The vast library of Jinxing lay eerily silent, its usual bustle temporarily absent as it was nighttime. The library hall was empty, with the exception of the central table, where Feng Zhenyu sat in contemplative solitude.
Feng Zhenyu's gaze, was fixed on a flute resting in his hands. His slender fingers absentmindedly traced the instrument's intricate carvings, as if seeking solace in its gentle curves.
"Boo!"
Feng Zhenyu's calm demeanor remained unbroken as he turned to face the sudden interruption that came from behind him.
Lin Xiaowei's mischievous grin greeted him, accompanied by a playful squeeze on his shoulders.
"Hey there," Feng Zhenyu simply said, his small smile hinting at amusement.
Lin Xiaowei chuckled, his eyes sparkling. "Ah-Zhen, you are no fun! What are you, made of stone? You're impossible to rattle." He said as he settled on the chair beside Feng Zhenyu, his gaze drifting to the flute.
Feng Zhenyu's focus remained on the instrument, his expression serene.
Lin Xiaowei's voice took on a softer tone. "Is that a flute I see?"
"Mn." Feng Zhenyu hummed in response, and after a pause, he continued, "I could have sworn this flute belongs to me."
Lin Xiaowei's brows furrowed. "Doesn't it?"
Feng Zhenyu shook his head. "I had one, strikingly similar to this one, so it might… but I found it on someone unexpected. So I'm unsure what to think."
Lin Xiaowei chuckled, "You know you and your fuzzy memory. You must have forgotten that you gave it to this 'unexpected someone'."
"No." Feng Zhenyu denied with a firm, but gentle tone. "I clearly remember who I gave it to."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted away, searching deep into his memories.
He was a teenager at the time, and he was sitting on the branch of a tree, playing a flute, but he wasn't alone. A boy in black robes who was of the same age as him was seated beside him, and he was smiling brightly as he watched Feng Zhenyu play the flute.
After Feng Zhenyu finished playing a note on the flute, he passed the flute to the other boy, who gladly accepted it, with his grey eyes gleaming in excitement.
Feng Zhenyu's eyes reflected his thoughts, his expression, dreamy. "I gave it to... someone special." His voice was barely above a whisper.
Lin Xiaowei was taken aback by the profound emotions he could see in the blue orbs of Feng Zhenyu's eyes.
At first, he thought, 'Is this really about a flute?' But then, he realized that it wasn't about the flute, instead, it was about the person he had given the flute to.
Feng Zhenyu, typically an enigmatic introvert, rarely revealed his emotions, so witnessing Feng Zhenyu's vulnerability stirred Lin Xiaowei's concern. He decided to shed his playful demeanor and offer genuine advice.
"Then, why don't you ask the person you gave it to?"
Feng Zhenyu turned to his side, to face Lin Xiaowei, and as if taking his words into consideration, he nodded after a few seconds.
Lin Xiaowei smiled, warmed by the knowledge that he had helped his friend. However, it vanished as Feng Zhenyu stood up abruptly in the next second.
"Uh… Are you going to find the person at this hour?" Lin Xiaowei asked in confusion.
Feng Zhenyu's response was elusive. "I just need to check something."
Without further explanation, Feng Zhenyu left like a gust of whirlwind, leaving the confused Lin Xiaowei alone in the library.
….
Panting heavily, Mingyu stood in front of the entrance of Jinxing. He had ran all the way from the Jiang residence to get there.
The route to the place was very familiar to him as he had been there a few times in the past, keeping close watch on a certain person, belonging to the Jinxing sect, which he had been assigned a mission, to kill.
That person was non other than Lin Xiaoyan.
Mingyu could still remember the day he had been summoned by his master, and was given the mission.
"Ye Wang. You called for me." Mingyu had said as he stood behind his master, who was dressed in a black cloak, which he always wore to hide his appearance.
"Yes I did." The man had said, and without beating around the bush he stated, "Jinxing sect leader, Lin Xiaoyan… He is your next target."
Mingyu had been initially shocked, thinking he might have heard wrong, but his shock was immediately replaced by his burning hatred for the murderers of his family.
With indignation and determination burning fiercely within him, he vowed, "Consider it done, Ye Wang."
And then internally, he had told himself, I will make sure to fulfill this mission that has been bestowed in my hands, and at the same time, bring justice to my family.
"Yewang must be so disappointed in me. I failed the mission." Mingyu said with a sigh.
But in the next second, an unwavering resolve burned in his eyes. Once I get my sword, it will all be over.
He took out the plaque and raised it towards the barrier. The plaque released a soft glow, and the barrier dissipated, allowing him access into Jinxing.
His lips tugged upwards in a smirk, and he quickly made his way in.
As Mingyu approached, he realized Jinxing was far larger than he had imagined. A desolate path stretched before him, winding through the landscape until the Jinxing pavilions finally came into view.
As Mingyu drew closer to the buildings, he treaded cautiously, careful not to alert any Jinxing Mages or servants.
Suddenly, a series of loud clanking sounds echoed from the rooftops, catching Mingyu off guard.
He swiftly took cover beside a nearby building, and after a few seconds, he slowly peeked around the corner to investigate the source of the noise.
Mingyu's eyes stretched wide as he watched a number of mysterious figures in black, whose faces were obscured by dark veils, leap from rooftop to rooftop with incredible agility.
Some of them were holding torches, with the fire burning bright, while the rest held swords.
"Who are they?" he whispered to himself, swiftly moving in their direction while keeping a discreet distance, tracking their movements from the ground below.
Feng Zhenyu who had left the library, a while ago, was busy strolling absentmindedly towards the Lingsi Chamber, where Mingyu's body was at, when a commotion suddenly erupted, shattering the night's tranquility.
"Intruders!!!" A loud voice echoed across the grounds. "We have intruders!"
The Jinxing Mages were immediately alerted, and began trooping out to defend their sect.
The torch-carrying intruders converged on the Jinxing training hall, while their sword-wielding companions, split off to engage the Jinxing Mages in battle.
Standing before the hall's entrance, the intruders smashed bottles of flammable liquid on the doors and floor. Then, they hurled their torches onto the floor, engulfing the doors and floor in a raging inferno.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiaowei had dozed off in the library. His attempt at studying a Spellbook was interrupted by fatigue.
But as the chaos ensued, he was jolted awake. He sprang up to his feet and rushed out of the library, eager to see what was amiss.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw the glint of a blade slicing through the air at lightning speed, mere inches from his neck.
Lin Xiaowei's years of training as Jinxing's future leader kicked in, and he instinctively drew his sword.
With ease, he countered the initial attack. But his reprieve was short-lived, as he found himself surrounded by more hooded figures.
The intruders charged simultaneously, but Lin Xiaowei swiftly dispatched the first attacker with a quick slash to the wrist, sending the assailants sword clattering to the ground.
As the assailant recoiled in pain, Lin Xiaowei seized the opening to spin around and face the others. His sword danced through the air, deflecting their blows with precision, but more of them continued to gather.
As the fight intensified, Lin Xiaowei muttered a spell under his breath. A brilliant blue light immediately enveloped the blade of his sword, and he stabbed his sword into the ground.
As he did so, a burst of energy exploded from the earth, sending the intruders, flying across the courtyard.