As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, herbalists and patrons hasten towards their accommodations, racing against the oncoming storm. Seeking refuge from the unexpected rain, they pour into their chosen places of comfort, breathing sighs of relief. The hustle and bustle of the Viridian Valley continues as usual beneath the protective shelter.
Restaurants in the towns and cities along the southern edge of the Viridian Valley, including Jing City, rally all hands to meet the demand for food from the unexpected influx of patrons. Inns and hotels deploy their best attendants, not to welcome guests but to gracefully turn them away. Shopkeepers hurry to present their finest products as they try to capitalize on the increasing foot traffic sheltering under their roofs.
Within an elegantly decorated establishment, the shopkeeper's face contorts as he deals with unwelcome guests inadvertently tracking water across the pristine tile floors. Although he had thoughts of expelling everyone from the premises and closing the doors, he refrains, understanding that such a discourteous act would tarnish the reputation of the Jin family's Golden brand.
"Customers are customers!" He declares, smoothing the wrinkles from his face, as he turns to his two assistants. "Attend to them as you would any patron of the Golden Treasures! I'll handle the mess as it happens."
Observing their father's fervent commitment to customer service since the unexpected meeting earlier in the day, his two helpers smile. They bow respectfully to him as he pats the dust from their clothes.
“Go, my beautiful daughters!” He turns back towards the crowd with a determined gaze. “Go represent our little Golden Tr- AHHHHHH!”
He screams upon seeing a patron elbow a glass display whilst trying to squeeze by the crowded space. As the display tips over the edge, he tosses the towel aside and bends his knees. Lifting his heels, he darts forth, weaving through the crowd. His daughters laugh as they watch their father blur towards the plummeting display.
“Saved!” He exclaims upon catching the display.
Straightening his legs, he carefully places the display back onto the shelf lining the wall. He opens his mouth, exhaling a warm breath onto the smudge left by his fingers before wiping it clean with his sleeve.
“Tsk! These people…” He mumbles as he flicks his arms back. His sleeves unfold behind him, revealing a pattern of four golden rings, all intertwined with one another. “No respect for something the Young Lady personally graced.”
Just as he finishes his little rant, he freezes in place as a sudden shift in the atmosphere sends a shiver down his spine. The hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and instinctively, his hand blurs to land flat on the wall beside him, quickly erecting a protective barrier around the shop. With the barrier in place, he whirls around to check on his daughters, hoping for some reaction to confirm his unsettling sensation.
However, neither of his daughters show any signs of distress. His gaze sweeps across the shop to determine if anyone else has felt the same spine-chilling presence. During this anxious moment, he locks eyes with a patron seeking shelter in the front corner of the shop. This patron, dressed in a green robe adorned with the markings of the Alchemist Association, cautiously reveals the handle of a blade from beneath his robe. His fingers wrap slowly around the hilt as he observes the shopkeeper intently.
The shopkeeper, seeing the blade, scrunches his brows as he reaches into a display lined with ornate hairpins.
“Girls…” He calls out to his daughters as he sweeps his palm across the display, picking up all the pins along the way. “Go to the backroom. Now.”
The Alchemist Association member, hearing the shopkeeper's order, lets out a breath of relief, loosening his grip on his weapon. He stands up and bows respectfully toward the shopkeeper with cupped hands. It becomes evident to the shopkeeper that there has been a misunderstanding. Just as he begins to relax his grip on the hairpins, a violent tremor interrupts the moment, causing him to tighten his grip once again.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Without hesitation, both men blur into motion, vanishing from their location and reappearing outside the shop. The rain pelts against their auras as they face northward, their attention directed toward the direction of the valley.
"Sir... What is th-"
“Young lad, lend me your blade.” The shopkeeper extends his hand towards the man.
Although it was more of a demand than a request, the Alchemist Association member doesn’t hesitate to unbuckle the sheath from his sash. Just as he hands his sword over to the shopkeeper, he senses something approaching rapidly from behind. The shopkeeper, also sensing the same thing, grasps the handle of the blade and whips his head towards the sky behind him.
“Lianyi…?” The Alchemist Association member mutters as he watches the white blur tear through the sky. Upon confirming the moon-white hair fluttering behind the figure, he stretches his arm in front of the shopkeeper. “It’s fine, sir. That's Yi Lianyi.”
“The White Lotus? Why would an Academy instruc-” The shopkeeper bites his tongue upon remembering something. He whips his head back towards the valley. “Young Lady!”
“Young lad, evacuate the building and lock the doors. Protect my girls.” Without a moment to waste, the shopkeeper bends his knees and turns to the sky. “This humble shopkeeper will owe you one.”
Without waiting for a response, the shopkeeper kicks off into the sky, blurring as he tears through the air towards the valley.
Simultaneously, across the entire southern edge of the valleys, numerous martial artists ascend into the sky. They gaze in the direction of the specific valley, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and concern. Most of them hesitate to get involved with whatever is unfolding inside, choosing to hover in place. But the undeniable allure of the mysterious pressure ultimately pushes them to blur their way toward the source.
As martial artists streak across the sky towards the impending danger, panic spreads among the people below. The earth's violent tremors prompt them to pour onto the streets, disregarding the torrential downpour. They clamor and push against one another in their frantic rush to escape the buildings, searching for safety in the midst of the turmoil.
Some martial artists, witnessing the unfolding chaos, abandon their initial curiosity and descend towards the frantic crowd. With their skills and abilities, they aim to assist the common people, doing their best to provide support and maintain order.
The martial artists who continue towards the valley begin to experience increased difficulties in maintaining their aura barriers. Upon reaching the entrance of the valley, many are forced to give up as their barriers shatter against the overwhelming pressure. The few who manage to push forward find themselves depleting their aura at a much faster rate than they had anticipated.
Amid this turmoil, Lianyi and another figure remain in flight just beyond the valley's entrance. Lianyi winces as blood drips from her nose, a testament to the intense pressure she's battling against. Sensing that the turbulent air is making it increasingly difficult to continue, she reluctantly descends towards the ground. Upon landing, she hastily wipes the blood from her nose with her sleeve. Before she can fully regain her bearings, a blinding flash of light erupts in the distance, forcing her to shield her eyes with her sleeve.
The brilliant light vanishes as quickly as it appeared, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Lianyi lowers her arm, a sense of impending doom taking hold of her. She stares past the torrential downpour, her eyes widening as she witnesses mud and debris racing skyward, hurtling toward her with destructive force.
“Sun…” She mutters as the destructive shockwave rushes towards her.
“Lady White Lotus!” An unfamiliar figure crashes into the ground beside her with extended arms. “Brace yourself!”
With the sudden arrival of the unknown man, Lianyi snaps out of her daze and extends both arms, their auras surging forth to form two dense barriers, just in time to protect them from the initial impact of the first shockwave. Blood pours from their noses as they struggle to maintain the barrier against each successive wave. Although they didn't block the shockwave with their bodies, their arms still tremble from the debilitating impact.
As the last shockwave passes, Lianyi collapses onto all fours, heaving for air. The man beside her withdraws his aura before dropping onto one knee. In the midst of trying to catch their breath, Lianyi and the man share a sense of dread as they lift their gaze towards the sky..
Amidst the deafening silence, they watch in disbelief as the clouds drift apart to reveal a sea of stars.
“The parting skies…” The man mutters as he gazes at the scene only described in old legends. “The Young Lady… in that- she…”
Lianyi notices the four golden circles on the man's sleeve, realizing why he's here. She quickly wipes the blood from her face and rises to her feet.
“Jin Maoyi is fine.”
As the downpour fades around them, Lianyi digs her toes into the damp soil, preparing to take flight once more. The man rises to his feet beside her, mirroring her actions.
“That sword-” Lianyi begins with a firm voice. “Do not draw it under any circumstances.”
With the warning issued, she kicks off into the sky.