Azure Echoes.

Chapter 10: The Gathering Storm

The journey from the Whispering Woods to the mountain town of Zhilan was quiet but intense, filled with an undercurrent of questions that neither Lian nor Zeng voiced aloud. They had spent days traversing rough terrain, yet despite his calm facade, Zeng's mind churned with thoughts about his family, his origins, and the powers of the Azure clan that pulsed under his skin. Lian, for his part, cast frequent sidelong glances at his companion, wrestling with his own secrets about the Black Veil.

The first flakes of snow were beginning to fall as they approached the borders of Zhilan. The town, nestled high in the mountains and famous for its mineral springs, seemed to glow under the light of the distant sun. The chill of the snow-covered peaks seeped into their clothes, but neither man seemed to mind. Their thoughts were far from the cold.

"We should get inside before the snow thickens," Lian suggested, nudging Zeng out of his reverie. "The townsfolk here are usually hospitable. Plus, I think my coin pouch needs a rest from your appetite."

Zeng raised an eyebrow. "You seem to enjoy the dramatics of poverty for someone who outbargains vendors."

"Survival skills," Lian replied with a wink, leading them to a modest inn at the edge of town.

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The next day dawned cold and gray, a fresh blanket of snow covering the streets. They met Xiu near a small shrine dedicated to a local deity. She wore a thick cloak, her eyes sharp with determination as she greeted them.

"I've found someone who might know more about the Black Veil's recent movements," she began without preamble, leading them deeper into the winding alleys. They followed her to a nondescript house on the edge of town, where an old herbalist sat before his wares. His face was weathered, his eyes shadowed with the weight of unspoken knowledge.

The herbalist gestured for them to sit, his gaze settling on Lian. "You walk the path of a physician," he said, his voice low and crackling. "But I see something darker in you."

Lian's fingers twitched, but he held the man's gaze. "And you seem to know more than just herbs."

The herbalist chuckled, a dark, knowing sound. "Perhaps we both understand poisons better than we'd like." His expression grew serious. "The Black Veil uses compounds known only to a select few, mixtures with roots that go back to darker traditions." He pointed a gnarled finger at Zeng. "And they've got their eye on anyone with an Azure mark."

Zeng tensed, glancing at Lian. "What do they want?"

"Power," the herbalist replied grimly. "The kind that no clan, no spirit should wield. They see the Azure clan's blood as the final piece in their plans to expand their reach. You, young man, are the last piece."

Lian looked at Zeng, his gaze steady but laced with worry. "So, they're hunting him down to exploit his powers."

Xiu clenched her fists, her voice low but fierce. "They shattered my world for their selfish experiments, dismantling lives and leaving me with nothing but a thirst for revenge."

The herbalist raised an eyebrow. "You have a good companion," he said to Zeng, glancing at Xiu, then back at Lian. "Both of you do."

Lian and Zeng exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. Their journey was becoming more than a quest for answers—it was a fight for survival and a confrontation with the shadows of their pasts.

As they left the herbalist's home, Zeng turned to Lian, his expression unreadable. "Seems we both have debts to settle with Black Veil."

Lian nodded, swallowing hard. He knew that, one way or another, their path would lead them straight into the heart of the Black Veil.