"The clouds are gathering"
She mumbled underneath her breath
Lady Shu looked out through the window, at a distance that was familiar,
scattered clouds were starting to form and gather taking the shape of something large.
Storms were nothing new for the northerners not was it alarming at all, dark clouds simply meant colder indoor days for some, while better sleep for others,
yet,
this one was different
It couldn't be passed as some trivial things no more, unlike what the people said, to them, avalanches were akin to others' experience of rain.
It was normal and a part of their lives.
As they said, a northerner was no northerner without having lived through any avalanche, or getting buried in it for those of older generations.
Most of the villages, unlike the towns and cities, were located on top or beneath the mountain's foot.
Being more likely to get buried often, yet all of them continued on with their daily lives, it was a strange thing, and people from other territories would call them fools.
But they would simply scoff at them, as northerners never truly explained themselves since their very first records of histories, they were proud, self sufficient people.
She brought the tea close to her mouth sipping in small amounts, feeling the bitterness travel down through her throat, she watched the events that happened through the window.
The people in the streets were busy with their own makings,
Mothers holding their children walking through the market while trying to stop them from stopping at every stall, and failing every single time, the vendors knew exactly what would attract a tender mind, having sold to many kids, they had grown cunning.
waving with those sickly sweet straw haws they talked in confident voices, soft and gentle, their act could surpass those fox clans theatres in the far cities of the southern territory.
Attracting children like flies to a rotten body.
Their mothers, hesitating but giving in with a smile and a resigned sigh, that was how the cycle went.
With a small creak, a waiter came in, wearing plain robes that carried invisible embroidery that could only be seen from up close, only worn by people working in inns, who served different classes of customers.
"Here are your noodles miss"
The bowls softly cluttered as he placed them down,
He wore those clothes with pride, for those who wore these types of clothes showed how restrained they were, it was similar to the way people gauged professionals in clinics according to their beard's length.
Servers in Shuangwei all wore similar robes, but with different designs according to their inns or location,
This was the thing with every waiter, many of those who served others in big inns got their own robes with unique embroidery that were plain yet showed elegance through intricate designs that could only be found in the north, showing where they belonged,
Even small inns had such custom, if they did not have work robes they wear ribbons or bands either on their waist or forehead, while women often wore ribbons instead.
This was their way of self expression all while showing restraint,
The embroidery showed their unique selves and beliefs through threads and them blending in with the rest of the fabric represented their self assurance without having to be loud.
It according to them showed their detachment with vanities, self restraint and wisdom passed through generations,
It was also one of their most ancient traditions.
While the origins are now blurred with rumours and self interpretations the core ideas still stand.
The inn was tall, having many floors, and her being on the third she was given a clear view for hundreds of miles, and her having much more perception than ordinary mortals she could see and hear things that she shouldn't.
"Thank you"
She nodded,
Smiling softly, then continued looking at the distance, the waiter glanced once at her, bowing and left.
Vacant was the hall where she stayed, she sat at the far corner near the big window, making the room seem much more bigger than it was.
The wind kept on blowing, blowing quietly on her face throughout the day.
She took a heavy breath, blowing the steaming tea.
Looking at the distance where her home was, though she didn't know whether it would be so, in the near future.
She still remembered, When she tried returning home,
What greeted her were piles of snow built up like a mountain blocking the path. The few people who had the same intention of going there for many reasons of their own.
They grumbled, complained but all they could do was leave.
Simply praying or sending requests to the sect to deal with it as soon as possible.
As more time went by meant more money lost.
That however, wouldn't have been a problem but…
'It's infested'
She gently twirled the cup taking the aroma close to her nose.
She couldn't be wrong, even though she hoped it wasn't anything she thought.
But of course, no one knew,
Her instincts couldn't be wrong, she knew, she was certain
As soon as she touched the wall--
she felt it.
Something, far...far stronger than what the people could handle.
Even some cultivators who were already a few years in training wouldn't be able to handle it.
She felt its strength.
It was stuck to the place like a foetus.
And now it has grown stronger.
She could only pray.
....
The morning came as usual,
Xue Hua woke up as the sunlight shone on his face, intruding his sleep,
In the north, there was nothing to tell morning except the blessed days when the sun shone.
Unlike the people of other territories where they all had a kind of animal that woke them, like roasters for many places or perhaps a different kind of bird.
Like those singing birds in the east.
Waking up, he stretched his body but accidentally moved too close to the edge and ended up falling off.
If not for the thick blankets he was sure he'd have hurt his body really bad.
Blinking his eyes, he carefully rubbed his head.
He had a bad habit of tossing and turning, he knew it of course, but it was because of Yue Ran that he had never truly rolled off too far, and they had been sleeping on the floors for way too long.
But whenever he woke up he'd find himself sleeping across the bedding after his wounds healed.
Only because of Yue Ran, staying with him before he woke up did he manage to stay in place, which had been the case for their entire time together now, after Yue Ran learned his habit.
So, where was he?
Why did he fall this time?
His head stuck out from the many folds of the blanket, leaving his upper body exposed as it fell from his body,
chilling his skin, he shivered for a moment.
Blinking his eyes slowly, he came to himself.
Glancing around the room now with clear vision.
Where was he?
He stood up,
The table beside the window had many papers--
talismans.
Stacked together neatly, which, yue ran had probably written in the morning or at night, since the table was empty before he fell to sleep.
So,
where was he?
Standing up, his bare feet were planted firmly on the wooden floor, feeling the chill travel through his feet.
Where was he?
The window was open, something which was probably what the immortal did, after all, he still remembered that he had left everything untouched while waiting for Yue ran to come,
Which also means, he didn't leave it open, so Yue Ran was surely the person who did, letting the room freshen up by the wind from outside.
Thinking about it now,
The feeling of being stared too was gone, it was a good thing of course, but still it felt weird somehow.
for now, he pushed it to the sides, even as he had only realised it since it wasn't much too important.
They hadn't even talked.
The last thing he recalled was Yue Ran's body sleeping beside him, as his eyes fluttered with the flickering flame that dimly lit the room
He knew it wasn't a dream despite having a groggy memory from being half asleep.
The previous night, after being left alone in the room he had immediately climbed onto the bed, and made himself small, the gaze never left him,
It was uncomfortable, but it wasn't too much, for some reason, it felt very familiar to him.
He had waited for Yue Ran, till his legs felt numb, yet Yue Ran never came, and the whispers of the wind lulled him to sleep eventually.
So when he opened his eyes, and found himself laying straight he immediately turned to the side, seeing the immortal next to him, his mind went blank, his eyes widening.
He had planned various ways to begin the conversation when he returned, to explain why he caused such a scene, but at that time nothing came to his mind, whether it was fortunate or unfortunate that the immortal was asleep, he was simply happy to be beside him.
Listening to his sound of life to sleep,
Moving closer to him,
He fell back to sleep, all troubles pushed to the side for tomorrow.
Yue Ran was a curious person he knew that,
So he was sure that he'd have a chance to explain later in the morning, when both were awake.
Despite always keeping himself busy, Yue Ran always made sure to be with him when he woke up.
So,
He must be close by.
He tried calling him, again and again.
But nothing.
'Weird'
It shouldn't be that late,
He looked out the window, the sun was still early.
it probably was still early, was he called away by others?
Why?
If for breakfast, wouldn't he have woken him up?
Walking around, he felt a tingle in his head, ears stung from silence.
He wasn't used to it.
He had simply woken up, so he couldn't compose his mind despite his desperate tries, they kept running rampant with various scenarios.
The chill was starting to bite at his feet, like walking on small spikes.
Just like that moment...
That blurry memory of vaguely walking through the freezing snow for many miles.
It was a memory with no explanation, but from the sudden pain on his waist, he could guess that it was probably from the moments before he ended up at that village, eventually meeting the immortal.
His steps started to echo his steps growing louder in silence,
Almost the same as his beating heart, thumping loudly as he rushed towards the door swinging it open--
His breath ceased, as a body towered over him,
His quickened heart suddenly stopped.
The soft sigh,
His heart started thumping once more, catching up to the way his breaths started rapidly.
"Your hair is a mess"
He smiled brightly under that gaze.
_____
The world was dark around the edges, why was that? The only light came from the lamps from around some corner.
Why was that? Why were they lit? Where was he going?
Who was he?
His body didn't feel like his own, why was it moving, shadows appeared from the corner of his sight,
Who were they? Why were they similar, their bodies...
Why....?
My hands moved, yet nothing felt I.
It felt like I was dreaming, yet, why was everything so dull?
A room, a dark spacious room.
Something moving in the corner, wriggling, squeezing, and...?
Why was he moving closer?
Cries like wolves, yet not so...
It was more of an infant's cry mixing with the desperate calls of a hound.
The sound was piercing, popping sounds, cracks and munching soon followed.
Why?
Why were they making that face?
Why are they so...
A rotting stench so overbearing, that he wondered why he was there,
Something was looking, what was it?
Why are they so scared--
____
"Shizun"
One of the inner disciples walked up to an elderly man, whose beard reached up to his belly,
The youth, bearing the crest of the Frost Veil sect proudly on his waist, the lonely silhouette of a closed frost flower, saluted the old man.
"We have found out the location of that strange burst of energy"
"It came from-"
.
.
.
____
Strange
When he was yet in his room, a servant came knocking on the door and informed him that the chief had requested him to meet.
He glanced at the child, then looked away,
The servant reassured that it would be quick, so he had no reason to wake someone who was sleeping soundly,
It was proper manners,
merely,
As his master had told him.
Before leaving, he mouthed a spell within the room,
He knew not what was in the village, but he could feel the kind of creature it could be,
He looked one last time at that nest of a hair before closing the door.
.
.
.
When he returned, he returned alone, walking through the hallway, the world was incredibly silent.
There were no servants around, none within his sight.
Which was rarely for a manor, and from his observations, it was clear that they lacked no resources
He walked in long strides, quick yet slow, but suddenly he paused.
"That energy..."
"Why does it feel familiar?"
It was the same feeling from the earlier night, however, now it was more sharp, more familiar more...desperate
So, he took a detour.
The traces were faint, but it was certain that it had started leaking out, soon the core would be exposed too...
For now he couldn't figure out its direction still,
It seemed like it came from everywhere but nowhere at once.
It was so faint that it could be said to be like trying to listen to an ant's breaths.
That wasn't the problem however, the problem was--
It was like a hive.
What he was doing now could be said to be the same as trying to differentiate the queen's breath from a hive of workers.
____
The sun was high,
It was almost time.
Tear drops wet his palm, as the chief continued mumbling alone within a room, holding the broken pieces of an old hairpin.
"Forgive me, forgive me"
He begged while sobbing,
He lowered his head, his back trembling while the servants stood near the door with an expressionless face, holding trays of broken spirit stones.
"My daughter..."
He raised his head.
And soon...
The surroundings change as he closes his eyes,
A stench like rotting eggs with rubber spread through his nose.
Opening his eyes, he found himself inside a red chamber that was alive.
"Please forgive me...."
*Crunch*
....