Night settled over the city, blanketing it in an uneasy calm. Wen Ran finally gave in to exhaustion, wrapping up his meditation. Leaning against the cold, unyielding wall, he closed his eyes. The discomfort was far from ideal, but it was better than being dead.
Outside, the bustling streets of the city had quieted. The lively noise of the day was replaced by an eerie stillness, broken only by the occasional clinking of armor. Guards patrolled sporadically, though their behavior was far from disciplined. Some staggered drunkenly, their duties forgotten in favor of cheap liquor. Others slipped into establishments that catered only to adult indulgences, their dereliction of duty stark and blatant.
Amidst the silence, two shadowy figures emerged from a modest house. Clad in black hooded robes, their faces concealed by plain masks, they moved with precision and purpose. Their movements were swift, evading the inattentive guards with ease. Their destination was clear: the Fang Palace.
"Are you certain this is wise, elder brother Fang?" a feminine voice murmured, soft yet laced with apprehension.
"Hmph," the man beside her snorted, his voice carrying an edge of disdain. "If I don't clean up the mess our late elder left, I might as well abandon the name Fang Tianyu." His tone dripped with arrogance and barely concealed hatred.
The pair scaled the massive stone wall surrounding the palace with the grace of leaves on the wind. Their leaps were effortless, their forms nearly invisible against the night sky. Landing silently, they navigated the palace grounds like shadows, their speed and agility surpassing anything a normal person could achieve. Before long, they reached the tall window of Fang Jinyao's chambers. Peering inside, they saw only the young lady's sleeping form, blissfully unaware of the danger lurking outside.
"Where is he?" the woman whispered, her voice so faint it seemed like a breath.
But even such a whisper was enough to rouse the sleeping demon. Wen Ran's eyes fluttered open, his aura immediately retracting into a dormant state. Using an ancient Wen Clan technique from his world, he masked his cultivation, reducing his presence to that of an ordinary mortal. The technique, however, was not foolproof—it would crumble against a sufficiently powerful opponent.
Are they plotting against the Fang Clan's mistress, or are they after me? Wen Ran's thoughts raced as he carefully assessed the situation. He could feel the oppressive aura radiating from the two figures outside. If my guess is correct, both of them are at the peak of Spirit Gathering. If I confront them directly… his expression darkened. I'd be digging my own grave.
But staying hidden wasn't an option either. Even in the shadows, they'd find him eventually. He glanced at Fang Jinyao, her oblivious form stirring faintly in her sleep. I can't let them take her. She's my only ticket out of this place.
His mind sharpened, his resolve hardening. The situation was dire, but Wen Ran was no stranger to danger. He would act—not recklessly, but decisively.
His body moved stealthily, inching toward the entrance of the cave. If I can get my weapon, I might catch the attackers off guard—as long as they don't see me first. He glanced back, supporting himself with his arms as he dragged himself silently along the floor. The two figures at the window had disappeared from sight. They haven't noticed me yet. I'd better move quickly!
Wen Ran bolted for the wooden trapdoor as quietly as his body allowed, leaving it ajar in case one of them decided to investigate. Just as he slipped into the cave, the sharp crash of shattering glass reached his ears. His breath hitched, and the muffled scream of Fang Jinyao followed soon after, quickly silenced—likely by a hand or pillow.
The palace, eerily silent, remained undisturbed. It was as if no one else had heard the commotion, or worse, no one dared to intervene.
Inside the room, the tall man loomed over Fang Jinyao, his broad shoulders casting a dark shadow across the bed. His muscular arm pinned her down with ease, stifling her cries. Her golden eyes burned with fury and welled with tears as they darted around, desperately searching for a sign of Wen Ran.
"Heh…" the cloaked woman sneered, her voice laced with mockery. "Judging by the way you're frantically searching, your lover must be close by." Her grip tightened on a beautifully ornamented dagger, the blade pressed so closely to Fang Jinyao's neck that it drew a thin line of blood.
"Tell us where he is, and we'll spare you, young mistress," the woman continued with a sickening laugh. "After all, your great-grandfather was good to us once. How could we not repay the favor? Hahaha!"
Her laugh echoed sinisterly, but the masked man beside her remained stoic. His cold eyes glinted dangerously, betraying his displeasure. Revealing who we are so easily… His gaze darkened further, clearly weighing whether to kill Fang Jinyao now to ensure her silence.
Fang Jinyao, however, was unyielding. Her love for Wen Ran burned brightly, and she refused to betray him, even as tears streamed down her face. Her defiance only served to enrage the attackers further. The tall man slammed her down onto the bed with his full strength, causing her to gasp in pain.
Meanwhile, Wen Ran crouched in the shadows of the cave, his ears keenly attuned to every word. He could have run—escaping now would have been easy. But he stayed, observing the scene unfold. His grip on the black sword tightened until his knuckles turned white. Anger and disgust swirled within him, but above all, he hated his own helplessness. If I were as strong as I once was, these people would be on their knees, groveling for mercy.
A sudden flash of text materialized before his eyes, pulling him from his thoughts.
[New quest received:]
[Kill the attackers]
[Reward: Ethereal Essence Pill (The pill enhances the total spiritual energy in the dantian for Spirit Gathering cultivators)]
[Failure will result in death]