CHAPTER-4

"I have to go and look for him!" Long Qiao looked up to the sky, spotting the bright full moon.

Ahli shook her head, "You can't, I can't bear to lose you too!" She cried.

"Long Xue is not dead! He can't be." Long Qiao looked at his daughter, Haiyin, "Protect your mother, I'll go look for your brother, Gam Hou, follow me."

Long Qiao pushed his wife away from him, and together with his manservant, he ran into the night.

Long Ahli cried woefully as her daughter patted her back slowly, "Mother, they'll be back."

...

Long Qiao and Gam Hou cautiously searched the streets for Long Xue, but the boy was nowhere to be seen.

Where could he be? Or have they taken him already?

"Master, we need to leave now!" Gam Hou panicked as he glanced around.

Long Qiao shook his head in disapproval, "No."

"We have to, it's so cold out here." Gam Hou grumbled as he felt the temperature dropping.

"You go ahead, I'll search for my son alone."

Gam Hou sighed, "Master, let's just go, for who knows, he might be safe."

"I will not abandon my son!" Long Qiao scowled.

Gam Hou took a step back before replying, "Then I'll take my leave. I'll make sure to keep the family safe."

Long Qiao watched his cowardly manservant scamper down the dark lane.

"Long Xue! Long Xue!" Long Qiao called out with an expression of woefulness slowly forming on his face.

"Father!"

Long Qiao looked behind him and spotted the source of the voice. He spotted his son running up to him.

"Long Xue!" Long Qiao felt joy rise in his heart seeing his son. He ran to meet him and hugged him tightly.

"Where were you awhile?"

"Some men with sickles were chasing me?" Long Xue replied, stammering.

"You've seen the Order of Aramoth? No, no, no." Long Qiao muttered.

"Seems like you know the consequences of eluding death after seeing the Order of Aramoth." Long Xue replied, but this time, his voice sounded a little more manlier.

"Assassins would be sent to annihilation every single member of that family." Long Qiao replied, not noticing the the changes in his son's behavioural patterns.

"The Yin sect added a new feature to its formation, and this feature is called 'The Alluring'. It creates illusions that lure people into our trap." Long Xue said.

Long Qiao asked, "Our?"

"Actions speak better than words." Long Xue answered as he removed a dagger from his robe and stabbed his father in the heart.

Long Qiao eyes shot open as he felt the dagger pierce through his heart, "You're not Long Xue."

Suddenly, a black fog engulfed the boy and after some time, it slowly dispersed, revealing a silhouette of a man dressed in black hooded robe.

"Ji Zhao..." Long Qiao mumbled as blood slowly sipped out of his chest, "Why?"

"Did you just ask why? Well you shouldn't have, I would have told you anyway." Ji Zhao replied, squatting, "There are seven reasons I decided to kill my best friend. The first one, because I hate you. The second, also because I hate you. The third one, because you are the worst friend I ever had. The fourth, you got everything I ever wanted. The fifth one, I just want you dead. The sixth reason is because I want your fighting qi."

"You monster, I can't believe you became a disciple of the Yin sect." Long Qiao coughed, holding his chest as blood flowed down his lips.

Ji Zhao shook his head as he sighed, "I'm not a disciple, infact, I'm one of the sect leaders."

"We were best friends Ji Zhao, we attended the same academy." Long Qiao struggled to get up.

Ji Zhao laughed as he kicked Long Qiao back down, "As I was saying, the seventh reason..." Ji Zhao frowned, "You stole Ahli from me!"

Long Qiao looked into Ji Zhao's eyes and all he could see was hatred and resentment, "Is this what this is all about?"

"I loved her you fool!" Ji Zhao roared. "I was a fool too. Sending you to gift her beautiful flowers in my name was a big mistake."

"Ahli was beautiful, kindhearted and loyal. The time I spent with her made me develop feelings I couldn't explain, I unknowingly fell in love with her. Ji Zhao, I'm sorry." Long Qiao apologized.

"Stop acting like you're the victim here!" Ji Zhao replied angrily before letting out a titter. "Well, technically, you're the victim now, but I was the victim then!"

...

The shadow figure did not slow down neither did the boy. Long Xue's speed was increasingly comparable to that of the shadow figure, and as expected, the two bashed into each other and were thrown backwards by the impact.

Long Xue looked at the shadow figure and smiled as he noticed that the figure was slowly evolving into a black fog. "Looks like you're dying, I think I should probably help you speed it up!"

Long Xue launched himself at the figure and landed a powerful kick on its chest. The figure screamed in agony as it scattered into the air. He felt satisfied as an evil smile formed on his face.

"I'm Long Xue! The Progeny of the Dragons! Nothing can stop me! Hahaha!" Long Xue shouted out as he beat his chest.

15 men, all dressed in black hooded robes appeared out of nowhere and began walking towards him. In their hands, were sickles and pitchforks. They radiated a massive amount of Yin that spelt death!

Seeing them, Long Xue's heart skipped a beat before he summoned enough courage and spoke, "What can you bastards do to me?"

They stopped as they glanced at one another. From the looks of it, they hated being dared. One of the men walked out of the group and raised his sickle and pitchfork into air.

"Aramoth!" The man roared, and the darkness around them seemed to converge into a beast. The beast comprised of wholly darkness and its size was thrice that of a regular man!

Fear gripped Long Xue as the eyes of the shadow beast fell on him.

I think I can take it.

Long Xue stood his ground as he glared at the beast. The beast was surprised that the little kid didn't run, after all, that's what any other kid would have done.

The beast glanced at its master before looking back at Long Xue.

In reality, Long Xue was actually very afraid, but he didn't want to show it. The beast sharpened its claws as it sprinted towards the boy and smashed him. Long Xue flew into the air, falling on the ground some few metres away from the beast.

"I was wrong, I can't take it!" Long Xue stood up and ran towards the forest, going back home was most likely suicide. The beasts seemed to be gaining on him and would have him in its paws anytime soon.

Long Xue's breathing increased tumultuously as the sound of his footsteps echoed through the streets.

He ran as fast as he could, not even stopping for a second. The forest was a better place to run because, unlike the market, it was much more narrow than broad.

His ears flickered as he heard the beast smashing into the trees of behind him, but, he dare not look back, for he had no idea what else could be following him.

...

"The maiden's fear decreased as she walked towards the pitchfork that laid on the ground.

The black hooded men became afraid, do you know why? It was because not just anyone could kill a member of the Order. Only those who had reached the highest points of cultivation stood a chance.

The only way to kill member of the Order was either to join the Yin sect or be the direct descendant of the Yin Emperor!

The girl glared at the men before saying these five words. 'So you can be killed.' It sounded like a question, but neither of the members could answer it. The helpless panting maiden had completely transformed into a fearless woman with an aura of darkness and evil.

If you thought she was innocent, then you probably shouldn't judge people too quickly.

As a matter of fact, this maiden was never helpless. She was the leader of a group of assassins called the Elimi. She was a vicious killer with a split personality! She had a good side and a bad side, and it looked like the Order had gotten on her bad side!