The village was quiet as Lin Yu approached. Lanterns flickered in the wind, casting faint pools of light on the narrow streets. The houses were simple, their wooden walls weathered by time, and the stone paths were well-worn from generations of footsteps. Lin Yu's own feet felt heavy as he walked, his body still recovering from the fight at the river and the strange encounter with the veiled woman.
He glanced up toward the small house that belonged to his master, tucked away on the far side of the village. A single light burned in the window, casting a soft glow across the threshold. Lin Yu felt a surge of emotions—relief, guilt, and uncertainty—swell within him. His master had always been the one constant in his life, a figure of wisdom and guidance. But now, knowing what he did about his bloodline and the serpent's power, he wasn't sure what to expect.
Would his master have answers, or had he been hiding the truth all along?
Lin Yu approached the door and hesitated. He took a deep breath before pushing it open. The interior of the house was warm, the faint scent of incense filling the air. Scrolls and books lined the shelves, and an old, worn-out rug covered the floor. His master, Elder Wu, sat cross-legged in the center of the room, his long, white beard resting gently on his chest as he meditated.
Without opening his eyes, Elder Wu spoke, his voice soft yet filled with authority. "You've returned. I was beginning to wonder if you would."
Lin Yu stepped inside and closed the door behind him. "Master, I—"
Elder Wu raised a hand, silencing him. "I felt the disturbance by the river. The Black Lotus Sect… they came for you, didn't they?"
Lin Yu nodded, though his master still had his eyes closed. "They know about my bloodline, about Xiangliu. One of their leaders tried to take me… or the power. I fought them off, but…" Lin Yu trailed off, unsure how to explain what had happened next. The moment in the river, when he had let the serpent's power take hold, still felt raw and confusing.
Elder Wu finally opened his eyes, studying Lin Yu with a penetrating gaze. His old, wise eyes seemed to see straight through him, reading every thought and feeling that Lin Yu tried to keep hidden.
"You gave in to the serpent's power," Elder Wu said, more a statement than a question.
Lin Yu swallowed hard. "I didn't have a choice. I was… I was going to die if I didn't. The power—it's too much, Master. I don't know how to control it."
Elder Wu sighed deeply, standing up from his meditative pose with a grace that belied his age. He walked over to one of the shelves, pulling down an old, dusty scroll. "This was always going to happen, Lin Yu. I've tried to prepare you for as long as I could, but some things can't be taught. The power of Xiangliu isn't just a force—it's alive, and it has a will of its own."
He unrolled the scroll on the floor, revealing a detailed drawing of the nine-headed serpent, Xiangliu, its heads coiled and intertwined, each one bearing a different expression. The image seemed to writhe on the paper, as if the creature were still alive, still waiting to be set free.
"I didn't tell you everything about your heritage because I hoped—foolishly, perhaps—that you could avoid this fate," Elder Wu said, his voice heavy with regret. "But the moment you were born, marked by the serpent's blood, it was inevitable. The sects have feared Xiangliu's return for centuries. And now, with his power awakening in you, they will stop at nothing to claim it."
Lin Yu knelt down next to the scroll, staring at the serpent's eyes—sharp, malicious, and filled with ancient wisdom. "But why me, Master? Why was I chosen? What does Xiangliu want from me?"
Elder Wu looked down at Lin Yu, his expression solemn. "Xiangliu's power is tied to the rivers, to the natural flow of life and death. When the immortals defeated him and sealed him within the Nine Cursed Rivers, they thought his influence was ended. But the serpent's spirit lingers, always seeking a vessel to carry on his will."
He gestured to the mark on Lin Yu's wrist. "That mark is his claim on you. Through your bloodline, Xiangliu lives. But whether you serve him or resist him is up to you. The serpent can be controlled, Lin Yu—but it will take everything you have. And even then, the cost may be too great."
Lin Yu stared at the mark, the faint glow barely visible now, but still there, a constant reminder of what lay within him. "I don't want this power," he whispered, more to himself than to his master. "I never asked for it."
"Few ever ask for the burdens they are given," Elder Wu said gently. "But you are strong, Lin Yu. Stronger than you know. The fact that you fought the serpent's influence and survived the Black Lotus Sect proves that. But strength alone won't be enough."
Lin Yu clenched his fists, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Then what am I supposed to do? I can't keep running from the sects, and I can't let this power consume me. How do I fight something that's already inside me?"
Elder Wu studied him for a long moment, then walked over to a small chest in the corner of the room. He unlocked it and carefully lifted the lid, pulling out a small, intricately carved jade amulet. It shimmered faintly in the lantern light, its surface etched with symbols Lin Yu didn't recognize.
"This," Elder Wu said, holding the amulet out to Lin Yu, "was crafted by the first cultivators who fought against Xiangliu. It is an ancient relic, imbued with the power of the rivers themselves. It can help you—temporarily—bind the serpent's influence, giving you time to train, to strengthen your will. But know this: it is not a permanent solution. The power of Xiangliu will continue to grow, and one day, this amulet may not be enough to hold it back."
Lin Yu took the amulet, feeling the cool weight of it in his hand. "How does it work?"
"Wear it close to your skin," Elder Wu instructed. "It will suppress the serpent's influence, but only so long as you remain disciplined. If you lose focus, even for a moment, the power will break through."
Lin Yu nodded, slipping the amulet around his neck. As soon as it touched his skin, he felt a strange sensation—a gentle, cooling presence that seemed to dampen the fiery pulse of the serpent's mark. The whispers in his mind quieted, though they didn't disappear entirely.
"It feels… different," Lin Yu said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Like a weight has been lifted."
Elder Wu smiled faintly. "Good. But remember, this is only the beginning. The sects will continue to hunt you, and the power inside you will continue to grow. You must train harder than ever before, not just to strengthen your body, but to sharpen your mind. Only then will you be ready for what lies ahead."
Lin Yu stood, determination hardening his resolve. "I will train, Master. I will fight, and I will not let the serpent control me."
Elder Wu placed a hand on Lin Yu's shoulder, his gaze filled with both pride and sorrow. "I know you will, my student. But be careful. Xiangliu is not just a force of nature—he is a cunning and patient spirit. He will test you in ways you cannot imagine. Trust in your strength, but do not forget the importance of humility. The path ahead is fraught with danger, but it is your path to walk."
Lin Yu bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master. For everything."
Elder Wu nodded, though the weight of his words seemed to hang in the air between them. As Lin Yu left the house and stepped back into the cool night, he felt the jade amulet press against his chest, its presence reassuring. For the first time in days, the chaotic storm of thoughts in his mind quieted, and a sense of clarity settled over him.
But even with the amulet's protection, Lin Yu knew this was only a temporary reprieve. The sects were coming, and Xiangliu's power would not remain dormant forever. There would come a day when he would have to face the serpent inside him, and on that day, the fate of the world might rest on his shoulders.
As he made his way back toward the village center, his thoughts turned to the veiled woman. Who was she, really? And what did she want? Her words had lingered with him, and despite his distrust, he couldn't shake the feeling that she knew more about his situation than she had let on.
The time for answers would come, but for now, Lin Yu steeled himself for the days ahead. His journey was only beginning, and the path forward was one he would have to carve with his own hands.