Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 108: Searching for... hope

Chapter 108: Searching for... hope

The scent of frying dough drifted through the windows before the sun fully climbed over Yin City’s rooftops.

Feng Jiao Xue sat by the low wooden table near the window, the sleeves of her robe neatly folded as she carefully poured warm tea into two chipped cups. The innkeeper had offered breakfast in exchange for a few extra coins, and she had agreed without much thought. They needed something hot. Something grounding.

Across from her, Mo Tianze blinked sleepily, still adjusting to the light. His silver ears twitched at the sounds of the city coming back to life beyond the walls, merchants setting up stalls, wheels creaking over cobblestones, hawkers calling out.

His tail swayed slowly behind him, loose and relaxed for once.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked without looking up.

"Well enough," he murmured, rubbing at one eye with the back of his hand. "Better than yesterday, at least."

Feng Jiao Xue nodded and pushed a plate toward him, simple rice porridge, pickled vegetables, and an egg that had probably seen better days.

Mo Tianze gave her a tired smile. "Sister, I can cook for something better for you if you want."

"It’s fine. The porridge is warm." she replied. "That’s more than we’ve had in a while."

He didn’t argue. He just started eating, and for a while, the silence between them was peaceful.

But the weight of what she had to say settled somewhere between them, heavier than any teacup or dish.

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t touch her food yet.

Instead, she folded her hands in her lap.

"I’ve changed our plans."

Mo Tianze glanced up immediately, chewing slower. "Oh?"

She met his eyes. Calm. Unshaken.

"There are still three weeks before the academy reopens. We don’t need to rush the journey." A pause. "I want to stay in Yin City for a few more days."

He studied her, chewing once more before swallowing. "Why?"

"I want to learn the layout. Study the people. Places. The black market here’s active and dangerous. If anything happens at the academy or beyond, knowing where to return for certain resources might be useful." She paused, sipping her tea. "It’s just practical."

Mo Tianze didn’t say anything at first. His ears twitched again, but his expression was thoughtful. He doesn’t like the idea of Feng Jiao Xue being in this filthy place...

"You’re not wrong," he finally said. "But..." His golden eyes lingered on her face, unreadable. "It’s not just about that, is it?"

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t blink. "Does it matter?"

He leaned back a little, gaze never leaving hers. "It might."

She tilted her head slightly. "You think I’m chasing something."

"No," he said softly. "I think you saw something last night. And now you’re not sure if it was real."

That struck closer than she liked.

Her hands tightened slightly in her lap before she forced them to relax again.

Mo Tianze sighed, setting down his spoon. "You don’t need to explain, Jiao Xue. I’m just... here. That’s all."

She looked at him properly now, and for a moment, her expression softened, not visibly, but something in her presence grew less cold.

"You’ve been through a lot," she said quietly. "I won’t leave you unprotected again."

"You didn’t leave me unprotected," he replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You left me with Huang Jin De."

Flashback – the night before

"Sister?" The word slipped out groggily as Mo Tianze stirred awake, blinking the haze of sleep from his eyes. He’d felt the soft draft of wind when the window opened, just enough to stir him from the depth of his dreams. By the time he sat up, the curtains swayed gently, and Feng Jiao Xue was gone.

Before he could get to his feet, a hand pressed lightly against his chest.

"Relax" came a calm voice from the corner of the room.

Mo Tianze blinked up at the tall figure now standing by the window, arms crossed and crimson hair catching the light like embers. Huang Jin De. He hadn’t even sensed him appear.

"Foxes with your level of cultivation weren’t meant for the skies yet," Huang Jin De said mildly, a hint of a teasing smile touching the corners of his lips. "Sleep it off."

Mo Tianze frowned, but the sharp retort he wanted to throw out got stuck in his throat. He lowered himself back onto the bed, jaw tight, eyes still fixed on the open window.

"She didn’t say anything about going out again."

"She didn’t want to wake you," Huang Jin De said simply. "She’s like that sometimes. Always carrying things alone."

Silence settled between them. The only sound was the soft creaking of the building and the muffled life of the city outside.

"...Is it dangerous?" Mo Tianze finally asked.

Huang Jin De gave a small hum in response, looking out the window.

"Dangerous is a matter of comparison. For her? Not yet. But Yin City has teeth. The kind that smile while waiting for a chance to bite."

Mo Tianze’s hands curled into the blanket.

"I should be there."

"You should be recovering," Huang Jin De said, this time more gently. "You’re not weak, little fox, but you’re not at your best either. Pushing yourself now would only slow her down."

Mo Tianze stared at the ceiling for a while, quiet. Then, after a beat:

"She’s not looking for someone dangerous," he said. "She’s looking for someone she thought she’d left behind."

That made Huang Jin De glance over his shoulder.

"You noticed?"

"I’m not blind. I might be young, but I’m not stupid. I saw... thing in her eyes sometimes... the only times she... is different..."

The phoenix chuckled. "No. You’re definitely not stupid." Huang Jind De reiterated. "Stubborn and reckless maybe. But not stupid."

Mo Tianze scowled slightly but didn’t argue. Instead, he turned to his side, tail curling loosely around himself.

"...Do you think she’ll find him?"

"I don’t know," Huang Jin De said truthfully. "I don’t even know if she wants to find him. But sometimes... people don’t get to choose which ghosts come back."

Mo Tianze let that settle in his chest. The words felt heavy. Familiar.

He didn’t say it out loud, but part of him understood that all too well.

End of Flashback

Now, sitting at the breakfast table, the memory flickered in her mind like embers.

Mo Tianze gave her a half-smile again. "Huang Jin De told me."

"Of course he did." Feng Jiao Xue took a bite of the porridge at last, chewing slowly.

"I didn’t mean to pry," Mo Tianze said after a moment. "If you want to look for something, or someone, just say so. I’m not made of glass."

"I never said you were."

"But you act like I’ll shatter if left alone."

She met his eyes again, and for once, he didn’t flinch under her gaze.

After a breath, she said, "You remind me of someone who did shatter."

Mo Tianze blinked. "Oh."

"It’s not your fault. But I won’t make the same mistake twice."

He nodded, subdued now. "Then I’ll trust you."

"Good."

After they finished eating, they stepped outside. The morning had warmed slightly, the sun filtered through clouds of market smoke and the dull orange haze of lanterns left over from the night. The city never really slept, just shifted in tone.

Feng Jiao Xue adjusted her cloak as they walked down the street, keeping to the edge of the crowds. Mo Tianze trailed beside her, quiet and observant.

"You should go back and rest after this," she said. "I’ll continue exploring alone."

"I can still walk."

"I didn’t say you couldn’t," she replied. "But Yin City’s not the kind of place where tired people last long."

Mo Tianze hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. But if you’re not back by sundown..."

"I will be."

They stopped near a crossroad where she could easily vanish into the alleyways. She turned slightly toward him.

"If I find nothing" she said, voice low, "we’ll leave tomorrow."

"And if you do?"

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t answer.

She didn’t need to.

Feng Jiao Xue melted into the crowd again, the city opened up before her, loud and alive, chaotic and cruel. Her gaze roamed, unflinching.

She told herself she was only studying its shape.

That she wasn’t looking for anyone.

That she wasn’t hoping.

But deep beneath her calm exterior, something fragile stirred, like the echo of a name left behind.

Lou Xi.

She wasn’t looking for him.

But maybe... just maybe...

She didn’t want him to be gone, either.

Just as the sun dipped low over the rooftops, casting long shadows between alleyways and lantern-lit stalls, Feng Jiao Xue passed through a narrow street tucked between a butcher’s and an old apothecary.

The crowd thinned here, less noise, more eyes watching from shaded corners.

She felt it before it happened, a tug at her side, fingers light but inexperienced. A small weight shifted.

Her hand shot out in a blur.

The girl gasped as her wrist was caught.

Thin bones, smudged cheeks, and sunken eyes. No older than ten, the child stared up at her like a cornered animal. Her lips trembled. Her entire arm shivered beneath Feng Jiao Xue’s grip.

She could break the girl’s wrist easily.

Instead, her fingers loosened slightly. Her expression didn’t change, but something in her gaze softened, just a touch.

The child flinched as she was released.

Feng Jiao Xue said nothing.

The pouch remained clutched in the girl’s grubby hand as she stumbled backward, blinking, clearly expecting a blow or a shout.

But nothing...

Feng Jiao Xue turned away and continued walking. As if she didn’t notice the girl taking her pouch to begin with. It’s just a decoy to hide the existence of her space ring anyway.

She couldn’t save every lost soul in this city. She didn’t even know if this one wanted to be saved. She’s not foolish enought o think that just because she’s young meant she is innocent and pure.

Anyone who can live in this city... needs to have the means to stay alive.

It wasn’t until she reached the inn’s side entrance and stepped into the quieter shadowed corridor that she saw the movement again, just a flicker at the edge of her vision.

She didn’t turn her head.

Didn’t make it obvious.

But her gaze lowered to the side just as a folded piece of paper was slipped into the edge of her cloak.

By the time she turned, the girl was gone.

Feng Jiao Xue unfolded the note with care.

The handwriting was clumsy. Scrawled in charcoal, the words were jagged and rushed:

"LEAVE. It LIKES SPECIAL CULTIVATORS THE MOST"

She stared at the paper for a long while, then slowly folded it again and slipped it into her inner sleeve.

Outside, the last of the sunlight bled into the dark.