The city of Lanternrock sat beneath the gray sky, its stone walls weathered by countless storms, both natural and human. Its alleys twisted like a maze, and within those shadows, ambition festered.
Hui Jian moved quietly through the streets, his senses sharp. The scent of steamed buns mixed with the sour smell of sweat and iron from the blacksmiths. Lanternrock was a city of contradictions: wealth and squalor side by side, sects and merchants vying for control, all while the common folk struggled to survive.
Hui Jian was a ghost in this place, as he had always been—unseen, unnoticed. His gaze swept over the market square, where traders barked out prices for everything from medicinal herbs to low-grade Gu worms. His fingers brushed the pouch at his side, where the Beast Strength Gu rested. It had served him well in the past, but his thoughts were focused on something far more valuable: the Mind Flower Gu nestled deep in his aperture. It was still a Rank 3 Gu, and refining it into his vital Gu would be his next step.
But that required materials. Rare ones. And in a city like Lanternrock, where every resource was fought over, he needed to play his cards carefully.
Lanternrock was ruled not by one sect, but by many smaller factions, all fighting for scraps of power. Two sects stood at the forefront of this conflict: the Jade Fist Clan and the Red River Sect.
The Jade Fist Clan prided themselves on brute force. Their leader, Mu Xuan, was a towering figure, his fists wrapped in thick bandages, the skin beneath hardened by the Iron Fist Gu that he wielded. His sect was known for their direct, no-nonsense approach—crushing enemies in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Many of their Gu worms, such as the Jade Armor Gu, enhanced physical strength and defense, turning their members into human battering rams.
On the other side was the Red River Sect, a more insidious group. Led by Luo Xi, a woman as cold as the blood she manipulated, the Red River Sect used Gu worms that favored poison and subtlety. The Blood Leech Gu was a signature tool of their assassins, capable of draining an enemy's strength over time. Luo Xi was a strategist, her mind sharp as a blade. Where the Jade Fist Clan relied on force, she relied on guile.
Hui Jian kept to the background, watching as tensions between the two sects reached a boiling point. He had no interest in their petty squabbles, but there was opportunity here. He had heard rumors of an underground black trading market taking place soon, one where rare refinement materials would be sold. If he could slip into that market, he might find what he needed to refine the Mind Flower Gu and grow his strength further.
But first, he needed to secure a way in.
Hui Jian spent his days wandering the market, blending in with the endless flow of people. In the evenings, he frequented the less savory inns and taverns, where the city's underbelly made its deals. It was in one such tavern, The Rusted Coin, that he first heard whispers of Yin Lan, a merchant who dealt in rare and forbidden goods.
Yin Lan was not just any merchant. He was a man who traded with both the Jade Fist Clan and the Red River Sect, selling them weapons, Gu worms, and information. He was a man who knew the pulse of the city better than anyone, and Hui Jian intended to use him.
Hui Jian approached Yin Lan one evening, slipping into the back room of the tavern where the merchant held court. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the smell of smoke and incense. Yin Lan, a slender man with a sharp nose and shrewd eyes, sat behind a low table, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the wood as he considered Hui Jian.
"I hear you deal in rare materials," Hui Jian said, his voice low, measured.
Yin Lan's eyes gleamed with interest. "You hear correctly. But such things come at a price."
"I'm not here to waste your time," Hui Jian replied, sliding a small pouch of primeval stones across the table. "I need refinement materials for a Wisdom-type Gu."
Yin Lan raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as he opened the pouch and examined the stones. After a moment, he nodded, clearly satisfied. "I might have what you're looking for," he said, his voice a soft purr. "But it's not going to be easy to obtain. The black market you're interested in... it's not just about money. Power is the real currency."
Hui Jian's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"The Jade Fist Clan and the Red River Sect are both vying for control of the black market. If you want in, you'll need to play them against each other—or prove yourself useful to one of them."
The next few days were spent in careful observation. Hui Jian watched as the Jade Fist Clan and the Red River Sect maneuvered around each other, each preparing for a confrontation. He was not the only one keeping an eye on the conflict—mercenaries, rogue Gu Masters, and spies from other factions all lingered in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Hui Jian knew that entering the black market through force or guile was risky. But there was another way. He had overheard whispers of an upcoming shipment of weapons being moved by the Red River Sect, a shipment that the Jade Fist Clan would love to intercept. This was the opening he needed.
That evening, in a small tavern near the outskirts of Lanternrock, Hui Jian sat at a table with a minor member of the Jade Fist Clan, a man named Bao Liang. The man was nervous, his eyes darting around the room as he spoke in hushed tones.
"The Red River Sect is moving a shipment through the market district tomorrow night," Bao Liang said, his voice barely audible above the clatter of cups and low murmurs. "If we hit them there, we can cripple their supply line."
Hui Jian nodded slowly, pretending to consider the information. In truth, he had known about the shipment for days. "You'll need to move fast," he said. "They won't be expecting an attack, but they'll be ready for anything."
Bao Liang's eyes lit up. "And you'll help us? You seem like a man who knows his way around a fight."
Hui Jian leaned back in his chair, his expression neutral. "I'll help," he said, "but I want something in return. A way into the black market."
Bao Liang hesitated, then nodded. "Deal."
The next night, the streets of Lanternrock were filled with tension as the Jade Fist Clan prepared their ambush. Hui Jian moved through the shadows, watching from a distance as the two sects clashed. The Red River Sect fought fiercely, their Gu worms filling the air with red mist and blood-sucking leeches, but the Jade Fist Clan was relentless, their fists hardened by Iron Fist Gu, their bodies protected by Jade Armor Gu.
Hui Jian watched the battle unfold, his mind calculating every move. He had no intention of joining the fight—his goal was to create enough chaos to cover his own plans. As the sects tore each other apart, he slipped into the shadows and made his way to the underground black market.
The black market itself was held in a hidden chamber beneath one of the city's many warehouses. The air was thick with anticipation as wealthy merchants, powerful Gu Masters, and sect leaders gathered to buy rare and forbidden items.
Hui Jian stood at the edge of the room, his eyes scanning the crowd. He had made it in, but now came the hard part—securing the materials he needed without drawing too much attention.
As Hui Jian moved through the crowd, he kept his head low, masking his presence among the mingling Gu Masters and traders. His gaze flickered over the wares being displayed—glowing stones, exotic beasts, and Gu worms of every variety, each one more valuable than the last. He spotted items he could only dream of affording at this stage: rare essence-boosting materials, elemental Gu worms, and ancient scrolls of lost techniques. But none of them interested him right now.
His goal was clear: refinement materials for the Mind Flower Gu, and anything that could help further his cultivation. Moving silently, he approached one of the traders, an older woman with sharp eyes and fingers stained black from working with poisons.
"I'm looking for refinement materials," Hui Jian murmured, his tone casual, but the woman's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Refinement materials, eh?" she said, her voice like gravel. "Depends on what you're refining. I don't deal with just anyone."
Hui Jian didn't flinch. "Wisdom-type Gu," he said, his gaze unflinching. "I can pay."
The woman studied him for a long moment, her sharp gaze taking in his calm demeanor and the pouch of primeval stones he subtly flashed. Slowly, she reached beneath her table and pulled out a small, sealed box.
"Rare materials for Wisdom Gu are hard to come by," she said. "This won't come cheap, and I only have a limited stock. If you're serious, show me you have the coin."
Hui Jian placed a handful of stones on the table, not too much to seem desperate, but enough to show that he was serious. The woman's fingers moved deftly, counting the stones with practiced ease, before she handed over the box.
As Hui Jian took it, a chill ran down his spine—something wasn't right. It wasn't just the materials that felt off, but the air itself, the subtle pressure in the room that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He scanned the area again, more cautiously this time.
That's when he noticed them—two figures in the far corner, their eyes fixed on him. They were masked, but the intensity of their gaze was unmistakable. They hadn't moved since he entered, but now, as he handled the box, their posture shifted ever so slightly.
Someone's tracking this, he thought, his mind racing. The ornate box in his hand, though appearing innocuous, likely had a mark—a Gu that allowed someone to trace it. He couldn't risk being followed, especially not with everything he'd worked for hanging in the balance.
Hui Jian quickly pocketed the box and slipped away from the main market, moving deeper into the shadows of the warehouse. The two figures shifted, rising from their seats and following him at a distance.
He had to act fast. The materials he needed were essential, but the risk of being hunted wasn't something he could afford. As he made his way toward the exit, he spotted a back alley leading toward a quieter part of the city. It was now or never.
Hui Jian weaved through the alley, his heart pounding as he ducked around corners, his footsteps nearly silent. The two figures were getting closer, their movements more aggressive as they realized he was slipping away. He couldn't allow them to follow him back to his hideout. His only option was to deal with them now, before they became an even bigger problem.
As he rounded another corner, he came to a stop, quickly scanning his surroundings. The alley was narrow, with a dead-end wall ahead. He could feel the pressure building, his Beast Strength Gu ready at his fingertips. The moment of confrontation was near.
The two pursuers rounded the corner, their movements swift and predatory. The first one lunged, a thin blade flashing in the dim light. Hui Jian sidestepped, his instincts honed from years of survival, and drove a fist into the attacker's gut. The Beast Strength Gu flared to life, lending his punch the force of a sledgehammer. The man crumpled to the ground, coughing up blood as he hit the dirt.
The second assailant was more cautious, circling Hui Jian with the grace of a seasoned fighter. He flicked his wrist, and a black, smoke-like substance began to curl through the air. Poison mist Gu, Hui Jian realized. A tricky opponent.
The mist spread rapidly, filling the narrow alley with toxic fumes. Hui Jian could feel his throat begin to tighten, his vision slightly blurred at the edges. But he had dealt with worse. With a flick of his fingers, he activated a small, hidden Gu—Wind Step Gu. A gust of clean air swirled around him as he darted forward, the movement clearing the poison mist with a rush of wind.
The attacker hesitated, surprised that his trick hadn't worked. That moment was all Hui Jian needed. He darted forward, driving his elbow into the man's sternum with brutal efficiency. The force knocked the air from his lungs, and before he could recover, Hui Jian followed with a swift knee to the temple. The man crumpled beside his partner, unconscious.
Hui Jian stood over them, breathing heavily. The confrontation had been swift, but dangerous. As he rifled through their belongings, he confirmed his suspicion—each of the men carried tracking Gu, designed to follow the signal from the ornate box. The material itself was valuable, but the mark would make him a target wherever he went.
He had to get rid of it.
Carefully removing the tracking Gu, he placed it on one of the unconscious men, binding it to him instead. Then, without a second thought, he smashed the ornate box against the alley wall, the tracking mark splintering as the wood broke.
With the immediate danger neutralized, Hui Jian turned and quickly disappeared into the night, leaving the battered bodies of the mercenaries behind. The materials were still in his possession, but now he had to tread even more carefully. Someone powerful wanted those materials tracked, and they would stop at nothing to find them.
For now, Hui Jian had escaped, but the shadows in Lanternrock were growing darker by the moment.