Hidden Plots within Moonlit Bonds

As Xing Ziao ventured deeper into the forest, the moonlight bathed the surroundings in an ethereal glow. The trees loomed tall and ancient, their branches swaying gently in the cool breeze.

Suddenly, a figure came into view—a man about the same age as Xing Ziao, with midnight hair and locks of hair that seemed to emit a faint minty glow. The man held a talisman delicately between his fingers, his eyes closed in deep concentration as he murmured something inaudible.

Under the moonlit night, the talisman suddenly burst into flames, startling the man. "Why can't I find him!?" he exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.

Xing Ziao, who had been observing from a distance, cautiously approached. "Are you looking for someone as well?" he asked, revealing his presence to the midnight-haired man.

Startled, the man turned to face Xing Ziao. His eyes widened with surprise, but he quickly composed himself. "Yes," he admitted, a hint of hesitation in his tone. "I am searching for someone —my younger brother. He disappeared not long ago, and I fear he might be in danger."

Hearing the man's words struck a chord within Xing Ziao's heart. "My brother is missing too," he replied, his voice filled with concern. "His name is Kuai, and he has silvery-white hair."

"Oh, that must be the young fellow my younger brother spoke of," the midnight-haired man said, his eyes thoughtful.

"Your brother spoke of him?" Xing Ziao asked, hope flickering in his eyes. "He must have known where my brother is."

The midnight-haired man nodded, his mint-green locks softly glowing under the moonlight. "Yes, my brother mentioned him briefly during our last conversation."

Curiosity piqued, Xing Ziao couldn't help but ask, "Are you a cultivator? That talisman and the glowing locks earlier... they seemed extraordinary."

A brief hesitation flickered in Wen Di's eyes, but he managed to maintain his composure. "Yes, I am a cultivator," he replied

"I forgot to introduce myself," Xing Ziao said, feeling a sense of camaraderie forming between them. "I am Xing Ziao, by the way. And you are?"

A warm smile touched Wen Di's lips, and as he spoke Xing Ziao's name, there was a faint tint of longing in his voice. "I am Wen Di," he replied. "A pleasure to meet you…once again"

Xing Ziao, captivated by the softness in Wen Di's voice, couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue. "I apologize," he said, tilting his head slightly. "I didn't quite catch the last part of what you said. Could you repeat it?"

Wen Di's expression remained gentle, but he brushed off Xing Ziao's question with a small wave of his hand. "Oh, it was nothing," he replied, feigning nonchalance. "Just a figure of speech, nothing more."

Though Xing Ziao sensed there was something more to Wen Di's words, he didn't press further, respecting his companion's choice to keep certain feelings hidden. He then decided to ask something else.

"Since you are a cultivator, it is possible for you to find them using your prowess, right?" Xing Ziao asked with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Wen Di's expression turned solemn as he nodded. "Yes, I possess certain abilities that could aid me in locating my brother," he replied. "However, something is blocking me from tracking him. Whenever I use my talisman, it always burns into flames"

'and I can't sense him through the air or the wind, which means they are in a secluded place.' Wen Di secretly thought, purposely not adding it in his explanation.

Xing Ziao's concern deepened upon hearing this. "It is possible that someone is interfering with your abilities,"

Wen Di frowned, "Indeed," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "I've never encountered such an obstacle before."

"Then how about we both help out each other?" Xing Ziao suggested, "Two heads are better than one,"

Wen Di's eyes softened, appreciating Xing Ziao's offer of help. "You are right," he said. "we might have a better chance of finding them immediately."

And so, they continued walking deeper into the woods, and the moonlight illuminated the path before them like a guiding light.

-

[Back in the Cell]

"I'm hungry…aren't you hungry?" Kuai spoke, breaking the silence that enveloped them.

"No," the ruby-eyed man replied nonchalantly, but as if in response to his words, his stomach suddenly grumbled loudly.

Kuai couldn't help but smile, amusement dancing in his eyes. "It's not that embarrassing to tell the truth, you know," he teased.

The ruby-eyed man rolled his eyes in mock annoyance before standing up and approaching the cell's bars. He peered outside, his gaze falling upon a series of strange talismans sticking to the walls. "I am hungry…" he murmured quietly to himself, hoping Kuai wouldn't hear, but unfortunately, Kuai caught his words.

With a grin, Kuai stood up beside the ruby-eyed young man, curious about the talismans outside. "Do you know what kind of talismans those are?" he asked.

The ruby-eyed man nodded knowingly. "They are dark talismans," he explained. "Their purpose is to block any tracking abilities from outside the cell. Whoever put us here wanted to ensure that we remain hidden from anyone trying to find us."

Kuai's eyes widened in realization. "that explains why no one had found us,"

"Exactly," the ruby-eyed man confirmed. "It seems we are dealing with someone who wants us to be locked up until our last breath."

"But who would want to keep us hidden?" Kuai wondered aloud

"I saw you fighting with some participants, hours ago," the ruby-eyed man said, his tone serious.

Kuai's face furrowed with concern. "If it were really them, then why would you be in here?" he asked, puzzled by the situation.

"That is what made me confused…I don't think anyone would even know me," the ruby-eyed man replied, his brow furrowing in thought.

Curiosity piqued, Kuai wanted to understand more about the young man's background. "Who are you then, and how did you end up in Jianghu?" he inquired.

The ruby-eyed man took a moment before speaking, as if contemplating whether to reveal parts of his past. "Since childhood, I've been stuck on a secluded mountain," he began. "It was my home, and I rarely encountered anyone outside of it. But last week, for some reason, we decided to venture to Jianghu and stayed in one of the houses hidden within the forest."

Kuai's eyes widened in surprise. "So, you're saying that you only arrived in Jianghu recently? It doesn't make sense for you to have enemies then," he remarked.

The ruby-eyed man nodded. "I have never left that mountain until now. This is the first time I've ventured beyond its boundaries, and I can't fathom why someone would target me."

Kuai could sense the sincerity in the ruby-eyed man's voice, and he believed his words.

"We haven't really introduced ourselves properly," Kuai spoke, offering a small smile. "I am Xing Kuai."

The ruby-eyed man, now known as Ling Dou, turned to face him. "Ling Dou," he spoke.