The Hunt for the Ancient Relic

The air inside Ling's hideout was heavy with silence. Li Xueyan's mind raced. An ancient relic hidden beneath the capital? If Li Jiang was looking for it, then it had to be powerful—dangerous even.

Zhiwei leaned against the wooden table, his expression unreadable. "Do you know exactly where it is?" he asked Ling.

She shook her head. "No, but I know where to start. There's an old archive in the Imperial Library. It holds records about lost treasures and forbidden history."

Xueyan frowned. "The Imperial Library? That place is heavily guarded."

Ling smirked. "That's why I'm not the one going in."

Zhiwei chuckled. "Ah, I see. You want us to do the dangerous work while you relax?"

Ling crossed her arms. "You're the ones who want the information. I'm just showing you the way."

Hei Yue, the wolf spirit, flicked his tail. "This plan is reckless, but I like it."

Xueyan exhaled. "Fine. We'll go to the library. But if we get caught, I'm blaming you."

Zhiwei grinned. "I'll take full responsibility. Now, let's move before dawn arrives."

---

Breaking into the Imperial Library

The Imperial Library stood at the heart of the capital, near the palace. Its towering walls were covered in golden inscriptions, and its entrance was guarded by soldiers carrying long spears.

Xueyan and Zhiwei hid in the shadows of a nearby alley, watching the guards closely.

"There are too many of them," Xueyan whispered.

Zhiwei smirked. "That's why we're not using the front door."

He pointed toward the side of the library, where a smaller building stood connected to it. "That's the scribe's quarters. If we enter from there, we can sneak into the main archives without being seen."

Xueyan raised an eyebrow. "You seem to know a lot about this place."

Zhiwei chuckled. "Let's just say this isn't my first time sneaking into restricted areas."

Hei Yue's voice echoed in her mind. "This man is either a genius or a fool."

Xueyan sighed. "Probably both."

They moved carefully, sticking to the shadows. When the guards looked away, they dashed toward the scribe's quarters. Zhiwei picked the lock in seconds, and they slipped inside.

The room smelled of ink and paper. Scrolls and books were stacked on wooden shelves. They moved quietly, avoiding the scribes who were still working late into the night.

Zhiwei led her through a narrow hallway. "This way. The archives are just ahead."

Xueyan followed, her heart pounding. They reached a large wooden door with golden patterns carved into it. Zhiwei carefully pushed it open, revealing rows of ancient books and scrolls.

"We need to find anything related to lost relics," Xueyan whispered.

They began searching.

---

The Truth Hidden in Scrolls

Minutes passed as they flipped through records. Most of them contained useless information about old wars, taxes, and royal bloodlines.

Then, finally, Zhiwei pulled out a scroll with faded red markings.

"I found something."

Xueyan leaned closer as he unrolled it. The scroll spoke of an ancient Celestial Relic, a powerful artifact that was said to be buried beneath the capital.

Hei Yue read aloud. "'A treasure hidden in the forgotten catacombs, sealed away by the first emperor. A power that can shape fate itself.'"

Xueyan's eyes narrowed. "This must be what Li Jiang is after."

Zhiwei tapped the scroll. "The catacombs… They were sealed off centuries ago. No one even knows how to enter them anymore."

Xueyan clenched her fists. "Then we need to find a way before Li Jiang does."

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed outside.

Guards.

Zhiwei quickly rolled up the scroll and tucked it into his robe. "Time to leave."

They moved swiftly, sneaking back the way they came. Just as they reached the exit, a loud voice shouted—

"Intruders!"

The alarm bells rang.

---

The Great Escape

Xueyan and Zhiwei sprinted down the dark streets of the capital, guards chasing after them. The sound of armored boots echoed behind them.

"This is your fault!" Xueyan hissed.

Zhiwei grinned. "Admit it, you're having fun."

She groaned. "I swear, if we die, I'm haunting you!"

They turned into a narrow alley, but a group of guards appeared ahead.

"Stop right there!"

Zhiwei sighed. "No choice, then."

He moved like lightning. In a blink, he was in front of the first guard. A single strike to the man's chest sent him flying backward. Another guard swung his spear, but Zhiwei dodged with ease and struck the man's neck, knocking him unconscious.

Xueyan didn't hesitate either. She drew her sword, deflecting an attack and countering with a precise kick. The guard collapsed.

The last few soldiers hesitated, realizing they were outmatched.

"Run," Xueyan warned.

They didn't need to be told twice. The guards turned and fled.

Zhiwei dusted off his robe. "Well, that was easy."

Xueyan glared at him. "You call that easy? We almost got caught!"

He laughed. "Almost. But we didn't."

Hei Yue shook his head. "You two are insane."

Xueyan sighed. "Let's get back to Ling before more guards arrive."

---

A New Path Forward

Back at Ling's hideout, they spread the scroll across the table.

Ling scanned the words, her expression serious. "So it's true. The Celestial Relic is real."

Xueyan crossed her arms. "Now the real question is, how do we get into the catacombs?"

Ling tapped the scroll. "It says the entrance is hidden beneath the palace itself."

Silence filled the room.

Zhiwei chuckled. "Oh, great. So we just have to break into the most heavily guarded place in the empire."

Hei Yue snorted. "You say that like it's a simple task."

Xueyan's eyes burned with determination. "I don't care how difficult it is. We have to stop Li Jiang. If he gets his hands on this relic, no one will be able to defeat him."

Ling nodded. "Then we need a plan. A very good one."

Zhiwei smirked. "Lucky for you, I happen to be an expert at impossible plans."

Xueyan rolled her eyes. "Then let's get started."

As the night deepened, the three of them gathered around the scroll, preparing for the most dangerous mission of their lives.