The girl hit the ground with a dull thud, groaning as she stirred. Xu Jin squinted at her. "Is she alive?"
Moments later, the girl let out a weak cough, her eyes fluttering open. Yan Bai shrugged. "I guess she is."
The group quickly lost interest in her, turning their attention to the destruction around them. Soon after, a large group of men arrived, their footsteps echoing through the broken streets. At their head was the village leader, his face darkening as he took in the devastation.
"What… what the hell happened here?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the wreckage of shattered houses and crumbling walls.
Xie Lang, still fuming, stomped forward. "You said there was one cultivator. We fought six! And one of them was high-stage Rank 1!" He jabbed a finger at the village leader's chest. "One of our members, who was stationed in the forest, still hasn't returned — and then a seventh one appeared with your daughter on his shoulders! Lying about mission details is a serious offense. Our institute won't take that lightly."
The village leader's face darkened, his expression unreadable. "You'll be compensated," he said curtly. "But this isn't our fault. I'll explain the situation to your institute later… this is far more serious than we thought." His eyes shifted to his daughter, who was still sitting on the ground, dazed. "Why are you here? Go back into the house."
"I don't know," the girl muttered, rubbing her head. "I was knocked out in the basement by someone."
The village leader's breath caught. His face paled. "The basement?" He turned toward the others, voice low and trembling. "Is this true?"
Yan Hei nodded. "A guy in a black mask had her. He threw her down and ran off."
The old man's eyes widened with horror. Without another word, he rushed into the house, his footsteps pounding against the stone. The group exchanged uneasy glances as they heard him sprint down into the basement. For a long moment, silence hung over the square. Then, heavy footsteps echoed once more.
The village leader emerged, his face twisted with rage. "Which way did the demonic cultivators run?" he demanded, voice cold and sharp.
Xu Jin pointed toward the direction they'd seen the masked figures flee. Without hesitation, the village leader stormed off, taking several of his faster men with him. The rest of his group scattered to secure the village, leaving the Stone Path Hall disciples standing amidst the rubble.
Yan Hei crossed his arms. "What the hell is going on?"
Yan Bai shot him a sharp look, silencing him. "Shut up," he whispered. "We took something. If it's what the village leader is after… we'll be in a lot of trouble so keep your mouth shut."
"So what do we do now?" Xie Lang grunted.
Xu Jin sighed, rubbing his temples. "We wait. The village leader needs to return before we can get our papers stamped for the mission. Might as well look for Lin Shu while we're at it." He glanced around at the discarded weapons. "And grab those while you're at it. They'll fetch a good price."
The group spread out, picking through the battlefield for anything valuable. It wasn't long before they spotted someone limping toward them.
"Lin Shu!" Xie Lang shouted.
The young cultivator looked half-dead. His arm hung limply at his side, clearly broken, and his body was covered in wounds. Blood soaked his tattered robes.
"What the hell happened to you?" Yan Bai asked, eyes wide.
Lin Shu scowled, spitting blood onto the ground. "I was ambushed by a demonic cultivator. Killed the bastard, but not before he messed me up." He winced, clutching his arm. "Damn it… my arm's broken."
"Yeah, well, we had the same problem," Xie Lang muttered. "Seven demonic cultivators in total. Five we fought, one you fought, and the last one ran off just as the village leader arrived."
Lin Shu's eyes narrowed. "They came back?"
"Apparently," Xu Jin said, crossing his arms. "They managed to kill the beast wave and return. But I think one of those bastards stole something. The moment the village leader heard they'd been in his basement, he lost his mind and ran off after them."
Lin Shu's gaze darkened. "I see."
The group fell silent. Whatever had been in that basement… it had to be important. And Lin Shu knew exactly what it was.
Minutes before rejoining the group, Lin Shu had carefully orchestrated his injuries. He'd broken his own arm and slashed himself in several places, ensuring the wounds looked deep and fresh. The pain was excruciating, but the illusion was perfect — no one would suspect him now. Bloodied and battered, he swallowed a healing pill, letting its warmth spread through his veins. His wounds began knitting together slowly, but not fast enough to draw attention. By the time he stumbled into the group, he looked half-dead. Just as planned.
The others didn't question him. They were too exhausted, too relieved to see him alive. After a brief exchange, they found an empty house and collapsed onto the floor, sleep dragging them under almost instantly.
Morning came, soft and cold. Lin Shu stirred before dawn, feeling the last remnants of the pill's power mend his wounds. His arm, though still sore, was usable again. As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the broken shutters, he flexed his fingers, satisfied. No one suspected a thing.
The village leader arrived not long after, his face carved with exhaustion and simmering rage. Though not as furious as the night before, a dark cloud still loomed over him. He tossed each of them a pouch, the weight of the coins jingling faintly. "Two hundred and fifty each," he muttered. "Your proper reward will come from the institute." His tone was clipped, his eyes distant. The papers were stamped in silence, the old man's hand trembling slightly as he pressed the seal down. Without another word, he turned and strode off, back to the ruined village.
The group exchanged glances, quietly pocketing the gold. They knew better than to ask for more. For a village this size, 250 gold per person was already a fortune. This wasn't a town or a clan, just a village with a single family of cultivators ruling over it — barely worthy of being called half a clan.
As the others prepared to leave, Lin Shu slipped away. The village was quiet in the early morning, the scent of smoke and blood still lingering in the air. Moving with practiced silence, he made his way toward the small cave where he'd hidden the egg. The entrance was undisturbed, the stones he'd placed still in position. He slipped inside, eyes adjusting to the dark, and carefully retrieved the egg. Its surface was cool beneath his fingers, the faint pulse of life within barely perceptible.
He wrapped it in cloth, layering it with materials to mask its scent, before slipping it into his bag. No risks. No chances. He wouldn't go anywhere near the village leader.
By the time the others reached the gate, Lin Shu was already there, waiting silently. No one questioned him — they were all eager to leave. As they set off, their path initially led toward Greenwood Hollow. But before long, the group veered onto a different route.
Darkveil Crossing. The real reason they took this mission.
The journey passed without incident. No beasts or bandits crossed their path, and they reached the town smoothly. Xu Jin had underestimated its size. He claimed it was only slightly larger than Greenwood Hollow, but Lin Shu's eyes didn't deceive him — the town was massive by comparison. Towering buildings and grand pavilions stretched toward the sky, their facades adorned with intricate carvings and brightly painted eaves. The streets bustled with life, the roads paved smooth, a stark contrast to the uneven paths of Greenwood Hollow. Even the smallest stores had proper stone foundations and wooden signage, while the richer districts flaunted stone courtyards and multi-storied mansions.
Yet, even here, poverty lingered in the shadows. Lin Shu's gaze swept over the alleys and corners where the destitute gathered, their worn clothes and hollow eyes barely noticed by the bustling crowds.
At midday, the group agreed to split up, planning to meet back at the same spot in two days. The twins disappeared into the crowd, no doubt off to peddle their newly acquired goods. Xie Lang muttered something about visiting his grandfather, an idea Lin Shu wanted no part of. The last thing he needed was to brush shoulders with powerful cultivators.
That left only Xu Jin. "Alright," Xu Jin said, folding his arms. "As promised, I'll show you the black market entrances. There's an auction coming up — that's why I wanted to come here. We'll split up after."
Lin Shu nodded silently. He followed Xu Jin through winding streets and dark alleyways, the stench of mold and filth growing stronger the deeper they went. Xu Jin moved with confidence, pointing out the subtle signs: a lantern tilted at just the right angle, a worn sigil carved into a door frame. Lin Shu memorized each location.
Once their business was done, Xu Jin grunted his farewell and disappeared into the crowd. Lin Shu wasted no time. He slipped into a shadowy alley, pulling his cloak tight around him. His armor shifted and reshaped itself with a soft crackle of bone, the surface taking on a new form. He painted the bone plates a different color this time — darker, less conspicuous — before pulling the hood over his head and venturing back into the streets.
The legal auction house was a sprawling building of dark stone and polished wood, its entrance guarded by stern-faced men in matching uniforms. A line stretched out the door, but Lin Shu waited patiently. When his turn came, the clerk barely spared him a glance. No questions about the egg's origins — only a simple form, a stamped seal, and a small iron token pressed into his palm. Proof of submission.
No one would dare steal from the auction house. Even if the item was rare, even if it had the potential to become a weapon of unimaginable power, their reputation mattered more. Unless the treasure was priceless, they wouldn't risk it.
Still, Lin Shu wasn't a fool. He inquired about private rooms. The clerk raised a brow but answered briskly, "Two hundred and fifty gold coins." Expensive, but worth it. The private rooms had devices allowing bidders to accept or refuse offers without ever leaving the shadows. Transactions were verified afterward to ensure neither side got swindled.
Lin Shu handed over the gold without hesitation. When the deal was done, he moved toward the massive gates leading into the auction hall, the iron token cold in his palm. The hall beyond could seat hundreds, and tonight, he'd watch from the shadows. Hidden. Silent.
And if anyone dared try to take what was his… they'd find out just how sharp bone could be.