Chapter 17: Shadows of the Past, Light of the Future
The cold night air greeted Bai Yuan and Ling Xi as they stepped out of the Shadowmoon Pavilion, the heavy doors closing behind them with an eerie finality. The sky above was an endless expanse of stars, their distant glow barely illuminating the vast wilderness stretching before them. The remnants of the celestial warrior's trial still lingered in Bai Yuan's body, his meridians humming with refined energy.
Ling Xi exhaled, placing her hands on her hips. "Well, that was a fun little detour. So what now?"
Bai Yuan gazed at his hands, feeling the subtle shifts in his Qi. The Writ of Battle had integrated into him, but it was not just knowledge—it was a path. He would need time to fully grasp its depths.
"We head east," he said. "There's a small city on the outskirts of the Yunlan Province. It should be a good place to lie low and plan our next move."
Ling Xi arched an eyebrow. "Plan? You actually have one?"
Bai Yuan smirked. "Something like that."
The two of them descended from the mountain, their steps silent against the dew-kissed grass. The world beyond the Shadowmoon Pavilion was vast and unknown, but Bai Yuan no longer felt like a wanderer without direction. His defeat at the hands of his clan, his near-death experience—none of it had broken him. If anything, they had forged him into something stronger.
After hours of travel, they reached the outskirts of a quiet village nestled between rolling hills. The scent of fresh earth and burning wood filled the air, a stark contrast to the ancient battlefield they had just left behind.
As they entered, Bai Yuan's senses tingled. Even without fully activating his spiritual perception, he could tell something was off. The villagers walked in hurried strides, their eyes filled with fear. Conversations were hushed, and guards stood at attention near the entrance.
A cloaked man near a tavern caught Bai Yuan's gaze. His presence was too deliberate, as if he were waiting for something—or someone.
Ling Xi nudged him. "Feel that?"
Bai Yuan nodded. "We're being watched."
He strode forward, his movements calm but measured. As he approached the tavern, the cloaked man lifted his head, revealing a scar running down his cheek.
"Bai Yuan," the man murmured, his voice like gravel. "You're a hard man to find."
Bai Yuan didn't flinch. "That depends on who's looking."
The man smirked. "Someone who has a message for you."
A cold wind swept through the village, rustling the man's cloak. The tension in the air thickened, the moment stretching like a taut string.
Bai Yuan glanced at Ling Xi, who had already shifted into a defensive stance. His lips curled into a knowing smile. "Then let's hear it."
The scarred man chuckled. "Not here. Follow me."
With that, he turned and strode toward the alley behind the tavern. Bai Yuan exchanged a glance with Ling Xi before following.
The shadows deepened as they entered the alley, the sound of distant chatter fading into silence. The man stopped and turned to face them, his gaze sharp.
"The Bai Clan has sent hunters after you."
Bai Yuan's expression remained unreadable. "Not surprising."
"They aren't ordinary pursuers," the man continued. "They've sent the Black Veil Assassins."
Ling Xi sucked in a breath. "Black Veil? They specialize in tracking and eliminating cultivators. No matter where you go, they'll find you."
Bai Yuan folded his arms, contemplating. "Why are you telling me this?"
The man smirked. "Because I don't like the Bai Clan either."
Bai Yuan's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
The man hesitated before removing his hood, revealing dark hair streaked with silver and piercing golden eyes. "An old acquaintance. And someone who owes a debt to your mother."
The name Bai Yuan had nearly forgotten surfaced in his mind. His mother—one of the few in the Bai Clan who had treated him with genuine warmth.
His jaw tightened. "Then I suppose I should hear the rest of what you have to say."
The man's gaze darkened. "Good. Because if you want to survive what's coming, you'll need more than just power. You'll need allies."
The cold night pressed in as Bai Yuan listened, his path growing ever more uncertain—but his resolve only solidifying further.