The door to Tao’s quarters creaked open, the faint scent of stale air greeting him. He paused on the threshold, his gaze sweeping over the disarray that remained untouched since Wei’s attack. His belongings lay scattered, broken and tossed aside, as if mocking his absence. The remnants of the shattered Veil of Stillness Array flickered faintly in the corner; its power long since drained.
Tao stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The silence was heavy, pressing against his thoughts. With a resigned sigh, he began to tidy up, picking up broken items and placing them aside. As he worked, his mind turned to the mission. The elders’ words lingered: a chance for redemption, a chance to prove himself. But the Black Hollow Forest was no simple challenge.
A knock at the door broke his thoughts. Tao straightened, brushing the dust from his hands as he opened it. Jian stood on the other side, his usual smirk in place.
“Back in one piece, I see,” Jian said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. He glanced around at the mess. “Still haven’t cleaned up? You’re as messy as ever.”
Tao snorted. “Blame Wei for that.”
Jian’s expression sobered. “Speaking of Wei, you’ll be glad to know he’s gone into seclusion. Trying to break into the third level of Qi Condensation.”
Tao raised an eyebrow. “Seclusion, huh? That explains why I haven’t seen him lurking around.”
Jian leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “It won’t last forever. If he succeeds, he’ll be even more of a problem.”
Tao nodded, his thoughts turning grim. “I’ll deal with that when the time comes. Right now, I have this mission to focus on.”
At Jian’s prompting, Tao retrieved the jade slip the elders had given him. He placed it against his forehead, allowing the information to flow into his mind. The details of the mission unfolded: the location of the Obsidian Cloud Lotus, the dangers of the Black Hollow Forest, and a map marking the flower’s general location.
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“It’s not much to go on,” Tao muttered, lowering the slip “although the map shows that it’s not too far into the Black Hollow Forest.”
Jian raised an eyebrow. “A map is better than nothing. At least you won’t be wandering blind.”
Tao glanced at him. “You sound awfully invested.”
Jian shrugged. “That’s because I’m going with you.”
Tao blinked, caught off guard. “You don’t have to. This is my mission.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Jian said, his tone light but firm. “The Black Hollow Forest isn’t the kind of place you survive alone. Besides, the elders didn’t say you couldn’t have someone watching your back.”
For a moment, Tao didn’t respond. The idea of someone willingly putting themselves at risk for him was... unfamiliar. He cleared his throat. “Thanks, Jian.”
Jian waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t get sentimental on me. Just don’t slow me down.”
The two sat down and Tao tried to recreate the map on a scrap of parchment while they discussed the best approach. The journey would take several days, with dangerous terrain and potential spirit beast encounters.
“We’ll need to be ready for anything,” Jian said. “What techniques do you have?”
Tao frowned. “Not enough for something like this. I’ve been relying on the Raging Waves Sword Art and the Nurturing Cycle Root Technique, but neither will be enough if we’re ambushed or overwhelmed.”
Jian nodded thoughtfully. “Then you need more techniques. Restricted ones. You’ve got sect points, right?”
Tao hesitated. “I do, but I’ve never exchanged them for anything apart from herbs and plants.”
Jian rolled his eyes. “Of course you haven’t. Look, the Treasure Hall has everything you’ll need. Defensive charms, movement techniques, even items to counter spirit beasts. Use your points, Tao. No point hoarding them if you’re dead.”
Tao sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. I’ll go tomorrow.”
Jian grinned. “Good. And while you’re at it, grab something flashy for me.”
Tao snorted, the tension easing slightly. For the first time in days, he felt a glimmer of confidence. With Jian by his side and proper preparation, the mission didn’t seem as insurmountable as it had before.
As the evening wore on, the two continued to plan, their conversation drifting between strategies and light-hearted banter. But beneath the surface, both knew the stakes were high. The Black Hollow Forest was a place of danger, and the journey ahead would test them both in ways they couldn’t yet imagine.