In the darkened room, illuminated by the fading lamplight and waning moonlight, a young man sat at his desk. His long and slim finger methodically tapped against the wooden desk as he reviewed the reports before him.
"Master Ziya." A soft voice whispered from outside. "It's Twelve. This servant has come back with news."
"Em. If you have more reports, send it in."
"Yes."
The wooden door slowly scraped open as a small, lithe figure dressed in black dashed in. Kneeling before him, the small servant awaited his orders.
"Speak, what do you have to present to me?"
The servant pulled out an envelope from their robes and bowed as they held it out before them. "Master Ziya, this small servant may have a lead as to where the one you are looking for is."
"Oh?" Cocking a brow, Master Ziya looked down at the plain envelope presented before him. "Bring it here."
Standing up, the servant walked over to hand the small envelope to him.
After taking hold of it, Master Ziya dismissed the servant. After bowing farewell, the small black figure vanished.
Cutting open the top of the slim envelope, the young man took out its contents.
"Oh?" Raising a brow at the letter's contents, a smile found its way on Master Ziya's face." Now, this could be useful."
The Summer Hunt.
An annual meeting of the greatest sects of the 'righteous path.'
Although, based on his knowledge, Master Ziya knew first hand that these cultivators were nothing more than selfish cultivators attempting to play gods with their claims of righteousness and skewed justice.
Claiming that their actions were for the "greater good" and the "will of heaven" as they slaughtered civilians like ants.
Nonetheless, this event has presented him with a rare opportunity that might prove itself to be very fruitful.
Since this year's Summer Hunt would be hosted in the Mystic Treasure Realm, a rare pocket of treasure that only revealed itself every one thousand years, it would be easier for him to cover up his tracks.
Because of the capacity limit that the realm reinforces, the only one's going on would be a certain number of disciples from each sect.
However, it was a little-known fact that these realms have a small backdoor that would allow someone to slip in and out during a specific window of time.
If he used his time efficiently, he might be able to finish his task much sooner than he predicted.
Recalling his master's letter motivated him to succeed in finding this elusive girl.
'Hmm, no matter, even if this girl is in the most bottomless pits of the underworld, I'll retrieve her for Master.
Even if it's the last thing, I do."
Although he had only been in the central valley for a few months, his spies had managed to gather up a decent amount of information, even if the majority of it seemed to be mere gossip.
Nonetheless, there must be some truth to its origins.
So far, his search for that 'golden girl' his master is searching for has come up rather… sparse. Even though he was able to get some lead when his spy reported her whereabouts, they soon lost her trail soon after.
'Either that girl is good at hiding her tracks, or she's just that unremarkable that she'd fall under the radar.
No, that can't be.
With someone of that pedigree, she can't be someone so simple.'
Even so, the fact that he still couldn't find her irked him. After all, she wasn't much different than him in terms of background and upbringing.
He, too, was an orphan who his family abandoned—forced to fend for himself before meeting his master and taken under her wing as her disciple. If it weren't for his master, then he would've met his end much sooner.
Now that his master was growing old and longing for her long lost child, naturally, it was his duty to fulfill his master's wishes to repay for all the things she's done for him.
Looking through the other leaflets of information, Master Ziya soon found the guest list of attendees.
The list listed off what he had more or less expected.
Elders from The Great Three Peaks and their disciples, some lonesome cultivation geniuses, and other small-time sects seeking to gain some notoriety for themselves.
Overall, it was an unimpressive bunch in his eyes. Just a bunch of arrogant tiny frogs within their little well, utterly ignorant to what laid outside their stone prison.
Never mind, that was something for him to know and for them to find out later.
Plus, it would be in his favor for these fools to continue to act oblivious to the world in this aspect.
It would make it all the more satisfying for him to watch when they become crushed by their own arrogation.
Thumbing through the rest of the list, a diminutive name caught his attention.
"Fei Fu Qu?"
Master Ziya was surprised to see the famous family name on the list of invites was an understatement.
Based on the information that his spies had given him, the Fei Family rarely attended grand gatherings like this and kept to themselves. They were closer to the mortal world versus that of the cultivation world.
Nonetheless, a member of that family suddenly had their name written on the guest list.
'Hmm, this seems something worth investigating.'
After all, for someone from a secluded family to suddenly attend such a rare event was unusual.
'Perhaps this person could be of use to me.'
Gaining a connection from a prominent family in the central valley could help speed up his search. In addition, grant him some more resources and human resources to do so.
Hours soon fluttered by as the first wisps of dawn caressed the scattered sheets of paper on his desk.
Rubbing his eyes, Master Ziya looked down at his plan of action that he meticulously formed throughout the night.
Stretching out his sore arms, he looked out the tattered window of his office to see the rising sun touch the sky.
"Sigh…
Oh, daughter of Zhu Feng, where could you be?"
---
"Sister Qu, are you going to attend the Summer Hunt?" A-Tong asked as she set down a bowl of medicine beside Fei Fu Qu.
"Em. This is probably the only opportunity that I might see her for a while.
However, I don't know if Xiao Ran would remember me even if she were to see me.
It has been some time after all, and you know how forgetful that girl can be." Ever since the day they've separated on that snowy winter day, Fei Fu Qu hadn't seen a glimpse of that young girl. She hadn't even been able to see Zhu Na Ran even in her dreams.
'No doubt, that b*tch, Ye Lian Hua must have something to do with this.'
Thinking of that evil woman who stole away her Xiao Ran, her hands started to crimp the edges of the invitation.
"Sister Qu, are you okay?" Voicing her concern, the young maid tried to soothe her furious master. "It's not to be so angry while you're in this condition.
Here, take your medicine. Don't be mad and think of that woman."
"You're right, A-Tong." Taking hold of the hot and bitter concoction, Fei Fu Qu winched in disgust as she took a whiff of the strong medicine. "I-I must be overthinking things…."
'There's no way that Xiao Ran could feel anything towards that b*tch, right?
No, impossible.'
Feeling reassured, in one gulp, Fei Fu Qu finished her bitter medicine before the familiar drowsiness started to come over her.
"A-Tong, help me to my bed. I'm going to rest for a bit."
"Em.
Sister Qu, grab hold of this servant's hand." Supporting Fei Fu Qu's swaying body, A-Tong walked her over to the canopy bed.
After fussing over her for a bit, Fei Fu Qu managed to convince the young girl that she was simply tired and nothing more.
"Have a good rest, Sister Qu.
Call for me if you need anything."
"Em. Thank you, A-Tong."
A-Tong bowed farewell before closing the door with a soft thud. Peace returned to the small room, leaving Fei Fu Qu alone with her thoughts.
Closing her eyes, Fei Fu Qu tried to rest; however, her curiosity left her restless.
'Xiao Ran would never fall for that woman, right?
She would never fall for anyone.
Not even me.'
Before she could reason with herself, Fei Fu Qu already started going through the motions of reaching out to her beloved.
The matter of dream walking was simple for Fei Fu Qu. It was a small trick that her master had taught her when they were still in this mortal realm.
It would allow its user to wander between the plains of one's consciousness and into the minds of others.
Although she couldn't tamper with the state of one's mind, she could listen in to their thoughts and reach out towards the other person for the briefest of moments.
Thinking of the one she wanted to see, a small smile found its way on Fei Fu Qu's face.
Calming down her giddy heart and mind, a sense of peace washed over her as she started to regulate her breathing to match each beat of her heart.
Opening her eyes, darkness became illuminated by the soft glow of water beneath her feet. The dark space around her gave no depth perception; however, the seas gave some hints of its unlimited distance.
Searching through the dark, Fei Fu Qu envisioned a doorway to bridge the gap between the mind of hers and Zhu Na Ran's.
Then out of the darkness, the shape of a round door appeared. Peering through the moon door, she could see her beloved sitting by herself as she looked at the night sky.
Smiling at the sight, Fei Fu Qu carefully slipped inside. Hiding behind the convenient foliage, she watched as Zhu Na Ran sighed, bored and seemingly waiting for someone.
Although it was presumptuous to think so, a small part of her hoped that the one that Zhu Na Ran was waiting for was indeed her.
Creeping behind the plants, Fu Fei Qu tried to reach out towards the girl, her arm outstretched for the one she had longed for days, months, and years.
She was so close, yet so far away from her reach.
"Junior Sister, what are you doing out here by yourself?"
Fei Fu Qu's hand froze midway as Zhu Na Ran turned around and gave the brightest smile she's ever seen. Running right through her, Fei Fu Qu's heart panged in pain as she watched her beloved run into someone else's arms.
"Senior Sister! I was waiting for you!"
'W-what?!' Fei Fu Qu's body started to tremble in fury and envy as she glared at her nemesis. Her hands began to bleed as her nails dug into her palm, forming deep red crescents. 'What is she doing here?!
Why is that b*tch, Ye Lian Hua, here?!'