"Did you get the item I asked for?"
"Sorry."
"I don't need your apology. I'll ask again, did you get the item I asked for?"
The man with the black mask on his face only lowered his head, nervously squeezing his hands alternately as his body trembled. The other man, who had been questioning him just now, finally got off from his large chair.
His steps were slow but firm, and the air around him grew warmer. When they were only a few meters apart, the man dressed entirely in golden armor stretched out one arm. A black light emerged, choking the masked man, lifting him off the ground into the air. "How dare you not follow my orders. Do you know the consequences of failing the mission I've given you?"
One hand of the masked man clutched his neck, even though he felt nothing strangling him. His neck veins bulged, and his face turned red. His feet hung in the air, kicking and struggling. "Master, please, I—I really couldn't find it. Sorry—"
The man with a crown resembling tree branches, which spread to his cheeks and forehead, smiled cynically. With a single motion, the body in front of him shattered into pieces, crushed by the roots that spread from the palm of his hand.
He stared at his own palm, still covered in ashes from the person he had just killed. The corner of his mouth lifted, forming a cynical smile as he rubbed his fingers, playing with the ashes. "If apologies could solve everything, then I wouldn't be in this position today."
His entire outfit was black, with some branches adorning his arms and shoulders. His gaze grew sharp as he stared out of the palace. "It seems I'll have to find the Nine Heavens Lotus myself."
His name was Yin Shu. A demon who ruled over the Zhao Hei forest. A forest with dead plants, leaving only some branches that had fallen from the trees. This forest was untouched by the sun, making day and night indistinguishable.
Yin Shu leapt out and crouched, placing his palm on the ground. Soon, roots spread quickly from his palm, covering the entire surface of the earth. They went out of Zhao Hei forest and unknowingly entered human civilization.
Minutes later, Yin Shu began to feel tightness in his chest. However, he didn't think of stopping and pressed on with his power to find the object he was searching for. A moment later, his body was thrown back, crashing into the palace wall.
Yin Shu lay on the ground, crouched, spitting blood that weakened his body slightly. "It's been tens of thousands of years, why does the Nine Heavens Lotus still retaliate? After all this time, why hasn't its power diminished even a little?"
His breath was heavy from the backlash, but he struggled to stand, swaying and wiping the blood trail from his mouth. "No, I must get that lotus no matter what. Or I won't be able to fully revive His Majesty."
For a moment, Yin Shu fell silent. Then, his eyes glinted. "If I can't approach the sacred object, then I'll make a holy person deliver it to me directly."
A cynical smile appeared on his lips as he began to plot a cunning plan in his mind. He pulled his long black robe, then vanished behind it, transforming into a puff of black smoke that was swept away by the wind.
---
Elsewhere, in a forest with tall trees and creeping vines, a young man in blue sat cross-legged in front of a pool with the brightest light. This pool was called Xing Hui, a place where disciples usually practiced to improve their cultivation.
"Argh!"
For the umpteenth time, the young man coughed up blood, causing his lips to turn pale. His name was Jian Hong, a 16-year-old who was the only remaining disciple in the Tian Zhu sect.
One hand of Jian Hong wiped the blood from his mouth, although a red stain still lingered. "I've tried this dozens, even hundreds of times. Why can't I cultivate? Even the Xing Hui pool can't help me. Is it true that a damaged meridian can never be repaired?"
Jian Hong remained silent for a long time, thinking about everything that had happened. He then shook his head slightly. "No, I've come this far, I can't give up now. Besides, there's still so much I must do in the future. If I retreat now, then I'm not Jian Hong."
Jian Hong straightened his body, regulating his breath and moving his hands before closing his eyes to feel the energy flowing through his body. But once again, he felt everything was blocked in his chest.
This time, he opened his eyes and touched his chest. "What's inside me? Why does it feel like not just my meridian is damaged, but also like there's a barrier that's hard to break through? And that barrier is what's stopping the spiritual energy from flowing through my body."
Just as Jian Hong was about to try again, the shouts of several people reached his ears. Startled, he quickly got up and grabbed the sword that had been beside him. "Why are they causing such a commotion? Is something happening in the sect?"
Not wanting to guess, Jian Hong ran out of Xing Hui with a panicked expression. When he reached the main yard, his body froze upon seeing a terrifying sight.
A strong wind blew, accompanied by a black figure who took the Elder of their sect away, disappearing from there. At that moment, Jian Hong's body stiffened, and he could only watch from behind the residence.
"ELDER!"
"YOU DAMNED DEMON, COME BACK!"
"CHASE THEM!"
After the last shout, senior disciples and their masters ran to chase an Elder named Wu Shen. A man whose hair and even his eyebrows had turned white. A man whose face was wrinkled and had no remaining strength.
Once they all left, Jian Hong snapped out of his trance. He quickly ran to the main yard and approached a few juniors who were asked to stay behind. "What's going on? What happened? Who took Elder Wu?"
"Jian Hong, you really don't know who he is?" A young man with his hair tied with a blue cloth looked at Jian Hong, let's call him Xu Fan.
Jian Hong shook his head, prompting Xu Fan to continue. "He is Yin Shu, the demon ruler of the Zhao Hei forest."
Upon hearing Xu Fan's explanation, Jian Hong's body suddenly shuddered. "You mean, one of the demon clan leaders who fought against the Divine clan? But how can he be resurrected? Didn't he get imprisoned in that forest tens of thousands of years ago?"
Xu Fan shook his head. "I don't know either. But Yin Shu's arrival this time isn't simple. He's a demon, and every demon has ill intentions."
"So what should we do now? What if Yin Shu harms Elder Wu?"
"I don't know. But even if we go, we won't be able to do anything."
"So you think we should just stay here?"
Xu Fan looked at the young man in front of him seriously. He grabbed both of Jian Hong's shoulders. "Jian Hong, can't you see? Even a master with power far beyond ours was suppressed, let alone us? I'm not belittling you, but if you're reckless, you might already be dead before you even meet Elder Wu."
Jian Hong's dark eyes stared at Xu Fan before slowly releasing his grip. "Xu Fan, I know what you mean. It's just that the Elder is the one who brought me into the sect. He's the only one who's encouraged me when everyone else looked down on me. So even if I have to die today, I can't just stand by."
"But—"
"Don't worry, I won't make it difficult for anyone."
After saying that, Jian Hong turned around and headed to his room. Once there, he ransacked the entire room looking for the thing he needed. "Damn, why is it gone at such a crucial time? Where did I last keep it?"
While Jian Hong was busy searching for an ancient book, a light appeared behind him, originating from a swarm of fireflies, then transforming into a figure in black clothes. The man observed Jian Hong's actions. "Are you leaving?"
Hearing the sudden voice, Jian Hong jumped. He turned around to find a man with long hair and a small golden crown binding his hair. "Master, how did you get here?"
"I—"
"Ah, forget it, it's not important right now." He approached the man he called Master and grabbed his hand. "Master, help me find the Red Ink Book. I always kept it in the cabinet, but for some reason, it's gone now."
Instead of answering, Han Li simply stared at his disciple with his usual calm expression. "What are you planning to do?"
"Elder Wu was captured by Yin Shu. I don't know what that cruel demon will do, but I have to save the Elder."
"With your current strength? Jian Hong, I don't forbid you from saving others. But before becoming a hero, one must be able to live. If you can't cultivate, how can you help Wu Shen?"
Those words hit Jian Hong's heart like a whip. He blinked once, then swallowed hard. Slowly, he released Han Li's hand and took a few steps back. "If you need something else from me, Master, you can say it after I finish what I have to do."
The young man walked backward and resumed searching every corner. He lifted the mattress, moved the bed, pulled out all the clothes, and even messed up all his belongings. But the thing he was looking for still wasn't found. Jian Hong placed his hands on his hips, his long hair in disarray.
Sweat ran down his face, his breath ragged. "Jian Hong, think! Where did you hide the book? It can't move on its own; it won't disappear unless you take it."
Seeing Jian Hong like that, Han Li let out a long sigh. "You won't find it if you keep panicking like this."
"I have to find it, Master."
"I know. But do you remember what I've always taught you? Even when facing difficult and dangerous situations, the one thing you must not do is panic. Because panic will only make us lose control of ourselves, causing us to act impulsively without thinking clearly. In a state of panic, we often fail to see the solutions available to us and might even make things worse."
"But how can I stay calm?" Jian Hong turned his body, raising his voice towards Han Li. A moment later, he realized his words and lowered his head. "Master, I apologize. I didn't mean to, I just feel too anxious."
There was a long silence before Han Li walked closer to Jian Hong. "That's exactly why I told you not to panic. I know how you feel right now. But if you can only act recklessly, not only will you fail to help Wu Shen, but you also won't be able to help yourself."