Chapter 1: Loose Ends

Chapter 1: Loose Ends

1

Loose Ends

I

Just as the sun finished setting, Hao Zhen arrived at the clearing where his team had agreed to meet up. They were supposed to be back here by nightfall, so he was right on time. As his teammates were nowhere to be seen, Hao Zhen sat down on the grass to wait for them, figuring that theyd be arriving any moment now.

It was a crisp, chilly night, and the moon was in full view, surrounded by a sea of stars. The forest was mostly silent save for the subtle hum of the wind, the leaves on the nearby trees gently swaying.

Without really thinking about what he was doing, Hao Zhen placed his hands behind him and shifted his weight back, lifting his head to stare up at the night sky. It had been years since the last time he took the time to just admire the stars, now that he thought about it. When he was younger, his parents would often take him outside, into the courtyard of their house, and theyd lie on the grass and gaze up at the stars. His mother would point out the many constellations in the sky, with a story to tell about each one of them, while he and his father quietly listened, basking in the moonlight. Hao Zhen smiled sadly to himself, melancholy blooming inside him.

He didnt allow himself to dwell on the past for too long, however, because whenever he thought back to those days, hed inevitably end up recalling all sorts of things he wanted to keep out of his mind. Namely, the death of his mother, and all the events that followed it: his fathers second marriage, the arrival of his stepmother and stepbrother, his father dying, and then

Hao Zhen sighed, pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind. He then patted one of his hands on his robe, getting rid of the dirt on his palm and fingers, before running it through the short, wild dark brown mess he was forced to call his hair. Hao Zhen had long since given up on growing it out or keeping it straight, and nowadays he wore it short and messy, having already learned that trying to stop it from sticking out randomly was fighting a losing battle.

His unruly brown hair he had inherited from his mother, and his sharp, pointy face with small, narrow eyes from his father. In his plain red robes, Hao Zhen figured he looked like one of those rogue cultivators, someone wild and violent. And that couldnt be furthest from the truth, considering he was but a lowly outer disciple of the Blazing Light Sect, and a new one at that.

This was, in fact, Hao Zhens first mission outside the sect, as well as his first time leaving the sect since he joined it about two months ago. This wasn't a mission he had chosen to take, but one that he had had no choice but to accept. Every month, outer disciples would be assigned a mission that they couldnt refuse, this one being one of them.

The mission was simple: gathering a few dozen deathpetal orchids and shadowseeker daffodils. To gather these magical plants, they had had to travel to the Gentle Green Valleya small valley thousands of miles away from the sect, though still within its sphere of influence. Over a week ago, when Hao Zhen received the jade slip with the details of the mission, he had been rather concerned about leaving the sect. Now it was clear to him that he had been worried for nothing. Besides some tension between two of his teammates, there hadnt been any problems whatsoever, and so far, things were going swimmingly.

The journey to the Gentle Green Valley took about three days flying on the magical cloud of the leader of their team, the inner disciple Ke Li, whom Hao Zhen first met right before they set out. Hao Zhen was also assigned two other teammates for this mission, both of them new outer disciples like him.

Hao Zhen believed that either the rumors he had heard about inner disciples being arrogant and unhelpful were exaggeratedor that, at the very least, Ke Li was an exception to the rule. The inner disciple had been nothing but warm and friendly the entire time.

About half a day ago, the four of them descended at the center of the Gentle Green Valley, where Hao Zhen was currently sitting. They had then split up and set out in different directions to look for deathpetal orchids and shadowseeker daffodils. Over the last couple of hours, he was able to find over a fourth of the requested number of magical plants. As long as his three other teammates had similar hauls, the four of them would hopefully be on their way back to the sect in a short while.

Or at least that was what Hao Zhen thought, because even after waiting for a good while, his teammates were nowhere in sight.

Realizing that something was wrong, Hao Zhen frowned, troubled. Where was everyone else? He looked in the directions Duo Lan and Tian Jinthe other two outer disciples in the teamhad set out in, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary. When he looked in the direction Ke Li had chosen, however, he noticed something in the sky a good distance away from him. He squinted his eyes. There, right above the trees, was a faint, hazy cloud of

Red.

Hao Zhens heart skipped a beat, and he jumped to his feet.

To confirm if that was indeed what he thought it was, Hao Zhen channeled spiritual power into his eyes, using Spiritual Sight. A moment later, the world was tinged red, the ambient spiritual energy around him becoming visible. And sure enough, the red cloud in the distance started glowing brightly, almost blindingly.

There was no doubt about it. Someonemost likely Ke Lihad used a spiritual beacon. It was so far away that Hao Zhen wouldnt have noticed it if he hadnt been actively looking for signs of his teammates. From what he could tell, the cloud was already half-dissipated, so some time must have passed since it was set off.

Without hesitation, Hao Zhen bolted toward it.

It was an offensive talisman, and the moment he channeled spiritual energy into it, itd sent a blast of fire in the direction he was pointing it to. Since it looked like Ke Li was unable to move, there was a chance itd work.

Hao Zhen began pulling the talisman out of his pocket, but before he could take it out, he felt a sharp jab of pain from his chestas if something had suddenly exploded inside it.

Crying out, Hao Zhen let go of the talisman and doubled over. He felt as if his lungs were being torn apart and shredded to pieces. The pain was overwhelming, thousands of times stronger than anything he had ever felt before in his life.

There we go.

Hao Zhen heard Ke Lis strained voice. As the pain started fading, Hao Zhen tried to open his mouth to speak, to ask what in the world was going on and what Ke Li had done to him. Before he could utter even a single word, however, another burst of pain surged inside him, and he cried out again.

He tried to think through the pain, but it was too strong, too overpowering. It was only a few moments later, when he felt the pain fading away again, that he regained some semblance of clarity. Once again, however, the pain returned before he could do anything, as if his lungs were being repeatedly stabbed by a knife from the inside.

The pain came and went in pulses, assailing him again the moment the previous wave of pain finished fading.

Its Its too late, Im afraid, Ke Li said.

Gritting his teeth, Hao Zhen forced himself to raise his head and focused on Ke Li, whose expression had become even more strained. By this point, he looked almost like Tian Jin, veins bulging, eyes wide. I was stalling for time. Tian Jin tried to warn you. The poison is already working. Youre done for now.

Hao Zhen heard footsteps. With some effort, he turned his head slightly toward the side and saw Tian Jin approaching him in slow steps, his sword no longer held against his own neck, but raised in front of him. He towered over Hao Zhen. Even though they were about the same age and Hao Zhen was of average height for a sixteen-year-old, Tian Jin was taller by over half a foot.

There was a grimace on Tian Jins face, and he was shaking like a leaf in the wind. With visible effort, sweat pouring down his forehead, he opened his mouth and croaked, Fight back. Run. Tears were pooling in the corner of his eyes. Please. A few moments later, a shudder ran through the taller boy, his expression becoming one of agony. And then Hao Zhen realized: besides whatever Ke Li was doing to control Tian Jins movements, Tian Jin was also experiencing the same bursts of pain.

You are even capable of speaking in your condition, Ke Li said, his voice now tinged with wryness. You really are something else, Tian Jin. No wonder Du Qing wants you gone so much. You can only blame yourself for being too outstanding.

As Ke Li spoke, Tian Jin continued approaching, only coming to a stop once he was half an arms length away from Hao Zhen, the blade of his sword brushing against the back of Hao Zhens neck. Any lower, and itd start digging into his skin, drawing blood, and after that, Tian Jin would only need to lower it a bit more, cutting a little deeper, to cripple him for life. Despite that, Hao Zhen remained standing in the same place, bent over, the pain he was feeling too great to think, let alone move.

Suddenly, the cold, deadly kiss of the blade on his neck disappeared. The next moment, Hao Zhen caught, out of the corner of his eye, the sword dropping to the ground.

Whats this? You you arent resisting? Hao Zhen heard Ke Li say. The inner disciple sounded bewildered, his voice no longer as strained, but not quite normal either. Then how did you Ah. I see. Well, thats fine by me.

Hao Zhen could only watch as Tian Jin slowly pulled back his right arm, his right hand forming a fist. Sorry, he murmured softly. On Tian Jins arms, red gauntlets suddenly appeared, extending from his fist all the way to his elbows. Because he was still using Spiritual Sight, Hao Zhen could see Tian Jins spiritual power gathering around his fists, making it look like the gauntlets were glowing red.

Tian Jins right hand then shot forward, striking Hao Zhens chest. Hao Zhens feet left the ground as he was launched backward, shooting through the air before colliding against a tree and slumping to the ground.

To Hao Zhens confusion, as he lay crumbled on the ground, he realized that his world hadnt exploded in pain. The spiritual power that had gathered in Tian Jins fists, which should have torn a hole in his chest, seemed to have had no effect on him. It was as if Tian Jins attack had been entirely physicalas if the spiritual power had disappeared the moment Tian Jins fist had made contact with him

To a graysoulsomeone who had never cultivated beforebeing hit strong enough to be sent flying and then crashing into a tree would probably break not only their ribs but also their spine. As Hao Zhen was a cultivator, however, even if only a first-level redsoul, something like this wasnt nearly enough to knock him out. His chest and back hurt, certainly, but he didnt think anything was broken. The pain coming from his lungs was also gone, he realized, which was why he could clearly think again now.

What in Heaven Hao Zhen had a hard time comprehending the situation. As far as he could tell, he was now in a much better state than he had been before Tian Jins punch, and that didnt make much sense. He didnt have the time to lie there contemplating what was going on, however. Tian Jins fight with Ke Li wasnt over yet.

Groaning, Hao Zhen started pushing himself off the ground. Mid-movement, however, he froze, his mind suddenly going blank.

And then it hit him: A surge of pain unlike any other he had ever felt in his life. It bloomed inside his head, completely without warning, and it washed over him in a matter of moments, washing his world in white, bright agony. He felt as if his mind was being torn apart, ripped to shreds, and under this new surge of suffering, Hao Zhen only managed to last a few moments before darkness took over, unconsciousness claiming him.