“To this… opposing group.” Xia Sahui straightened, her demeanor shifting to an heir of a major family once more. “As a scion of the Xia, it’s my duty to lead them, is it not?”

  “No, it’s not? And your plan is what, exactly? To walk up to them and say, let me be your leader?" Lu er scoffed, leaning against the doorframe “And you think they’ll happily fall in line like obedient children?” The word hung in the air like a deliberate slur.

  Twilight bled through the broken window, painting his face the color of old bruises.

  “You haven’t seen anything yet, have you? Let’s go.” She turned on her heel, ignoring him, and strode from the room.

  The last rays of the sun bled across the horizon, painting the sky in hues of bruised purple and fiery orange. “It’s already going to be night soon,” he called after her, his voice laced with a lazy taunt. "What's the rush?"

  She didn't break her stride.

  He chuckled, pushing off the frame to follow. “Hah, walking out first when you don’t even know the path has got to be embarrassing.”

  He overtook her, his longer strides easily eating up the ground. The village fell away behind them, replaced by the skeletal remains of outlying farms. Soon, a formidable silhouette rose against the twilight sky: a great keep of weathered stone and dark timber. Scars of battle marred its fa?ade—gaping holes where catapult stones had struck, scorch marks that blackened the walls—but its foundation remained defiant, a testament to a bygone era's craftsmanship.

  “Wait here,” Lu Er said. “I’ll fetch someone to act as our guarantor. You need an insider to vouch for you to enter.” He quickly moved toward a nearby two-story building and slipped inside.

  A moment later, his voice echoed from within. "Cai Hong! I've brought her. Come on out!"

  After a tense silence, a figure emerged from a back room, his movements hesitant. "You're not planning anything foolish, are you?" Cai Hong's voice was a low rasp. "I'm warning you; I don’t play games with serious matters.”

  “Fellow brother, why so fearful?” Lu Er’s tone was all easy confidence. “You have better leverage here than I do. This is your chance to get close to a scion, and secure your future. All you must do is become her subordinate. Immediately, you’ll command respect from all those cannon fodder in the castle.

  Think on it. If she’s ever in a good mood, she might even grant you a reward.” He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. “Oh, and let’s not mention our earlier conversation in front of her. Understood? It’s better for both of us. Now, come. I'll introduce you."

  He gestured grandly and stepped back outside. Cai Hong followed, his footsteps heavy with suspicion, every instinct screaming that this smooth-talking 'brother' was a viper in the grass.

  Half a Day Earlier

  The main gate groaned shut behind Cai Hong, the sound of the heavy bar dropping into place a final, damning thud. He kicked at a loose stone, sending it skittering into the gloom.

  ‘Damn these power-tripping idiots,’ he seethed, brushing dirt from his tunic. ‘They deliberately sent me out, knowing how many have already died. Between the temple enemies and that monster slaughtering everything in sight! Ah, why is my luck always so abysmal?’

  He tidied his meager supplies with jerky movements, the weight of isolation settling on his shoulders.

  After a while of trudging down the barren path, he entered into the village which was the only place where he might find some allies. And soon enough, he spotted a figure—a young man walking with infuriating leisure, chewing on a strip of jerky. He was not from Hua Yong’s group, that much was clear at least.

  Cai Hong observed the carefree demeanor and felt a cold prickle of caution. In this accursed game where everyone is fighting for their future, someone who would walk that openly must have some trump card. This was not someone to provoke lightly.

  But his orders were clear: find allies. Returning empty-handed wasn’t an option. Surviving alone here was a special kind of hell.

  There were no locks, no safe havens. If someone found you sleeping, they’d kill you first and think about the conversations after. Everyone needed at least one fragment to qualify for the Awakening, and the desperation was a tangible stink in the air.

  Cai Hong, luckier than most, already possessed two fragments. If only he made it to the top fifty his future would be full of riches. The relative safety of the castle, watching the survivor numbers dwindle from behind its walls, had made him complacent. His ambitions had shrunk to mere sustenance and sleep.

  ‘Such a pity. If only that Hua Yong accepted more than ten people, I’d never have to deal with those idiots again.’

  Steeling himself, he hid behind the fractured wall of a derelict house and shouted, his voice too loud in the quiet. “You there! I’m not here to fight! I’m from the castle, and we’re recruiting. Are you interested?”

  Lu Er glanced toward the source of the voice.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “Of course,” he called back, his tone amiable. “We can talk. Let me come to you.”

  'He finally worked up the courage to ask me out. Huh? Wait— that sounds wron—'

  "No! Stay where you are!" Cai Hong yelped. "Don't come any closer!"

  “Huh? Then how are we supposed to converse? By shouting? Someone might hear us.”

  ‘He has a point. What do I do?’ Panic fluttered in Cai Hong’s chest. ‘I didn’t expect him to actually agree. A fight would have been much simpler. Why did father and mother not force me to learn how to talk to people? This is agonizing.’

  “Alright then,” Cai Hong said, forcing authority into his voice. “Put all your weapons in your bag. Hold it away from your body in one hand, and approach slowly.”

  “Do you take me for an idiot?” Lu Er retorted. “What if you kill me the moment I’m vulnerable?”

  “If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have shouted! I would have put an arrow through your throat from fifty paces instead of announcing myself. Think! Why would I bother talking?!” Cai Hong roared, frustration overriding his fear.

  “Oh… that makes sense,” Lu Er muttered, just loud enough to be heard. He began carefully placing his belongings into his pack.

  “Well? Are you coming or not?” Cai Hong barked.

  “Yes, yes…” Holding the bag out at arm’s length, Lu Er walked slowly toward the dilapidated house. The scent of old rot and damp earth grew stronger as he entered. He placed the bag on the floor with deliberate slowness.

  "A pleasure to meet you, fellow Unawakened. I am Lu Zhiheng. And you are...?"

  "Yeah, pleasure's all mine. I'm Cai Hong."

  “Haha! So, it’s Brother Cai Hong! It seems heaven has truly woven our fates together. Now, what did you wish to discuss regarding this castle?”

  ‘Is he… touched in the head? Why is he talking like a character from a bad opera?’ Nevertheless, Cai Hong proceeded. He spoke of the temple, the castle, the basic lay of the land and then described the monster that had appeared last night—a creature of shadow and screams—and the chaos that followed, claiming dozens of Unawakened lives.

  “So, basically, all the survivors in the area are gathered there. They want to attack the temple, but they’re helpless against a scion. That’s why I, and many others, were sent to gather allies. When the real fighting starts, it will be total chaos. The only way to win is through numbers, and even then, only if someone can take the brunt of the Hua family’s force. Otherwise, we can only watch them claim the prize.”

  “Mhm.” Lu Er nodded thoughtfully. “Well, then, you are in luck, brother. For I know someone who can most certainly withstand the brunt of the Hua family.”

  “What? Who else would dare offend them? Wait… is it someone from another major family?”

  “You are clever, brother. She is Xia Sahui, of the Xia family.”

  “What? You serve a scion? And from the Xia family, no less?” Cai Hong’s composure cracked. He’d never seen her, but he’d read the storybooks. The females of the major families were often portrayed as unparalleled beauties. He was, after all, still a teenager. The idea stirred something foolish and hopeful in his chest.

  He knew he had to seize this opportunity. But he also knew it could be a trap. There'd been many instances of temple Unawakened catfishing outsiders, then killing them in some corner.

  “If you are her subordinate, why are you not with her?” Cai Hong asked, suspicion narrowing his eyes.

  “She is recuperating after a fierce battle. I am merely running errands. Oh, did I mention she is also Ranked? You can come with me to meet her in person.”

  ‘A Ranked cultivator? Oh, heavens. Is fortune finally smiling upon me?’

  “Alright. I’ll believe you for now. But I won’t go with you. Tell her about the castle and bring her here. Then, we’ll go together.”

  “As you wish.”

  “But remember,” Cai Hong added sharply, “you’ll need an insider to vouch for you to enter the castle. Otherwise, you’ll be filled with arrows before you get within fifty paces of the gate.”

  Back to the Present

  Cai Hong followed Lu Zhiheng with lingering suspicion. After a few moments, he saw her.

  She stood there. Her beauty was a physical blow. There was a faint, haunting familiarity to her—something in her bearing echoed the instructor at the Grand Awakening Ceremony. Cai Hong’s youthful heart stuttered and then hammered against his ribs. The grim world seemed to soften at its edges; for a dizzying second, he imagined the scent of blooming flowers instead of dust and decay. It was a devastating, instant infatuation.

  He didn’t question her identity. The aura of quiet, formidable grace that surrounded her was proof enough.

  “Mhm.” She gave a slight, indifferent nod and turned her gaze to Lu Zhiheng. “So, this is your recommender? If so, can we proceed?” Her tone was flat, devoid of warmth.

  Cai Hong felt a slight frown crease his brow at her dismissiveness.

  “Oh hoh! Why always in such a hurry?” Lu Er chided playfully. “You didn’t even properly greet brother Cai properly. A leader must show compassion, you know. He will be of great help in the future.”

  Hearing this, Cai Hong’s eyes brightened. He looked at Lu Zhiheng in a new, grateful light.

  ‘Lu Zhiheng, you are truly a brother to me. Well done.’

  He quickly shifted into a professional demeanor. “Please, do not trouble yourself, my lady. Simply follow me. I will ensure your entry.” He moved to the front, leading the way.

  The walk to the castle gates was a short journey through an awkward, torturous silence, broken by the crunch of gravel underfoot and the distant cry of a night bird.

  ‘Come to think of it I have not seen any animal ever since the game started where is this bird sound coming from?’ Lu Er thought to himself as he walked closer to the castle.

  They halted a good distance from the heavy doors while Cai Hong conversed with the Unawakened acting as a guard peering from the battlements.

  The discussion was initially calm, but then the guards tensed, throwing several sharp, appraising glances toward Xia Sahui. News of her identity had clearly reached them.

  Cai Hong returned; the formalities complete. “This way. It’s settled.”

  They finally crossed the threshold smoothly.

  The castle’s interior was vaguely reminiscent of the Grand Awakening Hall, but on a smaller, dingier scale—three floors of cold stone. The air inside was thick with the smell of smoke from a central fire pit, and a pervasive sense of tense anticipation.

  The first floor was a crowded hive. By rough estimate, twenty Unawakened milled about, their conversations a low, anxious hum. The second floor, visible via a broad staircase, was clearly reserved for those with power.

  The third floor was partially collapsed, its remaining sections used as lookout posts; they could easily make out the silhouettes of a few archers against the darkening sky.

  Without hesitation, Xia Sahui moved through the throng, her presence causing a ripple of silence in her wake. She ascended the stairs to the second floor and strode directly toward a single, guarded door—the only private room on the level.

  A young man stationed as a guard stepped forward, holding up a hand. “Hey-hey! miss. You can’t go in there. This is the main council room. Please return to the ground floor.” His advice was polite but firm.

  Before Xia Sahui could react, Lu Er surged forward, “WHAT?! How dare you deny entry to our young lady! Do you not know who this is? This is Xia Sahui of the Xia Family! An honorable Ranked cultivator! You are courting death, you peasant!”

  His shout cascaded down to the first floor, causing noises and gasps. It also penetrated the sealed doors of the council room, from which a sudden cacophony of startled voices now erupted.

  The youth paled. “Gasp! The Xia family! A Ranked cultivator! I-I beg your pardon, Young Lady! I didn’t know!”

  “Now, kowtow five hundred thousand times to beg for her forgiveness,” Lu Er demanded, “lest you die without even knowing how—”

  “Enough!” Xia Sahui’s voice cut through the air like a whip crack. She turned on Lu Er, her jaw clenched, one fist tightening at her side as if physically restraining herself from striking him. “There is no need for that. And you, Lu Zhiheng—shut up. If you speak one more word, I promise you will regret it.”