Sorrow In Autumn

Chapter 11. The Secrets He Keeps

As someone who enjoys martial arts, I've long been fascinated by wushu weapons. For anyone interested, this is a guan dao:

https://i1.wp.com/78.media.tumblr.com/0491756e1271354094a4972b3dabf5b2/tumblr_pa40jqq7Bf1syv3zao1_1280.jpg?w=605&ssl=1

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It took hours.

The enchantment Kunlun had woven into this as extra precaution was difficult to unlock but Zhao Xin Ci persevered and eventually, after wrestling with the delicate but dangerous chains on the spell, his former enemy managed to open the lock.

Shen Wei had no idea what exactly Go Changcheng was meant to guard but he didn't expect the talisman to explode.

There was no pain only a stinging, pulling sensation and the kiss of Kunlun's power that brushed up against his own like a cat. His dark energy greedily responded but he held back afraid for Xiao Guo's life. When the light cleared from his eyes Shen Wei gasped. The world was blurred like a wash of watery ink and it took a moment for him steady his racing mind.

They were no longer in the inn room and Guo Changcheng was no where to be seen.

The ground was a dark stone and the air smelled mossy and damp. Shen Wei looked around and saw mist hanging in white clouds over a dark pool of water but other the point where the rock close to his feet fell into the pool and the mists around him, Shen Wei could see very little else of his surroundings.

Was that a bridge? Yes there was a bridge. A small quaint bridge stretching over the water, not that Shen Wei could see the other side. It was wood he thought and painted a bright shade of blue.

His senses were muted and the light was strange, emanating from crevices in the rock. It glowed orange one minute and then blue the next.

He could feel his feet and the cold of the air which was odd, for a Dixingian whose primary gifts including ice, but everything was beginning feel odd. His own breathing was calm, a careful state to ensure maximum control over his power, but he could feel his chest heaving, his heart pounding...but he was calm. Confused and more than slightly alarmed Shen Wei reached out with his dark energy, only to feel it distantly...as if he was separate from his own body.

What was this?

"Where in the world is this?" asked a voice startling him suddenly and he recognized Zhao Xin Ci's voice.

The idea that came to mind was ludicrous but this was Kunlun. It he was right...it was a clever way to show Shen Wei the path using Guo Changcheng himself. Kunlun never did anything for nothing.

"This is a memory. This is what Guo Changcheng experienced." He explained slowly, the idea sinking into his bones as truth.

"That can't be." Zhao Xin Ci said almost politely and that was odd. The man was never polite and rarely calm.

"The celestial whip collected the powers and abilities of its masters when it killed them. All of these, it gave to Kunlun when it claimed him as its owner. As such, he has this ability. To capture memories."

Zhao Xin Ci was silent and Shen Wei added pointedly, 'It is not a gift he uses much. Kunlun has no interest."

"But we are now reliving Guo Ying's nephew's memory of an event before my son disappeared?" He asked disbelievingly.

"Essentially yes. Kunlun must have hidden the answer within this memory, then put Guo Changcheng to sleep, so he could smuggle him out."

"Yet the boy is essentially his enemy." Zhao Xin Ci said cuttingly.