Shushin stepped into a small room, her hands sweeping away the dust that had settled on her face. She then reached into a pocket in her belt, her fingers performing an intricate spell. A large, menacing-looking shadow emerged, taking the form of a huge, draconic creature. It began circling around her as if it were a guard or protector.
"My back aches from not being used for days!" the creature complained, its voice filled with irritation.
Shushin retorted, "What back? You're simply dust that irritates my nostrils. You bring nothing but headaches."
She continued, "And let's not forget how useless you actually are. All you do is cause me grief. It's annoying that you can't endure the sunlight of this country, forcing me to keep you hidden to protect both you and me. Everyone wants to get their hands on the legendary Shade, and if only I knew who started this rumor, I'd make them suffer for millennia."
The shadow protested, "I can look past your insults about my usefulness, or even your claims of your beauty. But 'loved'? Now that's a whole different matter."
Shushin glanced back at the shadow, her expression hardening. "If you don't want to spend your entire existence as mere black dust, keep your mouth shut, Tianyang."
The Shadow, known as Tian yang, let out a mocking laugh. "You think you can turn me into dust? I've come to assist you, and this is how you treat me? How ungrateful."
Shushin's irritation flared at the Shadow's insolence. She snapped back, "SHUT UP! You're nothing but a useless troublemaker who brings nothing but trouble."
The Shadow didn't seem bothered by Shushin's harsh words. "You may think I'm useless, but my power is not to be underestimated," it responded with a hint of smugness.
Shushin rolled her eyes, her irritation mounting. "Your power, like your existence, is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. You're nothing but a shadow, and a rather annoying one at that."
Tian Yang, in his sardonic manner, attempted to shift the conversation's focus. "But where exactly are we right now?" he asked, the laughter escaping his lips sounding peculiar.
Shushin calmly provided an explanation, stating, "The situation is dire. Someone has placed a curse on the palace, and within a few hours, the place will either turn into ashes or the people inside will perish. It seems to be some kind of competition, and our objective is to identify the culprit first and then quietly remove the curse."
Tian Yang interjected with skepticism; his voice tinged with a note of disbelief. "How do you plan to accomplish this daunting task on your own? This is the royal palace, after all. The culprit is someone who has no fear of death, willing to put the life of the great king of this country in danger. Surely, it cannot be that easy."
Shushin responded with a hint of nonchalance, her hands busily moving as she spoke. "I understand your concerns, but I sense that there's another dangerous criminal lurking beyond Churan, and I'm determined to stop them."
Tian Yang responded to Shushin's words with a hint of sarcasm: "With your words and actions now, don't you, Shushin, fear that you will be surrounded by the blood of your loved ones while your body is healthy?"
Shushin retorted with a serious tone, her mind focused on the task at hand. "Hey Tian Yang, scars and wounds, all over here, do you think I need more? Anyway, shut up, let's get to work!"
Shushin took several steps back, positioning herself at the center of the room. With a steady gesture, she aligned her right hand on top of her left, then switched their positions with a swift movement. Closing her eyes, she proclaimed, her voice filled with determination, "For heaven's sake, I am Shushin. With my blood, sacrifices, and the shattered heart of the curse's perpetrator, I implore a fire to ignite, illuminating our hearts as the hours pass."
Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed throughout the room, its thunderous impact shaking the very foundations of the place.
The sudden explosion had caught Tian Yang off guard, his sardonic expression replaced with a hint of surprise. With a mocking tone, he muttered to himself, "Yes, in complete silence, absolutely quiet, Hehe…"
The room fell into an eerie silence after the explosion, broken only by the soft sounds of dust and debris settling. Shushin's eyes opened wide, her gaze fixed on the source of the explosion, her mind racing to process what had just occurred.
As the echoes of the explosion faded, the air began to clear, revealing the aftermath. The room was now filled with a cloud of smoke and debris, the once-pristine space now marred by the aftermath of the mysterious blast.
(Outside the palace)
The explosion sent everyone tumbling to the ground. As they began to regain their bearings, Lingjie was the first to speak up. "Where is that room?" he asked his companion.
Ziyi stared at him, confusion etched on her face. "What do you mean?" she replied.
Lingjie pointed towards the distant room. "Look behind you. That far room is on fire. Let's try to enter now and send the army to catch the criminal."
The others followed Lingjie's gaze and saw the distant room engulfed in flames. It was a sight of destruction and chaos, a stark contrast to the peaceful surroundings of the palace.
Without wasting a moment, Lingjie and Ziyi sprang into action, their eyes fixed on the burning room. They knew they had to act quickly before the fire spread further and potentially caused more damage.
(Back in the room)
"Oh my God," Tianyang exclaimed, noticing Shushin's bloodied nose. "Looks like the curse is still here. Are you okay?"
Shushin knelt down on one leg, fighting to keep herself upright as pain gripped her. She tried to respond to him while holding her stomach: "Don't worry, try to leave the room and watch. Just make sure no one sees you."
Tianyang was reluctant to leave her side. He protested: "How can I leave you alone when you're about to die? Also, that fool of a king will not let you go."
Shushin, laying on her back, responded with a touch of indifference and exhaustion. "You know perfectly well that I can strike him down with a sword or rip his heart out with my bare hands. I am nothing before him. And who is about to die? Me? Though I am weary, death is a welcome relief."
The room was filled with tension as Tianyang and Shushin continued their conversation. The air was thick with uncertainty and a sense of impending danger.
Just as they struggled to come to terms with the dire situation, a loud noise echoed in the hallway outside the room, interrupting their conversation.
Both Shushin and Tianyang tensed up, their senses on high alert. They could hear footsteps approaching the room, indicating that someone was coming.
The footsteps grew louder with each passing second, sending a chill down their spines. They knew that whoever was approaching would soon discover their presence, and they would have to prepare for whatever was to come.
Tianyang glanced at Shushin, concerned for her safety. He knew that she was not in the best condition to fight, but he also knew that she was stubborn and would not back down.
Suddenly, the wall in front of Shushin transformed into a transparent mirror, revealing the anxious faces of Ziyi, Lingjie, and Minghao on the other side.
"Shushin?!" Minghao exclaimed as he approached the wall. "What are you doing there? Didn't this room burn?"
Lingjie added, "Of course, it is the room. Can't you see the black smoke?"
Suppressing her laughter at Tian Yang being called black smoke, Shushin looked behind her as the shadow disappeared. Then, a sinister laugh echoed somewhere, followed by a voice addressing them: "Oh "My God, what idiots you are"
"It seems that all idiots like to laugh a lot but stop your nonsense and come out here or tell us what you want." Shushin said.
Minghao, still wary, addressed Shushin, "Hey, are you really Shushin?"
Shushin struggled to stand up, her voice full of determination. "Hey, who do you think I am?"
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, the surroundings turned dark, and Ziyi let out a scream. The sounds suddenly faded, and they fell to the unknown ground.