Shadows of the Past

As the storm settled into a misty drizzle, Yu Zhong and Long Shen descended through the craggy slopes of the Black Dragon Mountains. The path was rough, lined with gnarled trees that twisted like ancient spirits, their branches clawing at the sky. The air grew thicker with each step, charged with the faint hum of spiritual energy. It was a land untouched by the hands of men, preserved in its raw, untamed state.

For a while, the two walked in silence. Long Shen led the way with a steady pace, his green robes flowing like water around him. Yu Zhong followed, his eyes scanning their surroundings, alert to every shift in the shadows. His senses, though dulled by the limitations of his human form, still tingled with the remnants of the dark power he once wielded.

"You carry the weight of many lives on your soul, Yu Zhong," Long Shen broke the silence, his voice calm yet probing. "Tell me, what drives you to seek power once more?"

Yu Zhong's expression hardened, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "Power is the only currency that holds value. Without it, one is merely prey to those who have it."

Long Shen chuckled softly, though the sound was tinged with a note of sadness. "That is the answer of a man who has known great suffering. But the question is, will you use your power to protect or to destroy?"

Yu Zhong's jaw tightened, his mind flashing back to fragmented images—villages burned to ash, rivers dyed red with blood, and a world that once trembled at the roar of the Black Dragon. Yet, there were also whispers of betrayal, of allies turned enemies, and a life that had been ripped from him without mercy. He shook his head, banishing the memories to the dark recesses of his mind.

"I do not need your philosophies, Long Shen. I have walked a path of blood before, and I am prepared to walk it again if that is what it takes," Yu Zhong replied, his voice cold.

Long Shen glanced back at him, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps. But even the darkest of paths can change, if the heart that walks it changes."

They continued their descent until they reached a narrow valley where the mist thickened, swirling around ancient stone pillars engraved with symbols of dragons and spirits. A broken archway stood at the center, half-buried in earth and time. It was clear this place had once held great significance, now reduced to ruins.

Yu Zhong paused, his eyes narrowing at the sight. He recognized the architecture—remnants of the ancient Hei Long Sect, a faction that had once worshipped him as a deity in his previous life. The realization stirred a mixture of bitterness and nostalgia in his chest.

"This place… it was once the seat of power for the Hei Long Sect," Yu Zhong murmured, running his fingers along the weathered stone. "They built shrines in my name, sacrificed to me. Now, it is nothing more than dust."

Long Shen nodded, his gaze scanning the ruins with quiet reverence. "Time is unkind to those who cling to the past. But within these ruins, there are remnants of knowledge, of power, that could aid you in your new path."

Yu Zhong's eyes lit up with interest, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "Knowledge? Power? You're saying that the secrets of the Hei Long Sect are buried here?"

"Some, perhaps. But not all knowledge is a gift. Sometimes, it is a burden," Long Shen cautioned. "If you wish to dig up the past, you must be prepared for what you unearth."

Ignoring the warning, Yu Zhong stepped forward, feeling a pull towards the archway. As he reached out, his fingers brushed against the ancient carvings, and the air around him shifted. The mist thickened, condensing into a dark vortex that swirled around him. He could feel the remnants of spiritual energy trapped within the stones, fragments of ancient rites and prayers to the Black Dragon.

"Show me… what lies within," Yu Zhong whispered, channeling the shadows that coiled around his body.

The carvings glowed with an eerie light, and suddenly, the shadows surged to life, wrapping around his arm like tendrils. His vision blurred, and he found himself plunged into a realm of darkness—a void where echoes of the past lingered.

In the darkness, he saw a vision—priests of the Hei Long Sect gathered around a black altar, their chants rising in unison. They were calling upon his power, offering sacrifices of blood and souls. But there was more. He saw their faces twisted in fear, as if something had gone terribly wrong. Then, a surge of energy—wild and uncontrollable—tore through the shrine, consuming everything in its path, even the priests themselves.

Yu Zhong's breath quickened as the vision ended, leaving him with a lingering sense of dread. "What… was that?" he muttered, clenching his fists.

Long Shen's voice echoed in the void, though his form remained distant. "It is a fragment of your past, Yu Zhong. The last ritual performed by your followers before they were consumed by their own greed. They sought to bind your power, but it was too great for mortal hands."

Yu Zhong gritted his teeth, the revelation cutting deeper than he had expected. "They betrayed me… even as they worshipped me."

"The power you wield is not one that mortal minds can comprehend," Long Shen's voice grew closer, his figure materializing beside Yu Zhong. "That is why you must learn to control it, or it will consume you as it consumed them."

Yu Zhong took a shaky breath, fighting back the surge of anger that threatened to overwhelm him. He turned to face Long Shen, his eyes burning with renewed determination. "Then teach me. Show me how to control this power, to harness it for myself. I refuse to be a slave to my own strength."

Long Shen studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well. But know this, Yu Zhong—mastery over darkness comes with a price. And that price may be more than you are willing to pay."

With those words, the shadows receded, and Yu Zhong found himself back in the misty valley, the ruins of the Hei Long Sect standing silent around them. Yet, he felt different—stronger, more attuned to the darkness that pulsed within him. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt a sense of direction, a purpose that guided him beyond mere survival.

"Let the past bury itself," Yu Zhong murmured, a dangerous smile curving his lips. "This world has changed, and so have I. But my ambition remains. And with you as my guide, Long Shen, I will reclaim what is rightfully mine."

Long Shen inclined his head, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Then let us begin, disciple of shadows. The world is wide, and there are many secrets to uncover."

Together, they left the ruins behind, stepping into a future fraught with peril and promise. And though the shadows still lingered at the edges of Yu Zhong's mind, he no longer feared them. Instead, he welcomed them, knowing that the darkness would be his greatest ally on the path to power.