Jin Mo sat cross-legged in his room, his breath slow and controlled as he focused on his breathing technique. The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest matched the steady flow of energy coursing through his meridians. Each breath refined his Qi, strengthening his core. The tranquility of the moment was deceptive—beneath his composed exterior, his mind remained alert, his thoughts weaving through the tangled mysteries surrounding him.
Outside, the last traces of sunlight faded beyond the horizon, casting the world into the cool embrace of night. The moon hung high, its pale glow slipping through the cracks in his window, illuminating the room with a ghostly sheen. It was time.
Nyx's voice broke the silence, her tone laced with anticipation.
"Jin Mo, it's night now. Let's summon Darkie and see what information he gathered."
Jin Mo nodded, extending his hand forward. A pulse of dark energy spread outward, warping the shadows around him. A ripple formed beneath him, and from the abyss of darkness, Darkie emerged. The small, eerie creature slithered out of Jin Mo's shadow, coiling itself at his feet. Though small and seemingly fragile, Darkie carried an aura of unwavering loyalty and silent menace.
Darkie could not speak, but his actions spoke volumes. A thin tendril of dark mist spiraled from his form, spreading outward like ink dissolving in water. In mere moments, the shadows contorted, shaping into a moving display—a spectral projection of the events he had witnessed.
The Replay Begins:
The image flickered before stabilizing into a clear vision of Madam Shein Mo's quarters. The moment Jin Mo had left her presence, her poised demeanor shattered like brittle glass. She rushed toward a concealed chamber within her residence, her hands trembling as she slid the door open with urgency.
"Rex! Rex! Where are you?!" she called, her voice sharp with panic.
From the darkest corner of the chamber, a figure emerged—a man cloaked in shadows, his presence barely perceptible until he moved. His steps were silent, his aura one of practiced lethality. He bowed with precise formality.
"Your command, madam," he murmured, his voice devoid of emotion.
Madam Shein Mo's fear twisted into fury. "Command? My ass! I ordered you to kill Jin Mo! How is he still alive?"
Rex stiffened, his masked face betraying nothing, yet his silence was telling.
"What?" he finally asked, his voice low and steady. "That's impossible."
"I just saw him with my own eyes! He came to see Ronan. But I think—no, I know he came to test me! He knows something!" Her voice cracked under the weight of her fear.
Rex's posture tensed. "That can't be. I sent two of my best men—Chol Mo and Geol Mo. Though they were low-level, they were both Qi Refining cultivators. There was no way he could've survived, especially not against the Silent Tool."
Shein Mo's glare bore into him like daggers. "Then how is Jin Mo alive?!"
A moment of silence passed between them before Rex gestured. Another shadow detached itself from the darkness, stepping forward with measured caution. The subordinate leaned in as Rex whispered something in hushed tones. Whatever the response was, it did not please him. His fingers twitched—then, in a blur of movement, he struck the subordinate across the face.
The sound of the slap echoed through the chamber.
"Then go find them!" Rex barked, his patience fraying.
The subordinate clutched his cheek and bowed. "Yes, sir!" Without another word, he disappeared into the shadows.
Shein Mo's arms folded tightly across her chest, her attempt to mask her trembling only half-successful. "What happened?"
Rex exhaled, his expression dark. "Madam, the two men I sent—Chol Mo and Geol Mo—have been missing since yesterday. It's as if they vanished into thin air. No trace, no bodies, no clues. Not even the Silent Tool was recovered."
A cold dread settled over Shein Mo's features. "Did they run away?" she asked, though she already suspected the answer.
Rex shook his head. "No. If they had, we would have found a trail, a mistake, something. But there's nothing." His tone turned grave. "It's like they were erased from existence."
Her lips parted slightly, a breath escaping as realization set in. "I think they were captured," she whispered.
Rex's jaw tightened. "No. If they were caught, we would have heard something by now. A confession, an interrogation. No, madam—something else is at play."
Shein Mo's hands clenched into fists, her knuckles turning white. "If they were found and questioned, my involvement could be exposed."
Rex took a step forward, lowering his voice. "Rest assured, madam. My men are already scouring the area. We will find them before that happens."
Shein Mo's expression twisted into something ugly—fear and rage warring for control. "If Jin Mo is truly aware of us... then this is worse than I imagined."
"Don't worry," Rex assured her, his voice edged with determination. "Give me another chance, and I will personally ensure Jin Mo's demise."
Shein Mo exhaled shakily, her composure gradually returning. She waved her hand. "No. We lay low for now. Find your men first. We cannot afford reckless action."
Rex bowed deeply. "As you command, madam." With that, he stepped back into the darkness and was gone.
Left alone, Shein Mo sank into a chair, rubbing her temples. Her hatred festered like a wound. She lifted her gaze, her eyes burning with silent malice.
"Jin Mo... you may have escaped this time," she murmured, her voice dripping with venom. "But you will not escape forever."
The Replay Ends.
The vision dissolved, shadows retracting into Darkie's small, quivering form. The room returned to its usual dim glow, the tension lingering like an unshaken chill in the air.
Nyx's voice was the first to break the silence. "So, it was Madam Shein Mo after all," she said, satisfaction tinged with grim amusement.
Jin Mo's expression hardened. "Yeah. I had my suspicions, but now we have proof."
"She's scared," Nyx noted. "That means she won't act immediately... but don't mistake fear for inaction. She will try again."
Jin Mo's eyes gleamed with steely resolve. "Let her try," he said, voice steady. "She won't get another chance."
Darkie chirped softly before slipping back into Jin Mo's shadow, disappearing like he was never there.
Jin Mo leaned back, exhaling. The Mo Clan was more entangled in deceit than he had anticipated. But this was just the beginning. With Darkie's surveillance and Nyx's guidance, he would uncover every shadowed secret—and deal with them accordingly.