stepped forward, blocking Jinxiao's path. "Childe Zhong, we have to fighr side by side in case of any danger. Plus I want to see bro Lin too."
Jinxiao paused, eyes narrowing, and then sighed. "Fine."
Wen Lu beamed. "Hǎolā—"
Just then, an assassin sprinted toward them, panting heavily.
Wen Lu turned around in confusion, "Xiao Ting?" He asked. "What happened? You look like you saw a ghost."
"X-X-X—" the guard stammered, pointing frantically towards the opposite direction.
Wen Lu raised a brow. "Xiangcai? I swear if we get another box of those stuff, I'll scream. I hate it in my noodles."
Xiao Ting shook his head wildly. "No... it's X—"
"Xiao Xiong? Did a bear get in? Maybe we can tame it this time and raise it to become or ally."
Jinxiao shot him a glare. "Enough. Let him finish what he's saying."
Wen Lu quickly rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward laugh.
Jinxiao stepped forward, voice calm but firm. "Xiao Ting, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Finally, Xiao Ting shouted, "Xue Wuren!"
Wen Lu gasped, glancing directly at Jinxiao who had the same reaction.
"He's at the entrance gate, with his undead men!" Xiao Ting added.
Jinxiao's eyes widened in anger. "No..." he muttered, and then darted off like lightning as the two followed behind.
At the main gates of Jade Gong, a chilling sight awaited. Xue Wuren stood just beyond the threshold, cloaked in black, his undead forces looming silently behind him like shadows in the sun. Zhao Lianyu stood across from him, assassins forming a tense line at his back, swords drawn.
Jinxiao ran up, sliding into position beside his father. "Uncle Zhao, what is he doing here?!"
"Zhao Lianyu! Where is my son?!" Xue Wuren bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls.
"Your son is gone just like you were, Wuren," Lianyu replied, eyes like steel. "None of you were spared that time."
Jinxiao unsheathed his sword with a fierce glare. "So you've come to destroy Shadow Sect now? After wiping out Magic Sect years ago?! You'll have to go through me first!"
But Xue Wuren did not look at Jinxiao with hostility—instead, with a strange flicker of recognition just like seeing his own reflection. "I'm not here to destroy anything. I only want one thing: the truth. Tell me what really happened to my son, Zhao Lianyu."
"He's not here is he?" Jinxiao snapped. "So leave, and take your cursed army with you!"
"Not until I hear the truth first," Xue Wuren growled.
"You still cling to that fantasy." Zhao Lianyu raised an eyebrow and laughed dryly. "But I am telling the truth."
"Just like what you said sixteen years ago!" Wuren shouted.
Jinxiao looked at Lianyu, confusion in his eyes. "Uncle Zhao, what is he talking about?"
Lianyu muttered under his breath, "Nonsense, he makes up stories just like himself. Ignore him."
"If you won't give me the truth," Wuren said coldly, "then listen carefully. Xue Zicuan's magic is being born and I can feel it really closely. Soon, it will be awaken and he fill find out himself and it will haunt like like poison slowly making you suffer in pain." He turned around, ready to leave.
"Then let me be damned by it," Zhao Lianyu muttered.
"He will awaken his healing magic soon," Xue Wuren added.
Without another word, he disappeared into the mist, his undead soldiers melting away behind him. The guards at Jade Palace moved quickly, closing the gates with a loud clang. The tension in the air slowly dispersed.
Jinxiao turned to his father again. "Uncle Zhao, do you know who his son is? Why is he asking you?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Lianyu replied curtly. "I'm tired."
He walked away, leaving Jinxiao standing in the middle of the courtyard, eyes glued to the ground.
Wen Lu stepped forward quietly. "Childe Zhong... when are we leaving?"
Jinxiao's eyes shot open in realization. "Lai Guanlin!"
And with that, he took off running.
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The sun hovered just above the horizon, its golden glow casting long shadows across the Li residence. Lai Guanlin still stood outside his home, his bag strapped to his back, and his hand resting on the hilt of his father's sword. The sky above him blushed with orange and violet streaks, but Zhong Jinxiao was nowhere to be seen.
After another long breath, Guanlin straightened up with a faint smile. "Zhong Jinxiao, I knew you must be busy," he whispered softly, his voice carrying no hint of disappointment—only understanding. Turning away from the path, he began his quiet journey into the dusk.
Earlier That Day
Qi Ruhan stood silently near the outskirts of Jade Palace, hidden beneath the shadow of a nearby rooftop. His douli shaded his face, and his cloak brushed against the stone as he crouched. His eyes fixated on the eerie figures standing at the palace gates.
"Why do those people look... familiar?" he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing at the undead-like men gathered outside.
The commotion inside the palace was growing—shouts, steel clashing, people hissing from the inside. Taking advantage of the commotions, Qi Ruhan darted around the perimeter, slipping through a shadowed section of the outer wall and fled over it. He moved like a shadow, swift and silent.
He stood in the outer part of the circular palace, as the pavillion stood in the middle of the field.
Without wasting time, he ran silently in the sandy field, making his way into the pavillion
"If I remember correctly, the Jade Crystal is hidden beneath the Jade Temple—right in the heart of Jade Gong."
The temple revealed itself like a forgotten memory—a grand circular pavilion with three structures lining its edges, each housing a unique statue. He slowed down upon seeing them: a hawk, a butterfly, and a phoenix.
"Strange combination... but I've seen this before," he murmured. "The ranking of lands within the Golden Palace... the records from Zhongyin Palace's library said to use their symbols."
He moved to the hawk statue first, gripping its base and turning it carefully. Then, he moved to the butterfly next, and finally the phoenix, aligning each in their correct positions.
A soft rumble echoed beneath his feet. Qi Ruhan stepped back quickly as the stone floor beneath him began to sink. Dust lifted in the air, and the circular floor descended like an ancient lift.
A rare smile tugged at his lips. "Finally..."
Inside the hidden chamber below, the light dimmed to a warm green glow. A vast marble fountain stretched before him, its waters crystal clear. At its center, the Jade Crystal floated above an ornate marble pedestal, radiating an ethereal glow that shimmered like starlight.
Ruhan approached with reverence. The fountain wound like a spiral maze, but he easily leapt over its narrow gaps. Marble pillars surrounded the crystal, engraved with unknown runes.
As he reached the central pillar, he placed a hand on the cool stone, preparing to climb.
Then—a sharp thud.
A dart embedded itself inches away from his face into rhe pillar.
Meanwhile
Zhong Jinxiao sprinted down the road, the night wind pressing against his robes. Wen Lu struggled to keep pace, his breathing labored.
"Childe Zhong! Why are we running so fast?!" Wen Lu panted.
"I was supposed to meet him hours ago. That madman ruined everything!" Jinxiao snapped, frustration in his voice.
The journey back to the Lak residence took nearly two hours by foot. As they arrived, the stars had already begun dotting the sky.
Jinxiao banged on the door. Wen Lu stood behind, still catching his breath.
It was Lai Xinyu who answered and slid the door open, blinking sleepily.
"Lai Xinyu, where is your brother? Is he here?" Jinxiao asked, nearly breathless.
"Ā-Yu, who is it?" Xiaoyou's voice called from within.
"It's Gēge's friend!" Xinyu called back.
Xiaoyou came into view, wiping her hands on her robe. Her brow furrowed at the sight of Jinxiao.
"Good evening, Miss Lai," Jinxiao bowed. "Is Guanlin still here?"
She tilted her head, confused. "He left this afternoon. I thought you both had already gone together?"
Jinxiao froze, a pang of guilt stabbing through him. "Ah... right. We were supposed to meet by the river... Must've missed each other."
He quickly bowed again. "Thank you, Miss Lai. We'll catch up to him."
Before she could respond, he turned and darted off, with Wen Lu chasing close behind.
"Childe Zhong, where is he exactly?" Wen Lu asked between gasps.
"He probably thought I wasn't coming and left. I made him wait for too long..." Jinxiao clenched his fist, guilt surging through him.
Wen Lu placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then let's find him. He won't travel far during the night."
Jinxiao nodded. Without another word, the two vanished into the star-drenched forest, their figures trailing into the night, lit only by the moonlight above.
To be continued...