1. ECHOES OF THE PAST
The cold winds of Astrelia howled through the empty streets, carrying the scent of rain and distant neon smoke. Xuan Xingli stood motionless on the rooftop of an abandoned tower, staring at the city sprawled beneath her. The battle at the tea house had left her restless—something about the assassins felt... off.
Luo Chenxi had disappeared after their narrow escape, leaving behind only cryptic words: "Find the one who wears the silver mask. They have answers."
She clenched her fists. The mark inside her pulsed faintly, an uneasy presence she could not yet decipher. Who had branded her with this? And why?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps. She turned sharply.
A figure emerged from the shadows, their movements smooth as flowing water. Cloaked in deep blue, the person wore a silver mask adorned with intricate patterns.
"I've been waiting for you," the masked individual spoke, voice neither male nor female.
Xuan Xingli narrowed her eyes. "Then you know who I am."
"I know what you carry inside you," the figure replied, taking a step closer. "And I know it does not belong to you."
2. THE CURSE OF THE MARK
A flicker of irritation crossed Xuan Xingli's face. "People keep telling me that. What exactly does it mean?"
The masked figure tilted their head. "Your body is not the only thing bound by the mark. Your mind, your choices… even your fate. They are no longer entirely your own."
Xuan Xingli felt her breath hitch. She had sensed something wrong, but to hear it confirmed sent a chill through her.
"Who did this to me?"
The figure hesitated before answering. "The Black Lotus Society was involved, but they were only the hands. The true architect of your curse remains unseen."
The words settled in her mind like a storm cloud. "Then tell me how to remove it."
The figure let out a soft, mirthless laugh. "If it were that easy, you wouldn't be standing here asking me."
3. AMBUSH IN THE RAIN
Before Xuan Xingli could demand more, a sudden shift in the air made both of them react instantly. A shuriken embedded itself into the stone at her feet.
"Move!" the masked figure hissed.
Xuan Xingli leapt backward as a wave of black-clad attackers descended from the surrounding buildings. Their movements were precise—too precise for ordinary mercenaries.
They were here for her.
Drawing on her Xuan Yuan, she wove through the first line of attackers, her strikes laced with raw energy. The masked figure fought beside her, their blades slicing through the rain like silver lightning.
One assassin lunged at her, only to be intercepted by the masked figure, who whispered something in a strange language before driving a dagger into the attacker's throat.
The fight raged on, but it was clear this was no ordinary ambush. The assassins were not just after her—they wanted to test her.
4. A MESSAGE FROM THE ABYSS
As the last body fell, silence returned to the night, broken only by the patter of rain against the rooftops. Xuan Xingli wiped blood from her cheek and turned to the masked figure.
"Who sent them?"
The figure knelt and retrieved a small insignia from one of the fallen assassins. A twisted emblem of a black serpent devouring its own tail.
The masked figure cursed under their breath. "This is worse than I thought."
Xuan Xingli frowned. "What does it mean?"
"It means," the figure said grimly, "that the one pulling the strings has finally decided to reveal their hand. And they are watching us."
Thunder rumbled across the city, drowning out whatever the masked figure was about to say next.
Far away, in the heart of the Black Lotus Society's hidden chambers, a pair of golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.
"She is beginning to understand," a voice murmured. "Good. Let the storm come."