Ch 18 Ciri

Ciri stood in the Inn, Riddle of the Deer, feeling the cold chill of panic creeping up her spine. Everywhere she turned, she saw the evidence of violence. The walls had been splattered with blood, and the tables and chairs had been overturned as if they had been thrown in a fit of rage. There were bits of torn fabric and a few pieces of broken glass that had been scattered on the floor. She knew it could only mean one thing, that something terrible had happened here.

She looked around the room, her eyes darting from one corner to the other, searching for clues as to what had happened. But it was all so strange, so unfamiliar, and so silent. No one was here, there were no bodies, and not a single soul had been seen in the past hour.

Ciri's gaze came to rest on the spot where Nephele and Eos had been sitting.

She swallowed and looked around the room again, her heart beating a little faster. Where were they? What had happened?

Ciri tried to push her fear away and focus on finding out what had happened. She asked the people in the Inn, but they all avoided the question suspiciously as if they knew something she didn't. But she was determined to get some answers.

Eventually, after much questioning, she got the truth out of one of them: five unknown cultivators had come to the Inn the night before and had been murdered. Eos and Nephele had fled shortly after and the Dragon Sky Sect was now investigating the matter.

Ciri's blood chilled as the truth sunk in. She couldn't help but feel terrified; if Eos and Nephele had killed five people, assassins must be on the move.

For now, she had to focus on finding them and making sure they were safe. She knew she had to act quickly, but she had no idea where to start looking. She needed help.

Suddenly, she remembered the old man at the entrance of the Inn. He had seemed kind and gentle, and he had been willing to answer her questions before. Perhaps he could help her now.

Taking a deep breath, Ciri made her way back to the entrance of the Inn. The old man was still there, sitting in a chair in the shadows, staring off into the distance.

"Excuse me," Ciri said, her voice trembling slightly. "I need your help."

The old man turned his head slowly towards her, his eyes scanning her up and down.

His lecherous eyes roamed her body like a hungry wolf. Every inhalation inflated her substantial breast, causing the thin black fabric of her bra top to pull taunt.

He took a moment before speaking as if considering her request carefully.

"What is it that you need help with, seductress?" he asked finally, his voice gravelly and low.

Ciri took a deep breath and explained the situation to him, telling him about the violence in the Inn and her fear for Eos and Nephele's safety. The old man listened carefully, nodding occasionally as she spoke.

When she finished, he stroked his beard thoughtfully and said, "I may be able to help you, but it won't be easy.

Ciri nodded, taking in the old man's words. "I understand," she said, her voice steady despite the fear that was still lurking inside her.

"Good," the old man said, rising from his chair. "Then come with me. I know someone who may be able to help us."

Ciri followed the old man, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no idea what was in store for her, but she knew that she had to find Eos and Nephele, no matter what the cost.

They had to walk for quite a long time to get to an old, abandoned building. The old man stopped in front of it and asked Ciri to follow him inside.

The building looked very old and was in bad condition. Some bricks were missing from the walls, and the windows were covered with boards. There was debris lying in the yard, and the building was covered in a thick layer of dust. The atmosphere was eerie and strange as if the building was warning them to stay away.

When Ciri stepped inside, she felt the temperature drop suddenly, and she got goosebumps all over her naked skin. They walked carefully through the empty halls, and the only sounds were their footsteps echoing.

As they walked deeper into the abandoned building, Ciri's heart started to race. She had no idea where the old man was taking her, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that was growing stronger with every step they took.

Suddenly, they came to a stop in front of a heavy metal door. The old man took out a key from his pocket and unlocked it, pushing it open with a creak.

Ciri followed him inside, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. The room they entered was small and bare, with only a few crates and barrels scattered around.

In the center of the room stood a tall man dressed in a black robe, and his face was hidden beneath a hood. Ciri felt a shiver run down her spine as the man turned towards her. She couldn't make out his features, but she could sense the power emanating from them.

The old man cleared his throat and spoke, "Master Yen, I have brought you someone who needs... your help."

The man nodded slowly, their voice deep and commanding. "What is it that you need?" he asked, his eyes seemingly piercing through Ciri's veil of clothes.

Ciri took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I need your help in finding Eos and Nephele, my friends who were staying at the Riddle of the Deer Inn," she said, her voice shaking slightly.

The man nodded again, their hand reaching out and closing around Ciri's wrist. "I can help you..."

Ciri felt a chill run down her spine at the words.

"What do you want?" Asked Ciri.

Instead of answering, the man asked a counter-question. "What is Yinpai's connection to Firefly?"

"I don't know what you're talking about?"

At this point, Ciri began to realize that she had been deceived.

The man let out a low chuckle, the sound echoing around the small room. "You're clever, child. But not clever enough,"

Ciri's heart sank as she realized she had walked right into a trap. She tried to pull away from the man's grasp, but their grip only tightened.

"You see, Firefly has been causing quite a bit of trouble for us lately," the man continued. "And we know that Yinpai is one of their allies. We need to find out what they're planning next."

Ciri's mind raced as she tried to come up with a way out of this situation. She knew she couldn't reveal any information about Yinpai or Firefly, but she also couldn't let herself be caught.

"I don't know anything about Yinpai's connection to Firefly," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

The man narrowed his eyes at her. "You expect me to believe that?"

Ciri took a deep breath and looked the man in the eye. "I swear it's the truth."

"Your Eos and Nephele were in this house just a few hours ago. It was a safe house for the Firefly faction."

The man took a deep breath.

Ciri could still get a grip on the man's cultivation. But he was in at least the same realm as herself. But Ciri, who was only twenty-two, hardly stood a chance against someone who had practiced powerful techniques for hundreds of years. At least that was the feeling she got from him. Better to keep a cool head.

"If you are not willing to talk to me truthfully, I will have to force you, Ciri. You will not like it."

Ciri's heart raced as she realized the gravity of the situation. She knew she had to find a way out, but how? The man in front of her seemed unyielding and determined to get what they wanted.

"I swear to you, I don't know anything," Ciri said, her voice shaking slightly.

The person let out a low growl and tightened his grip on her even more. Ciri winced in pain.

"You're lying," the man said through clenched teeth. "I can sense it. You know something, and you're not telling me."

Ciri's mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan.

"I'm not lying," Ciri said firmly, trying to sound as convincing as possible. "I don't know anything about Firefly or Yinpai."