The mountain pass had finally fallen and only the cold wind remained, sweeping away the smell of blood lingering in the air. The dust that filtered down from the grey sky settled upon the broken wagons, shattered weapons and bodies scattered across the road.
The battle was over.
Sun Yunso remained completely still, his hand frozen on the handle of his sword, which still sheathed at his side, the pain behind his scarred eyes had worsened.
"...Tch."
He quickly fumbled around in his robe's inner pocket, pulling out a tiny glass bottle. He carefully opened the tiny bottle, revealing a transparent liquid inside. Then, he gently tilted his head back and removed the small stopper. With precision, he allowed a few drops of the liquid to fall into each of his eyes. At first the medicine stung, but he tolerated it quietly.
A few seconds had passed and then the burning sensation that had been tormenting him had started to slowly fade away. As the pain eased, his vision began to clear up and the discomfort that had been clouding his eyes gradually disappeared.
"That's better."
As he slowly opened his eyes, the trembling that had been caused by pain was no longer there.
Lei Lishong watched silently.
"That's how you've been managing to keep your pain under control, right? And the reason you didn't want to share about it."
Sun Yunso carefully put the vial away inside his robe.
"...It's only temporary."
Sun Yunso calmly cleaned the last bits of blood off his sword, then put it away. He walked over to the Lei siblings in silence.
Lei Mei stood frozen.
Her emotions were a complete mess. Those being; relief, fear, confusion and gratitude. She wanted to say something, but no words came out. She simply stared at the young swordsman who had fought the Black Fang Bandits almost single-handedly. Sun Yunso stopped a few steps away and glanced around at the wreckage scattered across the road.
He broke the silence, speaking as calmly as he always did.
"It looks like our trip to Meizou is going to take a little longer than expected."
Lei Mei blinked.
"Huh?"
Of all the things she thought he might say that was the last one she expected.
Lei Lishong let out a small laugh, shaking his head.
"That's not what I was thinking you'd say, but I guess you make a good point."
He looked over the devastated caravan.
"Before we can continue, we need to bury the dead, tend to the wounded horses, and salvage whatever supplies remain."
He turned back to Sun Yunso.
"We owe those men at least that much."
Sun Yunso silently nodded.
"I agree."
For a brief moment the three of them stood together in silence, the cold wind carrying snow across the battlefield where the price of their survival lay all around them. The four escorts were buried together beneath the snow. Using their swords and whatever tools remained, they dug four graves at the edge of the mountain pass.
The fallen horses were laid to rest nearby, their sacrifice remembered and respected, just like the men who had bravely fought to their very last breath, giving their all in a final act of loyalty and duty. No grand speeches were made nor any tears were shed but plain silence. Lei Mei gently placed a small white flower on each grave and bowed her head.
"Thank you for protecting us."
The three of them paid their respects and then slowly made their way back to the lead carriage.
"Lei Lishong." Sun Yunso called out.
Lei Lishong glanced over.
"Yes?"
"I've been wondering about something since the fighting stopped."
"What is it?"
Sun Yunso looked directly at him.
"Why did you hide your identity from me?"
Lei Shun remained quiet.
"You are a Seijinist but I couldn't sense your Seidan. Zhang Pojun recognised you immediately. And even the two Seijinists I killed kept asking me where the other Seijinist was."
Sun Yunso frowned.
"So, how did you hide your presence from me?"
Lei Lishong stopped walking and sat there for a while, just looking out at the road covered in snow. Then, a small smile started to show up on his face.
"You've got sharp instincts."
He turned toward Sun Yunso.
"Well you need a proper explanation after everything, so listen. When we first met, I didn't know what to make of you. You seemed like a normal swordsman, but then I sensed your energy and it was subtle, yet refined, like you'd spent years perfecting it. That's why I kept my distance, why I hid who I really am. You see, I'm not someone who trusts easily, especially not strangers. But being in the same caravan, I couldn't help but feel your presence, and it made me curious. I had to be careful, though, because I didn't know what your intentions were. Now, I'm taking a chance and opening up to you, hoping that you'll understand where I'm coming from."
Sun Yunso was stunned by what Lei Lishong had explained to him. The reason was that he had learned from the books his master Su Qing had kept about the basics of Seidan.
Hiding your energy is a huge task in itself, and also super risky as it can end up killing you. When you shut it down, it slowly burns away at your Seidan, which is pretty dangerous. The longer you keep it hidden, the more it eats away at you, making it a really tough thing to do without suffering serious consequences.
It was even more surprising that Lei Lishong managed to keep it a secret until the fight actually started, and that was a pretty long time - a whole two hours. That was impressive, something that deserves praise itself.
"Well, I must say you're pretty amazing yourself. I never even thought of doing that because I was a little terrified of dying, so I just left it alone."
"You're not alone in thinking that, but it can be a lifesaver in tough spots, so maybe give it another thought."
Sun Yunso nodded as they finally arrived at the caravans.
Lei Mei wondered aloud, "What's the plan for the rest of them?"
Sun Yunso and Lei Lishong exchanged a glance but it was obvious that they were both drawing a blank and after deciding that continuing with all five carriages would be impossible, they transferred the most valuable cargo into a single caravan. The rest of the wagons and all the things that couldn't be saved were abandoned on the mountain pass.
It was a tough choice but in the end, it was the only way to go. With only one carriage and their last horse, the three of them kept moving towards Meizou.
….
Several hours later.
Lei Lishong, who was driving the caravan, smiled. They had finally arrived and the smile said it all. As they drew nearer, a big wooden sign loomed above the entrance, bearing the name "Meizou" in bold letters.
Lei Mei just couldn't help it, a huge smile spread across her face as she felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over her.
"We're finally here."
"Indeed." Sun Yunso added.
The lone carriage slowly passed through Meizou's gates. The city wasn't as crowded as the previous towns Sun Yunso had visited but it carried the same lively atmosphere. The carriage continued through several streets before finally coming to a gentle stop.
Sun Yunso stepped out first.
As he walked through the streets of Meizou, his eyes, a pale shade that seemed to lack any real color, slowly scanned the scene before him. The city felt peaceful, with nothing out of the ordinary catching his attention, just a sense of calm that settled over everything.
As Lei Mei moved to get out of the carriage, she lost her balance, her foot slipping out from under her as she stepped down.
As she lost her balance, a hand suddenly grasped her arm, stopping her from falling.
Lei Mei's eyes widened in surprise as she gazed up to see Sun Yunso standing beside the carriage, his face a picture of calmness, not a hint of emotion disturbing his serene expression.
"Be careful."
He carefully helped her balance until she was standing firmly on both feet, then released his grip. Lei Mei blinked a few times, looking a bit disoriented, before giving a slightly awkward smile.
"T-Thank you."
Sun Yunso simply gave a small nod.
"It was nothing."
He shifted his focus back to what was around him, like catching her was something he did every day.
Lei Mei quietly watched him for a moment.
"...He's kinder than he lets on."
Lei Shun, after getting down from the driver's seat, caught what she said and couldn't help but laugh to himself, a low, amused chuckle that seemed to come from deep within.
"He doesn't seem like the type to admit it."
Sun Yunso pretended not to hear them and continued looking around the unfamiliar streets of Meizou, wondering what this city would bring next. Lei Mei reached out and gently tapped Sun Yunso on the shoulder and turned around. She stepped back and bowed her head, her voice filled with genuine emotion, as she spoke from the heart.
"Sun Yunso, we really appreciate you bringing us this far. My brother and I are very thankful."
Sun Yunso glanced at her briefly, then subtly shook his head.
"It's fine, you don't have to bow."
Lei Mei lifted her head slowly, but before she could say anything else, Lei Shun appeared beside her with a faint smile on his face.
"No."
He stopped beside his sister.
"She does."
Sun Yunso looked at him.
Lei Lishong folded his arms.
"You put yourself in harm's way to protect our caravan, and we're all really grateful for that. Should also mention that you stood up to the Black Fang Bandits, which is a huge deal - my sister and I owe you our lives, and we wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you."
He smiled faintly.
"If she didn't show appreciation, it would be really disappointing."
Sun Yunso remained silent.
As Lei Lishong slipped his hand into his robe, his fingers closed around a bulky pouch, and he carefully pulled it out. The instant it rested in the palm of his hand, a soft jingling noise filled the air, the unmistakable sound of coins gently clinking against each other.
He extended it towards Sun Yunso.
"Here's your payment for escorting us."
Sun Yunso accepted the pouch without hesitation. It was noticeably heavier than he had expected.
"This is more than we agreed on."
Lei Shun nodded.
The initial payment was made for a basic escort service. He glanced towards the lone caravan. Nothing much can be said about what happened on that mountain, it's a pretty complicated story and his eyes returned to Sun Yunso.
"You took care of the cargo and made sure my sister was safe too. To be honest, I still think we didn't pay you enough for all that you did."
Lei Mei nodded enthusiastically.
"My brother's right. We can never repay what you did for us."
Sun Yunso glanced briefly at the pouch, then carefully secured it to his belt.
"Thank you."
"It's okay, I suppose this is goodbye for now. Hopefully, our paths will cross again someday."
"Yea, me too."
As they went their separate ways, Sun Yunso began to stroll through the streets of Meizou, taking in the sights and sounds of the town.
As he wondered, one thing was on his mind.
'Where should I go now? I haven't even started or found any information about The Four Great Families, so how can I pursue my revenge if I don't have a clue?'
He continued walking and it was slowly getting night time, finding an inn was the obvious solution and not also adding how much he was tired.
It was understandable.
Sun Yunso didn't expect himself to use' Blackened River' at all, especially against an opponent like Zhang Pojun. But he had to be honest with himself and admit that he was on another level. That's what a true person who has years of experience with killing can do? Sun Yunso overestimated his abilities and that almost got him defeated, he was still weak. He had spent eight years training on that mountain yet the world had already shown him it was nowhere near enough.
If he wanted revenge against the Four Great Families he couldn't remain as he was.
The sun had almost gone beyond the horizon and the cool evening breeze blew through the streets of Meizou as lanterns were lit one after another, painting the city in a warm orange glow. Shops that were opened in the morning were now slowly starting to close their doors in, while restaurants and inns were becoming busier instead.
Sun Yunso walked through the unfamiliar streets in silence and his colorless eyes looked from one building to the other. The atmosphere didn't seem the same as where he'd been the last eight years. He unfastened the pouch hanging from his belt and glanced at the payment Lei Shun had given him.
"I should find an inn first."
There'll be no use wandering in an unfamiliar city at night.
There was no need to rush as he could look into the Four Great Families whenever, even maybe tomorrow. After all, a weary swordsman makes mistakes.
The day wore on and the evening air started to chill, and it was only then that Sun Yunso finally came to a halt. His eyes landed on a small, unassuming wooden house that sat tucked away at the corner of the street, its plain exterior blending in quietly with the surroundings. A faded sign hung above the entrance.
The Willow Inn.
"...This should do."
He didn't hesitate, just pushed the door open and entered. A small bell above the doorway chimed softly.Unlike the lively inns he'd envisioned, this one was almost completely silent. The room was left with a few tidy tables and some slight smoke from a fire that had been burning.
"..."
Sun Yunso didn't mind in fact, he preferred it this way. Quietly he made his way towards the reception desk. She was a young woman with brown hair, tied back in a neat way, standing behind something. As she looked up from the book she was writing in, she gave a polite smile.
"Hello, I'm Niva, and it's lovely to have you here at the Willow Inn this evening."
Her gaze flicked to the sword at Sun Yunso's side, then quickly back to his face.
"Are you looking for a room?"
Sun Yunso gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Niva smiled warmly.
"One night's stay costs two gold pieces."
Sun Yunso didn't hesitate, just reaching into the pouch that Lei Lishong had given him and taking out some coins. The sound of the coins clinking together filled the quiet inn as he counted out two gold pieces and then carefully placed them on the counter.
Niva looked at the coins before smiling.
"Thank you."
She gently scooped them up and put them away in a little wooden box under her desk.
"Your room is on the second floor."
She stretched out her hand, reaching behind the counter to grab a small key made of brass that was hanging from a row of hooks, and then she offered it to him.
"Room Seven is where you'll be staying tonight, we're glad that you're here and hope you have a great time during your stay."
Sun Yunso took the key, giving a small nod of acceptance.
"...Thank you."
With that, he turned towards the staircase.
Sun Yunso made his way up the creaky wooden stairs, and soon he vanished into the hallway. Niva couldn't help but watch him walk away, her gaze lingering on him for only a beat too long.
"..."
Something was off about him that being his scars. Two long slashes stretched across his eyes yet he walked without hesitation, as if he could still see quite well.
"I wonder what happened to him."
The idea flickered across her mind, but just for a moment. She gave a slight shake of her head, a small smile playing on her lips.
"It's none of my business."
Everyone who passed through an inn had a story. Some stories were happy and others were sad. If a guest wished to keep their past to themselves, it wasn't her place to dig in. She went back to her ledger and started working again, pretending everything was fine as her eyes fell on the book she was writing in.
Sun Yunso finally came to a stop in front of an old wooden door, and beside it, a small brass plate caught her eye. He inserted the key into the lock, and with a soft click, the door creaked open, its hinges slowly swinging outward as it revealed what was inside.
The room was modest.
A single bed stood against one wall, accompanied by a wooden table, a chair, and a small window that overlooked the quiet streets of Meizou. A stone lantern outside cast a faint orange glow into the room. It was simple but after years of sleeping in the mountains, it had finally become too much. Sun Yunso walked in and softly shut the door and let out a slow breath.
"What a day."
His hand reached for the collar of his black robe. He took it off and carefully laid it over the back of the chair. Underneath, he had a strong and fit body, that wasn't from being pampered but from hard work and dedication.
Scars covered his body, a map showing all the training that he had done back at the mountain. Sun Yunso caught a glimpse of them on his torso and shoulders, telling a story of his own before he looked away, his mind elsewhere.
To him they were just proof that he was still alive.
Sun Yunso's fingers wrapped around the hilt of the sword that was leaning against the wall, and he lifted it up, feeling its weight in his hand. He stood there for a moment, just holding it, before walking over to the window. The window was open just a crack, letting in a gentle breeze that carried the coolness of the night. Outside, the town of Meizou had become quiet, the only sound being the soft glow of lanterns that lined the streets.
"It's night already."
He lowered himself onto the windowsill and the sword rested across his lap. His colourless eyes remained fixed on the black sheath.
No muscle moved.
The only sound you could hear was the soft whisper of the breeze as it blew gently through the air. As the moments ticked by, Sun Yunso finally reached out and slowly closed his hand around the hilt, his fingers wrapping around it with a sense of deliberation.
The sword slowly came out of its holder, but only a little way and at that moment, a dark liquid began to flow from a small gap and collected above the edge of the blade, slowly transforming into a miniature dragon. The creature possessed no eyes of its own, yet it moved with quiet purpose, circling the partially drawn sword in slow, graceful loops. Its body resembled flowing ink suspended in the air, leaving faint wisps behind as it drifted through the moonlight.
The dragon made one last loop around the blade, then it lightly touched the hilt, like it was saying hello to its owner.
Sun Yunso watched in complete silence.
"..."
He silently returned the blade to its resting place, the metal slipping quietly back into its sheath. As soon as the sword was completely tucked away, the small ink dragon broke apart into a multitude of dark, misty tendrils that vanished into the darkness of night. Sun Yunso rose from the windowsill. He rested the sheathed sword against the wall beside his bed before turning away.
Tomorrow his search for the Four Great Families would begin in earnest.
...
The first rays of morning sunlight slipped through the window, casting a warm glow across the quiet room. Sun Yunso slowly opened his eyes, he had always risen early. Waking up before the sun rose was something he did without even thinking about it, a habit he'd developed after years of training with Su Qing.
He quietly sat up from the bed.
As he walked into the room, his eyes landed on his sword, leaning against the wall exactly where he had placed it before going to bed.
"..."
He stood there for a moment, just looking at it, before he finally got up. Then he put his robe back on and tied his sword to his waist. Next, he poured the rest of the water from a small pitcher into a basin and washed his face, the cool water feeling refreshing against his skin. The cool water washed over me, and suddenly I was wide awake, all the sleepiness gone. He reached into his robe and felt the tiny bottle of eye drops, making sure it was there.
"There's still some inside but I'm going to pick up a bit more, just to be on the safe side."
He tucked it away once more.
He walked out of Room Seven a few moments later. The inn was still, except for the delicious smell of breakfast wafting up from downstairs. As Sun Yunso came down the stairs, Niva looked up from the reception desk and gave a warm smile.
"Good morning."
Sun Yunso gave a small nod.
"...Morning."
She tilted her head.
"You seem to be going somewhere, So I was wondering if you'd mind telling me where you're headed. Is it a specific destination or just a casual outing?"
"I'm going to take a short walk around to get a better look at everything."
"Is that so, well I hope Meizou treats you kindly."
Without another word, Sun Yunso stepped outside, and the city was already awake.
Sun Yunso quietly looked around.
'Where should I begin?'
As he began his journey around Meizou the aroma of steamed buns and grilled meat drifted through the streets as vendors eagerly called out to passing customers. People went about their daily business, chatting with each other and creating a steady hum of conversation that filled the air. Sun Yunso walked without a particular destination. His colourless eyes quietly observed the unfamiliar city and that was because everything was brand new to him.
To actually find the Four Great Families, just wandering around without a plan wouldn't cut it. He really needed to get his hands on some solid information - the kind that would actually help him achieve his goal. As he kept walking, he overheard a lively conversation going on nearby that caught his attention.
"Have you heard?"
"About the wedding?"
"Everyone in Meizou is buzzing about it, and it's all anyone can talk about."
Sun Yunso's footsteps slowed ever so slightly.
Another man laughed.
"Who hasn't? It's only a few days away."
People from nearby towns are starting to show up with their families. A woman carrying a basket smiled.
"They say the ceremony is going to be magnificent."
"It's not often that a member of one of Meizou's most prominent families ties the knot, so this is definitely a big deal."
Another voice joined in.
"The protection here is really something. I've been told they're even bringing in more guards and armed men to keep everything safe."
"Can you blame them? Important people will be attending. If anything goes wrong, it'll become the talk of the entire Meizou."
Sun Yunso remained silent and looked over towards the group, who were still talking about what had happened.
"A wedding?"
He wasn't interested in celebrations but one sentence lingered in his mind.
"Important people will be attending."
If influential figures were gathering in one place, perhaps someone connected to the Four Great Families would be there.
Sun Yunso just kept walking through the streets of Meizou, not really thinking about it anymore. He still didn't know where he was going, but something had caught his attention and he wanted to see what it was. After spending most of the morning wandering around the streets of Meizou, Sun Yunso finally made her way back to the Willow Inn.
Sun Yunso sat on the edge of his bed.
"..."
His thoughts went back to the conversations he'd overheard throughout the city.
The wedding.
Everyone couldn't stop talking about it, and from what he'd heard, the bride was a young woman from the Guo Family - the one everyone loved and called the family's princess. It seemed like she was the center of attention, and people just couldn't get enough of her. The Guo Family was pretty well-known, and their daughter was kind of a big deal, so it made sense that everyone was so interested in her wedding.
It seemed that her wedding had caught the eye of many important people.
Sun Yunso lowered his gaze.
If the rumours were true then there's a high chance that members of the Great Four Families would attend. That one thought was all it took to grab his attention and hold it there.
For the past eight years, Anyu Feng hadn't just stopped by the mountain to drop off supplies, he also made it a point to bring stories from the outside world, keeping the people who lived there connected to what was happening beyond their little community. Sun Yunso quietly recalled everything he had learned.
“The Guo Family, they're well-known and respected in Meizhou, but they're not the ones I'm after.”
His fingers slowly tightened against the edge of the bed. He had a name stuck in his head, one that he couldn't shake off and it was a name that would stay with him forever.
The Huo Family.
More specifically the Huo Family's Clan Head.
According to the information Anyu Feng had gathered over the years, the clan head stood among the most influential figures in the continent of Ketura and more importantly, he was someone Sun Yunso had planned to kill.
"I'm still too weak."
The fight with Zhang Pojun had really driven the point home.
If he were to confront the Huo Family right now, he wouldn't last long enough to even get to the clan head. To get his revenge, he would first need to become a lot stronger. Sun Yunso leaned back a bit, staring up at the wooden ceiling above him. He also heard that the wedding would require security guards to be present and keep everyone safe. The reason was unknown but since it's an influential wedding it was kind of needed that guards were present.
"If I become one of those guards, I can get close without drawing suspicion."
It was a lot safer to stick with what he knew, rather than trying to sneak into one of the big estates owned by the powerful Families. As a bodyguard, his job was to stay close to the important people he was looking out for, keep an eye on what was going on around them, and make sure they were safe. This way, he could do his job without putting himself in too much danger.
For someone seeking information there was no better position. Anyu Feng's reports over the past eight years had made one thing abundantly clear. The head of the Huo family wasn't often seen in public yet if the wedding truly brought together the Great Four Families.
There was a chance–a small one, but a chance nonetheless that he would appear.
Sun Yunso slowly closed his eyes.
"I don't feel capable of harming him, so I'll hold back for now."
His eyes opened once more.
"I'll get closer, gather all the information I need, and then when the moment is right, I'll cut them down.”