The young man's word hung in the air, sharp and heavy, like a storm cloud rolling over the valley. The tavern's warmth seemed to dim, the lantern light flickering as if uneasy. The girl's eyes widened, her half-eaten pork bun forgotten on the plate. She glanced at the scholar, expecting his usual calm, but his blue eyes held new intensity, studying the young man ass if reading an unfolding scroll. The tavern keeper lingered near the counter, her rag still but her sharp gaze fixed on the scene.
"Darkness," the scholar repeated, his voice steady but probing, like a blade a surface. "A vague word. Speak plainly – what threatens this valley?"
The young man hesitated, his hand still on his sword hilt, fingers twitching with nervous energy. He was young, barely past twenty, with a lean build and eyes that carried both determination and fear. His clothes, though worn, bore the faint embroidery of a minor noble's house, suggesting a story of his own. He stepped closer, lowering his voice so only the scholar and the girl could hear.
"It's not just the valley," he said, his words rushed but deliberate. "Something 's stirring in the old shrine at the valley's heart. The villagers say it's cursed, that the spirits there are angry. People have gone missing – hunters, travelers and even children. Last week, my brother went to investigate. He hasn't come back."
The girl's breath caught, her small hands gripping edge of the table. "Spirits?" she whispered, half – curious, half – afraid. "Like… ghosts?"
The young man glanced at her, his expression softening for a moment before hardening again. "Not ghosts. Something worse. The air around the shrine feels… wrong. Heavy, like it's watching you. The elders say it tied to an old pact, something about the land's balance, but they're too scared to act. I heard you're the starlit sage, the one who sees truth where other see shadows. If anyone can figure this out, it's you."
The scholar leaned ack slightly, his white hanfu catching the lantern's glow making him seem almost otherworldly. "Names and titles are fleeting," he said, his tone calm but edged with caution. "But you've found me, so speak your request. What do you ask for me?"
The young man swallowed, his resolve faltering under the scholar's piercing gaze. "Come to the shrine," he said. "Help me find my brother. If there's a curse, a spirit, or … whatever it is, you will know what to do. I can't lose him. please."
The tavern keeper, who had edged closer, snorted softly. "The shrine? Fool's errand. That place has been trouble since my grandmother's time. You'd be wise to stay clear, scholar or not."
The girls shot her a look, then turned to the scholar, her voice low but urgent. "You're not going there, are you? Sounds dangerous. And creepy."
The scholar's eyes flicked to her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Dangers and truth often walk the same path," he said. "But I don't shadows blindly." He turned back to the young man. "Tell me more. What did your brother seek at the shine? And this pact – what do the elders say of it?"
The young man shifted, glancing nervously at tavern's open doorway, as if expecting something to emerge from the night. "My brother, Liang, he's… reckless. He thought he could prove elders wrong, show the shrine's just old stories. He's a swordsman, trained, not some fool. But he went alone, said he'd be back by dawn. That was three days ago." He paused, his voice dropping. "The elders talk of a pact made centuries ago, between valley's first settler and…. Something else. A guardian spirit, or a demon, depending on who is telling. They say the shrine keeps the balance, but if the pact is broken, the valley pays the price."
The scholar's expression remined unreadable, but his fingers traced the edge of his teacup, a subtle sign of thoughts. "And what breaks this pack?" he asked.
The young man shook his head. "They don't know. Or won't say. The elders are scared, holed up in their homes, praying. That's why I came to find you."
The girl tugged at the scholar's sleeve, her voice a whisper. "This sounds bad. Like, really bad. You sure about this?"
He looked at her, his blue eyes steady but kind. "Certainty is an illusion, child. But questions leads to clarity. This man's brother is lost, and something stirs in the valley. Ignoring it won't make it vanish."
The tavern keeper crossed her arms, her tone gruff. "You're mad if you go to that shrine, scholar. People don't come back. Not the same anyway."
The scholar rose, his hanfu flowing like a liquid moonlight, and placed another coin on the table. "For your hospitality," he said to the tavern keeper, then turned to the young man. "I'll go to the shrine. Not for your brother alone, but to see what truth lies in these shadows. Lead the way."
The young man's face lit with relief, though fear still lingered in his eyes. "Thank you. I – tank you. My name's wei. I'll take you there now."
The girl scrambled to her feet, brushing crumbs from her tunic. "Wait, I'm coming too!" see said, her voice a mix of defiance and excitement. "I want to see what's at this creepy shrine. And you might need me."
The scholar raised an eyebrow, his faint smile returning. "Need you? Perhaps. But stay close, and keep your questions sharp."
As they stepped out into the cool night, the village lanterns cast long shadows across the street. Wei led the way, his sword at his said, while the scholar walked with his usual calm, his hanfu untouched by the dust of the road. The girl tailed close behind, her eyes darting to the darkness beyond the village, where the shrine waited, hidden in the valley's heart.
The path grew narrower as they left the villages behind, the lanterns glow fading into the distance. The air grew heavier, the stars above seeming dimmer, as if reluctant to light their way. A faint hum, almost imperceptible, pulsed through the ground, like the valley itself was breating.