Ch.4 A Soul stealing mission.

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As they strode down the dimly lit, labyrinthine corridors of the imperial palace, the echoing click of their boots reverberated against the ancient stone walls.

Zhao Ming's brow furrowed with concern. "Who exactly are we up against, Wang Xin?"

Wang Xin glanced sideways, his expression serious. "General Wai's message was explicit—we're dealing with Grim Reapers."

"General Wai?" Zhao Ming's skepticism was evident. "The General Wai of Changan city? Isn't he too old to be involved in matters like this?"

Wang Xin nodded knowingly. "Appearances can be deceiving. Despite his age, General Wai wields formidable Daoist magic."

"Splendid," Zhao Ming muttered sarcastically. "And what about this Grim Reaper?"

Wang Xin's voice lowered. "This particular Reaper has deviated from the natural order. Instead of collecting souls that are due, he's preying on the living innocents."

Zhao Ming raised an eyebrow. "A Grim Reaper stealing souls of the living? Isn't that against their very nature?"

"Exactly," Wang Xin affirmed grimly. "This rogue Reaper is disrupting the balance."

Zhao Ming stopped abruptly and turned to face Wang Xin, walking backwards. "So, where do we begin to track down this Grim Reaper?"

A slight smile crept onto Wang Xin's face. "That's precisely what we're about to uncover."

With a subtle gesture, Wang Xin directed Zhao Ming's attention to a weathered wooden board barely visible in the shadows. Zhao Ming followed his gaze and turned around, squinting to read the faded inscription: "Imperial Library."

The realization dawned on Zhao Ming. "The Imperial Library... If anyone knows the secrets of these grim affairs, it would be there."

Wang Xin nodded in agreement. "Let's proceed cautiously. The library holds ancient texts and forbidden knowledge. It may shed light on the Grim Reaper's motives."

Together, they advanced towards the looming entrance of the Imperial Library. The heavy oak doors creaked open reluctantly, revealing rows upon rows of dusty tomes and scrolls. The air was thick with the scent of aged parchment and forgotten wisdom.

As they ventured deeper into the archive, eerie whispers seemed to emanate from the shelves, as if the very walls held secrets waiting to be unearthed. Candlelight flickered ominously, casting long shadows that danced across the ancient manuscripts.

Zhao Ming scanned the shelves with growing anticipation. "Any idea where we should start?"

Wang Xin's eyes gleamed with determination. "We'll look for references to soul theft, forbidden rituals—anything that might connect to our rogue Grim Reaper."

Hours passed as they meticulously combed through texts, deciphering cryptic passages and piecing together fragments of ancient lore. The silence was punctuated only by the occasional rustle of pages and the soft murmur of their voices.

Finally, Wang Xin's hand brushed against a particularly weathered scroll hidden behind a stack of dusty volumes. Unfurling it carefully, he traced his fingers over faded ink depicting arcane symbols and ominous warnings.

"Zhao Ming," Wang Xin murmured gravely, "I believe we've found something."

They huddled over the scroll, their minds racing with the implications of what they had uncovered. The scroll detailed a ritual—one that spoke of a Reaper who, disgruntled with his eternal duty, sought to transcend his role by stealing souls prematurely.

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As they unfurled the ancient, dusty scroll, the title inscribed at the top in faded, ornate script read "Death's Hand."

Wang Xin murmured the name aloud, his voice tinged with awe and trepidation, "Death's Hand."

Their eyes met instantly, their faces inches apart. The close proximity caught them both off guard, creating a palpable tension in the air.

Zhao Ming, feeling the weight of the moment, let out an awkward laugh. "Haha."

Oh god, do something, say something! He thought desperately.

The silence between them stretched, filled only by the faint rustling of the scroll. Shadows from the flickering candles cast an eerie dance across their features, highlighting the intensity of their discovery.

Wang Xin cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence. "This... this could be a crucial clue. 'Death's Hand' isn't just a name; it signifies immense power and danger. We need to understand its full implications."

Zhao Ming nodded, his awkwardness giving way to determination. "Right. Let's focus on deciphering this scroll. There has to be more here that can lead us to the rogue Grim Reaper."

They bent over the scroll again, the ancient paper crackling under their fingers. As they read, the words seemed to whisper secrets from ages past, drawing them deeper into the mystery that surrounded "Death's Hand."

The library's oppressive silence was occasionally interrupted by the distant echo of footsteps, heightening the sense of urgency and danger. Every shadow seemed to hide potential threats, making their task all the more daunting.

"Look at this," Wang Xin pointed to a section of the scroll. "It describes a ritual, one that grants the ability to steal souls from the living."

Zhao Ming's eyes widened. "So, the Grim Reaper we're dealing with has performed this ritual... We need to stop him before he claims more innocent lives."

The gravity of their mission settled heavily upon them. They knew that uncovering the secrets of "Death's Hand" was their only hope in defeating the rogue Reaper and restoring balance to their world.

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