The sun dipped below Jade Crest City's horizon, casting long shadows across the Wei Clan's tournament grounds. The crowd's cheers still echoed in Wei Chen's ears as he stepped off the arena, his arm stinging from Lin Xiyue's blade. The draw against her had stunned the clan, their whispers now laced with curiosity rather than scorn. But the jade tablet, hidden in his tunic, burned hotter than ever, a silent demand for answers he didn't have.
He leaned against a stone pillar, catching his breath, when Su Meilin approached, her white robes glowing faintly under the twilight. Her presence was like a still lake, calm yet deep, and Wei Chen felt the tablet pulse in response. Her moonstone eyes fixed on him, unreadable but intense.
"Wei Chen," she said, her voice soft as falling petals but edged with urgency. "We must speak. Alone." She glanced at the dispersing crowd, where Lin Xiyue lingered, chatting with sect disciples but shooting curious glances their way.
Wei Chen raised a brow, masking his unease with a grin. "Alone? That's bold for a celestial envoy. What's so urgent it can't wait for a cup of tea?" His tone was light, but his hand brushed the tablet, its warmth a warning. Su Meilin's gaze flickered to the motion, and he cursed inwardly. She knew something.
"This is no jest," she said, stepping closer. Her qi, subtle but vast, brushed against him, carrying a trace of celestial purity that stirred his past-life memories. A vision flickered—a jade palace in the clouds, a woman's voice promising eternity—then vanished. He blinked, steadying himself.
"Alright, lead the way," he said, gesturing grandly to hide his racing thoughts. "But if this is about my stunning tournament performance, I'm already taking bookings for autographs."
Su Meilin's lips twitched, a hint of amusement breaking her calm. "Your wit is noted, but misplaced. Follow me." She turned, gliding toward a quiet grove beyond the arena, where ancient willows draped their branches like curtains.
As they walked, Wei Chen's mind churned. The tablet's glow last night, the Shadowfang Wolf, the visions of betrayal—they were no coincidence. And now Su Meilin, an envoy from the Celestial Jade Palace, was far too interested in a disgraced heir. The Jade Sovereign's instincts whispered: Trust no one. But her presence felt… familiar, like a half-remembered dream.
They stopped beneath a willow, its leaves swaying in the evening breeze. Su Meilin turned, her expression grave. "The jade tablet you carry," she said, her voice low. "It is no mere relic. It is one of nine fragments, forged during the Celestial War ten thousand years ago. Its qi is tied to the heavens—and to you."
Wei Chen's heart skipped, but he kept his face neutral. "Tablet? You mean my clan's dusty old heirloom? It's just a fancy paperweight." He patted his tunic, feigning ignorance, but the tablet's warmth flared, betraying him.
Su Meilin's eyes narrowed. "Do not play the fool, Wei Chen. I sensed its celestial qi during your match. It resonates with your meridians, newly awakened. Tell me—where did you find it, and why does it respond to you?"
He hesitated, the Jade Sovereign's memories urging caution. But her gaze held no malice, only a quiet urgency that mirrored his own need for answers. "It was in our shrine," he said finally, voice low. "Last night, it… glowed. Showed me things. Memories that aren't mine." He stopped, unsure how much to reveal.
Her eyes widened, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "Memories? Then it's true…" She stepped closer, her voice barely a whisper. "The tablet is a key to a sealed celestial realm, a place of infinite qi. But it's also a beacon for those who would destroy the Tianxu Realm to claim it. You've awakened it, Wei Chen, and with it, dangers you cannot imagine."
Before he could respond, a sharp laugh cut through the grove. "Well, isn't this cozy?" Lin Xiyue stepped from the shadows, her sword resting casually on her shoulder. "Secret meetings under the stars? Should I be jealous, scholar?" Her tone was teasing, but her eyes flicked between them, sharp with suspicion.
Wei Chen groaned inwardly. "Perfect timing, sword maiden. Eavesdropping's a new low, even for you." He flashed a grin, hoping to defuse the tension, but the tablet burned hotter, as if warning of another threat.
Lin Xiyue smirked, sauntering closer. "I wasn't eavesdropping. I was following the demonic qi trailing our dear envoy here." She pointed her sword at Su Meilin, who stiffened. "Care to explain why your celestial aura feels… off?"
Su Meilin's calm faltered, her hand brushing a jade pin in her hair. "You're mistaken, Lin Xiyue. My qi is pure. Perhaps your senses are clouded by your own… secrets." Her voice was steady, but the accusation hung heavy.
Wei Chen stepped between them, raising his hands. "Ladies, let's not start a war in my clan's backyard. I've had enough fighting for one day." His tone was light, but his eyes scanned the grove, sensing a faint ripple of qi—hostile, watching.
A shadow moved, swift and silent, and a dagger flew from the darkness, aimed at Su Meilin. Wei Chen reacted on instinct, his Jade Soul Scripture flaring to form a green shield. The dagger struck, shattering the barrier, but Su Meilin dodged, her robes swirling as she drew a jade fan, its edges sharp as blades.
"Assassin!" Lin Xiyue shouted, her sword igniting with fiery qi. She lunged toward the shadows, but the attacker was gone, leaving only a trace of demonic qi. The grove fell silent, the air heavy with unspoken questions.
Wei Chen's heart pounded, the tablet searing his chest. "Seems I'm not the only one with secrets," he said, glancing at Su Meilin. "Care to tell us who wants you dead?"
Su Meilin's face was pale, but her voice was firm. "The tablet draws them—demonic cultivators, seeking its power. Wei Chen, you must guard it with your life. And trust no one."
Lin Xiyue sheathed her sword, her grin returning but colder. "Trust, huh? That's rich, coming from a celestial who smells like trouble. Scholar, you sure know how to pick your company."
Wei Chen sighed, rubbing his temples. "Just what I needed—two prodigies, a demonic assassin, and a tablet that's apparently a death magnet." He looked between them, the Jade Sovereign's memories whispering of betrayal. "But if we're going to survive this, we might need to work together. Deal?"
Lin Xiyue snorted, but nodded. Su Meilin hesitated, then agreed, her eyes lingering on the tablet's hidden glow. As they parted under the willows, Wei Chen felt the weight of their secrets—and his own—pressing down. The tournament was just the beginning. The Tianxu Realm was waking, and he was at its heart.