As Yan Zi crept through the darkened halls, his heart pounded in his chest. Every step was deliberate, cautious. The shadows seemed to stretch longer, the silence around him almost suffocating. His hands clenched tighter around the black scarf that covered his face. He had to keep his movements as discreet as possible—nothing could go wrong tonight. The information he had gathered over the past few days weighed heavily on him, but tonight, he was determined to get closer to the truth.
Suddenly, as he was nearing the wall of the First Elder's residence, a hand landed firmly on his shoulder. The sudden touch made his heart leap in shock, and instinctively, he spun around, his body tensing. "Who's there?" he demanded in a harsh whisper, his voice sharp with surprise.
The moment he turned, he saw the figure standing before him. It was Yan Ru, her face partially illuminated by the moonlight that filtered through the trees. She gave him a soft, amused smile, a finger pressed to her lips as she whispered, "Shhh… don't shout."
Yan Zi blinked, still trying to process the sudden encounter. His heart was still racing from the surprise, but her calm demeanor only made him feel more uneasy. "Yan Ru? What are you doing here?" he asked, lowering his voice as much as he could, though a note of confusion remained.
She tilted her head slightly, eyes glinting with a quiet amusement. "I should be the one asking you that, Zi," she replied softly. "What are you doing sneaking around in the middle of the night? Wearing a black scarf, trying to hide your face. You really look like a thief on a mission! But, I guess, for a thief, you're pretty... obvious." She shook her head, but there was no real judgment in her tone—only a sense of teasing.
Yan Zi frowned, feeling the weight of her words but not allowing himself to show any vulnerability. He glanced around them, making sure no one had noticed their quiet exchange. With a deep sigh, he muttered, "I'm not a thief, Yan Ru. I'm trying to figure out what's going on." His eyes flickered with determination. "I need to keep an eye on your father, Elder Gaung."
Yan Ru raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his confession. "My father?" She shook her head in disbelief. "But why would you need to watch him? He's my father, Zi. He would never do anything like you're suggesting. He's not involved in... whatever you're thinking." Her tone was steady, but there was an underlying softness in it, as if trying to comfort him.
Yan Zi paused, his gaze turning serious. "I don't know if he's involved... but there are things that don't add up. You might not see it, but I've been watching closely, paying attention to details others don't. I have a feeling—one I can't ignore."
Yan Ru let out a quiet sigh, her expression turning thoughtful. She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, eyes narrowing as she processed what he had said. "I understand why you'd be suspicious. But believe me, my father would never..." Her voice trailed off, her confidence faltering slightly.
Yan Zi's gaze softened slightly, understanding her hesitation, but he was resolute. "I know you want to believe the best in him. But sometimes, the people we trust the most aren't as innocent as they appear." His voice was steady but filled with a quiet determination. "I'll find the truth. No matter what it takes."
Yan Ru sighed, shaking her head lightly. "Alright, I get it. But if you're going to do this, then follow me. I'll help you, even if I don't fully agree." She gave him a pointed look, a little smile tugging at her lips. "But first, let's get out of sight. We don't want anyone catching us, right?"
Yan Zi nodded, his mind still swirling with thoughts of the missing pieces in his investigation. "Lead the way."
Without another word, Yan Ru moved quietly, signaling for him to follow her. She led him through a small, hidden path that passed through a secluded corner of the residence. There, she guided him to a narrow space between the outer walls of the building and a stack of crates. The area was well-concealed, perfect for keeping an eye on Elder Gaung's residence without being detected.
For the next few hours, they kept their vigil. Yan Zi's eyes never left the darkened window of Elder Gaung's house. They watched as the elder moved around inside, occasionally meeting with different individuals in private. Each time, Yan Zi's eyes sharpened, scrutinizing every gesture, every word that was exchanged. Was there something hidden in these meetings? Could there be someone else involved in whatever was happening behind the scenes?
Yan Ru remained quiet, though she seemed equally absorbed in the scene unfolding before them. She too, like Yan Zi, was observing the elder's every move. Her face was a mask of calm, but her eyes betrayed a hint of concern.
Eventually, Elder Gaung left his house, stepping into the darkened night. Yan Zi's eyes followed his every movement. "There," he murmured, almost to himself. "Now, maybe we'll find something more."
Yan Ru looked up at him, her expression no longer teasing. "Well, now that you've seen this, do you believe me when I say he isn't involved in anything shady?" Her voice was quiet but tinged with a note of sincerity.
Yan Zi turned to her, his face grim. "I still need to keep watching him. I can't be sure yet. But I'll keep an eye on him from now on."
Yan Ru let out a small laugh, shaking her head in amusement. "You've really become quite the detective, huh? But I have to say, when did you learn all of this sneaky stuff? Wearing a black scarf, creeping around in the night... you really look like a thief." She grinned mischievously, unable to suppress her teasing nature. "You should be careful, Zi. Someone might mistake you for a real one! "
Yan Zi shot her a wry smile but said nothing in return. He was still too focused on the matter at hand. "I'll be more careful next time. But for now, I think we've seen enough for tonight."
With that, they both stood up, quietly slipping back through the shadows. As they made their way back home, Yan Zi couldn't help but feel a small flicker of unease. He knew he was getting closer to the truth, but something still didn't feel right. There were too many unanswered questions—too many people involved who hadn't yet shown their true faces. He couldn't stop now. Not until he had the whole picture. Not until he knew the truth about his father's disappearance.
After a brief, casual conversation with Yan Ru, they parted ways, the weight of their secretive night still hanging over them. Yan Zi returned to his room, his mind still racing with thoughts of Elder Gaung and the shadowy path ahead of him.
As Yan Zi made his way back to his house, his mind was still churning with the events of the night. The image of Elder Gaung's shadowy behavior haunted him, his every step weighed down by the possibility of a deeper conspiracy. The questions swirled like a storm inside him—Who else could be involved? What did Elder Gaung know? He couldn't rest until he found the answers.
Once he arrived at his room, the moonlight filtering in through the window cast a soft glow across the walls. Yan Zi moved toward his bed, his body feeling heavier with every step. His mind buzzed with so many thoughts that he could hardly focus on one thing for too long. As he sat on the edge of his bed, he let out a deep sigh, feeling the exhaustion of the night's events pressing in on him.
Without another thought, he removed the black scarf from his face and laid back, closing his eyes. The softness of his pillow felt like a distant comfort, but his mind was far from restful. His thoughts, tangled in the mystery he was trying to unravel, refused to quiet.
Just as he began to relax, trying to push the day's events to the back of his mind, a voice suddenly echoed in his head, startling him out of his thoughts.
"Kid, you seem to be carrying a lot, being so young."
Yan Zi's eyes snapped open wide, his heart pounding in his chest. His breath caught in his throat. That voice… I've heard it before. The same haunting voice, so familiar, yet so elusive. The words felt like they were coming from somewhere deep inside him, but no one was visible. His eyes darted around the room, half-expecting someone to appear from the shadows.
"That voice again... but... where is it coming from?" he thought, his mind scrambling to understand what was happening. He blinked a few times, as if doing so would make the voice reveal itself. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was not the first time he had heard it. It was like a memory lingering at the edge of his consciousness, but it eluded him every time he tried to grasp it.
"Hello? Who are you?" Yan Zi called out, his voice shaky but firm. He had to know. Whoever it was, they needed to reveal themselves.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. The air in the room felt heavier now, like it was thick with anticipation. Yan Zi's breath slowed as he waited for a response, his senses sharpened, his body tense. But no answer came. Only the soft rustling of the wind outside and the distant sounds of the night filled the silence.
"Why... why just a voice? Why doesn't this person show themselves?" Yan Zi's mind was racing. The voice was so clear, so vivid, yet there was no source, no physical presence. It was as though the words were slipping through the cracks of his reality, coming from a place beyond his reach.
He strained his ears, but no other sound came. He sat up in bed, rubbing his temples as if trying to clear his thoughts, but nothing made sense. His mind was a whirlwind of questions, but there were no answers to be found. He couldn't figure out who or what was behind that voice. It was maddening. He had heard it many times, but no one ever showed themselves. Why? He clenched his fists, frustration mounting within him.
"Is this some kind of illusion? Or am I just losing my mind?" He shook his head, trying to dispel the thoughts that kept growing more intense. His mind was sharp, but there were no connections—no leads, no clues to follow. Just a voice that seemed to slip in and out of his awareness, taunting him with its vague message.
After a long pause, Yan Zi let out a long, heavy sigh. His body slumped slightly, the weight of exhaustion pushing him toward sleep. He glanced once more at the empty corners of the room, wondering if the voice would return again. But it didn't. The silence was overwhelming, almost oppressive.
"I can't keep chasing shadows." He thought, his mind starting to quiet down. There were so many mysteries to solve, so many people to watch, but for now, there was only silence. The voice had slipped away as quickly as it had come.
With a final, frustrated sigh, Yan Zi closed his eyes again. The night stretched on, and though his body was weary, his mind was far from at ease. The voice lingered in his thoughts, but he couldn't chase it any longer. He needed rest.
Tsk. I'll figure this out later, he told himself, trying to push the unsettling feeling aside. His eyelids grew heavy, his thoughts slowing down. The quiet of the room enveloped him like a blanket, and despite the mysteries still swirling in his head, sleep began to take him.