72 Returning to the mis

"Allow me," Huo Tang took in a deep breath and spat out a ball of fire. The divine flame, unlike the little glowing spirit light, devoured the fog around it and lit enough a small space ahead. It still wasn't enough to make out the manor cradled within the cave but at least they were able to see the rocky path beneath their feet as they walked.

"Do you think this is the same? As Zu Village?" Yuan Xuelan clicked his tongue in annoyance. They never did get the chance to uncover the origin of some of the mysteries encountered there.

"Yes." Liu Sumeng was dead certain. This had to be related. It had to be the same demon that set up the fog back then. And perhaps the man with the butterfly mask as well. There was still a detail he found strange though.

The masked man was undoubtedly human, and the fog was most definitely a demon technique. What was their relationship? Perhaps the masked man was a person from the Seven Moons sect. Somehow, that didn't seem right either…

As they approached the manor, growls were made louder and louder. A gray hand reached out from the mist and Liu Sumeng barely flinched as he drew Mingshui. The corpse fell at his feet, arm severed.

Nan Chang squeaked and clutched Yuan Xuelan harder, "W-what was that!"

"A corpse," Yuan Xuelan answered with a trembling voice. Dread weighed down on him. The Hidden Mist Manor had been one of his childhood sanctuaries. It was a place he called home even when it wasn't. And the realization that this sacred place had been violated and destroyed was slowly dawning on him. The feeling of urgency had him quicken his pace, dragging a reluctant Nan Chang along. "Quick, let's hurry!"

Liu Sumeng nodded and followed after. However Huo Tang was only able to spew out a few more of those fireballs before she was too exhausted to do more, "It seems this divine one has done her duty. Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall have my beauty sleep!"

"You did well," The Ivory Sword Saint stroked her little head before she chirped pleasantly and ducked back down under his robes.

Yuan Xuelan would have rolled his eyes if he wasn't so busy knocking at the gate, "If anyone's in there, open up! Open up, dammit!"

He knocked and knocked and there was the sound of groaning and shuffling on the other side. The gates didn't budge.

Yuan Xuelan reached for Silei's hilt. But it was at that moment, the gates creaked open, letting out more ominous energy from within. Yuan Xuelan marched forth. But it took only three steps before rotting fingers were scratching and groping for him. Cursing, he drew Silei and brandished its power, cleaving the corpse in half with roaring thunder. Surrounding fiends fell as well even though Yuan Xuelan had not specifically aimed at them. They fell victim to Silei's brute strength.

But his booming attack and only attracted more corpses their way. Yuan Xuelan could hear the ground rumbling with marching feet and he shouted at the ghouls to bring it on.

Nan Chang cowered behind the two men, too scared to make a move. Her cultivation might have been low, but truly, she wasn't an invalid! However, her ability was one best used at a distance, and with the dense fog around them she had no way of pinpointing her targets! Even sounds were heard distorted, making their origins difficult to determine.

Liu Sumeng wore an expression of calm. He was unconcerned by these lowly corpses and could cut through them with his eyes closed, sound-distorting fog or not. He was, however, concerned about their visibility and also what had transpired down here at the Hidden Mist Manor. "We need to find the flags," he urged.

"Yeah!" Yuan Xuelan agreed, "But how the heck are we supposed to find them!?" He cursed under his breath. He had many tools and treasures that could pinpoint demonic energy but the fog itself was conjured with such! It'd be impossible to find the flags.

But a voice cut through the mist and startled them, "I know how!"

Yuan Xuelan thought he heard wrong. "Peng-ge!?" He shouted. But more corpses were grappling for his attention so he was forced to focus on them instead.

Liu Sumeng did not allow himself to be distracted by the curious development and said to Yuan Xuelan, "Don't make too much noise. Let's finish off this area."

"Got it!" Yuan Xuelan replied with a shout but he was obediently quieter with his movements afterward. Their blades danced until there were no more groaning nor more corpses coming their way.

They waited in silence, not moving an inch just to be sure that there were no more fiends coming from the shadows. Nan Chang's voice was trembling, "I-Is it over?"

"Peng-ge!" Yuan Xuelan called, "Are you there? Dammit, did I imagine his voice?"

No, Liu Sumeng definitely heard it too. And unlike Yuan Xuelan who called out eagerly, he couldn't help but be full of suspicion.

"I'm here!" Peng Jipei's soft voice replied. A set of footsteps came closer until they slowed, "Uh, please don't cleave me in two!"

Yuan Xuelan lowered his sword, "Yeah, don't worry."

A thin hand reached out to grab his and Peng Jipei's face became clearer up close. There was a bright spirit light above him, but the light was unable to travel far. "I know where to go. Let's hurry!"

Even in the heavy fog and darkness, Yuan Xuelan could see that his cousin was a lot more energetic and lively than when he last saw him. He had a lot of questions but he was also just happy to see that Peng Jipei was doing much better than before.

Nan Chang beside him chirped, "Oh! Jipei! Hey, it's you!"

Peng Jipei stopped in his tracks and noticed Nan Chang for the first time, "Oh, hey to you too, jie! What are you doing here?"

Nan Chang found her spot back around Xuelan's arm and smiled, "I'm here with Xuelan, of course."

Peng Jipei laughed at her antics and shrugged, "Well, since all my favorite people are gathered here today, I guess it isn't so bad after all."

His words were met with more giggling and Liu Sumeng felt his patience grow short again. "Stop dallying," de said and glared at Peng Jipei, "show the way."

The Second Young Master Peng laughed nervously and shrank under the Ivory Sword Saint's gaze, "Oh so you're here too, Ivory Sword Saint."

Liu Sumeng, impatient, said nothing.

"Okay, okay, I get it. Um. Let's see…" he raised his hand and revealed a small silver bell dangling at the end of a string. Its chime was melodic and clear as though penetrating the evil that prevailed around them. It began to pulse with a gentle blue glow. Peng Jipei waved it around until he narrowed down the direction where the pulse came faster and brighter. "This way."

There was grass crunching beneath them and at times their feet ghosted over narrow paved roads. Liu Sumeng was trying to picture the courtyard they were currently walking through but his memories and imagination failed. So he glared at Peng Jipei's silver bell instead, "Where did you get that?"

Yuan Xuelan was quiet and also curious.

Peng Jipei gave a sad smile and turned his gaze downwards, "Oh…it's just a keepsake…from my mother."

"Ah," Yuan Xuelan nodded in understanding, remembering the bell that was tied around his auntie's wrist when she rested in her coffin. Liu Sumeng did not press on. "Do you have any idea what happened here? And where's Zhao Fanyu? I thought you were with him."

Alarm and dread were painted across Peng Jipei's features. "Sect Leader Zhao and I were due to make way to Wangyun Peak like everyone else," he explained with a quivering voice, "but we got attacked on the way. The Demon King got to us and he…he said that he couldn't allow us to reach the north! And then… I thought I was done for. But Sect Leader Zhao, he, he saved me.

"I was alone…and I had nowhere to go so I thought about…returning here, because I really didn't have a choice, you know? I didn't have a choice. But when I arrived…it was already like this." His words ended with a sniffle.

Yuan Xuelan's expression was grave, his hands curled into fists, "Whoever did this, I promise we'll make them pay."

Peng Jipei nodded silently.

The first flag was tucked away in the corner of the frontcourt. Its black shape could only be made out when they stood a few steps away, barred by the dark barrier that pulsed around it. "This really is the same technique." Yuan Xuelan clicked his tongue. He really wished he had paid more attention to the mysteries of Zu Village. But it was much too late now and they were left to deal with this annoyance all over again.

This time, Yuan Xuelan asked them all to take a step back before drawing Silei. His sword glowed a vibrant gold and crackled with power. All it took was a single downwards slash and the barrier folded and dispersed. The flag, exposed, was plucked from its place in the ground and the fog around them thinned.

Nan Chang clapped her hands excitedly, "That's so cool, Xuelan! This is my first seeing Silei's might! It's even more awesome than I expected."

Yuan Xuelan rolled his eyes at her but kept his smile, "Don't lie. You've already seen it dozen of times."

"But it doesn't get old."

Peng Jipei was smiling as well, "As expected, A-Zhang is gifted by the heavens."

"Aren't you guys just flattering me now?" He complained but still looked at the Ivory Sword Saint with an almost expectant glint in his eyes.

Liu Sumeng remained quiet. Yuan Xuelan wanted to curse at himself for feeling a pang of disappointment. But just when he was about to cough against the awkward silence, the Ivory Sword Saint finally smiled, "Xuelan is the best."

"...Y-yeah." Yuan Xuelan nodded, thankful that the fog was still thick enough to mask the telling flush that was now crawling up his neck. "Since we're done here, let's move on already! Stop wasting time, guys!" He shouted and stomped, walked off, took three steps only to return when remembering that it was up to Peng Jipei to lead the way.

"... Don't laugh."

No one dared to look at Yuan Xuelan and he did his best to pretend not to notice the way their shoulders were shaking.