On the Zunzon Road
The night was deep, and the Zunzon Road was eerily quiet, shrouded in darkness and stillness. Three carriages hurtled down the road, their wheels clattering against the rough, uneven surface. The air was thick with tension, as the Blazing Dawn Sect guards, riding alongside the carriages, were on high alert. Each guard was using their Qi detection constantly, scanning the surroundings for any signs of abnormality or threat.
Lian Hua, Edina’s personal maid, sat inside the imperial carriage, her eyes darting around vigilantly. Seated next to her was Jinhai, the imperial guard assigned to protect Princess Huangshu. The memory of the last abduction was fresh in her mind. On that fateful night, all the guards had succumbed to some sort of poisonous scent, rendering them unconscious and allowing the abductors to snatch the young mistresses and masters without resistance. This time, Lian Hua was determined not to let history repeat itself.
The road ahead was cloaked in darkness, the only illumination coming from the lanterns hanging on the carriages. Shadows danced in the flickering light, creating an ominous atmosphere. The guards were spread out, forming a protective barrier around the carriages, their senses heightened to detect even the slightest disturbance.
Inside the imperial carriage, Lian Hua’s heart raced as she scanned the surroundings through the window. The weight of responsibility was heavy on her shoulders. She knew that any lapse in vigilance could lead to another disaster. She clenched her fists, her resolve strengthening with each passing moment.
Jinhai, sensing her tension, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Stay calm, Lian Hua,” he said in a low, steady voice. “I am here this time, I won’t let anything happen to her highness or Young Mistress this time.”
Lian Hua nodded, grateful for his support. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. The memory of the last abduction haunted her, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the present. She couldn’t afford to be distracted by the past. Her duty was to protect Edina at any cost.
The carriages continued their journey, the sound of hooves and wheels creating a rhythmic pattern. The guards moved with precision, their eyes scanning every shadow, every rustle of leaves. They knew the dangers that lurked in the dark, and they were prepared to face them.
As they neared a particularly dense section of the forest, Lian Hua’s senses heightened. She could feel the presence of something unusual, a faint disturbance in the air. She exchanged a glance with Jinhai, who nodded, indicating that he felt it too. They signaled to the guards, who tightened their formation, ready to react at a moment’s notice.
The carriages slowed down, the guards moving closer to form a tighter protective circle. The air was thick with tension, every rustle and creak amplified in the silence of the night. Lian Hua’s heart pounded in her chest as she prepared for whatever might come. She knew that this time, they were ready. This time, they wouldn’t be caught off guard.
The forest seemed to close in around them, the darkness becoming almost palpable. But Lian Hua remained vigilant, her eyes sharp and her senses alert. She was determined to protect Edina and Princess Huangshu, no matter the cost. And with the guards on high alert, she knew they had a fighting chance against any threat that might come their way.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
However, the presence suddenly vanished as if into thin air. Jinhai went deep into thought, trying to understand what he had just felt. The energy emanating from the presence was quite odd, unlike any Qi he had encountered from a martial artist. It felt refined, different. Then it hit him—Mana! This was the energy used in the battle arts of the western continent, known as magic.
He had only felt this type of energy once before, years ago, when Edina’s parents visited the imperial family. He had accompanied Princess Huangshu to that meeting, where he encountered Elara, Edina’s mother, a renowned master in the magical arts of the western continent. This realization made him even more alert. Now he understood how the young generation of the Blazing Dawn Sect was kidnapped without the guards knowing how. They had described a poisonous scent that put them to sleep, but he had never fully believed that explanation. Now it made sense.
If those figures were really mages, they could have put the guards to sleep with a magic spell.
The realization sent a chill down his spine. Jinhai signaled to the other guards to heighten their vigilance. "We might be dealing with mages," he whispered to Lian Hua, his voice barely audible but filled with urgency.
Lian Hua's eyes widened, and she gripped her weapon tighter. "Mages? Are you sure?" she asked, her voice tense.
Jinhai nodded. "The energy I felt was Mana. It’s the same type of energy used by Edina’s mother. We need to be on our guard. They could strike at any moment."
The forest around them seemed to grow darker, the silence more oppressive. The guards tightened their formation around the carriages, their senses on high alert. The thought of facing mages was daunting. Their abilities were unlike anything martial artists could counter directly. The guards had to rely on their training and vigilance to protect their charges.
The carriages moved slowly through the dense forest, the lanterns casting eerie shadows on the trees. Every rustle, every movement in the darkness was scrutinized by the guards. Lian Hua’s heart raced as she scanned the surroundings, her mind racing with possibilities. She couldn’t let her guard down, not for a second.
As they continued, Jinhai couldn’t shake the feeling of impending danger. He knew that if the mages attacked, it would be swift and decisive. He had to be ready for anything. "Stay close," he instructed Lian Hua. "We can’t afford to be separated if something happens."
Lian Hua nodded, her determination unwavering. She was prepared to face any threat to protect Edina and Princess Huangshu. The memory of the last abduction haunted her, but it also fueled her resolve. This time, she wouldn’t fail.
The night wore on, and the tension was palpable. The guards remained vigilant, their eyes and ears tuned to the slightest sign of danger. Jinhai kept his focus sharp, his mind constantly analyzing the situation. He knew they were in for a challenging journey, but he was determined to see it through.
For now, the road ahead was quiet, but the presence of mages meant that danger was never far away. Jinhai and Lian Hua steeled themselves for whatever lay ahead, ready to protect their charges at all costs. The safety of Edina and Princess Huangshu depended on their vigilance and bravery, and they were prepared to face whatever came their way.
At the same time, somewhere in the forest near Zunzon Road,
five individuals dressed entirely in black were hiding behind a large tree, trying their best to conceal their presence. One of them spoke in a language entirely different from anything spoken in the Eastern Continent, with intonations unlike even Leonese.
“We didn’t know an imperial escort was passing through here today! What do we do? The martial master in the carriage definitely sensed our presence!” the first figure whispered urgently.
Another figure responded, “We might be able to take them easily, but our mission is to clean up any evidence linking to the Shining Blade Sect and then get back. Confronting them is not our goal.”
These were mages from the Hilosia Kingdom of the Western Continent. They had been sent to clean up after the failed mission by the Shining Blade Sect but had unexpectedly encountered the imperial carriage, with a martial master who noticed their presence. This had become a problem, as it could lead to evidence that an organized group was responsible for the abduction of the young masters and mistresses of the Blazing Dawn Sect, something the mages did not want.
“Let’s get out of here before they come looking for us,” the leader of the group said. While it would have been easy to kill everyone in the carriages and their guards, it was more likely that the carriage carried an important figure. Their death would trigger a large-scale investigation, which was the last thing they wanted.
The fact that Hilosia had a secret organization operating in the Eastern Continent, or that they had ties with the Shining Blade Sect, was not information they wanted revealed to the imperial government of the Central Plains.