Outside the room, Yu Chen and Wei Yu stood in tense silence. Not far off, Chen Yuxuan took his leave, disappearing into the distance without a backward glance. Wei Yu shifted his gaze to Yu Chen, noticing the anxious furrow in his Shizun's brow. After all, Chen Jiu was not only Yu Chen's adoptive father but also his revered master.
"Shizun, I need to go to the library," Wei Yu said, determination sharpening his tone. He couldn't ignore the questions gnawing at him—the artifact's malfunction, Chen Jiu's mysterious illness—there was more to this than met the eye.
Yu Chen gave a soft, noncommittal hum in response. Without further delay, Wei Yu turned and sprinted off, his energy a stark contrast to Yu Chen's stillness. Left alone, Yu Chen's gaze lingered on the retreating figure, his eyes betraying an unspoken emotion.
***
A quiet room filled with the faint scent of ink and wood shavings. Ling Xiao was immersed in his work, his brush gliding over paper as he practiced calligraphy, while nearby, a half-finished sculpture awaited his attention. The serenity shattered when the door to his residence burst open.
Ling Xiao's hand stilled as he turned to the intruder. His brows furrowed as Chen Yuxuan stepped inside uninvited, his presence exuding an air of casual defiance.
"I don't recall giving you permission to enter," Ling Xiao snapped, his tone sharp with irritation.
Chen Yuxuan smirked, his expression infuriatingly relaxed. He let his gaze wander around the room, studying the sculptures and scattered brushes with disinterest before finally speaking.
"You knew he wasn't the one, didn't you?"
Ling Xiao's jaw tightened. "What are you implying, Chen Yuxuan?"
"You knew Yu Chen wasn't mixed-blood," Chen Yuxuan continued, his voice laced with quiet accusation. "When I confronted you about it, you were too confident—unnaturally so."
Ling Xiao crossed his arms, his posture defensive but steady. "That's because I trust Yu Chen."
Chen Yuxuan stepped closer, his movements deliberate, his presence suffocating. The distance between them evaporated until their faces were mere centimeters apart. His sharp eyes bore into Ling Xiao's, and his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"Trust? Or a convenient excuse?" His gaze narrowed further. "I heard something strange. During that mission down the mountain—when you claimed an elder was calling you back—there was no such summons."
Ling Xiao's eyes flickered briefly with something unreadable, but he held his ground. "And what of it?" he retorted. "You're grasping at shadows."
Chen Yuxuan's smirk deepened. "Am I? Or are you the one hiding something?"
"I have no ill intentions, I felt unwell and left." Ling Xiao stated blankly.
The tension between them boiled over. Chen Yuxuan struck first, a quick jab to test Ling Xiao's reaction. Ling Xiao deflected effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. Their clash quickly escalated into a flurry of strikes, their hands and arms weaving an intricate dance of combat.
Ling Xiao's sharp gaze never left Chen Yuxuan's, his frustration simmering as his opponent's smirk remained infuriatingly intact. "What is your real goal here, Peacock?"
Chen Yuxuan dodged a strike and countered, his movements smooth yet calculated. He was waiting for an opening. "Just confirming a suspicion over grown rooster," he said lightly, as if they weren't locked in a fierce battle.
In a moment of proximity, Chen Yuxuan brushed his fingers subtly against Ling Xiao's wrist. It was fleeting—barely noticeable amidst the chaos of their fight—but he felt the warmth of Ling Xiao's blood transfer to the small blade hidden in his sleeve. He stepped back, a victorious glint in his eyes.
"Enough." Ling Xiao's voice was firm as he halted his next attack, his breathing steady despite the exertion. "If you've come here to waste my time, you can leave."
Chen Yuxuan straightened, brushing imaginary dust from his robe. "I think I've learned all I needed." His tone was annoyingly smug as he turned to the door.
Ling Xiao watched him warily. "Don't come back unless you have a proper reason."
Chen Yuxuan paused at the threshold and glanced over his shoulder, his smirk softening into something almost playful. He raised a hand that was holding the fan, an exaggerated wave.
"Goodbye, over grown rooster," he said, his voice lilting with unexpected joy. His smile widened at the sight of Ling Xiao's stunned expression, his usual composure cracking just enough to show a hint of flustered annoyance.
"Don't let me catch you sneaking around again!" Ling Xiao barked after him, his tone betraying his frustration as well as his lingering embarrassment.
Chen Yuxuan chuckled, his footsteps light as he disappeared into the night. He slipped the blood-stained blade into his sleeve, a small victory glinting in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Ling Xiao stood frozen in place, his fingers curling into fists as he tried to quell the strange mixture of anger and unease stirring within him.
And somewhere down the mountain, Chen Yuxuan's soft laughter echoed, his mind already plotting on how to kill that bastard.
***
In the dimly lit sect library, Wei Yu moved anxiously between towering bookshelves, his fingers skimming over the spines of countless texts. He was on a mission to find anything about the magical artifact known as the Bowl of Truth. His frustration grew as he rummaged through shelf after shelf without success. Just as he was about to give up, a book caught his attention—not about the Bowl of Truth but rather the history of the Heaven Clan Sect.
Curiosity sparked, and Wei Yu slid the book from its place. "Might be worth a read later," he muttered, slipping it into his bag for safekeeping. His hand drifted to his chest, where a peculiar talisman was hidden in his robes.
This talisman was unlike anything Wei Yu had encountered before. It wasn't crafted by demonic cultivators or the righteous faction; its design and energy were foreign. He had found it by sheer chance on the body of Yan Bo's uncle during a recent mission and had taken it discreetly. At first, he thought of informing Yu Chen, but something about the talisman felt... personal. Now, Wei Yu wasn't so sure if involving his Shizun was the right decision.
Determined to uncover the truth, Wei Yu's eyes darted across the shelves until they landed on a promising title: Ghostly Talismans. He grabbed the book eagerly, dust puffing into the air, and carried it to a nearby reading table.
Sitting down, Wei Yu carefully unfolded the talisman, its intricate markings catching the faint light. He flipped through the pages of the book, comparing the symbols and inscriptions, but none seemed to match. His brows knitted in frustration as he turned page after page, his impatience growing.
Just as he was about to give up, a peculiar illustration caught his eye. His curiosity momentarily veered off course. The page depicted a talisman with the ability to transfer a person's consciousness into paper. "So cool!" he whispered with a grin, before shaking his head. "No, not important!"
Refocusing, he continued scanning the pages, and at last, his search bore fruit. Wei Yu's breath hitched as he stared at the image of a talisman nearly identical to the one in his possession. The book described it as the Talisman of Absolute Control.
Wei Yu's eyes widened as he read further:
This talisman, rare and ancient, grants the user the ability to manipulate others' actions, overriding their will regardless of their cultivation level. Such power comes at great risk, for it draws upon the lifeforce of the user and the controlled individual, often with dire consequences.
Wei Yu leaned back, his mind racing. "Why... why would Yan Bo's uncle have something like this?" he muttered under his breath. "Was he planning to use it on someone? Or was it meant for self-defense?"
His thoughts spiraled further. The implications were disturbing—what could Yan Bo's uncle have been involved in that required such a sinister object? And, more importantly, had anyone else in the sect known about it?
Wei Yu's grip on the talisman tightened. A creeping unease settled over him as a darker thought surfaced: Could I have been the target?
He closed the book abruptly and glanced around the library as if expecting someone to emerge from the shadows. The room was silent, but the tension in his chest didn't ease. Wei Yu stuffed the talisman back into his robes and slid the book into his bag.
"This doesn't add up," he whispered, rising to his feet. His mind churned with questions, but one thing was clear—he needed answers. And if the talisman had such power, it was something the wrong hands couldn't possess.
"What doesn't add up?" A voice spoke behind Wei Yu, which made his hair stood up as he turned to punch the new comer.