Sorrow In Autumn

Chapter 15. The Desert Of Your Past

This is the fifth time I've tried uploading, so fingers-crossed!

Love to everyone!

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No one expected what happened because everyone forgot the simple rules. The Peace Treaty and in many way the war itself had forged connections and once tight chains of ancient laws had slackened over time, until they nearly slipped from memory.

None of them here actually expected Lin Jing of all people, to react in violence and most would have said that such an act, would be a bluff. To be fair, Shen Wei knew him far better than anyone here realized.

Lin Jing had been one of Kunlun's most trusted loyalists and one of his best disciples. Lin Jing was an excellent fighter who often disguised his true skill, but here he was playing the role of someone less experienced. Not even Shen Wei expected that sharp break in the pretense Lin Jing had clung to so fiercely, and he certainly did not expect the stocky Da Huang gate builder to push past the soldiers and yell loudly.

In one breath, he had moved from the protective gathering of the Dixingian soldiers and had sliced his hand neatly with a small dagger. The blood dripped to the ground and no one in that moment understood, staring at him blankly.

"Master Lin," Li Qian began in a coaxing voice, as if he was a small child.

The Royal Guard watched to see if he was a threat to Shen Wei, confused as to why the honored guest to the Emperor was behaving like a madman. The others, Ma Gui and Zhao Xin Ci arguing ahead stopped at the commotion, which was likely Lin Jing's intention.

Then, there was a ripple.

The ground seemed to shimmer and everyone began to feel the first stirrings of nervousness. The three apparitions had no faces but somehow Shen Wei sensed that they were amused by this.

"What have you done!" Shouted Zhao Xin Ci angrily, but Lin Jing didn't react.

His friend had a wild look in his eyes and he was murmuring something under his breath. There was a flash of light and suddenly when Shen Wei looked down, he could see bold white lines decorating the hard ground beneath their feet. This was no longevity motif, the lines complex and almost woven in design stretching out in a haphazard circle perhaps two bù wide.

Did Kunlun make this? he wondered staring at the pattern. How had he made this? When had he done so?

"Lin Jing!" Ma Gui entreated. "We are not your enemy. Why are you doing this?"

"Lord Kunlun is one of the greatest Gate Guardians to ever live. You don't have a tenth of his power or his knowledge." Lin Jing said and Ma Gui looked almost saddened by this truth. "You are not one of us."

'We are of the North." One of the men behind Ma Gui said sharply, "We fought together."

"Kunlun is my king! The Lord of Shangbei! When he swore on his life," Lin Jing said loudly, ignoring this. "We swore on ours. His oath is my oath. My life is and shall always be in his hand."

"What are you talking about?" Zhao Xin Ci asked in the same hard tone of anger, advancing forward. "We are not threatening your king, we are trying to find him!"

Power rippled along the lines and everyone stumbled. "I wouldn't do that Southern Haixing. Don't come any closer." Lin Jing suggested brazenly. "These lines are not some pretty design the Chief thought of for fun. All I have to do,"

He raised one hand and power formed in a small, pale blue ball of light. "...Is drop this, on this exact point." Here he pointed to the center of what looked like a flower. "...and everyone here dies."