The Devil’s Bargain

Xu Tian glanced at his companions, hoping someone else would step up to make the decision. Yue Lin met his gaze, her expression unreadable. Shen Feng, as usual, remained silent, and Wei Ling was preoccupied flipping his coin.

"Why am I always the one who has to make these choices?" Xu Tian muttered.

"Because fate loves you," Wei Ling said without looking up.

Xu Tian groaned and turned to Old Jin. "Fine. We'll take your help. But I'm holding you to the 'nothing too steep' part."

Old Jin's smile widened. "Excellent. Then let's begin."

Old Jin pulled a small satchel from his robes and began sprinkling a fine powder onto the fire. The flames roared to life, shifting to an unnatural blue. Shadows on the cave walls twisted and danced, forming shapes that seemed almost alive.

"Whoa," Xu Tian said, leaning back. "Are those... people?"

The shadows resolved into the forms of robed figures, eerily similar to those they had fought earlier.

"These are your pursuers," Old Jin said, his tone serious. "The Order of the Thousand Veils. Fanatics, every last one of them. And they're relentless when they've marked a target."

"Fantastic," Xu Tian said. "Fanatics are my favorite."

Old Jin ignored him, pointing to a larger shadow at the center of the group. This one wore an elaborate headdress, its face obscured by an intricate mask.

"That," Old Jin said, "is their leader. The one who truly wants your pearl."

Wei Ling squinted at the shadow. "They've got style, I'll give them that."

"They're not after you for fashion advice," Yue Lin said.

Old Jin stirred the flames again, and the shadows shifted to show a glowing orb—eerily similar to the Stabilizing Pearl. Around it swirled scenes of chaos: battles, storms, and a crumbling city.

"The Stabilizing Pearl is no mere artifact," Old Jin said. "It's part of an ancient relic known as the Harmony Array. In the right hands, it can bring peace to a chaotic realm. In the wrong hands..." He let the statement hang in the air.

Xu Tian frowned. "Wait. Why does everyone keep saying this pearl is part of something bigger? Can't it just be a nice, calming orb?"

"Because fate doesn't care about what you want," Old Jin said with a chuckle. "The pearl chose you for a reason. What that reason is... well, that's for you to figure out."

Xu Tian slumped. "Great. Another thing to stress about."

Old Jin extinguished the flames with a wave of his hand, plunging the cave into darkness for a moment before the regular firelight returned.

"You need to leave the ridge before dawn," he said. "The Order will track you here by morning. Head east into the Whispering Plains. There, you'll find a man named Zuo Ming. He owes me a favor."

"And what kind of man is Zuo Ming?" Yue Lin asked.

Old Jin's grin returned. "Let's just say he's resourceful."

Xu Tian raised an eyebrow. "Resourceful like you, or resourceful like 'might also betray us for fun and profit'?"

Old Jin laughed. "A bit of both, perhaps."

"Wonderful," Xu Tian muttered.

As they prepared to leave the cave, Yue Lin couldn't resist asking, "What's the favor you'll ask for in return?"

Old Jin's expression turned serious. "That... will depend on the choices you make. But don't worry. I always collect in a way that's fair."

"That's not comforting," Xu Tian said.

"It's not meant to be," Old Jin replied.

The storm had subsided by the time they exited the cave, but the air was thick with tension. The group moved quickly along the ridge, every rustling leaf and snapping twig putting them on edge.

"I still don't trust that guy," Yue Lin said.

"Join the club," Xu Tian replied.

Wei Ling flipped his coin. "Heads, he's secretly a hero. Tails, he's just playing a long game."

"Can you stop flipping that thing for one second?" Yue Lin snapped.

As dawn broke, the ridge gave way to the rolling expanse of the Whispering Plains. The grass swayed in the breeze, whispering secrets that only it could understand.

"Creepy name for a creepy place," Xu Tian said.

"Better than being ambushed on the ridge," Shen Feng pointed out.

Wei Ling squinted at the horizon. "What are the chances Zuo Ming actually helps us?"

Xu Tian sighed. "If he's anything like Old Jin, probably slim to none."

And with that, they ventured into the plains, the whispers of the grass seeming to follow them with every step.

Back in the cave, Old Jin sat by the fire, gazing into its embers. A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in black and carrying an aura of menace.

"Did they take the bait?" the figure asked.

Old Jin smirked. "Of course. They're walking straight into the lion's den."

"And the pearl?"

"It's safer with them than it is with me... for now."

The figure's eyes glinted. "You play a dangerous game, Jin."

Old Jin's grin widened. "The best ones always are."