The village elder led Lin Feng, Mei Yun, and Master Lei to a small inn near the village square. The innkeeper, a plump woman with a warm smile, quickly showed them to their rooms and promised a hearty meal to be served in the common room shortly.
As they settled in, the comfort of the simple but clean accommodations was a welcome change from the hardships of the road. Lin Feng stretched out on the bed, feeling the tension in his muscles begin to ease. But despite the relative safety of the village, his mind was still racing. The encounter in the Whispering Forest had left him with more questions than answers, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the forest had revealed something crucial, though he couldn't yet understand what.
After a quick wash to remove the grime of travel, Lin Feng and Mei Yun joined Master Lei in the common room. The innkeeper had laid out a spread of fresh bread, roasted meat, and steaming bowls of stew, and the smell made Lin Feng's stomach growl. They ate in silence at first, too hungry to talk, but soon the warmth of the food and the comfortable surroundings loosened their tongues.
"So, what's the plan now?" Mei Yun asked between bites of bread. "We're getting closer to the heart of the Silver Dragon Clan's territory, but what do we do when we get there?"
Master Lei set down his cup of tea, his expression thoughtful. "We'll need more information before we can make our next move. The village elder might know something useful. This place is remote, but news travels in strange ways. If the Silver Dragon Clan has been active in the area, the villagers might have heard something."
Lin Feng nodded. "I'll talk to the elder in the morning. Maybe he can give us some insight into the local rumors or any unusual activity."
Master Lei agreed. "We must also be prepared for the possibility that the clan already knows we're coming. The Whispering Forest wasn't just a random encounter. Someone or something is keeping track of our movements."
A heavy silence fell over the table as the weight of his words settled in. The Silver Dragon Clan was powerful, and if they were truly aware of Lin Feng's presence, it could mean they were walking into a trap. But they had come too far to turn back now. Lin Feng's resolve hardened. Whatever the risks, he would see this through.
After the meal, they retired to their rooms for the night. Lin Feng lay awake for some time, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling. His father's image from the forest haunted him. The words the illusion had spoken echoed in his mind, reopening old wounds that he had tried to bury.
He wondered if his father would ever forgive him—or if he even should seek that forgiveness. There was a part of him that still craved his father's approval, despite everything. But another part of him knew that his father's expectations had always been a chain around his neck, one that he had to break if he ever wanted to find his own path.
Eventually, sleep claimed him, and his dreams were filled with fragments of memories—his father's stern face, the burning of his family's estate, and the cold, accusing eyes of the Silver Dragon Clan's elders.
---
The next morning, Lin Feng rose early, eager to speak with the village elder. Mei Yun and Master Lei were already awake, discussing their plans for the day when he joined them.
"I'm going to see the elder," Lin Feng said, grabbing a piece of fruit from the table. "I'll find out if he knows anything about the clan's movements or any strange occurrences in the area."
"Good idea," Master Lei replied. "Mei Yun and I will stay here and keep a low profile. We don't want to draw any unnecessary attention."
Lin Feng nodded and made his way out of the inn, the early morning sun casting long shadows across the village. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of pine and earth. The village was already stirring to life, with villagers tending to their morning chores and children chasing each other through the streets.
He found the elder in a small, tidy house on the edge of the village. The elder was sitting on his porch, a pipe in hand, watching the world go by with a serene expression. When he saw Lin Feng approaching, he smiled and waved him over.
"Ah, young man," the elder greeted warmly. "I trust you and your companions slept well?"
"We did, thank you," Lin Feng replied, taking a seat beside the elder. "I wanted to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind. We're travelers, but we've heard some rumors about the Silver Dragon Clan and their activities in the region. I was wondering if you might have heard anything."
The elder's smile faded slightly, and he took a long puff on his pipe before responding. "The Silver Dragon Clan, you say? A dangerous group to be asking about, my boy. But I can tell you this—there have been whispers in the wind, rumors of strange happenings in the mountains to the east. Some say the clan has been gathering forces, though no one knows for what purpose."
Lin Feng leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Gathering forces? Do you know where exactly?"
The elder shook his head. "Not precisely. But there's an old fortress in the mountains, long abandoned. It's said to be cursed, but if the clan is involved, they might be using it as a base. No one from the village dares go near it, though. Too many disappearances, too many dark tales."
Lin Feng's mind raced. An abandoned fortress in the mountains could be the perfect place for the Silver Dragon Clan to regroup and plot. If they were amassing power, it might explain why they were after the shards and why they were so determined to stop him.
"Thank you," Lin Feng said, standing up. "You've been a great help."
The elder nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Be careful, young man. The Silver Dragon Clan is not to be trifled with. And whatever you're seeking, make sure it's worth the price you might have to pay."
Lin Feng left the elder's house with a renewed sense of urgency. He had a destination now—a place where the answers he sought might be waiting. But he also knew that the journey ahead would be even more dangerous than the one they had just completed. The mountains were treacherous, and if the rumors were true, the fortress would be heavily guarded.
When he returned to the inn, he found Mei Yun and Master Lei waiting for him. He quickly relayed what the elder had told him, and they began to discuss their next move.
"We need to reach that fortress," Lin Feng said. "If the Silver Dragon Clan is gathering there, it might be our best chance to find out what they're planning—and to stop them."
Master Lei nodded, his expression serious. "But we need to be careful. If the fortress is as dangerous as the elder suggested, we can't rush in without a plan. We'll need to scout the area, find the best way to approach without being detected."
Mei Yun agreed. "We've come this far. We can't afford to make any mistakes now."
As they finalized their plans, Lin Feng felt a strange sense of calm settle over him. The path ahead was fraught with peril, but he was no longer the boy who had been exiled from the Silver Dragon Clan. He had faced his past, confronted his fears, and emerged stronger.