Azure Echoes.

Chapter 11: Shadows and Revelations

The days in Zhilan passed quietly, with Zeng and Lian keeping a low profile. The mountain air grew colder, though inside their inn room, a strange warmth seemed to linger between them. In the evenings, they poured over information gathered from locals about the Black Veil's recent activities.

One late evening, after Xiu had returned from her rounds of gathering intel, she relayed grim news. "The Black Veil has agents crawling over this region," she said, her green eyes steely. "They're looking for something—or someone."

"Let's assume they're looking for us," Lian replied, leaning back against the wall with a casualness that belied his tension. "They're bound to catch wind of an Azure descendant, especially one who isn't exactly... subtle." He gave Zeng a pointed look.

Zeng, ever proud, straightened his shoulders. "I'd say my approach is assertive, not unsubtle."

Lian grinned. "Oh, yes, that's much less conspicuous."

Despite the banter, Zeng's face clouded with unease. "There's more, isn't there?"

Xiu nodded, her expression turning somber. "I believe they're after an ancient artifact—a seal from the Azure clan. It's said to be buried in these mountains. If the rumors are true, the Black Veil believes it holds the power to amplify dark energies."

A hush fell over them, and Zeng's jaw tightened. "The seal is meant to protect, not to be abused by them."

"Do you know where it might be?" Lian asked, his voice unusually tense.

Zeng shook his head. "No. I've only heard tales, passed down from my adoptive family. The ZengHua family protected me all these years, keeping me hidden, precisely because of this legacy."

Lian's brow furrowed. "So, your family knew the Black Veil would eventually come for you?"

"Not exactly. But they knew the Azure lineage had... risks." Zeng's eyes drifted to the window, where snow fell softly outside. "My birth family was lost in one of the many Black Veil purges. The ZengHua family took me in, raised me as their own, hoping to keep me hidden in plain sight. But I ended up joining the Azure Clan of the Royal Court. Which was made to honor the original Azure Clan"

There was a quiet pain in his voice, and Lian, sensing it, placed a hand on Zeng's shoulder. "Whatever secrets the Azure clan holds, it's no excuse for what the Black Veil has done. We'll put an end to this."

Xiu, watching the exchange, gave a small, approving nod. "You're right. Together, we stand a chance."

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Later that night, after Xiu had gone to her own quarters, Lian and Zeng lingered by the dim firelight in their room. The weight of their conversation hung between them, unspoken but undeniable. Lian busied himself adjusting his medical kit, but Zeng's gaze never left him.

"You seem... different tonight," Zeng said softly.

Lian paused, his hands still, and he looked over at Zeng. "Different how?"

"Unusually quiet." Zeng's expression was serious, yet his eyes were soft. "It's like you're carrying a burden I can't quite see."

Lian hesitated, feeling an ache in his chest he rarely allowed himself to acknowledge. "We all have our ghosts," he murmured, turning away.

Zeng took a breath, then pushed forward. "It's about the Black Veil, isn't it?"

Lian's shoulders stiffened, but he gave a curt nod. "You could say they... shaped part of my past."

Zeng's eyes darkened. "What did they take from you?"

A bitter laugh escaped Lian's lips. "Everything. Freedom, family, innocence." He held Zeng's gaze, a rare vulnerability showing through. "They saw me as nothing more than a tool—a pet trained to do their bidding. I escaped, yes, but not unscathed"

Zeng's fists clenched at his sides, an unspoken promise of protection simmering in his eyes. "I swear they won't have that hold over you anymore, Lian. Not while I'm here."

For a moment, Lian's usual mask slipped, and he allowed himself to feel the warmth of Zeng's words. He managed a small smile. "And here I thought I was the one protecting you, Young Master."

They shared a quiet moment, but the peace was shattered when a sharp knock echoed through their door. Lian and Zeng exchanged wary glances, their hands reaching instinctively for their weapons as Lian went to answer.

Xiu stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with urgency. "There's a masked man downstairs," she whispered. "I think he's one of them. He's asking for... someone named Venom?"

The color drained from Lian's face at the mention of the old alias the Black Veil had forced upon him. Venom, the name that had once meant terror to the enemies of the Veil, the name that chained him to a life of death and despair.

Zeng saw Lian's reaction and stepped forward, his eyes flashing. "Lian, who—"

"It's him," Lian said, voice taut with fear. "The one who trained me."

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The trio moved quickly and silently through the inn's hallways, slipping down a narrow corridor to avoid being seen by the masked man downstairs. But just as they rounded the corner, they spotted him.

The masked man's gaze shifted, locking onto Lian. Recognition flared in his eyes, and his lips twisted beneath the dark mask. "Venom," he hissed, voice laced with something between disappointment and fury. "The Black Veil is not pleased with you, traitor."

Lian's throat went dry, and his body went rigid, but he kept his voice steady. "I stopped being your tool a long time ago."

The masked man laughed, a sound as chilling as a blade scraping over stone. "It doesn't matter how far you run. You'll always belong to us. I'll make sure to punish you properly this time."

Without another word, the man stepped back into the shadows, vanishing with practiced ease, leaving only his warning echoing in Lian's mind.

When he was gone, Zeng turned to Lian, his expression fierce. "You're not going back. Not to them."

Lian forced himself to breathe. "No," he replied, though his voice wavered. "Not if I can help it."

Xiu gripped Lian's arm. "We'll fight them together."

Their determination was clear, but in the back of Lian's mind, he knew it was only a matter of time before the Black Veil came again—and he feared that when they did, he might not have the strength to keep them away.