Chapter 60: The Road Ahead

Qian Ye raised his hand and waved towards Lu Ya Lan. “Let’s go.”

Lu Ya Lan, dazed, stood up slowly, accompanying Qian Ye outside and took the driver’s seat.

“To Dark City.”

She trembled slightly and turned toward him; confusion and uncertainty filled her eyes. “Heading back to Dark City again?”

“I have something to take care of. Are you telling me—there are still people from Ghost Chain there?”

“Nothing but spies at the city outer edges. You’ve killed all of Ghost Chain’s major operatives in the entire region, but they soon will learn of the incident. Then elders will be dispatched to handle the mess.” Lu Ya Lan’s voice quivered as she spoke—the elders were clearly not easy opponents.

Qian Ye already understood how the Ghost Chain’s influence had been spread across the western region as he spoke dispassionately, “Unless they can get through within a day or two, they cannot arrive soon. We still have sufficient time; when I depart from that place, you’ll finally have your freedom.”

Upon hearing this sentence, Lu Ya Lan involuntarily let out a slight shudder in horror.

Seeing the shakiness in her eyes, understanding bloomed within Qian Ye. He smiled slightly. “Relax, you’ve acted just perfect, so I will not kill you. Besides you, who are not naive by nature, surely are intelligent enough not to make foolish mistakes like crawling back to Ghost Chain ever again.”

Lu Ya Lan slowly nodded as she turned on the vehicle.

Once they entered the city previously termed “Dark” (by locals), Qian Ye quickly returned their modest quarters, collecting belongings before moving, along with Lu Ya Lan, to more elegant rooms situated firmly inside the central business region, under the prominent Zhao family seal displayed for protection. Then, scarcely allowing even himself time to breath, he departed despite the lateness of evening, setting course toward that auction house in Darkest of Cities.

Zhao Run Shui, from but distant branches of the famed Zhous, found in them the faintest of bloodlines tying his family’s origin but enough to garner him his prestigious, plum posting at Darkest’s great auction house.

Though this grand establishment had already shut its large iron gates against night entry, still he remained within the backroom quarters counting daily profit from the last business day’s trade when guardsmen relayed the sacred talisman Qian Ye had handed them. Instantly Zhao shifted his mood—gathering up warmth, hospitality flooding his expression as he hurried forward person himself to invite in the honored guest.

Simultaneously sending swift messages, the departed appraiser and salesperson had been hurriedly called back—quickly forming a line to evaluate, pricing every last weapon Qian Ye had brought forth in detail.

Watching Zhao’s fawning mannerisms, understanding lit within Qian Ye—a realization that originally, when Song Zi Ning informed the parcel should arrive at a soldier affiliated tightly under the Zhaos, even though only deception’s thin cloak, perhaps even that deception had some basis in underlying reality. Song Zi Ning likely maintained quiet acquaintances under the banner of the Zhao surname after all.

The reality—though circumstances had initially originated due to conflicts brewing within Song clan’s own family inheritance matters, not merely a mere soldier, potentially Zhaos’ inner council themselves dared not entangle in anything as transparently dangerous from afar.

Sighing softly beneath a breath that barely left his thoughts, recalling the long western path journey which has been soaked in nothing but bloodshed and battle, these deeper truths hidden in red shadows, thoughts that once approached only weighed his mind with complexities.

Zhao Run Shui had now calculated prices totaling all together. Holding a thick, bound list toward Qian Ye. Qian Ye merely leafed through pages with idle fingers and requested he’d trade his arms for some choice of portable rare materials as well as equipment particularly designed targeting creatures from the Dark races.

Not once did Zhao Run Shui voice idle inquires; rather, he presented five rounds of anti-magic silver bullets and a uniquely-shaped box of jade.

The bullets inside offered Qian Ye great, delightful surprises—finding Silver Dawnshot bullets from the auction house collection exceeded expectations. These, indeed potent against dark creatures, rivalled in strength and destruction only by Tenebrate Annihilation Shot made with black titanium.

In comparison, even those bullets fabricated by an esteemed “artificing master’s” own hands fell short. If Zahrin had fallen, struck fatally through the chest by such Silver Sun Bullets, not one chance remained for the enemy to survive—only ashes left behind and zero possible treatment for wound recovery thereafter.

Once deals ended peacefully and swiftly, the man turned about hurriedly retracing the road leading quickly back toward where the lodge was nestled. He found Lu Ya Lan curled uncomfortably while asleep, trapped still stiff in her lounge-chair pose. Days and nights spent on edge with the overwhelming stress had already left deep fatigue in the woman’s eyes.

Qian Ye softly knocked against her to stir her consciousness. “We’re leaving. Now’s time.”

Startled awake momentarily with hazy thoughts, her lips murmured sleepily. “Leaving? Heading toward where?”

Instantaneously realizing her position upon saying just that one sentence aloud, alarm flooded over this woman’s expression once memory struck back violently. Automatically retracting into the deepest defensive posture she had ever curled into, every single muscle tensed with dread as her face turned pallid-white. She’d never been such a timid creature naturally.

Reassurance arrived gently. “I told you once already. No need to fear; my blade will spare thy existence. But my path requires motion—I can’t tarry holding hands.”

Hesitancy passed, then quickly rekindled hope sparkled briefly. “Will you help find safety?”

The young man blinked once. “How far do you want safety?”

Sitting straightened now, her dark eyes carried lingering fear mingled with faint sparks of yearning. “I endured complete assassin’s instruction—merely without much field practice under live missions prior to these events. My talents include gambling, strategy, business operations, and intelligence.”

Already packing his own luggage, now thrown over shoulder with swift precision. A moment filled silence before his mind found its words— “A different assignment awaits me immediately ahead; travel cannot allow extra passengers. You won’t come along.”

Her glimmered yearned extinguished.

His fingers paused momentarily, but he continued forward, “If you prefer journey east instead—head straight toward the Ember Mercenaries, found somewhere near Black Flow city in Three River郡. Mention this to them—they will find work suited to skill. As to immediate needs for escape…” The young noble cast forward a modest bag of gold to rest beside her lap. “Ghost Chain won’t dare openly act violently in territory under the Zhao family watch, thereby implying the primary travel route will indeed be safest.”

She remained frozen for another second before nodding her ascent.

Night grew deeper in tone while beneath darkening shadows cast, Qian Ye sped his heavy cross-country carriage along Shuo Yang highway. At first occasional figures hurriedly passed the opposite direction enroute toward city lights—but gradually the scenery cleared outward; the world melted away—leaving nothing else except the open, empty desert.

Thousands glittered overhead within vast celestial dome, the full round lunar moon stretching across large sky sections revealed mountains’ outlines from afar—shining silvery light upon their ancient stone faces.

Gradually, slowly, Darkest finally disappeared at horizon’s far edge while behind the figure gazed all about. In any direction—pure emptiness remained: the wild and endless skies merged seamlessly with desert sands out towards the infinite.

The feeling stirred—his consciousness whispered an illusion, the idea he was somehow, inexplicably—the world’s final solitary figure—while stars overhead hung an unfamiliar canopy of distant constellations never seen before.

In this world—on every continent spread across the lands, its starfield is completely unique above one’s land below. Each landmass possesses its own personal celestial arrangement that no other shares—and the moon, sun or stars viewed in other lands are certainly none of their very same brothers across other worlds.

Thoughts passed his mind unbidden—flashes of familiar faces flickered across the screen forming within his soul. He suddenly missed everyone he knew—those whose paths had intertwined for years, those merely shared brief greetings with, those who had become cherished over a handful of meetings.

Images floated vividly in Qian Ye’s mental theatre—the gentle tea-cup raised in gesture between two friends from Song Zi Ning; each of Wei Patian’s boxing matches always resulting in defeat; Nightglow glancing back briefly amidst the junkyard wreckage she roamed through; the sparkling waterfalls echoing where Zhao RuoXi turned smiling from some shallow stream to greet him; the gluttonously happy barbecue face lit up in warm fire shadows of William’s contented grin by campfire’s golden glow.

Then—Qian Ye understood himself better—he’d once feared loneliness creeping ever stronger as he matured. He now accepted the nature of this emotion, though differing now compared to when he had fled the shadowy blood-lot streets once more years past; nowadays every single remembrance carried meaning, each lonely hour simply a quiet anticipation, and with the hope that soon, the separated friends would be joyfully reunited soon enough.

Out yonder far beyond—two provinces spanned beneath sky’s gaze stretched out—where mountains called Starless Peaks, stretching beyond imagination’s ability; a domain holding yet another legacy treasure—the Eye of All Seeing Eyes, hidden within its realm guarded carefully beneath Black Wing King’s dominion.

Since merging the twin-blossom of flowers once twice, subtle clarity formed regarding his body’s recent changes—particularly a pair of unexpected twin wings emerging forcefully from his blood’s energy stream seemingly without warning.

The wings likely formed a primordial genesis; originally, a Firstborn’s feathered extension that possibly could now become his very essence’ own original wing pair, a gift reborn anew. Whether solely desiring to unite the treasure and wield the merged might, or merely the thought of its potential in Dark Hands’ control—it could not be left unattended; to sit idly was no longer a possibility.

Days passed—sun rising and falling as vehicle roared forward ceaselessly. Ahead lay the endless distant peaks—a realm of endless fate awaiting discovery.

Ya Xi province—the western land was but one fourth among Zhao’s holdings. A domain solely pioneered through blood of conquest by the House itself.

Zhao’s first founders had served once the Emperor’s elite, rewarded only with a province. However, a string of ambitious leaders rose—exchanging dominion for larger provinces. When imperial forces first expanded westward into newly claimed lands still ravished by endless, bitter war with shadowborn races, the territory stood as barren waste—nothing in comparison with those wealthy core lands back within core imperial civilization’s cradles further east.

Yet generation upon generation from that Zhao blood had continued emerging, warriors whose names became legend rising like fire from sparks, steadily extending their borders inching steadily forward—claiming every single acre taken, fiercely from shadow-riven teeth and claws until a dynasty of such magnitude came to own four provinces stretching far beneath imperial skies.

Actually not just with Zhao, three other great families had similar glorious histories of territorial expansion. Even Song with a reputation as merchants—though currently lacking strong fighters—relied their claim on ancestral merit in carving their own lands from untouched wilderness and secured their own inherited lord status.

A mere fraction through the journey into Ya Xi province—roads ended abruptly. Yaxi carried unique distinction—half bustling life teemed; in contrast, other half was a ravaged land, war-raved, fire-torn. Division between chaos and civilization was nothing else but the very active border constantly raided by forces of Darkness.

Roads ceased completely. Thus Qian Ye reached the knowledge he crossed into the dangerous region outside sanctuary walls. Following precise navigation, finding refuge at some unassuming outpost on border’s edge—relinquishing the vehicle, purchasing a durable short steed famed for stamina in arduous conditions.

Further ahead stretched infinite drylands—the absence of advanced desert-crosser machinery rendered penetration near impossible; horses became not merely available but best value proposition available in transportation.

Late the next afternoon while approaching further, Qian saw in the distance one singular stone structure. As he drew closer, carved words emerged in bold strokes stating proudly:

“BORDER—THE QIN EMPEROR’S REALM!”

From passing through this marker he finally entered the wilderness beyond empire boundaries.

Suddenly wind struck him, kicking up yellow sands swirling into clouds—distorting sunlight through its veil even while still pouring its limitless warmth toward this deserted domain.

Already his horse had begun visibly fading and the water flask drained nearly half-empty. If crossing this expanse became impossible prior reaching water supply, peril lay certain—a formidable force limited by basic resources when isolated among such endless stretches no human habiting save for roaming winds of nature.

Yet—nature’s cruelty made it peaceful too for the next day and night—already far distant, he could spot towering massifs. Air blowing forth was already not so hot. Entering that Starless Range meant arrival to the lands of utter Darkness.

These desolate highlands teemed ceaselessly with numerous bestial terrors prowling wild and free. Native dwellers—the creatures from shadow—though sparse remained ever vigilant and deadly in packs. Yet within An Due Ya’s memories lay images revealing legions moving forward across terrain—hinted the domain ahead no longer bore mere isolated terrors; something greater stirred in these mountains today.

Beyond the desert boundary, at last he released the steed—leaving all comforts behind, stepping forward into that uncharted expanse alone.

Exercising caution—no rushing. Once locating an ideal hidden refuge nestled amid natural crags, without delay even by remaining daylight—he immediately rested himself fully and began refueling depleted strength, regaining his edge. Deep exploration must await at his freshest moment—patience a better ally now.

Yet when he leaned lightly against rock and felt that momentary weightlessness—sleep instantly claimed his consciousness.

In that profound dreaming silence, a certain sound reached—faint familiar murmur rising like whisper. Distant, yet close within his mind—a melody he had heard once, somewhere long ago. But recapping that memory failed to reveal its source.

Yet still that calling hum vibrated endlessly across echoing channels—gradually gaining clarity and volume. “Come closer…Bring my cranium to me…And the kingship over all of lands, I shall grant!”

The moment surged into sudden clarity—jolting awake in abruptness within cold panic. Echoes of this phrase—repeating still inside skull despite having opened eyes fully.

Only after a pause of stunned shock did sudden clarity dawn inside—the source! He knew! Only just after having received a shattered crystal left by Baron Dahl before! He now had a precedent—he could perceive the will of the Black Wings King’s consciousness.

But if the calling wasn’t an illusion—rather real and issued via a true external agency—then how was that message intended? Did it target only him—or had every hearing being in its sphere of spread heard its chant?

But, Why—was this call related somehow by that relic shard An Due Ya had previously entrusted to his servant?

Did this shard harbor some trace of ancient monarch’s essence—Black Wings King’s lingering thought-echo imprinted still lingering somehow beyond death itself?

He breathed in slowly as he felt rising tension creeping through.

Possibly—this journey might present yet more challenges than he had initially anticipated beyond mere acquisition of the “Eye of Clear Seeing.”

Approaching dawn saw Qian Ye discovering unmistakable traces of shadow-kin once again. Within valley hidden deep—there loomed upon black crags a castle belonging to the Vampirik race.