The forest surrounding the village of Liang seemed even darker as the night progressed. Only the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl broke the silence, but the darkness concealed more than just simple wildlife. Moving like a shadow, a hooded figure slid between the trees, their steps as silent as the wind. Their eyes, glowing with a cold light beneath the hood, studied the terrain ahead, every detail of the surroundings being etched into their mind.
Since arriving in this region, Lord Feng’s envoy knew that his mission was much more than simply watching Castian and Shen. His true task lay deep in the northern mountains, where the legendary artifact known as the Celestial Pearl had been hidden for centuries, protected by ancient magic and guardians from forgotten eras. That object was crucial to Lord Feng’s plans, and the spy felt the weight of this responsibility with each step he took.
With light, careful steps, he climbed a steep trail, the air around him heavy with a dense, almost suffocating energy. With every meter he advanced, the vegetation around him dwindled, giving way to large, time-worn rocks marked with ancestral symbols that few still understood. To the common observer, this place would seem like just another part of the mountains, but the hooded figure knew there was more. He felt it in the vibrations of the earth beneath his feet and in the invisible weight that permeated the air.
He stopped in front of an imposing rock formation. The inscriptions covering the stone were ancient, worn by time, but they still emanated an aura of power. Approaching, the spy knelt before the stone, his gloved fingers carefully touching the symbols. He muttered to himself, almost in a whisper, as his eyes gleamed with barely contained excitement.
"Here..." his voice, low and controlled, was muffled by the soft wind passing through the mountain. "The Pearl is hidden here. The magic that protects it is old, but it won’t be enough to stop me."
From within his robes, he retrieved a small artifact, a black stone that pulsed with a sinister energy. The moonlight seemed to avoid the stone, as if its presence was an error in the natural order. Holding it above the symbols on the rock, Lord Feng’s envoy muttered words in a forgotten language, a language that carried the power of darkness. Instantly, the inscriptions on the stone glowed, their ancient forms revealing a hidden pattern that had been invisible until now.
"The entrance..." he murmured, a thin smile appearing on his lips as he observed the result of his spell.
The rock before him began to tremble slightly, and for a moment, an almost imperceptible opening appeared, revealing the path to the chamber where the Celestial Pearl was hidden. However, he knew he couldn’t proceed yet. The magic protecting that place was too powerful to be undone so quickly. Besides, he had been warned about the guardians that protected the artifact—ancient and lethal creatures that could not be underestimated.
He stood up slowly, placing the artifact back into his robes and retreating into the darkness of the forest. The time wasn’t right. First, he would need more information, more power, and perhaps even reinforcements. His eyes gleamed with malice as he mentally connected with his master, Lord Feng.
Closing his eyes, he focused his mind, feeling his consciousness extend beyond the physical plane. It was like crossing a dense fog, but he was accustomed to this type of communication. The words of his message echoed in his mind, as if they were spoken by a voice he barely recognized as his own.
“Lord Feng, I have found the location of the Celestial Pearl. It is hidden deep in the northern mountains near the village of Liang. However, the protections around it are formidable. There are guardians, and I will need instructions to proceed further.”
There was a moment of silence, a gap between thoughts that seemed to stretch for an eternity. Then, the response came as a powerful, overwhelming presence that filled the spy’s mind with the force of a storm. Lord Feng’s voice, cold and resonant, carried an undeniable authority.
"Excellent work. But do not make mistakes now. This mission is delicate. Wait for reinforcements. The power of the Celestial Pearl is too great to be handled carelessly, and the guardians that protect it are not ordinary opponents. Do not rush. I will give you further instructions soon. And..." Feng’s voice deepened, taking on a more ominous tone, "do not let your presence be discovered. The situation with the young Castian is developing. He could be a crucial piece in our game.”
The spy opened his eyes slowly, feeling his master’s presence gradually fade from his mind. The smile on his lips widened as he turned to look at the rock formation one last time before retreating, vanishing into the forest’s shadows like a serpent withdrawing to its lair.
"As you wish, my lord," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. "I await your orders."
***
Hours passed as the mysterious figure continued his careful exploration of the area around the mountain. Every step was meticulously planned, every observation mentally noted. He mapped the region in detail, marking points where the magical energy was most intense and areas where potential guardians could be hidden. He knew time was against him. With raiders approaching the nearby villages and tension rising among the villagers, he had to act before unwanted attention fell on the village of Liang and the northern mountains.
As he analyzed his improvised map, the spy’s mind wandered to recent events. He was aware of Castian’s growing power, of the bond the young man shared with the entity within him. He knew Castian would be an obstacle, but also an opportunity. If the boy could be manipulated... or, in the worst case, eliminated, the path to the Pearl would be much easier.
“He still has no idea of the power he holds,” the spy thought. “But I won’t underestimate someone like him. Any mistake now could be fatal.”
Still, there was no denying the excitement that Lord Feng’s envoy felt. The Celestial Pearl was within his reach, and the power it would grant Feng—and by extension, him—was incalculable. Soon, all obstacles would be removed, and the artifact would be theirs. The pieces were moving on the board, and he just needed to wait for the right moment to act.
As the first lights of dawn began to appear on the horizon, the hooded figure vanished into the shadows, an invisible presence among the trees. The real game was about to begin.