"Welcome Susu." Master Xinyue started. I had talked to him about Susu these following days, today he got to meet her in person.
Susu bowed to Master Xinyue, "Greetings to Master Xinyue! Master Yinuo talks about you a lot. You're really great!" she smiled.
Master chuckled at her remark. "Thank you Susu! Yinuo talks about you a lot too."
They exchanged a few words, after Susu finally began "Master Xinyue," her voice a soft whisper, "We come before you with a grave matter. The recent deaths in Jade Falls are troubling."
Master Xinyue, his eyes veiled in contemplation, raised a hand, silencing her. "I know, Susu. I am aware of the whispers." He sighed, his face etched with worry.
I stepped forward, my resolve hardening. "We believe, Master, that this is no ordinary matter. Someone is trying to get hold of the ancient artifact that lies beneath Jade falls."
The Master looked at me, his gaze piercing.
"The bodies...they are deprived of their energy threads, right Master?" Susu interjected.
"Indeed. However how does it relate to the artifact." he asked.
"Master you might now know, but the ancient artifact requires chains of human energy thread and essense to unlock. The deaths are surely related to it." Susu enlightened him.
"That's why, these deaths aren't mere causes of drowning, murders, or demons." I spoke. "Master, I propose a deeper investigation on this matter. This act must immediately be stopped."
He paused, "This is a dangerous path, child. It might be beyond your grasp."
I protested , "Master, you know I can do it you're just worried of me, right? Master, let me try. I cannot stand by and watch as more innocents perish."
"I agree," Susu added, "How about an investigation group? We'll need a team strong and capable individuals."
Master Xinyue looked at us, considering. Finally, he nodded. "Very well. I trust your judgment child. You, Susu, along with Bai Lin, Hua Lin, and two other cultivators will spearhead this investigation. Elder Li will also be joining you."
"Thank you, Master!" My heart soared with relief.
"Master, can we bring another person. He had been eyeing on this case too." I added
Master Xinyue's face hardened. His mind is set. This is a decision he has made.
Susu placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "We will do our best, Yinuo. Together, we will find the truth."
I knew she was right. Though Lin Jian was a valuable asset, we would succeed. Together, we would uncover the truth behind the deaths in Jade Falls, even without him.
I discussed the matter with Lin Jian, he wasn't happy that I said we would still succeed even without him, but he couldn't do anything, so he could only stay mad. As we anticipated a period of separation, we bonded over plums that night.
"I want you to be safe on your trip for the investigation." he spoke, his face suddenly seriously sad and concerned, his eyes as bright as the moonlight.
My body quivered in such words. How cheesy! There he goes again with his sarcasm.
"I'll make sure to take care, don't worry." I dramatically reassured him, playing along.
His warm hands held mine, as he looked at the moon "Have you thought about our future? How many kids do you see us having?"
This was another level that he was playing, I couldn't help but choke on my saliva, chuckled as he patted my back. It took me some time to recover to my seriousness. He was ridiculous!
"I imagine a couple, maybe three. And where do you see us living?" I replied, finally after forever.
"Somewhere quiet, maybe by the sea. What about you?" he fantasized.
I sweetly smiled at him. "That sounds perfect. A peaceful seaside retreat."
"We'll need a BIG house for all those kids!" He let out a laugh on the joke he made as I stared, he was so bad at jokes. Even the crickets laughed at him.
I giggled, although it wasn't funny, the way he laughed at it, made me smile.
"You laughed at my joke!" he bragged.
"It wasn't even funny. I just laughed at the way you laughed, but yes, we'll figure it out. " I countered him.
I dedicated the remaining hours to packing, and the following day marked our departure.
"Yinuo, Susu, I'm sure this carriage ride is quite the change from your usual life in the mountains," Hua Lin chuckled, her melodic voice a soothing balm in the otherwise tense atmosphere. She's actually good, maybe I misjudged her about the murder.
We smiled, Susu's eyes twinkling with a lively curiosity. "Indeed, senior Hua Lin. But we'll sure enjoy the journey nonetheless. The bustling towns, the changing landscapes... it's a welcome respite from our usual solitude." she said.
Bai Lin, ever the stoic, simply nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery. The other two cultivators, Cai and Ming, engaged in hushed whispers about their previous experiences with the Jade Falls, their faces shadowed with an unspoken anxiety.
Elder Li, the seasoned leader of this expedition, cleared his throat. "We'll reach the first town by evening. We can stop at the Mountain Mist Inn for the night. It's a decent place, though not particularly grand."
"And then?" I asked, my mind already buzzing with the investigation ahead. "Where do we go after that?"
Elder Li smiled, a faint twinkle in his eyes. "We'll be staying at Duke Lin's estate for the next two nights. He's graciously offered his hospitality, and it's a strategic location for our research. It seems the Duke himself has some concerns regarding the Jade Falls."
As dusk painted the sky with hues of orange and purple, our carriage pulled up to the Mountain Mist Inn. The warm, welcoming scent of roasted meat and spiced tea greeted us as we stepped inside.
We settled for the night and continued our journey the next day.
As the morning arrived we continued our travel, and had just gotten in Duke Lin's mansion. I had barely settled into a cozy corner when a young boy, no older than ten, approached me, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope.
"Excuse me, pretty miss ," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "My name is Xiao. I live with my grandfather, the Duke, and... and there's something wrong with our beloved Eternal Tree."
His voice cracked with emotion, and he clutched at his sleeves as if to stop himself from breaking down entirely.
"The tree is withering," he whispered, "and my grandfather says it's connected to the Jade Falls somehow. Can you help us?"
Intrigued, I leaned closer, a strange feeling of familiarity settling in my gut. "Tell me more about this Eternal Tree."
Xiao led me out to the courtyard, where a magnificent, ancient tree stood, its branches bare and its leaves withered. A profound sadness radiated from it, a silent plea echoing through the air.
"It used to be so vibrant, full of life!" Xiao cried, his voice choked with tears. "It's the heart of our garden, a symbol of our family's prosperity... but now it's dying."
As I placed my hand on the tree's rough bark, an unfamiliar energy pulsed beneath my fingertips. It was a faint, almost imperceptible tremor, but it felt familiar, eerily connected to the Jade Falls we were about to investigate.
"This tree," I said, a profound realization dawning on me, "this tree is not just connected to the Jade Falls... it's a part of it."