Hei’an’s divine sense swept across the City again and again.

  The wall had fallen, the beasts poured in like a tide ant, yet not a single cry answered them.

  Only silence.

  A silence so deep it roared louder than war.

  His eyes widened, disbelief carving into horror. For a thousand years, that City had never gone dark.

  And yet now… empty.

  Completely empty.

  His heart stopped as he appeared in a blur at the forest’s edge, staring at the hollow cityscape.

  Behind him, Jin Yu slowed, his senses stretching outward as he drew near. At first he felt the quake of claws, the crash of beasts tearing through empty streets, but no life.

  No resistance.

  He stretched further, desperate, unwilling.

  There had to be someone, someone crying, someone fighting.

  But every corner he touched gave the same truth: emptiness.

  His breath hitched.

  “This… this isn’t right…” His whisper was barely sound.

  His hand trembled at his side. He had wanted chaos, yes, but chaos was born from life.

  This was worse.

  Far worse.

  The absence was unbearable, as if the City itself had been swallowed whole before the beasts arrived.

  Hei’an’s gaze remained fixed, hollow, as if the answer would reveal itself if he stared long enough. But there was no answer. Only silence, and the gnawing dread that this was not the work of beasts alone.

  -------

  The Jin Family Manor. (Jin Yu's home)

  In a dimly-lit room, four young looking men, Chen Haoran, Wu Jiahong, Xiu Min and Yi Sheng sat on a wooden floor, forming a circle. They were dressed in pitch-black battle suits that seemed to drink the light around them and veil them with darkness.

  An emblem that symbolize Jin Dark Army shimmered quietly on their chest.

  Three pairs of eyes were filled with great enthusiasm as they stared at their fourth person, a heavily built man, Wu Jiahong (chp 18 for reference). His wide figure towered upon the rest, but looking at his face, one would never associate such strong presence to him, it's like the thought of him being a fierce warrior vanished the moment one lay eyes on him.

  Wu Jiahong face was a little red from embarrassment as he avoided the three's hot and almost piercing gaze.

  "Brothers, I've told you, I can't do that." He said in helplessness, his voice almost not matching his appearance.

  It wasn't the expected rugged and strong tone, rather, he sounded amiable and easy going, but not soft.

  The other three nodded repeatedly, as if in understanding, but the intense look in their eyes didn't reduce a bit.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Wu Jiahong was even more embarrassed, so he lowered his head, unwilling to give in to their demand.

  Chen Haoran suddenly cleared his throat, he flipped his long hair behind his back and clapped his hands three times to get their attention.

  Pah Pah Pah

  "Okay, that's enough, stop pressuring your younger bro-"

  "Shhh" Xiu Min put a finger on his own lips, cutting Chen Haoran's word off.

  Instantly– Pah!

  A smack landed on his head.

  Xiu Min held his head in shock and stared at Chen haoran, indignant.

  "Why did you hit me?"

  "How dare you cut your Senior words off, are you tired of living?!" Chen haoran scolded furiously.

  Xiu Min gave him a subtle glare while rubbing his head.

  "Apologies Senior " he grumbled out.

  Hmph.

  Chen Haoran scoffed, gave him a death stare before continuing.

  "I don't care if you joined the Jin Dark army before me, in as much as I am the disciple of our Master while you lot...." He pointed his fingers at the three before continuing. "... remained soldiers, I am your Senior, so...be cautious how you speak to me or your head will roll, Do. You. Under-stand?." He gave each and every one of them a glare.

  "Yes, Senior." The three chorused in submission, not daring to hesitate.

  He nodded in satisfaction before his gaze settled on Wu Jiahong.

  Instantly, his eyes softened. "Little Wu, don't mind your Senior brothers, they are just too excited."

  Xiu Min and Yi Sheng nodded in agreement, a stiff smile spreading across their face, but they still didn't stop staring at Wu Jiahong.

  Chen Haoran expression suddenly turned solemn, his serious eyes fixed on Wu Jiahong.

  Wu Jiahong instantly straightened his back, his expression mirroring Chen Haoran's.

  "Elder Brother" he said, his voice sharp like a soldier awaiting a verdict.

  Chen nodded in approval like a satisfied sage, and began. "Do you believe in me, Wu?"

  "Without a doubt, Brother. If you told me to die, I wouldn’t hesitate." A faint smile tugged at Wu Jiahong’s lips, but his face soon hardened again. "...Elder brother must have seen something beneficial in it for me."

  Chen Haoran's lips twitched repeatedly. This fool.

  Cough cough cough

  Yi Sheng suddenly coughed hypocritely, muffling a laughter that almost escaped his mouth.

  Xiu Min bowed his head, his face angled away, but the tremor in his shoulders betrayed him. His grin was buried, though barely.

  Chen Haoran stayed outwardly indifferent. Yet when his eyes flicked toward them, a quiet warning burned in his gaze, enough to make both men stiffen.

  "Jiahong," he said at last, his voice steady, "since you believe in me so much, I’ll give you a lesson for life."

  Chen Haoran let the silence hang, his gaze never leaving Wu Jiahong. "You clutch that elixir as if it were your lifeline. Do you know what that shows me?"

  Wu frowned slightly. "What does it show, Elder brother?"

  "That you still see treasure as treasure, rather than as a tool." Chen’s tone was calm, instructive. "An Elixir you consume nourishes only yourself. But an Elixir you share…" He let the thought trail, heavy and mind stirring. "…that plants loyalty, trust, and obligation. It becomes something greater than medicine."

  Yi Sheng finally spoke, his voice half teasing, half sharp. "Elder brother is right. A single drop inside your body changes only your marrow, but a single drop shared may change three men’s hearts. Tell me, which has more worth?"

  Xiu Min nodded gravely, hiding no laughter this time. "Besides, Jiahong, would elyder brother ever lead you astray? If he says it’s a lesson worth heeding, then what else could it be but for your good?"

  Wu Jiahong’s fingers clenched against his sleeve. His lips parted as if to speak, then closed again.

  Chen Haoran’s expression softened just a fraction. "If you cannot part with a drop for your brothers, what will you do when the world asks you for more? Remember, selfishness is the heaviest chain. Even cultivators cannot break it once it grows too thick."

  Chen Haoran's word resounded at the depth of Wu Jiahong's mind, who lowered his head in serious contemplation.

  Conflicted about sharing the bottle of Life elixir with him.

  The three exchanged glances, the faintest of smile on their faces, sure they already had him cornered.

  The silence stretched, Wu Jiahong finally raised his head, his expression determined.

  He heaved a little, and spoke.

  "You are right brothers, if I can't give something so little to my brothers, then I am not worthy of calling the Dark army my brothers"

  Instantly, Smile bloomed on the three men's face, they nodded repeatedly in a sage-like manner.

  "You are wise Wu" Xiu Min said.

  "Very wise" Yi Sheng added as he nod, smiling the brightest.

  Chen Haoran smirked subtly, feeling smug.

  Wu Jiahong resolved himself. He took out the bottle of life elixir and uncapped it.

  Instantly, a calm fragrance drifted into the air. Fresh and filled with lush vital energy that brushes against the skin like spring breeze after long winter.

  Wu Jiahong eyes shone with delight as he gazed at it, though for a moment doubt gnawed at his heart.

  The three caught it at once. They looked at him, their expressions mild.

  He glanced up and gave them a sheepish smile, a trace of embarrassment on his face. His hand glowed softly, and three green pills floated out from the bottle.

  The pills hovered in the air, their verdant glow pulsing faintly like the heartbeat of some ancient forest.

  With a flick of his fingers. They floated toward the three, leaving a shimmering trail of green light in their wake.

  The three men caught it, absolutely contented.

  Though they tried to keep their elderly composure, their grin could not be hidden.

  Chen Haoran suddenly cleared his throat.

  The three turned to him, giving him their attention.

  "Since little Wu has proven himself to be a reliable brother, it is time we reward him"

  He gave them a carefree smile but something about it instantly sent shiver through Xiu Min and Yi Sheng's chest. Their grin vanished and they sat upright,.

  Wu Jiahong noticed the changed atmosphere and also sat upright, mirroring their solemn expression.

  Chen Haoran casual smile vanished, replaced by something quiet but dark.

  The two got even more uneasy, sweat dotting their forehead.

  Wu Jiahong wasn't really getting why, but he didn't dare ask.

  However, he has a suspicion.

  Is it......?

  He looked at Chen Haoran, particularly his eyes that now looked deeper as if something was lurking beneath.

  Sweat unconsciously formed on his head too.

  He had never seen Chen Haoran fighting before, infact, he could beat his chest that Chen Haoran wasn't that powerful than him.

  But before he qualified to join the Jin Dark Army, he asked his two friends a question.

  One that would change his perspective of Chen Haoran forever....