The sight we saw hushed these young disciples, making the cave more eerie and desolate.
I was drenched in mud, blood, and my own sweat, despite the depths of winter. Though eyes were closed, the feeling and foul smell of liquid crimson and dirt enveloped my body making me disgusted and numb. I continued to scorch the piece of clothing I tore off my sleeves from blood; I bandaged it and repeated the process for all of the wounded.
Damn it.
My visions darkened as I barely sat myself to rest. I was feeling weak, yet, at the sight of familiarity I regained some strength. It's him. I beamed with a smile as a familiar silhouette approached me. Lin Jian, my comrade, a fake one....still he was here.
Unexpectedly, I felt joy in my heart. I stood in disbelief. He'd been present through thick and thin, except tonight's massacre. I thought he fled, or worst dead. I recognized his frame at a glance, it stood tall and lean. He had always walked and stood like this in the past, it was no different now.
At the sight of his unchanged geste, poignancy enveloped me. He extended his arms to support me, as I fell unconscious. All had changed tonight; it wasn't going to be the same anymore, but at least we'll still be, right?
As was.
I hope I could be so tired like this that I fall asleep that night, the same night where it all began. It was the 11th month of the previous year. Crickets greeted me as I opened my eyes.I wasn't asleep yet when I opened them the sound they made seemed to get louder. I couldn't sleep again, laying down was no use. I got up and put on my robe.
I seated by the window, bathed in the gentle moonlight that cast a scenic glow over my room, my gaze fixated on the spiritual sword I had recently forged. As the 25th-ranked disciple; A position I had attained through dedication and recent promotion, I reminisced on my humble beginnings in the sect, nurtured under the wings of my Master Xinyue. I had finally garnered recognition as a high-ranking disciple within the Jade Dragon Sect.
Within our sect, high-ranking disciples were categorized into three distinct factions: Jade Weavers, they are masters adept in crafting illusions and spells through the power of the Jade Stone. The second faction of high-ranked disciples were called the Shadow Walkers, they are exceptional fighters, trained to be like lightning. Lastly, the last faction is called Prime Artisans, they are craftsmen renowned for their expertise in crafting spiritual weaponry.
I belong to the third faction; I am a Prime Artisan of Jade Dragon Sect. Aware, a lingering sense of incompleteness nagged at me at the sight of my newly forged weapon, prompting me to seek solace in a comforting cup of hot cocoa milk in the chill of the night. However, a sudden alertness gripped me as I sensed a suspicious movement below, a swift shadowy figure in the darkness that eluded my grasp, leaving me the whole night to ponder the disturbance.
The following morning, amidst the jabber of old companions, a sharp and naggy tone demanded. "You, you! And you, and you!" a boy, barely older than me, pointed a finger at random disciples, "To the cafeteria, all of you! You're on cleaning duty today."
He paused, his eyes landing on me, a flicker of amusement glinting in them. "Oh, and you too, little Miss High and Mighty. Seems like even the esteemed ones have their chores."
I hesitated, anger creeping up my neck. The boy's words stung, and I knew the amusement in his voice was meant to mock. Still, I nodded, my voice barely a whisper. "Yes, I will."
As the boy strutted away, whispers followed him, turning into a tide of laughter once he was out of earshot.
"Yinuo, why did you agree? You don't have to clean anymore! You're practically a senior disciple now," Mei, one of my friends, exclaimed, her eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"Yeah, don't tell me you actually like cleaning. You're a dirt freak." another friend, Lan, chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I felt my cheeks grow even warmer "Shut it juniors," mocking them back.
My previous frustration now replaced with something else as a familiar figure passed by, "I just want to see my...
best friend." The last word is full of hypocrisy. Everyone here knew I was referring to Lin Jian.
Lin Jian and I... we have a difficult relationship, we were friends; fake ones.
They say that we were like parallel lines, we were so alike that we never intersect. He and I both have fakish personalities, ambitious, and cunning. One day we clashed and saw each other through. I guess we wanted to see how far we can go, from then we became good, very good friends .
The thought of seeing him, perhaps even talking to him, was enough to make my day better, we love being fake to each other. It was a foolish reason, I knew! But it was the only one that mattered at that moment.
"It's alright, Yinuo," Mei said gently, understanding flickering in her eyes. "We know you have your reasons."
I nodded, a faint smile playing on my lips. It was a silly situation but I knew we weren't entirely.... fake with one another.
30 minutes into the cleaning the clatter of the broom against the wooden floor momentarily ceased as Lin Jian appeared in the doorway, a mischievous grin lighting up his face. "Happy birthday to me!" he announced, holding out a small, paper bag. "A little something to celebrate. And, of course, I couldn't do it without inviting you to a little gathering later. Come, join me?"
I paused, spraying a cleaning mist on my hands to get rid of dirt, and peered into the bag. It was brimming with plump lotus seeds. "Lotus seeds? How thoughtful!" I couldn't help but smile, eyebrow raised. He'd remembered my disgust for the delicate, sweet taste.
"Just a small token," he chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "But I hope you'll join me. We'll have food, music, and a good company. Alright?"
He knew how to touch my nerves. The simple gesture, the fake warmth in his voice, it all resonated with a comforting familiarity. "Of course, I'll be with you." I said, my voice reflecting his joyous warmth.
It did a lot of time for us to successfully get permission to go out. As we strolled through the bustling marketplace, the vibrant colors and cacophony of voices enveloped us. The air was thick with the scents of exotic spices and freshly baked pastries.
"Do you remember that day in the peach orchard, six years ago?" I asked Lin Jian, a twinkle in my eye.
"Of course, I could never forget," he replied, a soft smile on his lips as we reminisced. Indeed, it was an unforgettable experience, I fell on him and we tumbled over the small hill. I didn't recover from my injuries for 2 months!
"You were perched in a tree, fast asleep, when you toppled into my arms." he faked the scenario and I followed along.
"And as I gazed up into your eyes, time seemed to stand still," I added, a wistful note in my voice. "The peach blossoms danced in the breeze."
"We flew hand in hand, carried by the wind" Lin Jian reminisced. I paused, as he continued walking, "It was as if we were the only two souls in existence, lost in our own world." He remarked.
"From that moment on, we knew our fates were intertwined," I said. "We became inseparable, sharing laughter, secrets, and dreams."
In a sudden movement Lin Jian's hand grabbed mine.
"EGH! Get your dirty hands off my clean dress." pulling my sleeves back, an eyebrow raised.
"Shut it," his hands just a few inches from my face. "Look," I looked in the direction he was referring to.
The vibrant atmosphere was abruptly shattered by the grim procession of guards clad in green and white. They bore lifeless bodies draped in white cloth, their faces hidden from view.
Lin Jian's curiosity piqued, and he approached the guards. "Good day, may I ask what happened to them?" he asked.
A somber expression crossed the guards' faces. "These individuals, travelers,"one guard replied in a hushed tone, "met their demise at Jade Falls."
Lin Jian's eyes widened in alarm. "Jade Falls? But that's mere leagues away from here."
"Aye, kid" the guard continued, "they were found drowned in the treacherous waters, their bodies carried downstream by the relentless current."
"Sir, can I perhaps take a look?" I plugged into their conversation. He hesitated, "Sorry young lady and young man, just let us handle it." He thought we were just bypassers who were curious and wasting time, so I convinced him and told him that I could help him. He eventually agreed.
As I lifted the drenched clothe, I immediately noticed a sword wound. "There's a wound." I uttered.
"Yes, the exact cause of their death is still unknown, most likely they were murdered and thrown into the water. Either way, they died in Jade falls." he explained.
The wound was from sword that I forge; it was abundant in yang energy and the way it sliced through skin confirmed my assumption.
It was someone form my sect. I made three weapon using yang stone: A crossbow, a spear and a sword. There was a suspect now.