Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 112: Secrets to unravel

Chapter 112: Secrets to unravel

"Have you bought everything?" Feng Jiao Xue was rolling up her spare cloak as she ask Mo Tianze when a knock rattled the door.

No, less of a knock and more of a frantic bang. Sharp hits, too fast, too anxious.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

She and Mo Tianze froze and look at each other, having dejavu.

"Xue! Xue!" A familiar sharp voice called behind the door.

Mo Tianze, hearing the familiar voice, just finished stuffing his things into a worn leather bag, half a loaf of bread sticking out the top like a careless afterthought. "Yup" he mumbled.

Feng Jiao Xue had raised a brow at the noise, then slowly made her way to the door already.

When she opened it, Xia Lian nearly stumbled in.

And... flopped on the floor as Feng Jiao Xue moved aside when she failed to regain her balance in the end.

Red hair splashed on the floor as her body splayed on the ground.

She looked look like a mess, and not just because of her form. Xia Lian’s face was flushed, hair wild from running, and her chest heaved with every breath. "Is Wei Jian with you?" she blurted, eyes darting between them.

She jumped up and held her hand tightly, eyes frantic, "Please! PLEASE! PLEASE! Tell me his with your!" She shaked her hands anxiously.

Mo Tianze even paused from packing and looked at the two curiously.

"No," Feng Jiao Xue said carefully. "Why would he be?"

Xia Lian shook her head, hands trembling as she clutched the doorframe. "He didn’t come back last night. We were supposed to meet at the square this morning, but he never showed. I thought maybe he stayed here..."

Mo Tianze stepped beside Feng Jiao Xue, his expression shifting from confusion to concern. "Did you check the last place he is supposed to be?"

"Yes. And I even asked the innkeeper if he went back there. Nothing." She swallowed hard. "His sword’s was found in an alley. He never goes anywhere without it. Its basically his wife."

The air in the room shifted. Even the quiet creak of the wooden floor beneath Feng Jiao Xue’s feet felt louder than it should have.

She closed the door behind Xia Lian and motioned for her to sit. Mo Tianze moved to help support the unstable girl.

The girl collapsed onto the nearest chair, wringing her fingers in her lap.

"We were going to leave the city today," Mo Tianze said, frowning. "Jiao Xue?" He looks at Feng Jiao Xue wants to do, even if he doesn’t like being in this dangerous place, he will support her. No matter what.

"We can... stay for a couple more days." Feng Jiao Xue replied as she joined them. "But," she looks at Xia Lian. "It’s best if we find him as soon as we can"

"I know" Xia Lian whispered. "But we barely have any clue where he is."

Feng Jiao Xue walked to the window and glanced out. The street below was alive and busy, full of chatter and clattering wheels. It felt... wrong. Too normal.

She had been feeling it too, the unease that crawled under her skin the longer they stayed. The way shadows lingered in alleys too long. The silence in places that should’ve been filled with life. And now someone was missing. Someone that she actually, remotely, care about, a friend.

Xia Lian looked up, voice smaller. "We were splitting up. He was going to check the west end, where some adventurers were rumored to vanish. Just a routine sweep. He said he’d be back before dawn."

Mo Tianze handed her a glass of water to help her calm down. "He could only be busy?" Mo Tianze tried to assure the girl seeing as Jiao Xue is not that adept in dealing with emotions. She came along way but baby steps.

"This time felt different," she said, almost in a whisper. "He looked... rattled the last time we met up to share what we have gathered."

Feng Jiao Xue turned back toward the room. "Did he leave anything?"

Xia Lian shook her head.

"What about his things? Anything missing besides him?"

"No. Clothes, sword, gear. Everything’s there. It’s like he just vanished."

Silence settled again.

Mo Tianze ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath. "We can’t just walk away from this." Mo Tianze requested to Feng Jiao Xue wanting to help. He doesn’t know know him well but the guy was cool when they met.

"I know" Feng Jiao Xue murmured.

They weren’t supposed to get involved. They had already done what they came here for, and this city, this strange, creaking city, wasn’t theirs to worry about. But the thought of Wei Jian, cocky grin and sharp blade, suddenly gone like mist? That didn’t sit right.

"I’ll go with you," Xia Lian said quickly. "Wherever you’re going. Whatever you’re going to be doing, I will come with." She looks at them apologetically. "I am sorry. I know this doesn’t concern either of you. I didn’t want to bother you but..." She wrangled her fingers. "We don’t know who else to ask for help in this deranged city"

"No. Its fine. No need to appologize for that. His also my... friend" Feng Jiao Xue held up a hand, not unkindly. "And you’ll only slow us down if something’s really wrong. We need someone here, someone who can keep their ears open. Tell the others. And stay safe. Just in case something comes up in your inn, stay nearby around here while the rest of us split up. Try to see if you can find the little girl I told you the previous night priore"

Xia Lian looked like she wanted to argue, but then she slumped forward and nodded. "Yeah, yeah. I can do that. Find the girl, look for anything he left behind."

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t want Xia Lian with them as being with her would mean revealing more of her hidden cards with a variable she can’t control. She knows that Xia Lian is a good girl but she’s not taking chances, the best way to keep secrets, is by not sharing it.

Feng Jiao Xue moved back to her pack, her movements slower now. More deliberate. They weren’t just leaving anymore, they were going after something. Or someone.

"Did he say where he was headed last night?" Mo Tianze asked.

"Only that he was going to check the alleys near the southern wall. Said he thought he saw something. A figure following him."

"That’s not comforting," Mo Tianze muttered, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "How long has he been gone now?"

Xia Lian checked the sky through the window. "Over twelve hours. He never disappears like this."

Feng Jiao Xue tucked her cloak into the side of her bag and tied the strap tightly. Her fingers lingered on the knot, thoughts churning beneath her calm expression.

She didn’t like this. The timing. The silence. The fact that it was Wei Jian. She and Mo Tianze could take care of themselves, but him, he was loud and reckless, not the type to tread lightly when danger was near.

"We’ll find him," she said at last.

Xia Lian looked up, relief flickering in her eyes. "You will? I mean, yeah, we’ll find him. His a big guy, how hard can it be to find someone as big as him right?" she comforted herself.

Feng Jiao Xue gave a single nod.

"I’ll go tell the others," Xia Lian said, rising to her feet. "And if he shows up, I’ll message you through the guild channel."

"Be careful," Mo Tianze said. "Stick to the busy streets. Don’t wander alone."

Xia Lian paused at the door and nodded again. "You too."

Once she was gone, the room fell quiet.

Mo Tianze walked to the window, peering through the thin veil of curtains. "You think he was taken?"

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t answer right away. She looked around the room instead, eyes resting on her packed bag, the half-folded blanket, the little slivers of routine they’d just finished.

"We’ll find out soon enough," she said softly.

Then she turned, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked toward the door.

This city wasn’t done with them yet.

"Can you get his scent?" She looks at Mo Tianze as they stepped out of the inn but Mo Tianze just shook his head.

"Too many strong smells and sounds. It’s hard to distinguish the scent of someone I just met" He replied gloomy at not being able to do it.

"Hey" Feng Jiao Xue patted his shoulder. "It’s fine. Not your fault."

"How about Huang Jin De?" Mo Tianze perked up. His eyes glimmering slightly making Feng Jiao Xue feel her heart skipped at the adorable admiring eyes before shaking her head.

"No, I don’t want to disturb him. I normally would but I can feel his in a crucial part of his cultivation. We’re on our own on this one." She sighed as she looked at the streets trying to figure out where to start searching.

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