[ 32 ]
[ A/N: Expect a jumpy chapter. All over the place, just like the oncoming drama. ]
ShuNing awoke to an unnatural feeling. Usually when something niggled at the back of his mind, it was an off-feeling, but when he woke up and could literally feel the disturbance in the air. He brushed aside the blanket and got to his feet quickly.
The barely-lit surroundings showed what time it was, and when he stepped from the room, that Elder Kang had generously given to him, he heard the thunderous sound of water. It had barely rained since arriving in this world, everything had its natural balance, so the influx of sound was unnerving.
As well as the energy that permeated the air. So much so, that even someone on his level could detect it. The further he walked, coming to the door of the building, he felt as if the oxygen had been zapped from the air. He found himself clearing his throat, willing his body to relax.
He reached for the door handle when a servant scurried over. "Young master! It's not safe to go out there." She all but yelled, startling ShuNing in his place. His hand stopped, inches before the handle, and retracted.
"What's going on? Have we been invaded already?"
The servant stood still, and from what he could see, her face was swollen. Her eyes were red, her nose, her cheeks. She had been crying quite severely. As well as her entire body shaking, and as she stood there, trying to compose herself, she broke apart.
"XeTown...the river..." she trembled, bringing her fingers up to her face and whimpering loudly. All rules that she abided by as a strict servant, crumbled as she tried to explain the situation.
Seeing the woman in such a sorry state, ShuNing walked over and tried to comfort the woman. "What happened?" He asked again, softly.
The woman gulped loudly, trying to stifle the waterworks enough to speak. "XeLeader's warriors they, the ones who can manipulate water.. it was so scary, we were all taken by surprise.. and now.." she trembled.
ShuNing's head began to thump, suspicions arose and he prayed it was just his own ridiculous mind. "What did XeLeader's warriors do?"
She sniffed and in between gasps of air, she finally got her words out. "The waterfall, they manipulated it, making it stop for only a few seconds." She whimpered.
"No.. when, how did I not hear this?"
"My master, he had me add something to your drink that would help you sleep better. Forgive me, we had no idea that XeLeader..his own people."
"Elder Kang.. where is he?" ShuNing's hands trembled.
"He left, with his men, when he saw what was going to happen."
Most likely to confront XeLeader, which seemed to be a suicide mission. ShuNing glanced around, eyeing the comforts of the man's house, a place where he would like be recommended to stay in. But he had come this far, how could he hide away?
Much to the displeasure of the weeping servant, ShuNing returned to the front door and yanked it open, stepping outside only to gasp at the dense air. The headache that was growing, thumping in response, giving him an indication of what was causing it. Unlike the servant, who couldn't detect the abundance of energy swarming around, ShuNing was being met head-on.
To anyone else, the density could possibly overwhelm and kill them. Another thing that XeLeader likely didn't care about when he erected this plan. The Chief Advisor's words rang in his mind, when he spoke of how tampering with the waterfall was forbidden. If you did so, it would disrupt the balance and could cause devastation for those further down the river.
Which is exactly where the Wang Sect, and their allies, were currently positioned.
But the servant mentioned XeTown. Somewhere where innocent people loyal to XeClan, lived. Where servants lived. Tengfei.
"No no no!"
"Calm yourself, Fahren."
The chilling voice brought him to a halt, the use of his real name sounding odd now since he hadn't heard it in such a long time. "System?"
"It would be a waste of effort to see you running around like a headless chicken. So as you haven't been reliant on me for answers, as so many have in the past, I will help you out, free-of-charge. Those people, them from the Wang Sect, they have managed to protect a large amount of those who lived in this XeTown."
"Even Old Tengfei?"
"Mm. A fascinating character he is, he's aiding the Wang Sect few who are apparent medicinal cultivators. Ah, how you grasp all these terminologies is beyond me."
"It's not like I had much of a choice." ShuNing mumbled, but thanked the ever-emotionless individual who was acting as his judge at his trial.
By the time he had finished speaking to System, he had reached a point, standing on the mountain, where he could look out and over the open plains, and to where XeTown was located. Although he had been told the good news, his eyes still widened at the sight of the surrounding landscape.
The waterfall which, back then, flowed down into a contained river, to create its iconic leaf-like shape, was completely desecrated. An obscene amount of water now flooded the land, washing any and all unstable buildings away with sheer destructive-power.
The only reason the bottom of XeClan hadn't been caught up in it, was because they just so happened to be on a slight dip. They were also protected by the wall that kept them closed in. And from what he could see, that seemed to be where the most congestion was.
Someone who stood out the most, was a fool of an elemental cultivator who allegedly controlled that element, even though it had spread to the tattered buildings whilst fighting. Down below, there were people running all about, screams and pleads. But with every member of XeClan that ran past the Wang Sect members, they didn't lift a finger to harm them, their sole focus was on the cocky Xe Warriors.
ShuNing watched in horror, and didn't notice someone approaching until his arm was forcefully grabbed. A man wearing the uniform identifying him as XeLeader's, was proudly worn by the mountainous figure, who seemed displeased.
The man looked him over silently, but only for a quick moment. "Hurry, you should be with the group."
"Group?"
"The Group evacuating, through the mountain."
Through the mountain? There was a second escape route, and those with the wealth have the red-carpet rolled out for them whilst the poor are running around fearing for their lives!?
"What? No, why are we evacuating, what about them?" He asked, his voice sounding exasperated as he gestured to the bottom of the mountain. The flames were building, engulfing a whole section of XeClan.
ShuNing didn't get his answers, not when he was hoisted off the ground and over the brute's shoulder. "Let me go!" He screeched.
"Shut up. You're lucky you're not going to be swallowed by the flames like the rest of the bastard children." He grunted, obviously having recognised ShuNing.
"Put me down! There are children, they're asleep! Let me get them, please!"
"No time. Collateral damage." The man mumbled, advancing up the mountain. By now, ShuNing felt so desperate the tears began to fall, his eyes watched Elder Kang's home disappear from his eye-line and he fought the heartless beast that kept him in place.
ShuNing knew that the Wang Sect wouldn't harm a hair on the children's head, but the fire that was rapidly climbing up the steep mountain, would show no such mercy.
* * *
"Master?" Guang Bai called for the umpteenth time as he tried to be as quiet as he could when tiptoeing around the Chief Advisor's home. After many times, with no response, the young servant felt quite anxious. He, along with his other fellow servants had been discretely looking around, trying to spot him- to no avail.
Every once in a while, Guang Bai would pause and look outside, feeling like he was hearing odd sounds. Some sounded like screams, but they were too far away. But a sound that definitely sounded closer, was a creak.
He had just reached a corner, and although he couldn't see around it, he had a strange sense that it wasn't his master. The weight on the floor, to make it creak, must be heavier than his young master's.
Poking his nose round, the little bun was stricken with the onslaught of fear. There were two men standing in the hall, looking around, wearing green clothing. Guang Bai brought his hands up to cover his mouth, suppressing a gasp, and tried to back away. His body felt heavy as he tried to make the least amount of noise possible.
But as he turned, his elbow hit the hallow walls, creating a thump.
There was a moment of complete silence, before Guang Bai snapped and started to run in the opposite direction. The floor, which was polished daily, slipped under him as he only wore his socks. And he was in the process of falling on his face when one of the men appeared out of thin air, directly in front of him.
The man in green watched as the young boy's head smacked down, and yet he hadn't even touched him. The little frame went limp, and the two men looked at each other.
"You knocked out a child?" One asked, having only caught sight of the child hitting the ground after his partner had appeared.
"No! He tripped over his own feet."
Number two pinched the bridge of his nose, "Whatever, we'll come back for him, let's continue searching."
"Guang Bai, I heard some noise, are you alright?" The female attendant sworn to Shu Ning, approached down another hall. Having searched, and failed to find him, she was feeling just as worried.
Both men ignored the woman's presence, instead latching onto the name she used. With a glance at one another, they both agreed, they'd found their man.
...or child.
But who were they to question their future Sect leader's tastes?
As soon as the female attendant, who treated Guang Bai as her son, saw that he was lying face down, motionless on the ground, she could only think the worst. And screamed. The men then couldn't ignore her, both expressions returning to serious as one of them pounced on the cornered servant.
* * *
The brute of a man didn't let ShuNing down until he had taken him through various hidden routes. His tears had dried up, but his rage was bubbling. The warrior, who was as straight as a pole, didn't care for where his hands touched as he yanked ShuNing from his uncomfortably-muscular shoulder and all but dropped him onto the ground.
ShuNing's face was contorted, expressing his distaste. "Be glad, you're alive for now. Go." He was spun round and nudged in a direction. In the direction of a tunnel, that seemed to have been hand-carved into the body of the mountain. Though he could use the talents he had trained over the past weeks, to detect that there were people down the path, there was still very little light.
Plus, ShuNing desperately wanted to get back. But when he turned round once again, he was met with the stoic-faced, man who he doubted would let him pass. So with little other option, he started walking.
The man didn't follow him, that much was clear, and for a few minutes ShuNing felt claustrophobic, the rugged walls either side of him feeling increasingly imposing as he ventured further in. The knowledge that the weight of the mountain could easily crush him, did nothing to sate his anxieties.
But then he stepped into an open area. Lanterns were lit all around the circular room, revealing the plethora of people that were inside. One of them, unfortunately being XeWife herself. The woman, who didn't have to keep up appearances for the sake of XeLeader who wasn't present, had a face scrunched up with such disgust.
What was she doing here?
The concubines, who had clearly been taken by surprise, just like everyone, were wearing their night gowns and huddling together. They would cast sneering glances at XeWife every now and then. ShuNing was at least thankful he was there to see the woman being looked down on.
"You whores dare look down your nose at me?" XeWife thundered, her screeching voice filling the room.
Surprisingly, XeSon was beside her, and he was the one who tried to stop his mother from acting out. But the woman, who had maintained a position for so long, was completely deluded by her own pride.
"The only reason you are here, Bao Li, is so that when we win, XeLeader can have the pleasure of punishing you deservingly. What a vile creature you are." One concubine spoke confidently.
"You dare speak to me like that!?" XeWife was practically steaming at the ears. Whilst she remained confidently ignorant, her parents and her own son had deliberately remained silent. They had grasped the seriousness of their offences, the ones that Bao Li had committed, and knew that if they had any chances of surviving this, they couldn't stir anymore trouble.
"Yes, I do. You are beyond foolish if you believe that you will be our XeLeader's wife after all of this. Have you not heard the gossip, Bao Li, all these problems started happening when your treasonous actions surfaced." The concubine was enjoying every moment of this.
Everyone in the room was silent, watching attentively. Though many of them were considered selfish, and possessed with the desire to be of importance, they still had their humanity- which XeWife seemed to have lost. And though XeWife was being blamed for the recent problems, the one who was truly responsible was watching and wishing he had his phone to record the woman's expression.
"How preposterous! I have heard no such gossip."
"Oh? But you will. Your worst mistake, Bao Li, was isolating everyone. Now us whores just have to whisper it into our beloved's ear."
Bao Li's face contorted, and as much as she wanted to argue, as much as she wanted to beat the flock of women, they were currently in higher position of power. And that made her blood boil. Blood vessels were on the brink of exploding, just as the veins were protruding.
"Could you all be quiet, if you hadn't grasped the severity of the situation, we are meant to be hiding here." Someone on the other side of the room snapped.
"Just like the apparent, and fearless XeSon. Still sticking to his mother's bosom." Someone else snorted.
"Whilst our children are out fighting, he dares hide in here?" A whisper, in that space, was heard by everyone.
That triggered everyone to start shouting, spewing hate back and forth. The wise person who had voiced his concern by the level of noise, was ultimately the only who should have been listened to, as the noise of the yelling sounded down the same hall they had travelled along, and that was the same for the narrow one opposite; their escape route. They had been told to wait in silence, but even that they could not do.
ShuNing, did not care for the words being tossed back and forth, but instead focused on trying to locate a certain man. His family were here, but not him. But as someone had said earlier, their children had been sent to fight, which could mean that ZhangFeng himself was in the ranks.
When the sound of rubble under feet cut through the loud voices, ShuNing looked behind him, down the long dark stretch of a walkway, but soon found that the footsteps were not coming from that direction. Instead, they were approaching from the opposite tunnel.
Bodies turned towards the sound, but the nearest few retreated a few steps. There shouldn't be anyone coming from that direction, this was a tunnel only known by the top-brass.
The face that appeared made ShuNing all but sag in relief. Elder Kang wore an expression he usually used when conducting his official business. The man glowered at everyone in the room, his gaze hesitating on XeWife with true revulsion.
"About time, how long do we have to wait here, Kang Guiren?" XeWife demanded, bringing up her sleeve to her cover her mouth in a ladylike manner.
What became quickly apparent, was that Elder Kang wasn't alone. Behind him, followed many pairs of feet, and when the first person went under the light of the flame, revealing a distinct green tunic, many of their breaths caught in their throat.
ShuNing recognised them immediately, as Wang Sect members. But after a sudden dawn of realisation, he felt like he had landed in a trap that had been set only for someone else. If this escape route truly was a way that was going to be utilised, Elder Kang no doubt, would have showed him the direction long ago.
Instead, Elder Kang had made sure to keep him within the confines of his home. Even going so far as to have something added to his drink. "Ah," ShuNing exclaimed quietly, "Always the fool, Fahren."
"What is this?" XeWife's father demanded, putting himself in front of his wife, daughter and grandson. The man, unfortunately, appeared like an older version of ZhangFeng. That was really disappointing, because ShuNing hoped the man would look completely different, so he wouldn't have any second-guesses regarding his uncertain fate.
"This, is the beginning of XeClan's official disbandment. And XeLeader has inadvertently made the job easier by gathering together those he regards with a flicker of affection."
"Yep," ShuNing lamented, "I really shouldn't be here."
The individuals from Wang Sect, and their allying clans, fanned out and cut off any means of escape, which included right behind ShuNing too. He met eyes with one of the Wang disciples, and the poor guy cursed the XeClan individuals for having such good looks. The guy repeatedly reminded himself: that these people were the toxins.
"Kang Guiren, we have always been fair to one another. You wouldn't kill me right?" One of the concubines turned on her 'charm'.
"Enough! Keep your antics to yourself. I do not have any intention of having you killed, nor does the Wang Sect. That is not the point of this invasion." It was too soon for people to release loud exhales in relief, but they didn't know that.
"But that does not mean you will go without punishment for actions that are most definitely known by me." Behind ShuNing, the man closest to him grasped him tightly. Just as the others did so too, with much more vigour. A few cried out.
Concubines, who had been treated like delicate feathers, had their arms wrenched. The group, who were now restricted, were herded together, with enough space that Elder Kang could cross directly across.
The man intended to walk straight ahead, when ShuNing decided to make his presence known.
"Elder Kang.." his voice was soft, devoid of the bitterness that everyone else's currently held. And out of immediate recognition, the grey-haired nobleman whipped his head to the side. The fixed expression of impassiveness melted to pure surprise.
"Shu Ning? You're not supposed to be here." The man strode over, wafting away the man that kept a light but firm grasp on ShuNing, and greeted him by cupping his face.
"Forgive me, I didn't intend to mess up your plans." He replied quietly, his eyes genuinely welling up at the thought of being able to get out of the mountain, and to reach the children and his beloved attendants.
The older man sighed deeply, but shook his head and then kissed the top of ShuNing's. The man sounded relieved. "You haven't messed up any plans, Little Shu. Don't worry." The man then took ShuNing's hand tightly in his own.
With one of the Wang Sect cultivators in front, Elder Kang led them out, followed by a flock of very apprehensive individuals. When they were officially outside once again, under the darkening sky that was being stained by the smoke, ShuNing looked to the man by his side in desperation.
"Elder Kang! The children are still in your home, and the flames are growing!"
The Chief Advisor expressed a look of confusion. "This is why I found your presence baffling. I planned for you to be safely escorted out of XeClan, and even received reports that you had been collected. And yet, here you are." The man spoke slowly, as if laying out the evidence before making a judgement.
ShuNing didn't understand either, but was still relieved to hear that the children, as well as his attendants, had been safely taken away. As for where, he wasn't too sure. But that could wait, ShuNing now set his mind on trying to find Zhang Feng.
"Elder Kang," having realised that they were moving as a group, ShuNing broached the subject, "If this is supposed to be a surprise attack, should we not be moving more carefully?" Glancing around though, he couldn't spot any warriors.
"Most of XeLeader's warriors have surrendered already, they were, as predicted, quite over-confident with their skills and were ultimately overwhelmed."
ShuNing hummed lightly, "Chief Advisor, this plan seems well planned out."
Elder Kang caught on to the tone. "Just because I held such a title within the clan, did not mean I was in any way blind. I suppose your determination when it came to protecting others made me take this more seriously." He revealed.
ShuNing appreciated that, and the man.
"So what now?"
"You, are going to go with one of these Wang disciples and get somewhere safe. This isn't over just yet."
"No." ShuNing had already decided.
Never having heard the young man refute his word, Elder Kang was astonished by the firm response. But he didn't feel angry, not like many of the other aristocrats would have been when talked back to.
"I want to see this, Elder Kang. Please let me see it through to the end."
The older man wasn't too convinced, finding the words to refuse him easily, but with one look at the young man's eyes, he couldn't speak them. The dark eyes no longer felt like they belonged to the blissfully-ignorant boy he first met.
So he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
[ TBC ]
A/N: Next chapter is a monster 10 page one. (Did you know you can read that, and Chapter's 33 and 34 on my Patreon? Don't think i've mentioned that before. ) wink*
MORE FANART! - The gorgeous Fu Zhang Feng. Drawn by the equally as gorgeous 'LuQuack'. Thank you for your hard work <3!