The voice lingered, a haunting echo that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. Lin Yue froze, her pulse hammering in her ears.
The air in the hall was thick with an unnatural stillness, as though the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Wei Han placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his grip grounding her. "Don't listen to it," he said, his voice low but commanding. "It's trying to unsettle you."
Lin Yue nodded, though the words sent a chill down her spine.
She looked at Lady Zhen, who stood poised and alert, her dagger gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"We must leave now," Lady Zhen said, her tone sharp. "Every moment we linger, they gain ground."
Lin Yue took a shaky breath and followed as Wei Han led the way through a hidden passage concealed behind the crumbling throne.
The corridor was narrow and dimly lit, its walls lined with faded murals depicting scenes of ancient battles and regal ceremonies.
"Where does this lead?" Lin Yue asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"To the old catacombs," Wei Han replied without looking back. "They haven't been used in decades, but they'll take us outside the palace walls."
The weight of the jade blade in her hand felt heavier with each step, and the pendant against her chest burned faintly, as if warning her of the danger ahead.
She cast a glance at Lady Zhen, who moved with the silent grace of a predator, her eyes scanning their surroundings for any signs of threat.
The air grew colder as they descended deeper into the passage.
Lin Yue's breath misted before her, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed off the stone walls.
"This place feels..." Lin Yue hesitated, searching for the right word. "Wrong."
Lady Zhen glanced at her, her expression unreadable. "The catacombs are ancient. They predate the palace itself, built during the first dynasty. It's said that those who linger here too long are haunted by the spirits of the past."
Lin Yue swallowed hard, clutching the jade blade tighter.
Wei Han stopped suddenly, raising a hand to signal silence.
Lin Yue froze, her ears straining to catch whatever sound had alerted him.
There it was—a faint whisper, barely audible, like the rustling of leaves in the wind.
It grew louder, a chorus of disembodied voices overlapping in an eerie harmony.
"They're here," Wei Han muttered, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword.
The shadows at the far end of the corridor began to shift and writhe, taking on shapes that were both human and monstrous.
Eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, and a low, guttural growl echoed through the space.
"Stay close," Lady Zhen ordered, stepping in front of Lin Yue.
The first shadow lunged, its form flickering like a dying flame.
Wei Han met it head-on, his sword slicing through the darkness with a flash of steel.
The creature let out an unearthly shriek before dissolving into nothingness.
More shadows emerged, their forms shifting and merging as they advanced.
Lady Zhen moved with lethal precision, her dagger striking with surgical accuracy.
Lin Yue watched in awe and terror, her body frozen as the battle unfolded around her.
"Lin Yue!" Wei Han's voice snapped her out of her daze. "Use the blade!"
Her grip tightened on the jade weapon as another shadow lunged toward her.
She raised the blade instinctively, and the moment it connected, a brilliant light erupted from its edge, engulfing the creature in a searing glow.
The shadow disintegrated, its scream echoing through the corridor.
The pendant around her neck burned hotter, and Lin Yue felt a surge of energy course through her veins.
She swung the blade again and again, each strike unleashing a burst of jade light that drove back the encroaching shadows.
When the last of them dissolved, the corridor fell silent once more.
Lin Yue's chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, the blade still glowing faintly in her hand.
Wei Han and Lady Zhen stood nearby, both battered but unbroken.
Wei Han's eyes met Lin Yue's, a mixture of relief and admiration in his gaze.
"You're stronger than you realize," he said, his voice steady.
Lin Yue didn't respond.
Her mind was racing, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on her.
She looked at the jade blade, its glow dimming but still present, and wondered what kind of power she had awakened.
"We can't stop here," Lady Zhen said, her tone brisk. "The shadows are growing bolder. If they can reach us in the catacombs, it won't be long before they overrun the palace entirely."
Lin Yue nodded, forcing herself to move.
The pendant's warmth was a constant reminder of the responsibility she now bore, a burden she didn't know if she could carry.
The corridor opened into a vast chamber, its walls lined with ancient sarcophagi.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the faint sound of whispers lingered in the background.
"This way," Wei Han said, leading them toward a narrow staircase that spiraled upward.
As they ascended, Lin Yue felt a growing unease.
The whispers grew louder, more insistent, and the air seemed to vibrate with an unnatural energy.
When they emerged from the staircase, they found themselves in a forest, the palace walls barely visible in the distance.
The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie light over the trees.
"We'll make camp here for the night," Wei Han said, scanning the area.
Lin Yue hesitated. "Is it safe?"
Lady Zhen let out a humorless laugh. "Nowhere is safe anymore. But this will have to do."
As they set up a makeshift camp, Lin Yue sat by herself, the jade blade resting across her lap.
The pendant's glow had faded, leaving her feeling strangely hollow.
She looked up at the stars, her thoughts racing.
Questions swirled in her mind—about the jade blade, her bloodline, and the forces that hunted her.
But one question burned brighter than the rest.
What happens when they find her again?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a faint rustling in the trees.
Lin Yue stood, gripping the blade tightly as she scanned the darkness.
"Who's there?" She called, her voice trembling.
There was no response, only the sound of footsteps growing closer.
Wei Han and Lady Zhen appeared at her side, their weapons drawn.
From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in black, their face obscured.
But this time, they were not alone.
Behind them stood a dozen others, their eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.
The leader stepped forward, their voice cold and commanding. "The heir of the Jade Throne. Surrender now, and we may spare your companions."
Lin Yue's heart raced as she raised the blade, its light flickering to life once more. "I won't let you take me."
The leader's laugh was low and cruel. "You won't have a choice."
The forest erupted in chaos as the shadows lunged, their forms merging with the darkness around them.
Lin Yue felt the jade blade flare in her hand, its light fighting to hold back the encroaching tide.
And then, from deep within the forest, came a sound that froze her blood—a deafening roar, primal and filled with rage.
To Be Continued...