Whispers of the Jade Lotus
Chapter 3
The villagers thank them profusely, offering food and shelter. Wei Lianfeng grins as he accepts a bottle of wine, while Lan Yueming stands silently, scanning the horizon.
Lan Yueming
This wasn’t an isolated incident. The dark energy is spreading.
Wei Lianfeng
So… more adventures for us? Looks like I’m stuck with you.
Lan Yueming
No one asked you to stay.
Wei Lianfeng
Yet here I am. Lucky you.
Early Morning, Yunxian Town
(The village wakes after a restless night. Lan Yueming meditates near the remnants of the shrine while Wei Lianfeng snores loudly under a tree, a wine jug beside him.)
Lan Yueming
You’ve been awake for some time now. Stop pretending to sleep.
Wei Lianfeng
(groaning)
How are you this sharp in the morning? Can’t you let a man enjoy his dreams?
Lan Yueming
Dreams won’t solve the mystery of this shrine.
Wei Lianfeng
Neither will your endless frowning. So, what’s the plan, oh wise one?
Lan Yueming
The talismans used here are not from any sect I recognize. They bear traces of forbidden cultivation.
Wei Lianfeng
Forbidden, huh? That’s always the fun stuff.
Lan Yueming
(glaring)
This isn’t a game. Whoever created these talismans is skilled and dangerous. Their intentions are clear—corruption and destruction.
Wei Lianfeng
Sounds like you’re describing half the cultivators I’ve met. But sure, let’s go hunt down the big bad.
The duo questions the village elder, an elderly woman named Madam Yu, who witnessed strange events.
Madam yu
It began two moons ago. At first, it was just whispers in the night. Then, people started disappearing. We found their bodies near the shrine, drained of life.
Lan Yueming
Did you see anyone suspicious in the village before this began?
Madam yu
Yes... a man in black robes with a jade emblem on his belt. He came seeking refuge but disappeared the next morning. We thought nothing of it at the time.
Wei Lianfeng
Jade emblem? Sounds fancy. Could be connected to the Jade Lotus Mirror.
Lan Yueming
You know of the mirror?
Wei Lianfeng
I’ve heard stories. It’s said to grant unimaginable power but at a steep cost. People lose themselves—sometimes literally.
Journey to the Mountains
(The duo sets out for the mountain caves, where traces of dark energy were detected. The trail grows colder, the air thick with malice.)
Wei Lianfeng
So, if this mirror is real, why hasn’t someone destroyed it already?
Lan Yueming
Some artifacts cannot be destroyed by ordinary means. The Jade Lotus Mirror is said to draw power from the emotions of its wielder, corrupting even the purest hearts.
Wei Lianfeng
Sounds like a real party crasher. Guess we’ll just have to keep it out of the wrong hands.
A sudden growl interrupts their conversation. From the shadows, a pack of spirit wolves emerges, their eyes glowing with the same red hue as the corrupted spirits from the shrine.
Lan Yueming
They’ve been tainted by the same energy. Prepare yourself.
Wei Lianfeng
Oh, I’m always prepared. Just don’t get in my way.
The spirit wolves attack in unison. Lan Yueming moves with precision, his blade slicing through their ranks while purifying talismans burn away the corruption. Wei Lianfeng, meanwhile, employs a mix of agility and improvised tricks.
Wei Lianfeng
One wolf down, eight to go. Think you can keep up?
Lan Yueming
Focus on the fight, not your commentary.
As the last wolf falls, Wei Lianfeng notices strange markings on its fur—a spiral design etched in black ink.
Wei Lianfeng
Now, that’s interesting. Someone marked these creatures. This wasn’t natural.
Lan Yueming
It confirms the involvement of a dark cultivator. We need to move quickly.
The Mountain Cave
(They find the cave entrance blocked by glowing talismans similar to those at the shrine. Lan Yueming examines them while Wei Lianfeng leans against the wall, watching.)
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