Chapter Twenty Four: Welcome Back

The door swung open. An old man stood in the centre of a hallway. He carried a face of displeasure upon meeting Nei Asreal's eyes. He wore contrary clothing. Clothing of a pleasant owner of a small and cosy inn.

Yi Lian looked past him. He was shocked to find that the walls were crying from the weeping wooden beams above. It looked as if they'd entered a small cave entrance, if it weren't for the small remnants of tiles or the cracked, off white walls he would have assumed it so.

Nie Asreal signaled for Yi Lian to walk in first. It seemed that the water that'd been seeping from the ceiling had created a sheen across the shiny trodden rock floor because as Yi Lian took a step, a small platform of ice webbed its way underneath his step. The old man looked down in distaste. "Who is this?" He grumbled, obviously displeased that a visitor, a stranger really, had created a mess after only one step through the door.

Nie Asreal smiled. "This is Yi Lian Uncle."

The old man's eyes widened, he almost grasped Yi Lian by the shoulder but Yi Lian saw him hold back and settle for leading them with a bright smile. "Sir, you have no idea how much this stupid man cries about you! Every week or so he will come in and drink our whole supply of wine. To see the man himself- did you actually fix him?"

Nie Asreal walked up and put a hand on Yi Lian's shoulder. "Yes and you remember what you promised me?"

The Old Man frowned. "Fine."

Yi Lian was quite confused so whispered, "What promise?"

Nie Asreal ducked next to his ear. "We drank and said whoevers loved one returned to them first would be treated royally by the other."

The Old Man limped further through the dark hallway until he stopped to heave his body against a large wooden door that didn't fit it's frame.

It was a cave-like tavern with high ceilings and wooden beams threaded throughout. Something completely and utterly foreign to Yi Lian.

They were guided through the claustrophobic room of crowded tables, all heads would turn and they would turn quiet as they stared at the mysterious cultivator in white royal robes as he passed. It wasn't everyday they saw such a royal get up they didn't recognize.

Yi Lian played with Winters-Gaze' hilt as they approached the right side of the room that had a neat divider with a small neat table nestled behind it.

The old man left to bring them drinks; leaving them alone once again.

Yi Lian, "Nie Asreal, what is this place?"

Nie Asreal sat down and leaned back to look behind the divider. "It's not really a place. It's like a safety net for all beings of the region that reside in the city."

Yi Lian sat down opposite and looked out. There were many people of varying size and clothing. There were all sorts. Small humanoids that had rings covering each finger, strong, large people but looked as if they'd just finished a harvest.

There was one man; sat at a table of cards who's eyes wandered over to his. He was wearing a deep black robe with a smile on his face, though that's not what caught Yi Lian's eye. It was his talloned finger nails and his red, glowing eyes. He was devilishly handsome, like someone with much charisma yet too much so to the point of having a fearful aura.

Nie Asreal, "Oh no."

Yi Lian's attention was drawn away by the divider violently shaking as a girl latched onto the side and clung onto it like a branch. She was in unusual dress and had fluffy, white, unusual hair, yet she still had a pretty face so these thing could be classed as innocence.

"Master Nie I have been trying to find you for days."

She spoke in a hushed voice like it was urgent and secret but Nie Asreal just rolled his eyes.

Nie Asreal, "Yi Lian this is Fortune. She was brought up by Demons in the higher tier. She has prophecies but they are often false so don't mind her."

Fortune scurried over to their table side. "When have I ever been incorrect?"

Nie Asreal pointed at Yi Lian. "He is here isn't he? You said my nightmare will never end or something."

Fortune dug her fingernails into the table and looked over Yi Lian. Yi Lian stayed sitting formally but the shock on his face could not be concealed. "It's not over. This will happen again-"

Nie Asreal, "Yi Jian's dead. It's impossible so go away before I tell Thorn you are running around like a headless chicken again."

Fortune grabbed Yi Lian's wrist. "Careful who you kill and keep track of who is dead. This man before you will bring you great pain for the rest of your life."

Yi Lian practically leapt five feet.

Nie Asreal, "Thorn!"

The man whom Yi Lian had made eye contact with earlier turned his head and came over quickly in large strides.

Fortune pulled yi Lian closer. "You may be in the light for now but the darkness will always follow you until it takes you whole. You can't outrun it unless you act as if today never happened, live as you did yesterday. Doubt me, and you risk everything."

Thorn appeared with a heavy hand grasping the divider and Fortune sprinted away.

Nie Asreal slouched, "How was your day?'

Thorn sighed, "Well, no one died."

"These are your standards…" Yi Lian said under his breath.

Thorn, "Mr, forget anything she says. She has a mixture of visions but some are altered by trickster demons so pay no mind to it."

He spoke in such a raspy and casual, familiar tone that Yi Lian had to ask, "Are you a demon?"

Thorn chuckled. "I didn't introduce myself to my friends' most prized possession, how rude of me."