BOOK 10. There are two tales at the beginning. Zhao Yunlan is searching for a lost artefact while Black Robe is searching for the same thing in a different world. One story is partly an illusion, while the other is very real and when they merge...
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The royal guards were shocked beyond belief when their leader was revealed to be one of Zhu Jiu's employees and was never recruited as one of them. They had followed him loyally believing in what they were doing, when all along he was reporting the names of the people who had been saved and where they were being kept. The second in command took over as their new leader while the guard who had recognised the prince first, was given the chance to fill the empty space in Wei's loyal group.
Yunlan was becoming increasingly more tired by the minute and was fighting to stay awake while he watched the royals organising themselves, but what he really wanted to do was lie down, unlike Wei who had slept through everything and was now full of energy. He was aware of the new guard and spoke to him on his own before they went home.
"What do we call you? What's your name?" he asked as he stared at him.
"Xin, My Lord. How many guards are there in your world?" Xin asked nervously, he had to learn how to adjust to a new group of fighters he'd never met with a reputation of being the best in their field, yes he was terrified at how they would react to him.
"Including you, six. You will find it completely different to your role here and you'll take your orders from my lead guard Guo Ying, he will help increase your skills. Do not be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand anything."
Shen Wei had to address the royal guard one more time before he left this world.
"Guards ... I would like to impress on you the need to protect the people because that is your main task in life. Trust your new leader because I do, and he will show you how to regain your lost reputation ... I will help rid this world of the madman who rules, I promise you."
The royal guard knelt in respect and then left the cave. It would be safer for them outside rather than risk being caught in the surge of power. Before Shen Wei attempted to open a gateway, Yunlan called the new guard closer.
"Give me your hand because we're not quite sure how this works," he said to Guard Xin who suddenly looked ill.
"Ah.Lan stop teasing him, you'll scare him away before he starts, here hold my hand and we'll try this," Wei said as he gripped Yunlan's hand.
Wei spun the orb and he saw the face inside as usual but nothing else happened, and he stared at it, feeling lost at what he was supposed to do next.
"You must have done something else the last time Xiao Wei, let me see this thing," and Yunlan took the orb to study it.
He was very tired and struggling to keep his eyes open, while becoming impatient as he spun the orb. He saw an image of his own face before a strong glow instantly radiated from it, and he quickly grabbed Wei with his free hand, while Wei clutched the new guard's wrist. The dazzling burst of light was blinding, and as bright as a small sun for a second, before it went out, and they were plunged back into the darkness of the cave. They couldn't see until their sight had readjusted back to normal.
