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  Ancient Fragment #16

  The two children clung to one another as crimson light devoured the world. In the end, it devoured them too — from an old, unsent letter found among the ashes of a burned city

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  Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing’s faces were grim while Bai Qing prayed silently for her sect members.

  The scene had shifted their mood, pulling their thoughts back to a memory long ago. A few months before they had left for the sect selections, they had decided to climb Shadowjade Mountain near Xincheng Village with their brothers and sisters.

  It was a test for themselves, ever since their teacher, Song Ming had told them that immortals could fly across mountains and oceans they always dreamed about conquering it.

  It was the tallest mountain in the region; no ordinary person could ascend it. For some unknown reason, only the nine of them could cultivate in the village. The climb had been long and grueling, but it had also been a time of bonding, laughter, and a shared experience.

  How I miss those times... it was so simple. Long Tianyu thought to himself and sighed.

  But it wasn't all easy. In the dead of night, they had been attacked. A large pack of Shadow Wolves had attacked them in the middle of the night. Shadow Wolves should not have existed so close to their village.

  Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing still remembered how their sister, Song Xue, whose eyes could see certain patterns on things had managed to help them defeat the Shadow Wolf King.

  If they hadn’t, the memory of that night would have been far darker. Maybe it would have been them, forced to bury their brothers and sisters. Maybe they would have all perished, leaving nine families without any children.

  Father, mother… Teacher Song Ming… Everyone else would have been too weak to climb the mountain and would never have known the truth. There must have been countless scenes like this, Long Tianyu thought.

  Bai Qing eventually straightened and turned back toward Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing, her eyes still red from grief.

  She had not only lost her fellow sect members, she had also understood the truth about her younger brother, Bai Shaojie. He had deceived her telling her in secret that he had found a large deposit of Red Heart Stones, right before they would leave he had been injured and couldn't join them, now he had caused heavy damage to the sect, just to seize the position of direct disciple from her.

  A dangerous thought began to take root in her mind. From this moment on, she would not show mercy or goodwill unless it was truly deserved.

  When I return… I will personally cut off his head.

  A faint, chilling aura began to leak from her without her noticing.

  Hua Qingqing frowned. She could clearly feel the killing intent radiating from Bai Qing, sharp and suffocating, yet it was not directed at them. It lingered like a drawn blade pointed elsewhere, restrained but ready to strike.

  She exchanged a brief glance with Long Tianyu.

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  There was more to this than what they had witnessed. Something deeper had happened, something personal. Hua Qingqing did not ask. In the cultivation world, some wounds were not meant to be touched, and some vendettas could only be resolved by the person who carried them.

  Bai Qing’s eyes were still sharp, though the red from grief lingered in the corners. She turned her attention back to Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing.

  "Brother Tianyu, Sister Qingqing, come with me. I’ll help you look for the Crimson Gold Flower I saw in the valley. But be careful, there were demonic beasts there." She hesitated. "Actually... never mind."

  Bai Qing felt a little foolish. Those beasts were only in the first stage of the Elementary Qi Realm, far weaker than the viper Long Tianyu had just killed.

  She gestured for them to follow and led the way through the dense undergrowth of the forest.

  The path was treacherous, barely a trail at all as it twisted between gnarled roots and jagged rocks.

  Every so often, she glanced back at them. The streaks of white in her blue hair stood out clearly, and Long Tianyu could not help but ask about it.

  "It comes from my mother's side and my cultivation technique. Our ancestors practiced ice techniques, so their hair turned blue over time. The white is from our sect's cultivation art."

  "Really? Cultivation arts can change your hair color?" Long Tianyu asked, sounding doubtful.

  "Of course! You can even change your eye color with cultivation," Bai Qing said as she jumped over a fallen tree dotted with brown mushrooms.

  "For example, my sect master, Madame Moon, has pure white hair and white pupils."

  "Wow, she must be really strong to be a sect master."

  "Of course" Bai Qing said proudly.

  ''Sister Qing, can you help us know about more about the sects in the area? Do you know where''

  Bai Qing furrowed her eyebrows, confused. How are they so strong but they don't know? Could they be from another kingdom?

  ''Uhm.. In Eastern Azure Dragon Kingdom there are many sects, some are small or very popular. For example, my sect master is in the Profound Qi Realm, but our sect is still very small. Usually the sects are located around Dragon Lake, north from Moondragon City.''

  Qingqing was correct, so they are around that area. Long Tianyu remembered when they had discussed the sects before.

  Bai Qing continued explaining, ''The great sects around the lake are Nine Patterns Sect, Starseeking Sect, Eternal Cauldron Sect, Soulrend Valley, Golden Windblade Sect and Thunderforge Sect.

  Starseeking Sect really is there, that's great. Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing looked at each other. The other sects also made their heart beat loudly, most of their siblings were around Dragon Lake.

  Long Tianyu hesitated for a moment before speaking again, unable to suppress the thought that had been circling his mind.

  "By the way, have you ever heard of something called Nine Tribulations?"

  Bai Qing slowed slightly as she considered it.

  "Um... Nine Tribulations? No, I can’t say I have. Sorry. Are you looking for it?"

  "Haha, no. My wife and I heard rumors about a treasure called Nine Tribulations here in the Crimson Heart, but we never found out what it was. So we ask everyone we meet."

  ''Oh..''

  The conversation faded and the forest reclaimed the silence. The blood red canopy stretched above them while the path widened ahead, the ground less tangled and easier to cross.

  Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing noticed the subtle tension in Bai Qing’s shoulders and the way her fingers brushed along the hilt of her sword, ready to draw at the slightest movement in the forest.

  “We should hurry if we want to get outside of the Crimson Heart in time. The demonic beasts are more active at dusk,” Bai Qing warned while increasing her speed.

  As they approached the valley, they walked through ruins of buildings.

  Long Tianyu traced his hand against a wall built out of black stone, the texture was smooth, and despite being completely overgrown with tall trees, vines and bushes, the stone kept their edges sharp as if it had been cut yesterday.

  Hua Qingqing lingered behind, her eyes darting between the toppled archways and crumbling pillars swallowed by roots.

  “These ruins…” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “do you think people once lived here?”

  Bai Qing didn’t slow her pace. “If they did, it was long ago. Most sects don't care about the Crimson Heart now.”

  Long Tianyu crouched to examine a strange glyph etched into the base of the wall. “The markings are still clear. Someone maintained them, at least for a time.” He stood, brushing dust from his hands.

  “We’re almost there,” Bai Qing said, slashing away a long branch that hung in her path with her sword.

  In front of the group stood several more archways, these were in better condition and less overgrown.

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  End of chapter 16 - Ruins