Fated | Fangs Of Fortune [ZhuYi]

Chapter 23 : Commander Zhuo

The once-abandoned Shanyin Village was now alive with activity. The villagers, whom they had believed to have fled in fear of the demon, had returned—or so it seemed. It wasn't until they arrived that the truth unraveled: the entire village had vanished overnight.

The ChongWu Camp, sensing something was amiss, sent a team of soldiers to investigate but they too disappeared. Among them had been Pei Si Heng, a young man with ambitions larger than his experience. Though not officially part of the ChongWu Camp, he had wanted to ease his sister's burdens by solving the case himself.

He'd thought it would be his moment to prove himself. Instead, it had ended in failure and worse, he became another victim, lost to the demon's influence.

Ever since Pei Si Heng had woken up, he remained quiet. Guilt and shame kept him from speaking to his sister. He busied himself instead with helping the villagers, avoiding Pei Si Jing's gaze. She did the same, watching him from afar, her eyes filled with a storm of emotions she couldn't put into words.

From across the village square, Wen Xiao approached her.

"Pei JieJie" she called, her tone light yet probing.

Pei Si Jing's lips twitched into a dry smile. "Sister now, is it, Goddess?"

Wen Xiao's playful grin never wavered. "When are you planning to talk to your brother?"

"I don't know" Pei Si Jing admitted, her voice unusually soft. Her gaze stayed locked on her brother, who was kneeling by an elderly villager, helping them adjust a wooden beam. The sight was bittersweet.

Wen Xiao studied her noting the stiffness in her posture and the tight grip she had on the edge of her robe. Pei Si Jing wasn't the type to pour her heart out. That much was clear.

"I fought him back at the temple" Pei Si Jing said suddenly. "When he was controlled by the demon. His skills were... impressive. Almost on par with mine."

Wen Xiao's eyes softened. "Why don't you start with that? He'll be happy to hear it."

Pei Si Jing hesitated, then nodded. She began to walk toward her brother, brushing off Wen Xiao's hand as it lingered too long on her arm.

Wen Xiao watched her go, her playful demeanor slipping away. She sighed and turned, only to find Zhu Yan leaning casually against the door frame of the clinic, his smirk firmly in place.

"You'll have to try harder, Goddess" he teased. "She still calls you 'Goddess' after all."

Wen Xiao raised a brow but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she shot back "Don't worry about me. You should focus on your own problems."

Zhu Yan opened his mouth to reply but Wen Xiao was already heading inside the rclinic. Inside, YiChen lay on a bed, pale but conscious.

"Xiao Zhuo, you're awake!" Wen Xiao said. Her voice softening as she approached.

YiChen stirred, his brow furrowing. "Where are we?" He tried to sit up but his body betrayed him and he sank back onto the bed with a groan.

"Shanyin Village" Wen Xiao explained, sitting beside him. "Everyone's fine"

Zhu Yan entered the room with a casual stride, his tone mocking. "Did you get your beauty sleep, Zhuo Daren?"

YiChen shot him a withering glare but didn't dignify the comment with a response. "What day is it?" he asked Wen Xiao, urgency creeping into his voice. "It hasn't been three days, has it?"

Wen Xiao hesitated but Zhu Yan answered, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Two hours left before the three-day deadline."

YiChen's breath hitched. "We need to leave. Now."