Secrets and Shadows
Dreams That Would Not Fade
Xiang awake in her room, staring at the ceiling, her mind restless. The dreams had become more vivid, more insistent. Unfamiliar faces, some gentle, some filled with sorrow, whispered to her in the dead of night. A woman with piercing eyes beckoned her forward. An old man, his voice hoarse with age, spoke words she could barely understand.
And then there was him—a shadowed figure she could never quite see, but whose presence sent a chill down her spine.
Were these just dreams? Or was something—someone—trying to tell her something?
As if that wasn't enough, whispers of a different kind had reached her ears. Wen Shia had a secret lover.
The idea unsettled her. Wen Shia was distant, reserved. He had always been a figure of discipline and power, showing little emotion beyond duty. And yet, someone had captured his heart? Who was she? Why was it a secret?
A determination settled in Xiang's chest.
She needed to know the truth.
If she wanted to uncover Wen Shia's past, she had to start by finding people who had known him for years.
Seeking the Truth
The next morning, Xiang began her search. She approached her classmates, keeping her tone casual but her eyes sharp.
"Do you know how long Master Wen Shia has lived here?"
A few students exchanged glances before one replied, "Many years. Longer than most of us have been alive."
Xiang's heart skipped a beat. That long?
"Do you know anyone who has known him for a long time?" she pressed.
A girl with braided hair thought for a moment before saying, "The owners of this school. They've known him for years."
Xiang nodded, storing the information away. If anyone had answers, it was them.
A Summons from Heaven
Elsewhere in the academy, Wen Shia sat in deep meditation when a golden scroll materialized before him, humming with divine energy.
His heart sank as he recognized the seal of Heaven.
Breaking the wax, he unrolled the scroll and read the words within. His expression grew grim.
The God of Heaven was gravely ill. Worse still, the ancient seal that bound a great evil was cracking. Someone had attempted to break it, and the damage was growing. If it shattered completely, it would be beyond repair.
The message was urgent:
Wen Shia must go at once to reinforce the seal.
After the Heavenly God himself, Wen Shia was the only one powerful enough to do it.
And there was one more command beneath it:
Find the lost half of the Element Stone.
Without it, the seal would remain fragile. If the stone was not recovered in time, all efforts to restore the barrier would fail.
Wen Shia's hands tightened around the scroll. He could not afford delay.
Xiang's Request
As Wen Shia prepared for his journey, a sudden knock echoed through his chamber.
He frowned. "Who is it?"
A familiar voice answered, "Master, it's me—Xiang . May I come in?"
At first, he considered refusing, but after a pause, he relented.
"Make it quick," he said. "I am leaving for an important mission."
Xiang stepped inside, her eyes filled with determination.
"Master, I heard you're leaving," she said. "Can I come with you?"
His response was immediate. "No."
Xiang refused to back down.
"Please, Master! I won't be a burden. I want to learn, to see the world. I've never been anywhere before."
Wen Shia narrowed his eyes. Why was she insisting so much?
She clasped her hands together, her voice urgent. "I swear I won't cause trouble. I'll listen to everything you say."
For a long moment, silence stretched between them.
Finally, Wen Shia let out a deep sigh. "Fine. But you must obey every command I give. You will not act on your own, and you will not ask unnecessary questions."
Xiang's face lit up. "I promise!"
"Then pack quickly," he instructed.
She rushed to gather her things, but as she picked up a large bag, Wen Shia stopped her.
"Take only what is necessary," he warned. "The journey will be dangerous."
She nodded but hesitated before asking, "Can my friend XiXi come too?"
Wen Shia frowned.
"No."
But Xiang pleaded again, her voice filled with desperation.
Wen Shia sighed. "Fine. But he stays out of trouble."
Xiang beamed, and Wen Shia only hoped she understood what they were about to face.
Doming's Dark Plot
In the dark heart of the demon realm, Doming sat in silence, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his throne. A guard knelt before him.
"My lord," the guard said, "it seems that Heaven has sent someone to repair the seal again. Every time we try to break it, they come and fix it."
Doming's lips curled into a smirk.
"This time, things will be different," he murmured.
The guard hesitated. "How so?"
Doming's golden eyes glowed with malice.
"The Heavenly God is sick, weaker than ever. He does not have the strength to restore the seal to its full power. The only one left is Wen Shia."
The guard frowned. "But Wen Shia has grown powerful. If he arrives before we break the seal—"
Doming chuckled darkly. "We will lay a trap."
He leaned forward, his voice turning deadly.
"This time, the seal will not be repaired. If it remains weak, the Element Stone will awaken. And once it becomes conscious, only then will we be able to take it."
A dark energy crackled around him.
"For now, we wait. Soon, we will learn where the Element Stone is hidden."
His laughter echoed through the chamber as the flames around him flickered wildly, sensing the coming storm.
The battle for fate had begun.