Mission Pt. 2
The next day dawned with a heavy sense of anticipation as Tang Wei and her friends prepared to resume their search for answers within the Shēnyuān Jìnqū. The early morning sunlight (if you could even call it that) filtered through the thick fog that clung to the air, casting eerie shadows on the barren room. Despite the restless night and the lingering unease that permeated Tang Wei, she knew that she could not afford to waste any time and was thus anxious to set out for the day.
According to the tomes Lin Yi and Huo Feng stayed up reading last night, their first clue as to where they may be able to find the Shadow Seeker was in the ancient ruins that held the heart of the shadows. The problem was, however, that these ancient runes haven't been seen nor found for many millennia. Almost as if they had never existed, or, if they did, certainly in a time long, long forgotten. And there are very few alive today who would even have an inkling of an idea of where to find these runes.
"So, essentially, what you're saying is that we're looking for a needle in a hay stack?" Prince Jin stared at Huo Feng incredulously. Huo Feng shrugged his shoulders. "We only know that the ancient ruins were at one point in existence. We do know they were located in the heart of the Demon Realm. The problem is, where and what exactly is the heart? We should try to find someone here who maybe has an idea." Tang Wei warily glanced at their surroundings. She didn't want to stay in this seedy tavern any longer than she needed to. "The question is, where do we start?" Xiao Song asked, glancing at Lin Yi for an answer.
Prince Jin grinned cheekily and gestured to his handsome appearance. "I just so happen to know the best places to procure information. We just need to find the nearest Pavilion." Tang Wei rolled her eyes at her friend. Could he be anymore greasy? "Okay, how about this. Tang Wei, Xiao Song, and Huo Feng can go around the town and try to find information on the streets, Prince Jin and I will try to find a…pavilion and see what information we can dig up. We rendezvous back here." Lin Yi offered, casting a sideways glance at the aforementioned Beast Prince. "Okay, so let's get a move on then. I don't want to be here any longer than I have too." Tang Wei exclaimed, clapping her hands and leading Huo Feng and Xiao Song out onto the questionable streets.
Tang Wei could officially say that not one person they'd encountered was helpful. After what seemed like hours of being run in circles, and nearly getting their heads chopped off by an angry inhabitant for merely looking in the wrong direction, they were back to where they started with zero clue as to where they could find the ancient ruins or whom would be knowledgeable enough to know. It was frustrating, to say the least, and Tang Wei was feeling more and more hopeless as the day dragged on. Without any correspondence from Lin Yi and Prince Jin, she suspected they weren't having much luck either.
"This is getting us nowhere. We've been searching for hours, and we're no closer to finding the ancient ruins." Xiao Song groaned, rushing to the nearest rest area in sight. Her feet were killing her. She wasn't used to traveling because she only ever attended to Tang Wei in the Lotus Monastery. Huo Feng sheathed his sword in an out ever so slightly as if habit, anxiously scanning his perimeters again. "I agree. It seems like every demon we've encountered is more interested in chasing us away than helping us." Tang Wei laughed. "Well, I'm not sure what gave that away, but we need to change tactics here. Why don't we move into various businesses and off the streets? Maybe we'll have more luck that way."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Shēnyuān Jìnqū, Lin Yi and Prince Jin were getting just as desperate as the others. The one entertainment like establishment they'd managed to find could hardly be called as such, considering the inhabitants were so few and the one female entertainer was questionably pretty at best. There was no information to gather because there were hardly any people to gather from.
Lin Yi let out a defeated sigh. "This is a dead end, your highness. There's no one here who knows anything. We might as well be talking to ghosts." Prince Jin also looked on in disdain, disappointed at the lack of progress in their quest for answers. "I know, Lin Yi. It's like the entire place is shrouded in silence and secrets. I've never encountered anything like this before." Lin Yi kicked her foot back and forth, lightly scuffing the ground, grinning at the ridiculousness of it all. "Even the air feels like it's plotting against us."
Prince Jin let out a genuine smile. He quite liked Lin Yi, as he did with all women, but he had to admit she was more than just her appearance. She didn't fall for him or fawn over him. It was almost like she was indifferent to him all together, something he'd never experienced before. "Let's keep moving. Maybe we'll stumble upon something useful." Prince Jin offered, continuing their trek through the barely functioning town.
The Demon King's throne room was a sight to behold, a twisted fusion of opulence and darkness that reflected the very essence of its ruler. Carved deep within the heart of the underworld, the chamber was bathed in an eerie crimson light that cast long, ominous shadows across the ancient stone walls. Sinister glyphs and symbols, etched in obsidian and blood, adorned every surface, pulsating with dark energy that seemed to writhe and twist with a life of its own.
At the center of the room, upon a dais of blackened bone, loomed the Demon King's throne—a monstrous monolith of twisted metal and jagged obsidian. Its back rose high into the air like the spire of some malevolent cathedral, adorned with grotesque carvings of writhing demons and tormented souls. The seat itself was a twisted mockery of luxury, upholstered in the tanned hides of fallen heroes and stitched together with sinew and shadow.
Behind the throne, a massive tapestry stretched from floor to ceiling, depicting scenes of carnage and conquest that spanned countless eons. Warriors clashed with monstrous beasts, cities burned beneath the relentless onslaught of the Demon King's legions, and rivers ran red with the blood of the innocent. It was a testament to his power and his cruelty, a reminder to all who entered his domain of the fate that awaited those who dared to oppose him.
On either side of the throne, towering braziers flickered with unholy flames, casting dancing shadows that seemed to twist and contort with every gust of foul-smelling air. The air itself was thick with the stench of sulfur and decay, a tangible reminder of the corruption that permeated every corner of the underworld.
At the far end of the chamber, a massive portal loomed like a gaping maw, pulsating with a sickly green light that seemed to beckon to those brave or foolish enough to approach. Beyond its swirling depths lay an unknown where the Demon King's power was absolute and his will unchallenged. As Prince Chen and Prince Liang stood before their father's throne, they could feel the weight of his gaze upon them, like the crushing pressure of the abyss itself.
Prince Chen grit his teeth forcefully as he stood in front of his father, Lord Li, the Demon King, along with his half brother, Prince Liang. He could feel the wicked smirk coming off his step mother in waves. He absolutely loathed court appearances solely for the fact that he'd have to interact with his fathers concubine, Prince Liang's mother. She was the epitome of a snake and acted just as slippery and conniving as one. He hated what she did to his mother, the Demon Queen, and was slowly but surely working towards revenge. If only he could bring himself to hate Liang, but his younger brother was good to him, the total opposite of his mother. That was currently throwing a wrench in his carefully laid plans.
Lord Li, seated upon his throne of bone and shadow, surveyed his sons with a cold, calculating gaze. "What news do you bring, my sons?" Lord Li's voice echoed through the cavernous chamber, dripping with malice and authority. Prince Liang straightened his spine, itching to impress his father. "Father, I bring grave tidings from the outer realms. Foreigners have trespassed into the Shēnyuān Jìnqū. According to our contact there, they come seeking knowledge and power they cannot comprehend. It pertains to the Shadow Seeker." A low growl emanated from Lord Li's throat, his eyes narrowing to slits of crimson fire. "Foreigners, you say? How dare they defile our sacred grounds with their presence."
Prince Chen shifted uneasily beside his brother, his handsome features etched with concern. "But Father, what harm could they possibly pose to us? They are clearly powerless, ignorant, and frail." Lord Li's lips curled into a sinister smile, revealing neat rows of razor-sharp teeth. "Do not underestimate the power of spirits and beasts, my son. They are resourceful creatures, capable of great destruction if left unchecked." Prince Liang seized the opportunity to interject, his voice dripping with venomous intent. "Indeed, Father. These foreigners may be more than they seem. I have heard whispers of their nefarious plans, plotting to unravel the very fabric of our realm. One of them is a flower spirit from Lotus Monastery."
Lord Li's eyes blazed with fury, his grip tightening on the armrest of his throne. "Then we must act swiftly and decisively. Immortal Lotus knows not to trespass onto my land. Send forth our legions, scour every inch of our domain for these intruders. Show them the true meaning of fear and suffering." Prince Liang nodded eagerly, his resolve steeling in the face of their father's wrath. "As you command, Father. We shall hunt down these interlopers and crush them beneath our heel."
Prince Chen could only watch in horror as realization dawned upon him. He stood frozen, his heart pounding with a mixture of dread and disbelief. The ethereal presence that had plagued his thoughts and dreams, the enigmatic flower spirit whose existence he had struggled to comprehend, now existed before him in tangible form within the realm he would one day rule. Yet, instead of relief or joy, a wave of fear washed over him as he realized the peril she faced.
Forced to confront the reality of her vulnerability, Chen found himself torn apart by conflicting emotions. On one hand, a primal instinct to protect surged within him, an innate urge to shield her from harm at any cost. The mere thought of her suffering sent shivers down his spine, threatening to unravel the carefully constructed facade of indifference he had cultivated even if he couldn't fully understand why. But beneath this instinctual response lay a tangled web of duty and obligation, woven by the expectations of his position as a Crown Prince and heir to the throne. Caught between the demands of filial piety and the stirrings of his own conscience, Chen felt the weight of centuries-old tradition bearing down upon him like a leaden cloak.
In that moment of agonizing clarity, he realized the true depth of his internal struggle. He hardly knew this spirit, yet the very thought of her pain threatened to bring him to his knees if he dared to acknowledge it. It was a battle not only against external threats but against the demons that lurked within the depths of his own soul, threatening to consume him in their relentless pursuit of power and control. As he stood there, paralyzed by indecision, Chen knew that the choices he made in the coming moments would shape not only his own destiny but the fate of the little flower spirit and her friends.