~~~

It is late at night when Liu Jin visits the top of the palace. Firm Shadow is standing there with his back to him. The visitor from the other side stares into the distance, not acknowledging his presence.

“You are a very hard person to find,” Liu Jin says.

“That usually means one does not wish to be found, friend,” Firm Shadow replies.

Liu Jin fights back a smile. Saying Firm Shadow and Alarming Shadow do not wish to be found is putting it mildly. The disciples of the Temple of the Thousand Shadows are nearly impossible to locate unless an important meeting is taking place, and even when they do attend the meetings, their participation leaves much to be desired.

“If you did not wish for me to find you, I would not have been able to,” Liu Jin points out.

“On the contrary, had I not made myself available like this, you would have eventually summoned me,” Firm Shadow says. “Great as our skills are, they are no match for the power of the Storm Dragon.”

“I would not have done that,” Liu Jin says, shaking his head. “The power of the Storm Dragon is not subtle. You would have been perceived as answering the summons of the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire. That would have been inconvenient for you, wouldn’t it?”

The Death Fashioning Scripture and the Peerless Heavenly Sword Peak might no longer care about the rule that forbids interaction with the other side of the Dead Plains, but the Temple of the Thousand Shadows does. This has placed the two disciples in a troublesome situation. They do not want to be perceived as being in open collaboration with the Storm Dragon Empire, yet they feel compelled to remain here for one single reason.

“You are far too considerate,” Firm Shadow says. “If not for the Heart, we’d have already left.”

“I am surprised at least one of you hasn’t by now,” Liu Jin replies, crossing his arms. “Surely, explaining the situation in person would be better than sending messages.”

Firm Shadow smiles mirthlessly. “Alarming Shadow would make a poor messenger and a worse guest. We are meant to work as a pair for a reason. However, you are right about one thing. It is not a coincidence that you found me alone tonight. Alarming Shadow… he would not approve of this. Ask your questions, young Emperor. There is not much I can answer, but I’ll do my best in light of the affronts your country has suffered because of us.”

Liu Jin knows Firm Shadow means well, but it is the exact attitude he is displaying right now that annoys so many of his soldiers. Firm Shadow makes this side of the Dead Plains seem helpless, nothing more than a group of children subject to the whims of the other side. It is arrogant.

It is also correct.

“It was not you, but the Death Fashioning Scripture and the Peerless Heavenly Sword Peak that damaged my country,” Liu Jin says. “However, so long as you are willing to offer it, I will take advantage of your kindness.”

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Firm Shadow offers him a short bow. “Please do.”

“The one being held captive by Bright Sword said something that caught my interest. He said Bright Sword claimed that he was keeping him captive for the preservation of humanity. Outlandish as it sounds, it reminded me of something,” Liu Jin says. “Bright Sword claimed to have something like a disciple once. Xiao Nan probably won’t ever call himself that, but it is undeniable that his cultivation increased due to Bright Sword’s sword meddling. Why would Bright Sword do that?”

Firm Shadow presses his lips so tightly against each other that they become completely white.

“Friend, why must you ask me the most troubling question first,” Firm Shadow says.

“You do not have to answer.”

Firm Shadow shakes his head. “No, that would be an insult too many. The truth is I have been thinking about this for a while. Why is the Peerless Heavenly Sword Peak acting like this? Unfortunately, all the answers I can think of are too worrying to share with someone from this side of the Dead Plains.”

Firm Shadow looks up.

“I am going to think out loud,” he says. “Everything I am going to say is mere conjecture, but I would very much appreciate it if you left. However, as this is your property, I cannot force you to do so. Anything you happen to overhear from this point on is regrettable and unavoidable.”

Five seconds pass. Neither Liu Jin nor Firm Shadow moves a muscle.

“Inheritances are undeniably attractive to us, but that alone does not explain what happened here,” Firm Shadow says. “Great as the Heart is, we already control all the Inheritances on our side. To have done so much here because of it... I am forced to consider another possibility.”

Firm Shadow pauses for a moment. Perhaps to choose his words. Perhaps to gather courage. Regardless, Liu Jin feels something heavy settle on his shoulders.

“The barrier that separates our continent from the rest of the world needs to be renewed every other century,” Firm Shadow says. “This information is important enough that it is known by high-ranking people from this side of the Dead Plains. Should the ceremony fail, the barrier will fall, and humanity will once more find itself at the mercy of demons.”

Liu Jin has known about the barrier since he was a child, but the idea of it breaking had never once occurred to him. It seems so silly now.

There is no such thing as a wall that cannot crumble.

“It would not happen immediately. However, war is inevitable when different sides encounter each other. That is why we focus so much on raising powerful cultivators. Bright Sword might have been speaking about that. However, that Bright Sword decided to raise someone from this side indicates a great sense of urgency. Perhaps the Peerlessly Heavenly Sword Peak knows something we do not.”

Oh.

“To renew the barrier, those who have the blood of the One Hundred and Eight are essential,” Firm Shadow continues. “This information is particularly relevant to the young Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire. Some of the people around him already know this, but the Qing Family can trace their bloodline to one of the One Hundred and Eight. Thus, the Emperor’s safety and that of his two remaining family members is essential. We have lost enough bloodlines already. There is no need to add to their number.”

Liu Jin nods wordlessly.

“Additionally, I feel the need to remark to myself and no one else that I find the Emperor’s ability to manipulate the arts of the Death Fashioning Scripture to be quite troubling,” Firm Shadow says, rubbing his chin. “No healer, no matter how skilled, should be capable of something like that. It would be wise of the Emperor to keep that a secret from the Death Fashioning Scripture. Should that become known by them, the young Emperor's future could become even more troubling than it looks right now.”

Liu Jin suddenly wishes he hadn’t overheard anything.

~~~