Chapter 103: Continous Mission XIII
The tunnel shook as they sprinted.
CRUMBLE—!
Stone slabs broke loose from the ceiling, crashing down behind them. The black glass floor cracked like ice, glowing veins of pale light bleeding out as it collapsed into the abyss.
Yue Xin swept her fan, sending sharp gusts to blow falling debris aside. "Move faster or we’re part of the cave décor!"
Tian Lei didn’t waste words. His breath was heavy, his chest bleeding from the earlier strike, but his steps never faltered. His sword dragged faint sparks across the cracking floor as he ran.
The exit came into view—moonlight spilling in faint silver beams through the narrow mouth of the tunnel.
Then—KRRRSSHHH!
A tendril of black cords erupted from the collapsing chamber, slamming across the passage. It blocked the exit like a writhing wall.
Yue Xin’s eyes widened. "That thing should be gone!"
"Residual will," Tian Lei said coldly. His grip on his sword tightened. "The core’s death left fragments."
The tendril reared back, cords hissing, ready to strike.
FWOOOSH—!
Yue Xin launched a slicing gale, cutting deep gouges into it. Black strands split and screeched, but the tendril reformed, thicker and angrier.
Her arms trembled. "Not enough..."
Tian Lei stepped in front of her. "Stay behind me, Yuxin."
She froze at the nickname, then clenched her jaw and snapped her fan shut. "...Fine. Don’t you dare die."
The tendril lashed down.
BOOOOOOM—!
The entire tunnel shook. Dust blinded them. For a moment, Yue Xin thought it had crushed him.
But as the smoke cleared—she saw it.
The tendril was severed in two, already burning away into smoke. Tian Lei stood with his sword buried in the ground, both hands gripping the hilt. His knees shook, blood dripping down his side, but he didn’t fall.
The tunnel groaned. Another collapse rumbled behind them.
"Go," he said, voice low but steady.
Yue Xin grabbed his arm, slinging it over her shoulder despite his weight. "Idiot. You’re not walking out alone."
Together, they stumbled forward. The ground cracked under their feet, chunks of stone crashing into the abyss below. With a final desperate leap, they broke through the tunnel’s mouth—
—and tumbled onto the open mountainside.
Behind them—KRRRRRSHHHHH!
The entire cliff face caved in, sealing Ghost Orchid Valley under tons of shattered rock. The black glow was gone.
For a long time, there was only silence. Cold night wind brushed their faces. Crickets chirped faintly in the grass.
Yue Xin dropped to the ground, panting, her hair clinging to her damp face. "That... was supposed to be a simple mission."
Tian Lei lowered himself beside her, resting his sword across his knees. His chest rose and fell with slow, controlled breaths. "...It was."
She shot him a glare, then let out a shaky laugh. "You’re impossible."
His gaze turned to the collapsed valley, eyes cold and sharp. "...That was only one fragment."
Her smile faded. She closed her fan and said, "...Then something worse is out there."
"Whatever it is, it’s beyond us. Let’s head back and report to the sect," Tian Lei said.
Yue Xin nodded. He summoned his cloud crane, and they both climbed on. The bird lifted off, its wings carrying them out of the collapsing chamber.
The night sky was dark and heavy. Behind them, the ruins sank into silence, and the broken core’s glow disappeared.
Neither spoke for a while as the crane flew over the mountains. The cold air rushed past, and the quiet felt unusual.
Yue Xin finally said, "That core wasn’t just a seal. It was like a beacon, anchoring those puppets."
Tian Lei looked straight ahead. "If it was a beacon, then whoever made it will know it’s gone."
The crane let out a nervous cry.
Above, the stars dimmed, as if covered by a thin veil.
Yue Xin gripped her fan. "...Did you see that?"
"Yes," Tian Lei replied calmly, hand resting on his sword. "The sect needs to hear of this at once."
Just then, a low vibration ran through the air. The crane faltered slightly in its flight.
Far ahead, a red pillar of light rose into the sky. It pulsed twice, then split into streams that spread across the horizon.
The crane cried out again.
Yue Xin’s face went pale. "That isn’t natural."
Tian Lei stayed steady. "No. It’s a signal. Something has awakened."
The crane carried them straight back to the sect. The familiar peaks and lantern-lit walkways came into view, steady and quiet compared to what they had just left behind.
As they landed, Yue Xin let out a small sigh. "Finally. I need rest."
Tian Lei stepped down from the crane and gave her a short nod. "Go back and recover. I’ll report this to Sect Master Mu Qinxue."
Yue Xin stretched her shoulders, already turning toward her quarters. "Fine by me. Don’t let her bury you in questions."
He didn’t answer. The crane folded its wings as Tian Lei walked alone toward the Core sect grounds.
Mu Qinxue’s immortal cave was different from most. It opened into a wide garden, filled with carefully tended flowers, winding stone paths, and the soft sound of running water. At the center was a gazebo surrounded by pale lanterns.
She was there, as always—seated neatly in the gazebo, sipping tea.
Her posture was calm, her expression unreadable. The steam from her cup curled upward in the evening air. The faint scent of tea leaves filled the place. Everyone in the sect knew her brew was unusual—seven parts tea, only three parts water. Strong, bitter, and clear.
Tian Lei stepped onto the stone path and bowed once as he approached. "Master."
Mu Qinxue set her cup down, the porcelain clicking softly on the table. Her gaze met his, steady as still water. "You’ve returned."
"It seems you’ve finished all your pending missions," she said with a faint smile.
Tian Lei nodded as he sat. She poured him tea before asking, "Tell me, how did it all go?"
He set the cup aside before answering. "It was good. I completed it without issue. There were some... strange ones, but all resolved."
Mu Qinxue nodded.
"But..." he hesitated.
She raised an eyebrow. "But what, my cute little disciple?" she asked teasingly, not yet sensing the seriousness of the situation.
Tian Lei looked at her calmly, ignoring the usual teasing. "The last mission was strange. We found what may be a connection from the upper realms to here," he said carefully.
He paused and then explained what could it mean as Mu Qinxue listened to him intently.
Mu Qinxue’s expression finally shifted. "I see... so you think some sect, most likely a demon sect, tried to enter the lower realms using those puppets?"
He nodded.
Mu Qinxue leaned back slightly, her fingers curling against the armrest of her chair. For a long moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint crackle of the incense on the side table.
Her voice was softer when she spoke again, though there was steel beneath it.
"Then it is worse than I imagined. The upper realms should not be able to intervene here so directly... not unless someone on this side opened the door for them."
Tian Lei’s brows furrowed. "A traitor?"
Mu Qinxue’s lips curved, but it wasn’t a smile—it was the quiet sharpness of a blade unsheathing.
"Or a fool. Sometimes they are the same thing."
He rested his hands on his knees, posture straight. "Master, the puppets I destroyed were not ordinary. Their cores contained fragments of spirit energy... refined, but unstable. Almost as though they were powered by unwilling souls."
Her eyes narrowed, the calm waters now carrying ripples. "Soul puppetry..." she muttered. "An art long forbidden, even among demons. Whoever dared to use it here must have strong backing. Otherwise, they wouldn’t risk exposing themselves."
Tian Lei nodded once. "That is why I came back quickly. I could have gone to investigate further, but... I thought it best to tell you first."
Her gaze softened slightly at his words. "Wise choice, Lei’er. You’ve grown."
She stood, the folds of her robe whispering against the polished wood as she moved to the window. Outside, the sect’s mountain peaks rose high, veiled in drifting clouds.
"If it truly is a channel from the upper realms, the world may change faster than we expected. Our sect cannot remain uninvolved."
Tian Lei rose as well, his tone steady. "Then what is your order, Master?"
Mu Qinxue glanced at him over her shoulder, eyes sharp and serene like moonlight on steel.
"This is nothing you need trouble yourself over, Lei’er. Such matters belong to my level, not yours," she said evenly, her voice like still water carrying hidden depth.
She studied him for a breath, then added with a faint nod,
"Though—be cautious when you move outside the sect. They may have marked you, even if subtly. Do not grow careless."
Tian Lei bowed his head, the acknowledgment firm. Without another word, he withdrew, his steps steady as he left the hall. Soon, his figure disappeared down the mountain path, heading straight for his secluded immortal cave.