A modest conference room awaited beyond the doors, walls lined with scroll racks and a circular table at its center. Three figures stood near the far side, discussing matters in hushed voices. At Hui's entrance, they turned, eyes narrowing at the strangers who followed.
Lan Zhuoran and Gao Tianrong kept a respectful distance. Yin Feiyan forced herself to stand tall despite her bandaged arm, cloak weighed by the relic's presence. The councilors—two men and one woman in ministerial robes—watched the newcomers warily. Hui set his lantern on the table, gesturing for calm.
"These are the travelers I mentioned," he said, voice subdued. "They carry a matter of grave import—one that cannot fall into wrong hands."
One of the men, short and wiry, scoffed quietly. "We risk meeting in secret for these armed wanderers? Hui, the council is a hairsbreadth from fracture. Warlords gather at our gates. If this 'import' doesn't deliver immediate salvation, it's a wasted risk."
The woman, her dark hair pinned in a simple style, peered at Feiyan's arm. "Your injuries attest to hardships. Still, we've no proof of your sincerity."
Feiyan drew a shaky breath. She gently pulled back her cloak, unveiling the relic's etched contours without fully removing it. The faint glow of arcane lines flickered under the lamplight. A hush fell, tension rippling like a tangible force.
The second man, bearded and grave, exhaled in awe. "What… in the Emperor's name… is that?"
Lan Zhuoran stepped forward, staff lowered. "An artifact tied to older cultivation arts, rumored to harness power beyond mortal means. Warbands and mercenaries will kill for it if they learn it's here."
Hui folded his arms, voice resonating with conviction. "I've verified it myself. We can't allow it to be weaponized. I convened you three—Minister Jin, Minister Yao, and Councilor Deng—because I trust your commitment to preserving the empire rather than fueling conflict."
Minister Jin, the short wiry man, studied the relic's glow. "I've heard legends. If such power is unleashed under a ruthless warlord, entire provinces could be razed. But how do we hide it? The Jade Hall is riddled with spies, and the Emperor's favor is uncertain."
Gao Tianrong's gaze flicked over the ministers, alert for any sign of treachery. "We hoped the council could secure it in a sealed vault or sacred chamber. Something only you loyal ministers control."
Minister Yao, the lone woman, pressed her lips together. "If only the Emperor's health allowed him to intervene. But the old ways might remain. A sealed relic protocol does exist, requiring multiple ministers' seals to access. But do we have enough loyal signatories?"
Hui nodded gravely. "We might. But each day, hawkish ministers—like Ren, Sima, and others—gain leverage, calling for relic-based war tactics. If they discover this artifact, we'll have civil strife within the Hall itself."
Feiyan swallowed, recalling the near disasters on their journey. We didn't endure all that only to spark a battle in the palace. She mustered her voice. "Please, if you hide or seal it away, we can vanish. We ask only that you safeguard it from any faction's grasp."
Councilor Deng, bearded and solemn, stepped closer, peering at Feiyan's bandages. "Young lady, you risked so much to bring this here. Why trust us not to use it? The empire stands on the brink."
Feiyan's pulse pounded. "Because I've seen too many villages destroyed by warring clans. If relic power is unleashed, the empire might not survive. I believe some of you wish to protect lives, not sacrifice them."
Deng studied her face, then exhaled softly. "I sense your sincerity. Hui, if we gather a small majority of like-minded ministers—perhaps six or seven out of the twenty—enough to pass an emergency relic seal, we might succeed."
Hui nodded, tension evident. "But time is short. War stirs at the gates. The hawks will push for direct relic usage to crush the warlords. We must outmaneuver them discreetly. If we fail, you three are in grave danger."
Lan Zhuoran nodded. "We understand. We only pray you choose peace over a cataclysmic war."
The ministers conferred in subdued tones, forging a tenuous alliance. Plans to rally enough signatures for a sealed protocol formed, each step fraught with potential betrayal. Hui turned to the trio. "Stay hidden near the Jade Hall for a day or two. We'll meet again in secret. Once the seal is enacted, your artifact can be locked away."
A flicker of hope lit Feiyan's eyes. "Thank you."
Before further details emerged, a faint knock sounded at the outer doors. Hui's face paled. "Someone's coming—likely other councilors. You must leave now, quietly."
Deng hastily motioned them to a side corridor. "Go. We'll stall whoever it is."
Seizing their gear, Lan Zhuoran and Gao Tianrong guided Feiyan out into the dim hallway. Echoes of voices drifted from the main corridor. Heart hammering, they slipped away into the Jade Hall's labyrinth once more, the relic cradled securely beneath Feiyan's cloak. They had found allies among the ministers—a fragile victory. But as they retreated into the flickering torchlight, each step reminded them how precarious this alliance remained in a hall rife with ambition.