The two figures moved with frantic urgency, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they sprinted towards the dock. The moonlight glinted off the water, casting eerie shadows that danced with their every step. The sound of their hurried footsteps echoed in the night, mingling with the gentle lapping of the waves against the dock.

As they neared the edge of the dock, a voice cut through the air with a calm, almost serene tone. “Where are you two going, eh?”

The voice seemed to freeze time itself, and both individuals came to an abrupt halt, their bodies tense and unmoving. The shadows shifted, and the figure of a man emerged from the darkness, his presence exuding an unsettling calm.

“Y'know, I was there listening to the entire conversation,” the man said, his voice smooth and untroubled.

One of the two, their voice trembling, managed to stammer, “Who are you?”

Before the words could fully leave their mouth, there was a sudden, explosive sound—BOOM!

The speaker’s head burst apart in a gory spray of blood and brain matter. The remaining individual stood frozen in shock and fear, their eyes wide with horror as the brutal act played out before them.

The man, seemingly unfazed by the violence, approached the remaining figure with a menacing calm. “You were saying?”

The remaining figure, paralyzed with terror, could only stare in wide-eyed disbelief. The man’s gaze was cold and unyielding as he continued to advance.

“Haha! I knew this trick would work just fine!” The man chuckled softly, his demeanour as composed as ever. “Now tell me, where is Jigme Perma?”

The remaining individual remained silent, their fear rendering them mute.

“Alright, you’ve forced me,” the man said with a shrug. Without further warning, he inserted a finger into the individual's skull, eliciting a pained groan from the victim. The man’s touch was precise, his intent clear.

“Ah, you’ve already transported him to ‘that’ place, eh? Nice, I suppose. But unfortunately, that won’t work. I’ll drag that child out and devour his being just like that Xiao Kang of your people.”

The individual’s eyes widened in shock at the revelation.

“Oh! You didn’t know?” the man said, his tone almost sympathetic. “Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but he has fallen, just like The Empire will, Lobsong.” Xia Longwei whispered into the individual’s ear with a chilling finality.

With a sudden, brutal twist, Xia Longwei snapped Lobsong’s head around 180 degrees with a sickening

CRACK!

The lifeless body slumped to the ground, and Xia Longwei stood over it, his expression one of cold disdain. “Weak,” he murmured before vanishing into the darkness, his form melding with the shadows as silently as he had arrived.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

The next morning, the discovery of the bodies was met with a chilling revelation. As the sun’s first light illuminated the dock, the gruesome scene came into view. The bodies of the two individuals lay sprawled on the wooden planks, their lifeless forms twisted grotesquely. The sight was a stark contrast to the peaceful morning, casting an unsettling shadow over the dawn.

Both bodies had been subjected to a brutal end, their faces twisted in expressions of terror and shock so extreme that the features had partially melted away. The heat from the explosion and the force of the violence had disfigured them beyond recognition, leaving only vague, contorted silhouettes where their identities once were.

The local authorities, summoned by the early-morning fishermen who stumbled upon the grisly scene, were at a loss. They carefully examined the remains, but the damage was so severe that determining their identities proved impossible. The melted expressions were a grotesque testament to the brutality of their end, leaving little to go on except for the remains themselves.

Rumours quickly spread through the city fueled by the morning’s discovery. Whispers of foul play and mysterious attackers began to circulate, but with no clear answers or identifiable clues, the true nature of the incident remained shrouded in mystery.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Ling Xuan awoke, the gentle rocking of the ship had ceased. The soft hum of activity on deck signalled that they had arrived. He stretched and yawned, noting that the ship had docked at a bustling port on Dewa Ling. The islands in the Archipelago were known for their close proximity, with journeys rarely extending beyond a day. Ling Xuan's trip had taken just seven hours, a relatively short voyage compared to others he had experienced.

Stepping off the ship, he inhaled the salty sea breeze, feeling a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. The port was alive with the sounds of vendors calling out their wares and the distant chatter of travellers. The atmosphere was vibrant yet unfamiliar, adding to Ling Xuan's sense of being an outsider.

He glanced around, noting the lack of any clear direction or instructions. “I’m moving everywhere these days,” Ling Xuan muttered with a sigh. His thoughts wandered to Feng Mui, the matchmaker who had provided the enigmatic tickets to this island. “These are the times that I wish Feng Mui was here,” he added with a wry smile, imagining how much easier it would be if he had some guidance.

Ling Xuan found a modest eatery nearby and settled in for breakfast. He ordered egg curry and flatbread, savouring the simple but hearty meal. As he ate, he considered his next steps.

As Ling Xuan chewed thoughtfully, he suddenly remembered the book Feng Mui had given him. With a surge of excitement, he fumbled through the pages, carefully avoiding smudging his hands with curry. His eyes darted to the “Search for Amrita'' chapter, and he felt a curious sensation as he noticed an unusual object jutting out from the book.

“What’s this?” Ling Xuan mused, setting aside his plate. He carefully pulled out the object and discovered it was a newly drawn map, intricately detailed and marked with annotations.

The top of the map bore a note scrawled in elegant script:

I knew you would have trouble—Feng Mui

Below the note, the map was annotated with:

Amrita’s Location and Instructions on How to Obtain

Ling Xuan’s heart raced as he scanned the map. The realisation hit him like a thunderclap—he had in his possession the very guide to the elixir that had eluded countless alchemists, explorers, and The Damn Empire itself!

“Unbelievable,” Ling Xuan muttered, nearly choking on his food. His hands trembled slightly as he unfolded the map fully, revealing intricate details of Dewa Ling’s terrain.

Ling Xuan quickly gobbled up the food and left the restaurant after paying the required sum. He could barely contain his excitement as he raced towards the location marked on the map. His anticipation built with each step, the promise of discovering Amrita fueling his determination.

—------------------------------------------------------------

“What the hell is this!” Ling Xuan exclaimed, his voice echoing slightly over the still waters. His frustration was palpable as he took in the sight before him.

Indeed,the place he was at was a lake!