CHAPTER FOUR: The Hunt Begins
1712 Words
Chapter Four: The Hunt Begins
The village of Qinghe had never been this quiet.
Lin Yue stood in the middle of the road, staring at the dark sky.
The ancient bell had stopped ringing.
But its sound remained in her mind.
Three times.
Shen Mo stood beside her, his silver sword drawn.
"Who is coming for me?" Lin Yue asked.
"Everyone."
"That's not an answer."
Shen Mo glanced at her.
"The demons know you have awakened. The Heavenly Court knows. Soon, the immortal clans will know too."
Lin Yue's heart sank.
"And what will they do?"
"Some will try to kill you."
"Why?"
"Because they fear what you might become."
Lin Yue clenched her fists.
"So they want to kill me before I become powerful."
"Yes."
"And the demons?"
"They want to use your power."
Lin Yue laughed bitterly.
"Wonderful."
Shen Mo looked at her.
"You're taking this surprisingly well."
"My mother is dead, my village is destroyed, and apparently I'm a Phoenix. I don't think I have enough tears left."
Shen Mo didn't respond.
Lin Yue looked toward her home.
Or what remained of it.
The wooden walls had collapsed.
The roof was gone.
Her childhood had disappeared in one night.
She walked toward the ruins.
"Lin Yue."
She ignored him.
"Don't go there."
"Why?"
Shen Mo stepped in front of her.
"Because there may be something waiting."
"Then let it wait."
She moved around him.
"Lin Yue!"
She stopped.
Shen Mo's voice had become serious.
"Trust me."
Lin Yue turned.
She wanted to trust him.
But she had spent sixteen years trusting her mother.
And now she was gone.
"I don't know you."
"You don't have to."
"Then stop telling me to trust you."
Shen Mo had no answer.
Lin Yue walked into the ruins.
The smell of smoke filled the air.
She searched through the broken pieces of wood.
Her mother's belongings were scattered everywhere.
A broken cup.
An old wooden box.
A piece of blue cloth.
Lin Yue picked it up.
It had belonged to her mother.
She held it tightly.
Then she noticed something beneath the floor.
A faint golden light.
Lin Yue frowned.
She moved the broken wood aside.
There was a small metal box.
It was old.
A strange symbol was carved into its lid.
The same symbol as the mark that appeared on her forehead.
Lin Yue's breath caught.
"Shen Mo."
He immediately came closer.
"What is it?"
"I don't know."
She reached toward the box.
Shen Mo grabbed her wrist.
"Don't."
Lin Yue frowned.
"Why?"
"Because that seal is ancient."
"Can you open it?"
"That's not the point."
She pulled her hand away.
"My mother hid it."
"That doesn't mean you should open it."
"Everything my mother hid from me has something to do with my life."
Lin Yue looked at him.
"I want answers."
Before Shen Mo could stop her, she touched the box.
The golden mark appeared on her forehead.
The box opened.
A burst of light filled the ruins.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
And a small red pendant.
Lin Yue picked up the paper.
Her hands began to tremble.
She recognized the handwriting.
Her mother's.
Lin Yue unfolded it.
Only a few words had been written.
Lin Yue,
If you are reading this, then I have failed to protect you.
Lin Yue's eyes filled with tears.
She continued reading.
You must leave Qinghe immediately.
Do not trust the immortals.
Do not trust the demons.
And most importantly...
Do not search for your father.
Lin Yue stopped.
"Why?"
Shen Mo looked at her.
"What's wrong?"
She handed him the letter.
He read it.
His expression changed.
Lin Yue noticed.
"You know something."
"No."
"Shen Mo."
"I don't."
"Then why do you look afraid?"
He looked away.
Lin Yue snatched the letter from his hand.
"Who is my father?"
"Lin Yue—"
"Who is he?"
"I told you. He was an immortal."
"That's not enough."
She held up the letter.
"My mother specifically told me not to search for him."
Shen Mo remained silent.
"Why?"
He finally spoke.
"Because your father was not a normal immortal."
Lin Yue waited.
"He was a general of the Heavenly Court."
Her eyes widened.
"An immortal general?"
"Yes."
"What was his name?"
Shen Mo's expression darkened.
"Feng Tian."
Lin Yue repeated the name.
"Feng Tian."
The moment she said it, the pendant in her hand began to glow.
Shen Mo's eyes widened.
"Put it down."
Lin Yue looked at the pendant.
"What?"
"Put it down!"
A powerful force suddenly exploded from the pendant.
The ground shook.
Lin Yue fell backward.
Shen Mo caught her.
A voice echoed through the ruins.
"My daughter..."
Lin Yue froze.
"Father?"
The voice disappeared.
The pendant went dark.
Lin Yue stared at it.
Her hands trembled.
"That was him."
Shen Mo looked at her.
"No."
"I heard him."
"It was an illusion."
"You're lying."
"Lin Yue—"
"You knew this would happen."
Shen Mo's expression changed.
"How?"
"You knew my father's name."
Silence.
Lin Yue stepped closer.
"You knew about the pendant."
"I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
Shen Mo looked away.
Lin Yue's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me the truth."
Before he could answer—
A voice came from outside.
"Found you."
Shen Mo immediately turned.
Lin Yue's heart stopped.
The demon stood at the edge of the ruins.
The same demon who had attacked her mother.
The same red eyes.
The same dark smile.
Lin Yue stepped backward.
"You."
The demon smiled.
"Hello, little Phoenix."
Shen Mo moved in front of Lin Yue.
"Stay away from her."
The demon laughed.
"You always were protective."
Shen Mo's eyes narrowed.
"You know me."
"Of course."
The demon's smile widened.
"Do you think I've forgotten what happened in the Heavenly Court?"
Lin Yue looked at Shen Mo.
"What is he talking about?"
"Nothing."
The demon laughed.
"Still hiding secrets from her?"
"Silence."
"Does she know what you did?"
Shen Mo's sword flashed.
The demon disappeared.
In the next second, he appeared behind Shen Mo.
Their weapons clashed.
The force sent Lin Yue flying backward.
She landed hard.
"Shen Mo!"
The demon attacked again.
Shen Mo blocked the strike.
The battle was far more intense than the fight with the Shadow Beast.
The demon moved like a shadow.
Shen Mo fought with his silver sword.
Neither could gain the advantage.
Then the demon suddenly looked at Lin Yue.
"Do you want to know the truth about your father?"
Shen Mo froze.
Lin Yue stared.
"Tell me."
"Lin Yue, don't listen to him."
The demon laughed.
"Your father was not killed by the heavens."
Lin Yue's heart stopped.
"What?"
"He was betrayed."
Shen Mo's face became cold.
"Enough."
"By someone he trusted."
The demon looked directly at Shen Mo.
"Someone who was supposed to protect him."
Lin Yue looked at Shen Mo.
"Is that true?"
He didn't answer.
The demon smiled.
"There it is."
Lin Yue's expression changed.
"You knew my father."
"I knew him very well."
"How did he die?"
The demon opened his mouth.
But Shen Mo attacked.
The demon disappeared.
Then he reappeared behind Lin Yue.
His hand reached toward her.
"Ask your immortal friend."
Lin Yue felt a dark energy surround her.
Shen Mo's eyes widened.
"Lin Yue!"
The demon grabbed her arm.
Pain exploded through her body.
Lin Yue screamed.
The Phoenix Seal appeared.
Golden fire erupted.
The demon was thrown backward.
Lin Yue fell to the ground.
Shen Mo immediately ran to her.
"Are you hurt?"
She pushed him away.
"Don't touch me."
"Lin Yue—"
"You lied to me."
"I didn't."
"You knew my father."
"I knew of him."
"You said you didn't!"
Shen Mo stopped.
The demon laughed from across the ruins.
"Now you understand."
Lin Yue looked at him.
The demon raised his hand.
Dark flames gathered around his fingers.
"Come with me, Phoenix."
"No."
"You don't belong with the immortals."
"I don't belong with you either."
The demon's eyes narrowed.
"Then you will belong to no one."
He attacked.
Shen Mo moved instantly.
Their powers collided.
The explosion sent waves through the village.
Lin Yue covered her face.
Then she heard a voice.
Not the demon.
Not Shen Mo.
Something else.
"Run."
Lin Yue looked up.
A woman stood in the flames.
Her mother.
"Mother?"
The figure smiled.
Then disappeared.
Lin Yue stood.
"Wait!"
She ran toward the place where her mother had vanished.
Shen Mo grabbed her.
"Lin Yue, stop!"
"She was here!"
"That wasn't your mother."
"How do you know?"
"Because she's dead."
Lin Yue stared at him.
The words broke something inside her.
"Stop saying that."
"Lin Yue."
"Stop!"
Golden fire erupted from her body.
The demon stepped backward.
Shen Mo stared.
The flames around Lin Yue were changing.
They were brighter.
Stronger.
And beneath the golden fire, a faint red glow appeared.
The demon's eyes widened.
"The Bloodfire."
Shen Mo's expression changed.
"Impossible."
Lin Yue looked at them.
"What is happening?"
The demon smiled.
"She's becoming something even the heavens fear."
Shen Mo grabbed Lin Yue's hand.
"We have to leave."
"Why?"
"Now."
"Tell me what's happening!"
"Later."
He pulled her away.
The demon didn't follow.
Instead, he watched them disappear into the forest.
A second figure appeared beside him.
"Should we stop them?"
The demon shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
His red eyes followed Lin Yue.
"Because she will come to us."
He smiled.
"She wants her mother back."
Far above the mortal realm, the Heavenly Court watched.
An immortal knelt before the Heavenly Emperor.
"Your Majesty, the Phoenix has awakened."
The Heavenly Emperor's expression remained cold.
"And the Bloodfire?"
"It has appeared."
Silence filled the heavenly palace.
Finally, the Emperor spoke.
"Send the Immortal Hunters."
The immortal hesitated.
"Alive or dead?"
The Heavenly Emperor looked toward the mortal realm.
"Dead."
At that exact moment, Lin Yue stopped walking.
Shen Mo looked at her.
"What is it?"
She stared at the sky.
She could feel them.
Hundreds of eyes.
Watching.
Searching.
Coming for her.
Lin Yue's hands slowly curled into fists.
"Shen Mo."
"What?"
"I think they're here."
The first arrow of light fell from the heavens.
Then another.
And another.
Shen Mo drew his sword.
"Run."
Lin Yue looked up.
The hunt had begun.
- Writer
