The journey back from the royal tombs was quiet, but the silence was far from peaceful. Wei Long rode beside the master, his brow furrowed in deep thought. The guards following them wore anxious expressions, their fear from the events underground still fresh. The dark energy they had witnessed in the tombs was not something that mortal minds could easily comprehend, let alone forget.
The master sat atop his horse, calm and composed, his golden eyes fixed on the horizon as they neared the capital. The corruption in the tombs was troubling, but it was only the beginning. He could feel it—an invisible tremor in the air, a disturbance in the Dao itself. Something far darker was spreading through the empire.
Wei Long finally broke the silence. "Master, that… creature. You said it was a fragment of an ancient curse. What did you mean?"
The master turned his gaze toward Wei Long, his voice soft yet resolute. "The curse predates even the Qin dynasty. It is older than the tombs themselves—a remnant of an age when darkness reigned unchecked. Though much has been forgotten by mortals, traces of that darkness remain. It festers in hidden corners, waiting for the chance to return."
Wei Long clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes. "And yet it was able to corrupt the royal tombs… what could have awakened it now?"
"That is the question we must answer," the master replied. "Darkness like that does not stir on its own. Something, or someone, has disturbed it."
Wei Long nodded solemnly. "If such corruption has begun to spread, then the capital is in danger."
The master's gaze hardened. "It already is."
By the time they reached the capital, the sun was sinking below the horizon, painting the skies in hues of crimson and gold. The bustling streets had begun to quiet as lanterns flickered to life, casting pools of light that could not quite dispel the growing darkness.
The master dismounted outside the pavilion, handing his reins to a servant. Wei Long followed closely, his expression grim.
"I must report to His Majesty," Wei Long said. "He must be informed of what we discovered."
The master nodded. "Go. The emperor must prepare for what is to come."
As Wei Long departed, the master turned toward the pavilion. The building stood in its usual, unassuming silence, yet tonight, something felt different. The air around it pulsed faintly with spiritual energy, as though the pavilion itself was awakening in response to the events unfolding in the capital.
He stepped through the doors, and the quiet of the outside world fell away, replaced by the serene hum of the pavilion's inner space. The small shopfront remained untouched, but beyond it, the true space of the pavilion sprawled out into a vast, otherworldly landscape. The small pavilion sat at its center, surrounded by flowing rivers, blooming cherry trees, and shimmering skies. It was a place of peace—a sanctuary untouched by mortal chaos.
The master walked to the pavilion's main hall, where the light of a single lantern flickered. He sat cross-legged at the center of the room, his mind quieting as he entered a meditative state. He needed answers, and the Dao would provide them.
Hours passed in silence as the master delved deeper into his connection with the heavenly laws. The flow of spiritual energy around him grew stronger, swirling like a gentle vortex. His golden eyes were closed, his breathing steady, his consciousness traveling through the unseen threads of the Dao.
Then he saw it—a vision.
Dark clouds gathered over the imperial capital, their edges glowing with an ominous crimson light. From within the darkness, shadowy tendrils stretched out, reaching toward the city like claws seeking to ensnare it. At the center of it all stood a figure cloaked in black, its face obscured, its aura radiating a terrifying, ancient power.
The vision shifted. The royal palace—engulfed in flames. The streets—filled with panicked screams as darkness consumed everything in its path. The cries of the living and the wails of the dead merged into one haunting chorus that echoed through the heavens.
Then, a single voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.
"You cannot stop me. The heavens themselves cannot stop me."
The master's eyes snapped open, the golden glow within them burning brighter than before. The lantern in the hall flickered violently, the flames responding to the surge of energy emanating from his body.
"An ancient power has awakened," he murmured, his voice low and steady. "It seeks to consume the capital… and beyond."
Morning dawned with an eerie stillness. The streets of the capital were unusually quiet, as though the entire city sensed that something was amiss. The master stood outside the pavilion, his golden eyes scanning the horizon. He could feel it now—a faint pulse of dark energy coming from deep within the city.
He turned as Wei Long approached, his armor gleaming under the morning sun.
"Master," Wei Long began, his voice laced with urgency, "there has been another incident. A noble family was attacked in their home last night. The survivors say they saw… shadows."
"Shadows?" the master repeated, his gaze sharpening.
Wei Long nodded grimly. "Yes. Black shadows that moved like living things. The guards who tried to fight them vanished without a trace."
The master's expression darkened. The corruption was spreading faster than he had anticipated.
"Take me there," he said.
The noble family's estate lay in ruins. The once-grand manor was now a crumbling shell, its walls blackened and its halls silent. The air was heavy with the lingering presence of dark energy, thick enough that even the guards could sense it.
The master stepped through the shattered gates, his eyes scanning the destruction. The ground was littered with broken weapons, and the faint smell of ash clung to the air.
"Show me where it began," he instructed.
A surviving servant led him to the main hall, where the floor was marred by deep, black scorch marks. The master knelt, pressing his hand to the ground. Immediately, a surge of cold energy pulsed up his arm, but he held firm, his golden eyes narrowing.
"It is the same energy as in the tombs," he murmured. "But stronger now. The source is growing bolder."
Wei Long's face was grim. "Can it be stopped?"
"Yes," the master replied, rising to his feet. "But only if we find its source and seal it before it consumes the entire capital."
He turned toward the servant. "Tell me, did anything unusual happen before the attack? Anything at all?"
The servant hesitated before answering, his voice trembling. "There was… a stranger. A man in black robes. He came to the estate two days ago, asking strange questions about the royal tombs. We turned him away, but…"
"But what?" the master pressed.
"He said something before he left," the servant whispered. 'The dead do not rest quietly for long.'"
Wei Long's expression hardened. "That man must be connected to this."
The master nodded. "Find him. Search the city if you must, but do not confront him alone. This power is beyond mortal understanding."
Wei Long saluted. "It will be done."
As Wei Long departed, the master turned his gaze toward the horizon. The pulse of dark energy was stronger now, as though the city itself was crying out in pain.
"The shadows are rising," he murmured. "And they will not stop until all is consumed."
He turned back toward the pavilion, his expression resolute. The time for preparation was over. Whatever darkness had awakened, it would soon reveal itself—and he would be ready to meet it.
That night, the master sat in the pavilion's main hall, the golden light of lanterns dancing across the walls. He closed his eyes, reaching out with his spiritual sense, searching for the disturbance.
Far away, in the depths of the city, a faint laugh echoed through the darkness.
"I have been waiting for you."
The master's eyes snapped open, the golden glow within them blazing brightly.
"And I will find you," he vowed, his voice a whisper against the night.