7 The Costly Bride

Setting it free? Sun Yin knew better than believe what Lin Kun had said. She knew that the Huayuan Lin Sect was one of the greediest sects in the Society. Such a very powerful tool like what they called the Fenqi would be a grave loss for them. If Lin Kun was sane at the moment, he should at least try and capture her.

After all, she was the Bride of Corpses. Even though it was not her command, she could still be framed for the siege. In fact, they already had.

Sun Yin followed Lu Bang and Lin Kun to a room deep in the sect temple. It was hidden inside the room of their father, Lin Guwei. Lu Bang shifted a floorboard up and to the side to unveil the steps leading down. Lin Kun went inside first, followed by Sun Yin and then Lu Bang.

Like what Sun Yin expected in a Lin sect tunnel, it was pitch-black and unwinding. The lamp in Lin Kun's hand lit the way for only as far as a meter ahead. He then turned left and gave the lamp to his brother. He fished for a key held by a string hidden inside his sash. He unlocked the lock pad and left it on the door before pushing the panel open.

There was nothing notable in the room... until the lamp's light reached a small altar in the far end of the room. Lin Kun stood in front of it before lighting Sun Yin and Lu Bang's faces.

"What I'm going to show you is a Lin sect secret treasure. If you truly are the Bride of Corpses, you should be able to tell me what this is." Lin Kun made his words clear. He did not fully believe Sun Yin was the Bride; however, his brother's questionable trust in the woman made the master trust her faintly.

He put down the lamp and slid it under the table. The room had grown considerably dimmer. However, a strong golden glow came from atop the table. Sun Yin's eyes widened at the small orb resting inside the chalice left on the altar.

"The soul thread was bound to this object. As long as I am connected to this, I will be able to control Fenqi." Lin Kun's face was lit by the glow, but his eyes were darkened by his thoughts. "Our father insisted for it to be sealed in complete darkness."

"I can't believe he had that and Buyue… perhaps he was able to locate Buyue because of that." Sun Yin reached out to touch the orb, but Lin Kun closed the chalice's lid.

In deep darkness, his voice echoed, "I don't know what will happen if you touch it, Lady Sun. Please refrain yourself from… tainting the Gold Orb."

Sun Yin nodded her head. Even though no one saw it, they assumed she did after hearing her hum. The light came back into the room as Lin Kun opened the lid again. The Bride stared at the orb which started to tremble in its place.

Lu Bang glared at the orb. He could not help but notice that something was happening to it. Before he could spell it out for Lin Kun, the Gold Orb levitated from its case. The master tried to catch it with the lid, but the Gold Orb hovered in front of Sun Yin's face, inches away from her nose.

Like a ripe orange, the Gold Orb peeled itself to reveal a piece of a sphere. The shard had the same color of its skin, but it had a suspicious shape. The shard glowed brighter than the Gold Orb, almost blinding Sun Yin who had to look at it from a close distance. Lu Bang pulled her away before Lin Kun caught the shard with the lid and the chalice again. After some seconds, it was back to being the Gold Orb inside the chalice.

"I apologize, Lady Sun. It never behaved that way before," Lin Kun whispered.

Sun Yin summoned Buyue from his sheath, shedding light from its blade and glare. "Jeopardizing the future of his entire sect and putting his very own life in the line…" Her brows knitted. "Just how much was he willing to pay to keep this secret?" Her lips curled as if denying her respect for the old man. "Lin Guwei seemed to take a different path from his father. Perhaps he realized growth lied on the other side…"

Lu Bang arched his brow at the woman whose face was lit by the faint light of Buyue. "Sun Yin, we can hear you. Care to elaborate?"

Lin Kun glanced at his brother for showing familiarity with the woman. His brother rarely called people with their names without being forced to do so.

"Fifty years ago, the First Society collapsed at the conclusion of a young girl's revenge." Sun Yin kept her eyes at Lin Kun instead. "Since judgment had been delivered to their spirits, the young girl had no more use of her celestial powers. She broke her golden core into eight pieces and scattered them to prevent her power from being taken away should she be killed in her sleep.

"The young girl was an immortal, a being of grave power that could reshape the world. Collecting all the pieces of her golden core would give one powers beyond control." She reached out to hold the chalice, her fingers on top of Lin Kun's hand. "In a sense, the pieces of her golden core could be treated as magical treasures. Since the golden core bore the spirit of the young girl, even her creations obey the holder of the golden core pieces."

Her eyes strayed to Lu Bang. "Each of them must be commanded by one piece: one for the sword, one for the fan, and one for the greatest creation she had ever done…"

"The Cinder Army …" Lu Bang whispered under her gaze, slightly moving his head to a nod.

"Someone is in possession of another piece of your core; hence, the attack of the Cinder Army… in order to obtain the piece that controls… Buyue?" Lin Kun spoke slowly as if checking if his understanding was correct.

"They probably knew that Buyue and Fenqi are the same. Luring you to the front, huh…" Lu Bang gritted his teeth, hoping to punch the person who would have done that.

Sun Yin let go of the chalice. "I'm sorry, Master Lin, but I must take the core piece and Buyue. Leaving them here with you will only cost you further damage."

Lin Kun only looked at the maiden before him. His grip on the chalice tightened. He brought his gaze down at the lid of the chalice. "I… cannot give these to you, Lady Sun. I have no idea why you stand before me right now. I cannot put the Lin sect in trouble just because you asked nicely."

"Shall I cause a ruckus and take them from you with force?" Sun Yin smiled at the man with a wide grin. "You know, with Buyue within my reach, I can skin you in minutes—"

"As if you would." Lu Bang grabbed the handle of the flying sword. He felt Buyue struggle under his grip, but he refused to budge.

"My, my. I'm sure Master Lin would choose otherwise." Sun Yin covered her mouth with her sleeve. Her gaze slid from Lu Bang to Lin Kun. "Especially that I have the capability of leaving no one alive."

"Sun Yin, you!" Lin Kun stepped back to keep the chalice away from her.

Thud-thud-thud! Footsteps echoed around the ceiling. Lin Kun looked up and heard wild movements upstairs. They did not see Lin Kun's actions, but the two copied him upon noticing the same noises. The master placed the chalice back on the table before collecting the lamp. He shed light on the other two's faces, reflecting the same suspicious gaze that he had.

Sun Yin sheathed Buyue in his case resting on Lin Kun's waist. The three got back to the late master's room, only to meet with a servant outside.

"Master Lin! The Heici Xu sect disciples were looking for you! They look furious!" She cowered at the thought of their faces.

"Rest assured, this will be sorted soon." Lin Kun smiled at the servant before heading to the direction of the main hall.

Sun Yin and Lu Bang could not help but follow the master to the hall. They were then joined by Lin Dong and other higher officials. They would stop them from entering, but they came with Lin Kun. The maiden stared at the men from the other sect.

Unlike the decent suits of the Huayuan Lin sect, the disciples of the Heici Xu sect that came were comparable to delinquents. They stood like arrogant gangsters. Even their leader seemed to be on their level. However, they were adorned by blue sash belts which meant superiority, a uniform symbol among the sects of the Society.

"Huh, do you like your guests to keep on waiting, Master Lin Kun?" The leader arched his brow at the master. "You didn't even give us anything decent to drink."

"My apologies. We were attacked. Most of my disciples are resting." Lin Kun restrained from showing any hints of disgust towards the man. "Should I fetch you some wine before we discuss your purpose here?"