Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Chapter 31

The group returned to the capital ’peacefully,’ a term that felt almost laughable given the trials they had just faced. The beasts they encountered were no longer as troublesome as before, they had grown stronger, sharper, and more attuned to their surroundings. Even the mist that had once caused them great distress was now easier to navigate. They knew what waited within its clutches, but that foreknowledge did little to ease the heavy tension in their chests as they traversed it. The heart, after all, was not so easily trained to ignore danger.

Feng Jiao Xue found herself closing in as she heard Lu Xi’s call. She moved with measured precision, her footsteps silent as a shadow on the cobblestones. Her gaze flickered briefly over the group, cataloging their positions and state of being with an instinct born of countless battles. Lu Xi’s voice carried a note of relief as she gestured for Feng Jiao Xue to join them, her usually guarded demeanor softening slightly. Feng Jiao Xue responded with a faint nod, her expression betraying nothing, but inwardly she noted the warmth in the gesture, it was rare for someone to truly see her as part of a group, even for a fleeting moment.

The road back to the city felt lighter, though not entirely free of unease. As they walked along the cobbled path, faint laughter and conversation echoed among the group. Bonds forged in battle were not so easily dismissed. Each person had left a mark on the other, even if they would never admit it outright. Cheng Rong laughed heartily at a joke from one of his companions, while another teased him about how many times he’d tripped during their journey.

"Honestly, you’re lucky that scorpion didn’t step on you when you fell face-first into the sand," one of his friends quipped, earning a round of laughter.

"Hey, I was distracting it!" Cheng Rong shot back with a grin, pretending to puff out his chest. "It was a strategy!"

Feng Jiao Xue listened to the banter in silence, her lips curving ever so slightly. For a moment, she let herself imagine what it would be like to be a part of such easy camaraderie. But the thought passed as quickly as it came.

By the time the city gates came into view, the sun had dipped low, casting the capital in a warm, golden glow. The towering walls seemed more inviting than ominous, as though they were beckoning the adventurers to return to the relative safety within.

Once inside, the group began to split off, each to their own destinations. Farewells were exchanged, some heartfelt and others brief, as the bonds of camaraderie gave way to the pull of individual paths.

"That was one hell of a trip," one adventurer muttered, adjusting the strap of his bag.

"Wouldn’t mind doing it again, minus the giant scorpions, though," another joked, eliciting chuckles.

"And the mist" A mage quiped in, shivering at the memory.

"We don’t talk about the mist" the adventurer hit the other’s head lightly in reprimand.

"The mist never happened" Someone agreed readily. "There was no mist!"

"Others needs to be informed of its presence" Han Qing stated firmly instead looking at Liang Feng who subtly nodded.

"Everyone needs to be informed" Liang Feng agreed.

"We’ll help spread the word"

"I can go to the adventurer’s guild to immediately"

"I’ll go to the merchant’s guild. I have to sell this things anyway" another agreed shaking his sack filled with things he gathered during the journey others agreeing with him.

Cheng Rong clapped Feng Jiao Xue on the shoulder, grinning broadly. "Take care of yourself, alright? Next time, I’m expecting you to crack a joke or two."

Feng Jiao Xue tilted her head, an almost imperceptible glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "Perhaps. If you survive long enough to hear one."

The banter drew a mix of laughter and groans from the group as they dispersed.

Feng Jiao Xue was about to leave when Liang Feng noticed her.

"You’re from the capital too?" Liang Feng asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and disbelief as he turned to Feng Jiao Xue. His dark brows furrowed in surprise. He admitted he didn’t know everyone in the capital, but someone like her, with her striking beauty and enigmatic presence, shouldn’t be so unknown. For someone who prided himself on understanding the people of his city, her anonymity was baffling.

She inclined her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "You could say that. My ancestral home is here," she replied, her tone carefully neutral, neither confirming nor denying that she currently resided in the city.

Liang Feng tilted his head, clearly pondering her words. "Well, if you’re staying here, maybe we could meet up again sometime?" he asked hopefully. His tone betrayed a subtle eagerness that made Feng Jiao Xue pause.

From the depths of her mind, Huang Jin De’s voice resonated. "He can make a great ally," the spirit observed coolly.

Feng Jiao Xue acknowledged the truth of his statement, but another thought gnawed at her. Liang Feng could just as easily become a hindrance. Trust was a luxury she had never afforded herself, not in this life or the one before it. And yet, there was something about Liang Feng that gave her pause. He wasn’t like the others she had encountered. He didn’t seem interested in using her, and there was a certain genuine kindness to him that she couldn’t quite ignore.

After a moment of deliberation, she nodded. "Alright. If you want to meet, leave a message at the Adventurer’s Guild."

A smile broke across Liang Feng’s face, warm and genuine. "I’ll do that," he promised.

"Hey, we wouldn’t mind staying in touch either," Cheng Rong chimed in, a broad grin lighting up his face. The others in his party nodded in agreement, their expressions equally enthusiastic. "Maybe we can team up for missions sometime?"

Feng Jiao Xue hesitated. She had no intention of being tethered to anyone, but outright refusal might draw unwanted suspicion. "I still have a lot to take care of," she said finally, her tone measured. "But I suppose we could, if we cross paths again."

Cheng Rong’s grin widened. "Sounds good to me. Don’t be a stranger!"

The farewells continued, each one tinged with the bittersweet weight of parting. Some were brief, simple nods or waves, while others lingered, carrying unspoken promises of future reunions.

Feng Jiao Xue found herself scanning the crowd, searching for a familiar figure. But Lu Qing Yue was nowhere to be found. A faint pang of disappointment flickered in her chest, though she quickly suppressed it. Everyone had their secrets, and people like them weren’t prone to lingering in the bonds of companionship.

By the time the crowd thinned, Feng Jiao Xue was left alone. The streets of the capital stretched before her, bustling with life and activity. Merchants called out their wares, children darted through the crowds, and the distant clang of a blacksmith’s hammer rang out like a heartbeat.

She adjusted the hood of her cloak, stepping away from the main thoroughfare and into the quieter backstreets. Along the way, she passed groups of adventurers heading to the Merchant’s Guild, their arms laden with harvested materials from the journey. Monster pelts, rare herbs, and glimmering crystals caught the light, promising hefty payouts for those willing to barter.

Feng Jiao Xue, however, had no interest in the guilds tonight. Her path led her to a forgotten corner of the city, where the streets grew narrower and the buildings leaned precariously against one another. Finally, she stopped in front of a small courtyard.

The place was as she had left it, dilapidated and abandoned. The gate hung slightly askew, its hinges rusted with time. Weeds sprouted between the flagstones, and the faint scent of damp earth clung to the air.

"Home sweet home," she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with dry sarcasm. Yet, as she stepped inside, a strange sensation stirred within her. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but undeniable, the feeling of coming home.

She let out a slow breath, her gaze sweeping over the courtyard. To anyone else, it might seem like nothing more than a crumbling ruin. But to Feng Jiao Xue, it was a reminder of both her past and her present. She was the assassin from her previous life as much as she was the Feng Jiao Xue of this world. They were one and the same, two halves of a fractured soul bound together by fate. And maybe that’s why, she felt... something coming back.

It’s not her home, it’s not him. But maybe one day... Feng Jiao Xue looks at the sky, feeling a sting in the corner of her eyes, maybe one day somewhere in this world, she can find home.

She pushed open the door to the main house, the wood creaking in protest. Dust hung heavy in the air, illuminated by the faint light filtering through cracked windows. Her footsteps echoed softly as she made her way inside, taking in the familiar disrepair.

With a resigned sigh, she set down her belongings and began to clear a small space for herself. Her movements were methodical, almost mechanical, as she swept away the worst of the dirt and cobwebs. By the time she was done, the space felt marginally less oppressive.

Dropping onto a worn cushion, she allowed herself a moment of quiet reflection. The journey had been long and arduous, but it had also been a turning point. She had forged alliances, uncovered fragments of this world’s secrets, and tested the limits of her own strength.

And yet, she knew this was only the beginning.

As she sat in the silence of her dilapidated home, a single thought rose to the forefront of her mind. What comes next?