They returned to the Golden Leaf Retreat under dawn's first glow, heads low to avoid notice. Tension buzzed in the teahouse. A conscription officer had visited overnight, leaving ominous notices pinned to doors. Patrons whispered anxiously over breakfast, some planning to flee the city before forced enlistment.
Lan Zhuoran, Yin Feiyan, and Gao Tianrong gathered in their cramped room, hearts pounding from the clandestine meeting with Hui. Feiyan sank onto the rickety stool, massaging her bandaged arm. "He asked us to come at midnight. That's hours away."
Gao Tianrong paced near the door, bow resting in the corner. "We can't just loiter. Soldiers might search each inn soon. If we're here when they do a sweep, we'll be forced into the army or exposed."
Lan Zhuoran brushed a hand through his hair, mind racing. "Maybe we hide in the aqueduct tunnels again. But that's risky too—wanderers or even Syndicate scouts could appear."
Feiyan closed her eyes, fatigue evident. "We can't keep running. We need a place to rest until midnight without drawing attention."
As they deliberated, a knock sounded at the door. Tension spiked. Gao Tianrong signaled them to hide weapons. Lan Zhuoran cracked the door open—only to find the teahouse's attendant, eyes wide.
"Sir, ma'am," he whispered. "A city official arrived, summoning all healthy guests to the recruitment tent. They're checking rooms soon."
Cold fear seized the trio. Feiyan forced a nod, offering a small coin to the attendant. "Thank you for warning us."
Once he left, Gao Tianrong scowled. "We have minutes at best. Let's slip out a window or back door."
They hastily gathered their packs and the relic, carefully checking no item remained. Feiyan drew her cloak tight, wincing as the movement jarred her splint. Lan Zhuoran pressed a supportive hand on her shoulder. "Steady. Let's go."
Navigating the teahouse's narrow corridors, they avoided the main hall. Soldiers' voices echoed from below—a stern captain barking orders. Gao Tianrong spotted a small storeroom window facing an alley. With quiet coordination, they pried it open and slipped out. Feiyan bit back a cry as her arm brushed the sill, but Lan Zhuoran steadied her. The relic pressed safely against her body.
They landed in a cramped alley reeking of refuse, quickly putting distance between themselves and the teahouse. Shouts erupted behind them, suggesting soldiers discovered the empty room. Heart hammering, Feiyan forced herself to keep pace despite her throbbing limb. Gao Tianrong led them through winding backstreets until they reached a quieter district near a derelict temple. Only then did they pause to catch breath.
A drizzle began to fall, softening the city's dusty roads. Lan Zhuoran surveyed the half-abandoned temple grounds, overgrown weeds creeping through cracked flagstones. No soldier patrols yet. Gao Tianrong sighed, arrow still in hand. "We'll wait out the day here, I suppose. It's secluded enough."
Feiyan nodded shakily. "I just need to last until midnight." The temple's crumbling arches offered minimal shelter from the drizzle, but at least no official sweeps seemed to reach this forgotten corner.
Hours slipped by in tense idleness. The drizzle grew into a steady rain, dripping through broken roof tiles of the temple. Feiyan dozed, head resting on a stone plinth. Lan Zhuoran stood watch near a mossy statue, staff ready if any intruder appeared. Gao Tianrong roved around the temple perimeter, ensuring no signs of Syndicate or conscription squads.
Late afternoon arrived, the rain tapering to a misty haze. Peeking from behind a crumbling column, Lan Zhuoran spotted distant columns of smoke rising near the city's outer wards. Perhaps a warlord's skirmish or more forced conscription. The tension thickened, and Feiyan's heart twisted at the empire's unraveling. Each hour, the relic's rightful safekeeping felt more urgent.
Finally, dusk fell, painting the sky in muted purples. Gao Tianrong returned from a scouting circuit, water dripping from his cloak. "No sign of pursuit. We can start moving toward the Jade Hall soon."
Feiyan mustered resolve, wincing as she rose. "Let's go, then. Councilor Hui awaits."
Lan Zhuoran helped her adjust the cloak, ensuring the relic remained hidden. Together, the trio left the old temple, weaving through dark alleys. Nightfall cloaked the capital in flickering lanterns and anxious shadows. Soldiers guarded thoroughfares, but the group avoided main roads, creeping behind deserted stalls and ruined courtyards. The city felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap.
At last, they reached the Jade Hall's outer perimeter under cover of darkness. Clouds obscured the moon, offering a thin veil of secrecy. They skirted a small side gate, guarded by a single figure who wore a cloak and carried a lamp. When Gao Tianrong discreetly showed Hui's jade token, the figure nodded silently, unlocking the gate to let them enter.
Feiyan breathed shakily, tension in her chest. So far, so good. They slipped inside, following a narrow walkway around silent courtyards. A few patrolling guards roamed, but each time, the cloaked figure guided them into shadows until danger passed. Gradually, the path led them to a dim corridor, presumably near Hui's office again.
The cloaked figure lifted a lamp, revealing a small side door. "Councilor Hui awaits inside," came a soft whisper. Then, with a silent bow, the figure disappeared back into the gloom.
Lan Zhuoran swallowed, staff in hand. Feiyan's heart hammered as she touched the relic beneath her cloak. Gao Tianrong exchanged a grim nod with both of them. This was the moment. May Hui's plan succeed.
They pushed the door open into a modest chamber lit by a single lamp. Councilor Hui stood at a table with two robed individuals, their faces obscured by half-drawn hoods. Hui's gaze flicked up, relief evident. "You made it."
Feiyan exhaled, stepping forward. "We're here… and ready."
Hui's companions turned, revealing focused expressions. "These are Ministers Xiao and Sheng," Hui introduced. "Both swore loyalty to the Emperor's uncorrupted vision. They agreed to see your relic and help safeguard it. But we must hurry—forces loyal to less… benevolent ministers might interrupt."
Lan Zhuoran and Gao Tianrong hovered protectively, while Feiyan carefully slid the artifact from her cloak. Lamplight danced across its ancient engravings. Ministers Xiao and Sheng stared, astonished. Tension bristled in the air as destiny teetered on a knife's edge—would these ministers prove allies in truth, or had the trio walked into a new and deadly snare?