In the meeting hall within Ling Shao's headquarters, the disciples stand in alert rows while Ling Shao watches them with cold eyes.
One disciple:
"Master, there are signs confirming they are heading toward the tunnels."
Ling Shao smiles sarcastically and says:
"Excellent. Head to the tunnels now, and leave no exit unchecked."
One disciple hesitates and asks:
"Elder brother Ling, will you join us?"
Ling Shao bursts into laughter, then replies arrogantly:
"Waste my time with a group of rats? No. Go, and bring me the head of their leader. They are not worth my precious time."
In the dark tunnel, the group moves with difficulty, torn between anxiety and tension.
Suddenly, a mysterious man appears from the shadows, his face hidden by a black mask and his cloak blending with the darkness.
The mysterious man:
"If you want to survive, follow me."
Zan (hesitantly):
"Who are you? And how can we trust you?"
The mysterious man:
"There is no time for questions. If you stay here, you will be killed."
The group is hesitant, but at that moment, they hear footsteps in the distance.
Jian: "Damn it, they're here."
Zan: "What do we do? Follow him or stay here to die?"
Chen: "Is that even a question? Of course we run."
Lian: "I think it's better to follow him."
The group looks at each other, then decides to follow him, realizing they have no other choice.
At Ling Shao's headquarters, a disciple rushes in and kneels:
"Master, the tunnels are empty. We found no one."
Ling Shao slams his fist on the table angrily, then stands up suddenly and heads toward the tunnels himself.
Upon arriving, he searches carefully using his spiritual senses but finds no trace of the group.
He pauses for a moment, staring into the darkness, and mutters angrily:
"If I hadn't been arrogant, maybe the situation would be different... No, this arrogance will never happen again. I will learn from this mistake."
After hours of walking through the tunnel, the group finally emerges into a dense, dark forest.
As they emerge from the tunnel, they find themselves in a dark forest, the ancient trees' branches intertwining as if blocking out the moonlight. The air is heavy, thick with the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves. The sounds of nocturnal creatures rise from every corner, as though watching their movements.
The group is led to an old stone building, seemingly abandoned from the outside but equipped with advanced technology on the inside. In front of them is a simple temple, an ancient stone structure with simple architectural lines, yet it leaves a strong impression. The columns that support it are eroded by time, and the carvings on the walls show traces of age. Despite its simplicity, the faint lights emitted by candles placed on the ground give the place an aura of stillness and peace.
The mysterious agent sits on a simple wooden chair, wearing a cloak that conceals his features.
He begins speaking in a calm yet commanding tone:
"I was going to eliminate you if your operation had gone smoothly. But thanks to your mistakes during the mission, your identities were discovered, and now you're in the same boat."
After hearing this, Chen (sarcastically) says: "Wow, Lian, it seems your little mistake saved our lives."
Lian says nothing, but inside, he shudders, thinking, "If I hadn't made that mistake, we'd all be dead. How foolish we were."
The agent continues:
"The current situation does not allow me to leave you free, but I can offer you a chance. Join us, and you will be protected from the Silver Cloud Sect."
Lian tenses and asks with concern:
"Who are we joining? What organization are you?"
The agent responds firmly:
"That is a question you are not worthy of knowing, even if you join. Now, you only need to decide whether to join or not."
The group falls silent for a moment, then Zan smiles calmly and says:
"No need to answer. I can guess it myself."
The agent looks at Zan in surprise, then says:
"And what do you think, genius?"
Zan confidently responds:
"If you were from the demonic sects, you wouldn't have stopped the operation, and you would have let the chaos run its course. If you were from the righteous sects, you would have revealed everything to entrap the Silver Cloud Sect. The only remaining option is that you are from the royal family."
The mysterious agent is taken aback and laughs softly:
"Good analysis, but not entirely accurate."
Zan responds with a confident smile:
"It is. If I were wrong, you wouldn't have shown this surprise. Furthermore, the current queen is very young, and many nobles and sects are trying to control the kingdom either by marrying their children to her or seizing the throne by force. It makes sense that you would want to limit the chaos that could threaten the kingdom's stability."
The mysterious agent smiles after Zan's accurate analysis and says calmly:
"You are right. We are merely a tool used to protect the stability of the kingdom. We are... the Shadows of the Kingdom."
Everyone is shocked, looking at each other with suspicion and surprise.
The mysterious agent continues:
"The Shadows of the Kingdom are a secret organization, known only to the king in each generation. We are the hidden hand that prevents the kingdom from falling into chaos."
The agent steps forward, saying:
"Now you have a choice. Join us, or return to your uncertain fate. In either case, I will not allow you to destroy the stability of this kingdom."
Chen (sarcastically):
"And do we really have a choice? The answer seems clear."
The agent replies coldly:
"There is always a choice, but it will not be easy."
In a side room, the group gathers to discuss the offer.
Zan:
"This isn't just an offer, it's a veiled threat. If we refuse, we won't leave here alive."
Mi (nervously):
"But joining an organization we know nothing about is also a risk. What guarantees do we have that they won't use us and then dispose of us?"
Lian (anxiously):
"What about the Silver Cloud Sect? If they find our location, we'll die. Our best option now is to join."
Fai (calmly):
"If we refuse, it's clear we'll die. So why all this discussion? Joining them is our only choice."
The group returns to the mysterious agent, and Zan steps forward to speak:
"We'll join you... but on our terms."
The agent smiles slyly:
"You are in no position to set terms, but I am willing to listen."
Zan continues:
"We won't be mindless tools. If you want our loyalty, you need to be transparent. We want to know what we're facing and what we're protecting."
The agent responds firmly:
"Everything in its time. Now, you are part of the Shadows of the Kingdom. Your first mission begins in three months. Stay here during these three months and train well." After saying this, the mysterious agent suddenly disappears.
The group is provided with new equipment and temporary accommodations by the man who brought them here, whose name turns out to be Pang Du. He then gives strict instructions not to leave the area.
Everyone feels tense and fearful about the future, but Zan seems confident as he says:
"If we're playing this game, let's play it to the end."