Bai Village—Outskirts.
A deep crack tore through the ground. It was too wide for a man to jump across, and too long that there was no other end at either side.
If standing on the edge and looking down, the first thing registered was the depth, probably around fifty feet—and the walls of exposed earth and stone plunged vertically into the dark.
But it was still the second thing that caught anyone's attention. At the bottom, a flight of stairs could be seen that led further into the darkness somewhere deep.
…Not far from the crack, a campsite sat in the forest. It was simple with several shelters around a fire pit at the center.
Chen Wu stood at the edge of the crack, looking as if finding something in it.
He had been standing there for a while. Long enough that the two disciples who were initially with him had already retired back toward the camp, leaving him alone.
But as he was busy here out into the distance the camp was active behind him with the particular low-level tension of a group that had been waiting too long.
Twelve disciples total, spread between the shelters and the fire. Su Ling sat on a supply pack near the far shelter with Mei beside her.
Both stayed apart from the main group, aware that their positions had changed—even if no one had said so.
One of the disciples, Hou Zi, was studying a map by the fire when suddenly the sound of rolling wheels was heard, coming from the village road.
He lifted his head and rose from his seat, the rest followed noticing it too.
A carriage was moving through the trees toward their campsite, two guards on horseback guiding it.
It halted at the edge of the clearing and the door opened, from it an old man walked down confidently wearing robes made of a beast skin.
Behind him, two more guards descended, followed by a young man who stood beside the old man with a relaxed posture and a smile already in place.
At first, the old man looked at the camp and then beyond it towards where the crack was present, something crossed his face for an instant before the polite smile came back.
Chen Wu, knowing that some guests had arrived, turned from the edge of the crack and headed back toward the camp.
The old man bowed."I am Bai Rong Tian, head of the Bai Village. We are honored to receive the disciples of the Clouded Peak Sect."
His eyes moved across the disciples and then back to Chen Wu. "Forgive me, just curious, have you found anything of interest yet? Any progress with the site?"
Jumping straight to the point.
But before Chen Wu could answer, Hou zi's voice came from beside the fire, flat and direct.
"Progress." He set down his blade. "We haven't even entered it yet. Because every time we prepare to move, something creates another delay. No supplies from the village. No cooperation with our requests. No access to the eastern approach you agreed to clear."
He looked at the village head steadily. "Someone has been creating problems for us since we arrived and I can guess who it could be.."
Village heads' faces tightened. His hand moved slightly toward his side, a small involuntary gesture.
"I understand your frustration," the village head replied."I only worry for your safety. You are still young, and this site is—"
"We appreciate the concern," Chen Wu said, stepping forward slightly. Hou Bai glanced at him and settled back.
"We are prepared to handle whatever the site presents. That is why we are here."
The village head nodded, before his grandson stepped forward with natural ease. Bowing toward Chen Wu with respect.
"Please forgive my grandfather," he said. His voice was clear and pleasant. "He worries more than necessary sometimes. We are not here to delay you or to create further problems." He paused. "We are actually to invite you…"
"?" Everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
"My grandfather has arranged a banquet tonight at our home, in honor of the Clouded Peak Sect's disciples. We would be grateful if you would attend."
The camp reacted immediately to this, without a word.
Shoulders that had leaned forward pulled back. Hou zi's expression went flat, skeptical. Two other disciples exchanged a quick look—clear enough that they didn't trust a banquet from people who had spent the last few days getting in their way.
The grandson watched this happen and didn't wait for the refusal to form fully.
"Ah, there's one more thing," he said, his tone unchanged. "My uncle once entered the crack and returned alive, unconscious for days. But last night, he woke up." He started talking weirdly as if controlling something.
"He knows what's inside. He'll share it tonight, at the banquet."
All raised their heads at this.
And Chen Wu looked at the grandson directly. "When did your uncle enter? Was it before or after your village sent the report to our sect?"
The grandson immediately met his gaze. "After the report, after the report!" He replied hesitantly.
Chen Wu held the look for another moment, then turned and walked back to the crack's edge.
He stood there looking down into it for a long time while nobody spoke. The cold air coming up from below moved against his robes in slow currents.
Whatever was down there had been waiting for hundred years already and had no particular opinion about waiting a little longer.
Chen Wu finally spoke, his voice quiet.
"Tonight we will go to the banquet." He didn't turn around. " But tomorrow we go in."
...
The carriages moved through the gate of Bai Village as the afternoon began to shit toward evening.
Bai Village was not like any other village. It was entirely different.
The wooden defensive structure around it was old but solid, well-maintained beams holding it up. The gate, wide enough for two carriages to enter side by side.
Inside, the road widened and the settlement spread out, the streets closed, buildings pressed together, market stalls open with vendors calling out and customers moving between them.
The disciples watched all of this through the wooden windows of the carriages as they moved deeper into the village,
Shortly, buildings became larger and more deliberate in their construction, the foot traffic thinning but the guards increasing.
And at the heart of it all the mansion rose above the surrounding structures built to last for centuries.
The carriages halted in the spacious courtyard before the entrance.
The disciples stepped down and looked up at the mansion, and the grandson, who had ridden ahead, was already waiting at the entrance with several attendants.
"Welcome everyone."
All nodded silently at his greeting. He then led them inside the mansion and through the corridors. The walls were decorated with carved wood and covered with hanging silk curtains, Impressive in many ways.
Finally, the corridor opened into a wide inner courtyard. He stopped and gestured toward two doors set opposite each other.
"The left room is for the young masters," he said, "and the right for the young mistresses. Please rest and make yourselves comfortable. The banquet will be held tonight in the garden. We will come for you when it is ready."
Chen Wu nodded, the disciples split into their rooms without discussion.
The room of the boys was big, spacious and furnished. There were sleeping mats already laid in a row and each mat had a couple of small tables beside it, containing water and cloth used for washing.
Several disciples moved toward the washing area at the far end. Others sat, removing outer robes or reviewing materials they had brought from camp.
Chen Wu sat down against the far wall to rest and stayed like that for quite a while before the door opened and Su Ling entered quietly…