"I am assuming, this certain question, is as to why I cancelled the Celestial trial is it?" The King said with a serious tone, his gaze unwavering.
"Yes, your majesty," Kuai answered respectfully, meeting the King's gaze directly.
King Zhang Long regarded Kuai thoughtfully for a moment, his expression inscrutable. "You are but a traveler, and we have just met. Why should I give an answer to one who is not of my court or council?" he inquired, curiosity mingling with a hint of suspicion.
Kuai's demeanor remained composed, and he replied with conviction, "Your majesty, it is true that I am just a traveler, and I may not hold a position in your court. Other than being a representative of the Celestial Trial, I am also here to present the Southern Region. In other words, as much as possible, I want to help. I want to know the reason as to why my region's deity disappeared, why these demons are starting to reappear, and the dangers that made you, your majesty, cancel an important event."
The King, his expression unchanged, approached Kuai with measured steps. In a low voice, he ordered everyone in the throne room to leave, ensuring their privacy.
Once the room was empty, the King began to chant an incantation, and to Kuai's surprise, a quill and paper appeared before them as if conjured from thin air. The young traveler's curiosity piqued, but he remained cautious.
"You must have heard that the Central Region is renowned for making agreements and contracts," the King spoke softly, his eyes fixed on Kuai. "How about we make an agreement, Xing Kuai?"
Kuai's heart raced, sensing the gravity of the King's proposal. "What sort of agreement do you have in mind, your majesty?"
The King's gaze intensified, his voice laced with determination. "In exchange for the valuable information you seek, you must disclose the biggest secret you hold dear—the one that lies closest to your heart."
Kuai's mind whirled with conflicting emotions, torn between his desire for answers and the weight of his own secrets. Yet, there was something about the King's demeanor that instilled trust in him.
After a moment of contemplation, Kuai took a deep breath and replied, "Very well, your majesty. I accept your agreement. I will share my deepest secret with you, and in return, I hope you will enlighten me with the truth I seek."
-
As Xing Ziao arrived at the palace after an hour and a half, he couldn't help but notice the chaotic streets he had encountered on his way. It appeared as though a fierce confrontation had taken place just moments earlier, leaving the path to the kingdom in disarray.
Upon attempting to enter the palace, a vigilant guard halted him, inquiring about his purpose and whether he held an appointment with the king. Xing Ziao respectfully replied in the negative, expressing his concern about a silvery-white haired young man who had entered the palace earlier. The guard confirmed that the young man had indeed been there, but he had departed approximately 30 minutes ago.
"Around 30 minutes ago, Kuai and I should have crossed paths while I was heading here," Xing Ziao pondered, realizing that they might have taken different paths due to the vastness of Jianghu kingdom.
He expressed his gratitude to the guard and turned away, deciding to return to the path leading to the inn, hoping that Kuai would have already arrived there before him.
-
When Xing Ziao arrived at the inn and entered their shared room, he was taken aback to find it empty. It was odd for Kuai not to be there already, considering he should have arrived first. Xing Ziao waited patiently, assuming Kuai had gone out to buy some food.
As the day wore on and the sun dipped below the horizon, Xing Ziao's concern grew. Night had fallen, and there was still no sign of Kuai. It was unlike his younger brother to take this long, especially in an unfamiliar place.
Xing Ziao couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. He decided to venture out into the darkened streets, retracing the path back to the palace where they had last seen each other. Along the way, he asked the locals if they had seen a silvery-white haired young man, but no one had any helpful information.
He then decided to search in the forests of Jianghu near the path to the Palace in hopes that his younger brother might have just been looking around, since Kuai has a fondness of Forests.
As he delved deeper into the woods, Xing Ziao noticed a faint trail barely visible amidst the foliage. It seemed like a path less traveled, but he couldn't dismiss the possibility that Kuai might have taken it out of curiosity.
Following the path, he soon came across a small clearing. His heart skipped a beat when he spotted a familiar object lying on the ground—an intricately designed fan with a symbol engraved on its handle. There was no mistaking it; this was Kuai's fan.
Fear and worry surged through Xing Ziao. He then clutched the fan tightly, determined to find his younger brother no matter the odds.
-
As Kuai slowly regained consciousness, he found himself in a dimly lit, ragged place. The air was stale, and a musty odor filled his senses. Blinking his eyes, he tried to focus on his surroundings. It didn't take long for him to realize that he was confined within a small, cramped cell.
His head throbbed with pain as he tried to remember how he ended up in such a predicament. The last thing he recalled was his encounter with the King, then him leaving and heading back to the Inn but got distracted by an object lying on a small path in the Forest. After that, everything became a blur.
Kuai attempted to stand, but his body felt weak, and his limbs trembled under the effort. As he glanced around, he noticed the iron bars that imprisoned him, casting long shadows on the stone wall. It was evident that whoever had captured him wanted to ensure he wouldn't escape easily.
His mind raced, trying to piece together the events that led to his current situation. Could it be that someone had ambushed him while he was heading back?
"You have finally regained consciousness," a voice spoke from behind, causing him to turn around hastily.
There, on the side, sat a young man with mesmerizing ruby eyes that seemed to hold a hint of mystery and allure. His skin was as pale as freshly fallen snow, and his long midnight hair cascaded like a waterfall, adding to his enigmatic charm. With legs crossed and an intense gaze fixed upon him, the young man emanated an aura of irresistible allure that left Kuai captivated.
"How long are you going to keep staring at me?" The young man spoke, which brought Kuai back to his senses, and made him coughed in embarrassment
"Who are you, And where are we?" Kuai asked still trying to focus on the situation despite being slightly distracted on the other man's charm.
"I am someone who is also confined in this cell and we are in a cell," The young man replied matter-of-factly, leaving Kuai slightly exasperated by the lack of a clearer explanation.