Chapter 21 – Whispers in the Wind
The morning sun cast its faint light over the crowded market. Ye Tianlan's calm steps echoed on the stone path as he left the bustling stalls behind. Beneath his mask, his eyes were still sharp, observing every corner, every shadow. He could feel it—someone had been watching him for days now.
He didn't act immediately. Instead, he walked into a quiet alley and took a turn that led him toward a secluded herbal shop. The faint smell of spiritual herbs filled the air. He picked up a few spirit roots and paid quietly, keeping his head low.
But not far away, in the second floor of a teahouse, a young woman sat near the window, her gaze fixed on him. It was Lan Xue, one of the outer agents of the Celestial Guard. She had been assigned to monitor strange cultivators who entered the Eastern Market—and Ye Tianlan's presence had caught her attention from the very beginning.
"His aura is faint… too faint for an ordinary cultivator," she whispered, scribbling notes on a small jade slip. "He hides his spirit energy completely. That alone makes him suspicious."
Her partner, a man in silver armor, frowned. "You think he's connected to the disappearances?"
Lan Xue nodded slowly. "Perhaps. Or maybe something more."
The man sighed, taking a sip of his tea. "If you're that sure, report it to the Commander. You know the rules."
Lan Xue hesitated, looking out at Ye Tianlan's fading silhouette. "There's something about him. It's not malice… more like… grief."
Her partner shrugged. "Emotions don't matter. The Guard deals with facts."
After a moment of silence, Lan Xue pressed her jade slip and infused it with spiritual energy. The message flew from her hand like a streak of light, vanishing into the sky—sent directly to her superior.
"Subject observed: Male, masked, suppressing aura to an unnatural level. Behavior cautious but controlled. Possible threat or survivor from a hidden sect. Requesting instructions."
When she leaned back in her seat, her heartbeat slowed. Yet a strange unease grew in her chest.
Somewhere deep inside, she felt… he wasn't the enemy.
Meanwhile, in the quiet backroom of the herbal shop, Ye Tianlan closed his eyes briefly. His spiritual sense brushed across the city—and felt a faint pulse of energy streak through the sky.
A communication talisman. Someone had just reported something.
His hand curled slightly.
"So… they finally noticed."
He placed the herbs into his bag, pulled his hood lower, and disappeared into the crowd once again.
The hunt had just begun.