Inside The Mistveil Pavilion
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A slow, deliberate knock echoed through the quiet room, pulling Long Xiao from his peaceful slumber. He stirred, a groan of annoyance escaping his lips. In the Heavenly Realm, he had no need for sleep; he simply meditated for a few minutes before resuming his daily duties.
The knock came again, this time more insistent, followed by a sweet, bubbly voice that somehow managed to be both cheerful and terrifying.
"Brother Long! It is dawn! Rise and shine!"
Long Xiao groaned again, burying his head under his pillow. He couldn't remember a single time in his immortal life when he had been woken up by a mortal. The very thought was absurd.
The voice came again. "Brother Long, are you ready? The madam expects us to be on time!"
This time, the subtle mention of the innkeeper was enough to rouse him. He sat up, his hair a disheveled mess. The morning light, a soft, ethereal gray, was a stark contrast to the endless, brilliant skies of his home.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm coming," he rasped, his voice thick with sleep. He stood, his elegant robes a crumpled shadow of their former glory.
"When will this nightmare end?" He murmured as he slid into the work robes before walking to the door.
When he opened it, Qingling was standing there, a scroll clutched in her hand. A proud, almost-maniacal smile was plastered across her face.
"Good morning, Brother Long! I'm so excited for you to apply your first lesson today! This is going to be a fun day, don't you think?"
"Fun for you, I think." He muttered, rolling his eyes.
He glanced at Lei who was still asleep before closing the door. He followed Qingling's lead.
"So what are we going to do today, Teacher?" Long Xiao asked sarcastically.
"Careful student Long. Our esteemed guests are still asleep. You don't want to wake them up." She whispered.
They descended the stairs to the common hall where the other workers had already begun their duties.
"We're going to the Madam's Antique store. It's a kilometre away from here." Qingling gestured for Long Xiao to leave the inn.
Qingling led the way as Long Xiao fell into step beside her. The bustling city was silent since morning just came. They passed by a few closed stalls before stopping in front of a store.
The store was a single, squat building wedged between two taller, more modern shops. Its windows were covered in a thick layer of dust, and the wood of its door was so dark it looked like petrified wood. A single, faded sign above the entrance read, "The Mistveil Antique Store," but the letters were so worn they were barely legible.
The air around it felt heavy and ancient, as if the past itself was clinging to the walls. Through a small, clean patch of glass, you could see the faint glint of a thousand forgotten relics and a swirling, dark energy that Long Xiao's divine senses immediately picked up on.
Inside The Mistveil Antique Store
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Long Xiao stepped inside, his divine senses tingling. The air was thick with incense and secrets. Shelves lined the walls, each carved from dark spirit wood and etched with protective runes. They held:
Scrolls wrapped in silk, some humming faintly.
Jars of herbs, labeled in calligraphy so elegant it felt like a spell.
Weapons dulled by time, yet still radiating dormant power.
Odd trinkets such as a cracked mirror, a feather that glowed when touched, and books that opened on their own.
"I must say, I wasn't expecting this. This place looks like it needs and doesn't need a renovation." Long Xiao observed.
At the center of the store stood a circular counter made of obsidian and moonstone. Behind it, a massive tapestry hung depicting a lotus blooming under a blood-red eclipse. It shimmered slightly, as if watching.
The lighting was dim, but deliberate. Rays of morning light filtered through enchanted glass, casting patterns on the floor that shifted with the hour. Somewhere in the back, a curtain fluttered though there was no breeze.
Qingling gestured toward the counter. "Madam said you'll be selling today," she whispered, as if the store itself might overhear.
"This place feels like it could swallow a god whole," he muttered.
From the shadows, a voice replied softly: "Only if the god is worth swallowing."
"What!?" Long Xiao shrieked, taking a step back.
"Hahaha. Brother Long, are you a god?" A slender figure emerged from the shadows. "Because why that reaction?" He smiled.
"Of course not. How could I possibly be a god?" Long Xiao laughed nervously, his halo trying to force its way out.
"Brother Zhingsha, why do you always have to scare the newbies?" Qingling scoffed as she arranged the herbs on a shelf.
"I'm Zhingsha." He laughed, extending his hand.
"Sister Qingling, we both know I always do this for one particular reason." Zhingsha.
"Nice to meet you, Zhinghsha." Long Xiao shook his hand after regaining his composure.
"What could that reason be, Brother Zhingsha?" Long Xiao asked as he pulled back from the handshake.
Long Xiao realized that Zhingsha had a similar bracelet like his on his hand.
"The demon Lianhua must have trapped him here too." Long Xiao thought as he walked over to Qingling to check if she had a similar bracelet but to his surprise, she didn't have one.
"He always does this stupid stunt because he says and I quote: If one cannot withstand a simple jump scare, how can they possibly think of working for the Madam." Qingling mimicked Zhingsha sarcastically.
"But it's true. We withstand more than this." He frowned.
"Brother Long," he placed a hand on Long Xiao's shoulder.
"Keep this up and you'll not last long like...the others." His hand dropped to his side. With those words, he disappeared back into the shadows.
His voice lingering in the shadows even after he vanished.
"…the others."
Long Xiao's heart skipped a beat.
"What others!?" he shouted into the gloom. But only silence answered, broken by Qingling humming softly as she dusted jars.