Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 109: A reunion between adventurers

Chapter 109: A reunion between adventurers

Feng Jiao Xue locked the door again with a quiet click. The sound resounding in the empty room making Mo Tianze look uo from the couch, a bread on his mouth.

"Yhour bhaack" He waved happily before biting the bread off and swallowed what was on his mouth.

"Did you find what you where looking for?" He asked curiously before realising what he had said. "The informations" he corrected himself sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.

"Something like that." Feng Jiao Xue nodded, taking a piece from his snack pile before showing him the warning. She wants to be as transparent as she can be with him.

"I knew something was wrong the moment we arrived. Sister..." he grabbed her hand, tail flicking once. "Jiao Xue. Its too dangerous here. There are too many watchers, too many bad people" His tail flickered back and forth nervously.

Feng Jiao Xue sat on the edge of the bed and exhaled, gaze steady. "We should plan our exit. If whatever It is know where we are, we’ll have to move before night."

Mo Tianze nodded. Then, after a pause, he reached into his coat and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.

"I... made this for you," he said a bit awkwardly. "While you were out."

She blinked and looked up.

He scratched the back of his head, ears twitching slightly. "I walked around the main roads, stayed low, listened a lot. It’s not perfect, but it’s something."

He unfolded the paper and placed it on the table beside the bed. "I... wanted to help"

It wasn’t inked with expert precision, but the lines were clean, the corners careful. Feng Jiao Xue leaned in, studying it.

The rough map showed several key areas, an approximation of their inn’s location, the city gates, the main market streets, a few marked alleys, and what looked like a drainage path leading out to the south wall.

"You did this?" she asked, quietly impressed.

Mo Tianze gave a small shrug. "I couldn’t do much while you were gone. Just wanted to help."

There was a soft smile tugging at her lips, brief but real.

She traced a line with her finger. "This alley here. You think it connects all the way to the gates?"

He nodded. "It’s narrow, but it doesn’t get much foot traffic. There’s a vendor there that always falls asleep mid-shift. No guards posted last time I checked."

She hummed. "And this?"

"A tunnel. Sewer line, maybe. It smells like it. But it leads straight under the western watchpoint." He paused, then added, "I wouldn’t suggest it unless we’re desperate."

Feng Jiao Xue nodded slowly, mind already working through the options.

Mo Tianze sat beside her, letting the silence stretch before saying, more quietly, "I figured if anything went wrong... we could at least... get out safely."

She glanced sideways at him.

His expression was calm, but his hands were clenched just slightly in his lap.

She reached out, resting her hand over his for a second. No words, just warmth.

"Good work" she said. "Thank you"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Loud bang from the door made both of them freeze.

Mo Tianze’s ears perked immediately, tail stilling behind him as his body tensed. Feng Jiao Xue stood first, already reaching for the dagger hidden near her boot.

They exchanged a look, quiet, sharp, wary.

Another knock followed, more casual this time, and a voice called out behind the door.

"Feng Jiao Xue! You in there?"

She blinked.

That voice, familiar. Faintly high-pitched, filled with unspent energy and lacking any real tension.

"Is that... Chen Rong?" she murmured under her breath.

Mo Tianze tilted his head. "Friend?"

Feng Jiao Xue walked to the door but didn’t open it yet. "...Acquaintance."

They had worked one mission together before, months ago, when she was still trying to get her footing after first arriving in this. She hadn’t expected to run into them again, not here.

She undid the latch slowly, carefully, and opened the door just a crack.

Outside stood a small group of people, all looking vaguely out of place in the gloom of the city’s worn corridor, like they still belonged in the sun.

Xia Lian beamed the moment she saw her.

"You are here!" the girl exclaimed, bouncing slightly on her toes. Her dark eyes sparkled with excitement, and her hair was tied up in its usual messy bun with a feather stuck through it for flair. "Told you I saw her near the plaza, didn’t I, Wei Jian?"

"Yeah, yeah," muttered a tall man behind her with a wide sword strapped lazily across his back. He gave a quick wave and grinned. "You’ve gotten stronger, haven’t you? Knew it."

Feng Jiao Xue’s gaze scanned the group, recognition slowly settling into her features.

Chen Rong was there too, calm as ever, arms crossed loosely over his chest, sword at his side but not drawn. He gave a small nod when their eyes met, his expression unreadable but not unfriendly.

And Lin Feng, the quiet one, lingered near the back. Observing, as always. He gave no wave, just a simple incline of his head, eyes sharp even when silent.

"What are you all doing here?" Feng Jiao Xue asked, voice cool but not unkind.

"We could ask you the same," Xia Lian shot back cheerfully, stepping forward as if she might hug her. She stopped short when she noticed how tense Feng Jiao Xue still stood, eyes flickering between them. "We just arrived yesterday, registered with the local guild post. You remember that weird merchant back in Greystone City? Ah, right. If you ever visit that city, youll know him. His not that hard to miss. He sent us here on a contract."

"Dangerous, yeah," Wei Jian added, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. "Not a fun place to hang out, but the coin’s heavy."

Chen Rong finally spoke. "We saw you walking the plaza earlier. Decided to say hello."

Feng Jiao Xue glanced back at Mo Tianze, who had quietly stepped closer, standing just behind her shoulder.

Her eyes flicked to Chen Rong again. "You didn’t follow me?"

The man shook his head. "Didn’t need to. Xia Lian spotted you from a roof. You’re hard to miss."

Feng Jiao Xue exhaled softly. "Fine. Come in, I guess."

Xia Lian beamed and stepped inside without hesitation. The others followed with varying degrees of caution, though Lin Feng barely made a sound as he entered.

The room suddenly felt a lot smaller.

Mo Tianze shifted slightly, unconsciously placing himself between the newcomers and Feng Jiao Xue, tail twitching lightly as he watched them. He didn’t speak, but his eyes were wary.

Feng Jiao Xue noticed, then placed a hand on his shoulder before turning to the others. "This is Mo Tianze," she said, voice level. "He’s with me."

Mo Tianze blinked, but gave a small bow. "Uh, nice to meet you."

Xia Lian grinned. "Oooh! So this is the fox boy Wei Jian saw!"

"Fox man," Mo Tianze muttered under his breath, ears flattening slightly.

Wei Jian just gave a thumbs up. "Cool tail, bro."

Feng Jiao Xue pinched the bridge of her nose. "What are you all doing here?"

"We’re on assignment," Chen Rong said. "Adventurer’s Guild request. Multiple parties have gone missing here. No bodies. No traces. We’re supposed to investigate what’s happening."

Wei Jian leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "It’s a mess. We already passed three abandoned campgrounds near the southern wall. Feels like something’s hunting cultivators specifically."

"Didn’t think we’d run into you," Xia Lian said with a smile, plopping down near the table. "But I’m glad we did."

Feng Jiao Xue reached over and tapped the warning note still on the table, letting them read it for themselves.

Wei Jian whistled low. "Cultivators never make it out, huh? Dramatic."

Chen Rong’s expression darkened slightly. "That might explain the rumors. Disappearances. Some say entire parties vanish. Others say the city feeds on qi."

Lin Feng finally spoke, voice quiet but clear. "We’re not staying long, either."

Feng Jiao Xue studied them. "You could leave now."

"No can do." Xia Lian shook her head. "Contract says three days minimum. We’ve got to investigate the north block warehouse for that creepy merchant before we’re allowed to report back. The only clue we have but uts something"

Wei Jian scoffed. "You make it sound so boring."

"You made us accept it!" Xia Lian protested.

"’Cause we needed the coin!"

"Idiots" Chen Rong muttered under his breath.

Feng Jiao Xue pinched the bridge of her nose, watching the exchange like it was a half-familiar memory, something warm and distant. "If you get into trouble," she said slowly "get out. Don’t push further. Something’s wrong with this place."

Feng Jiao Xue never thought much of it, thinking it’s normal since this place is riddled with danger. But her instinct been going haywire but she was focused on... someone...

"We can handle ourselves," Chen Rong replied, then added, "but we’ll be careful. You too. Whatever your here for, I hope you get it done soon."

Xia Lian grinned. "I’m glad we found you. If you’re planning anything crazy, call me in."

"No," Feng Jiao Xue said flatly.

The girl pouted. "C’mon. I’m useful!"

"No doubt. But it’s not your problem."

Xia Lian opened her mouth to argue but was cut off by Lin Feng gently tapping her shoulder. He didn’t say anything, just gave her a look.

"Alright, alright," she muttered, standing up again. "We’ll let you get back to your plotting."

Chen Rong offered a small bow of his head. "We’re staying just across the plaza. If you need anything."

Wei Jian waved cheerfully. "Keep that fox boy outta trouble!"

Mo Tianze blinked. "Fox boy? Is that sticking?" He looks at Feng Jiao Xue who shaked her head no. Cute nickname but... ’Fox’ implies some characteristics Feng Jiao Xue can’t associate with him.

They left a moment later, the door closing behind them with a soft click.

The room was quiet again.

Mo Tianze exhaled. "They’re...loud."

"But useful and... they can be quite something" Feng Jiao Xue murmured.

She turned to the table again, fingers brushing the edge of the map.

"Let’s figure out where we’re doing next," she said, pulling a pen from her sleeve. "We may need to move faster than we thought."

Mo Tianze nodded, eyes narrowing. "I’ll pack light already just in case."