Morning mist still lingered like a thin veil over the rooftops of Hei An City. At the modest residence where Prince Long Wei and his elite guards were staying, the air was heavy with silence and unspoken concern. The night before had been filled with turmoil. The entire city had felt the tremors of battle when two monstrous forces clashed—the Sect Leader of the Black Wolves and the imperial swordmaster, Long Wei himself.
The elite guards had spent the entire night scouring the city in search of their prince, fearing the worst. No one could find him or the Black Wolves' Sect Leader after the great explosion that leveled the towering pagoda. Now, dawn had broken, and suddenly, as if nothing had happened, Prince Long Wei entered the compound.
He stepped inside the courtyard like a breeze—steady, composed, and utterly unscathed. His long silver robe fluttered lightly as he walked past the stunned guards. The scarred tiles beneath his boots echoed faintly with each step.
One of the elite guards, Tian Feng, rushed forward, disbelief etched into his face. "Your Highness! We searched everywhere for you! What happened? How are you so… unharmed after that clash?"
Long Wei merely glanced at him with a calm smile, his long hair slightly tousled but his aura serene.
"As usual," he said, brushing past him, "I'm always okay."
He walked straight to his chamber without another word. The guards exchanged glances, uncertain whether to feel relief or confusion.
Far across the city, within the remains of the Black Wolves' sect tower, the Sect Leader stood silently, arms folded behind his back. The scorched rubble and fractured beams told a story of devastation. With a long breath, he turned toward a young disciple beside him.
"Rebuild it," he said quietly, his voice unreadable beneath his silver mask. "Make it stronger. This time, let it face the heavens."
The disciple bowed low and immediately left to gather workers.
In the Capital
Inside the imperial palace, deep within the Hall of Silent Ink, Emperor Tian Rui sat alone, practicing calligraphy. The strokes were deliberate and graceful, forming characters filled with wisdom and cryptic meaning. The faint smell of ink and jasmine incense permeated the air.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows—a man clad in a hooded black cloak and a porcelain mask, the emperor's trusted shadow informant.
"Your Majesty," the masked figure said, bowing. "The situation in Hei An has intensified. Prince Long Wei and the Black Wolves Sect Leader clashed… their powers nearly brought down half the city. Both men vanished for hours. No one knows what deal, if any, was struck between them."
The emperor, without lifting his head, finished the last brushstroke and then slowly smiled.
"My brother still thinks he can stop fate," he murmured, placing the brush down. "But calamity… is like the turning of the stars. It cannot be halted."
At Xiangwu City
Far away, in the southern martial sect of Xiangwu, a man with white sideburns and a grave look stood in front of a tranquil koi pond. He sipped hot tea from a delicate jade cup. The Sect Lord of Xiangwu, a man of deep foresight and wisdom, looked concerned.
After some time in deep thought, he sat by his desk and unfolded a sealed scroll. With his brush, he began to pen a letter, the ink flowing like a river of thoughts. Once finished, he sealed the message with the emblem of Xiangwu and handed it to his most trusted courier.
"Deliver this to the Empress," he instructed. "No delays."
The Empress Departs
In the Capital's serene Imperial Garden, the Empress stood surrounded by her maidservants, admiring the lotus blossoms in bloom. A moment of peace was shattered when a guard rushed forward and knelt, holding out a sealed scroll.
Reading it, her expression shifted from composed to alarmed. Her hands trembled. She turned swiftly, brushing aside her attendants.
"Prepare my carriage," she ordered. "We depart for Xiangwu at once."
None dared ask questions. Within the hour, the golden carriage bearing the phoenix emblem rolled out of the palace gates, heading south.
Suspicions and Truths
Back at Hei An City, Long Wei sat in his study chamber, flipping through military scrolls when Tian Feng, the same elite soldier who had earlier questioned him, entered with cautious resolve.
"Your Highness," Tian Feng said, bowing low. "Forgive me if I speak out of place, but… I must ask. Don't you find the Third Prince's behavior suspicious?"
Long Wei lifted an eyebrow. "Suspicious? Explain."
"The day you disappeared with the Sect Leader," Tian Feng said, "he didn't seem the least bit worried. And when you returned this morning—perfectly fine—he showed no surprise. He simply accepted it."
Long Wei leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. "So… you think he knew I would return?"
"I think," Tian Feng said carefully, "that perhaps he's been sent by the Emperor to watch over you. Maybe even… to report back."
Long Wei gave a faint laugh, his expression unreadable. "You forget… he's only my father's son. We share no blood from our mother's side. We've never been on good terms. Of course he wouldn't be concerned."
"But still…" Tian Feng hesitated.
"I've suspected it for a long time," Long Wei said, rising to his feet and walking to the window. "The Emperor placed him here to act as a leash. Let him watch. I don't care."
An Unexpected Lead
Just then, a loud knock echoed through the residence. Another elite guard entered and saluted.
"Your Highness, we've received a tip," he said urgently. "There's a small village just outside Hei An City. Word is, a man there has been helping the Black Wolves Sect sell illegal weapons to outsiders."
Long Wei's eyes narrowed. "Gather everyone. We ride at once."
Within the hour, the prince and his trusted warriors set out for the village, galloping across dusty paths and mountain trails.
By noon, they arrived at the village. It was small, quiet, nestled against the edge of the forest. Villagers looked up in alarm as the royal banner approached.
"Where is the residence of the blacksmith named Shen Yi?" Tian Feng asked one of the elders.
The old man pointed down a path shaded by old cedar trees. "There… but…"
The soldiers arrived at the home, a modest wooden house with smoke still faintly rising from the chimney. Long Wei dismounted and approached the door. It creaked open.
Inside, silence.
Blood.
Long Wei's face hardened.
Shen Yi, the man they were looking for, lay sprawled across the floor, his body riddled with stab wounds. His wife and young daughter lay beside him, lifeless. The entire household had been wiped out in a swift, calculated massacre.
The air smelled of fresh death.
Tian Feng covered his mouth. "Damn it… the mastermind knew we were coming."
Long Wei nodded grimly. "They silenced him. This wasn't just about hiding evidence. This is a warning."
He looked out the window, toward the distant horizon where storm clouds were forming.
"We've stirred something," he whispered. "And now… it's watching us."