Unseen Eyes

The days following Wei's confrontation with the Corrupted Soul were strangely calm. He continued his training, his mind sharper and more disciplined, as if the battle against his inner darkness had unlocked a new well of strength within him. Still, a faint awareness of the Corrupted Soul lingered, like a shadow in his periphery, and he remained on guard.

In the mornings, he would spar with Lan Mei, their movements blending in fluid harmony as they tested each other's speed and precision. Lan Mei was swift, her blade a blur as she anticipated his every move. She fought with a grace that belied her strength, and more than once, she pushed Wei to his limits, forcing him to adapt and find new strategies.

One afternoon, as they trained in the clan's main courtyard, a group of younger disciples gathered to watch, murmuring in awe. Some were inspired, while others whispered of the recent duel with Ji Kai and Wei's rumoured strength.

"I heard he channels the spirits of fallen warriors," one disciple whispered.

"Yes, but at a cost," another replied, glancing nervously at Wei. "They say his sword is haunted."

Wei tried to ignore the murmurs, focusing on his sparring with Lan Mei. But their words lingered, a reminder of the Corrupted Soul and the uneasy alliance he had made with his own inner darkness.

As the session came to an end, Lan Mei sheathed her sword, breathing heavily but smiling. "You're improving, Wei. I can feel it."

Wei returned her smile, but there was a trace of tension in his expression. "Thanks, Mei. I just… I don't want to become something I can't control."

Lan Mei's smile faded, her gaze turning serious. "You're stronger than that, Wei. Just remember, it's your will that guides the blade, not the other way around."

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Elder Ma, her figure imposing as she approached them. The crowd of onlookers quickly dispersed, sensing the gravity of her presence.

"Wei, Lan Mei," Elder Ma began, her tone formal. "I have news for both of you. The clan has received a summons from the capital. They're calling for our finest warriors to join an expedition — a mission of critical importance."

Wei's brow furrowed. "An expedition?"

Elder Ma nodded. "The Emperor's Council has reported strange occurrences near the northern borders — villages wiped out, towns mysteriously abandoned, and sightings of… beings that defy explanation. Rumours are spreading of an ancient power awakening."

Lan Mei's eyes widened. "An ancient power? Do they think it's related to the Corrupted Souls?"

"It's possible," Elder Ma replied, her voice low. "There's a theory that certain artefacts and energies, once dormant, are now stirring. The Council believes these incidents are connected, and they're calling upon warriors who can channel spiritual energy to investigate and, if necessary, contain the threat."

Wei's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, his mind racing. A part of him felt compelled as if the Corrupted Soul within him was drawn to whatever lay in the north. Could it be a connection — something that would reveal more about the dark power he wielded?

"I will go," he said firmly, his voice steady.

Elder Ma regarded him with a mixture of pride and caution. "It is a dangerous mission, Wei. This isn't like the skirmishes you've faced before. Whatever lies in the north could be beyond anything we've encountered."

Wei nodded, resolute. "If there's a chance to understand this power… and to protect the clan, I'll do it."

Lan Mei stepped forward. "I'll go as well. If Wei is going, then I'll be by his side."

Elder Ma's expression softened slightly. "Very well. Prepare yourselves. You leave at dawn."

---

That night, Wei found himself unable to sleep, the weight of the coming journey pressing down on him. He sat by the window of his quarters, staring out at the moonlit landscape. Shadows stretched across the courtyard, and the night was still, almost eerily so.

As he sat in silence, he became aware of a faint, prickling sensation, as though unseen eyes were watching him. He reached for his sword, his instincts on high alert.

From the darkness outside his window, a figure emerged. Clad in a dark cloak that seemed to meld with the shadows, the figure's face was obscured, but Wei could feel an oppressive energy emanating from them — an energy that resonated with the Corrupted Soul within him.

"Wei Shuren," the figure whispered, their voice a chilling echo. "I see you carry a darkness that doesn't belong to you."

Wei rose slowly, his grip firm on his sword. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The figure chuckled, a hollow, unsettling sound. "Who I am matters little. What you should ask is… what you are becoming."

Wei felt a shiver run down his spine. "Explain yourself."

The figure took a step forward, their presence filling the room with a cold, stifling pressure. "You carry a Corrupted Soul, yet you wield it as though it is yours to control. But tell me… do you truly believe you can tame such a force? Darkness feeds on darkness, Wei. The more you rely on it, the more it will consume you."

Wei met the figure's gaze, defiant. "I don't fear it. I know who I am, and I won't let it control me."

The figure's eyes gleamed beneath their hood, a twisted smile crossing their shadowed face. "Confidence… or arrogance? Tell me, Wei, do you understand what the Corrupted Souls truly are?"

Wei hesitated. "They are… remnants of warriors who fell in battle, cursed and twisted by their unfinished desires."

The figure shook its head slowly. "Incomplete. They are far more than mere remnants. They are echoes of ancient gods, fragments of primordial energies long forgotten. Each Corrupted Soul seeks only one thing — to reclaim its former power by devouring the life force of its wielder. The more you wield it, the closer you come to feeding it… and the closer it draws you toward oblivion."

Wei's mind spun as he processed the figure's words. "Why are you telling me this? What do you gain?"

The figure's smile faded, their gaze darkening. "Because, Wei Shuren, you stand at the threshold of something far greater than you understand. And when the time comes, I want you to remember this night… and the choice you were given."

Without another word, the figure melted back into the shadows, their presence fading as swiftly as it had arrived. Wei stood in silence, his heart racing, the echo of the figure's warning lingering in his mind.

He knew he couldn't ignore it — the journey north now felt even more ominous, a path leading him closer to the truth of the power he wielded. But one thing was clear: he would not back down. The Corrupted Soul was part of him, and he would find a way to control it, no matter the cost.

As dawn broke, Wei joined Lan Mei at the gates of the clan compound. She took one look at his face, sensing the weight of the night's encounter.

"Are you ready?" she asked, her tone gentle.

Wei nodded, his gaze steely. "More than ever. Let's go find out what's waiting for us."

With a final glance at the place he called home, Wei and Lan Mei set off on the path toward the unknown, toward the northern lands where shadows stirred and secrets awaited.