Chapter 12

The air in Broken Sky City felt different.

Rumors spread like wildfire—whispers of a nameless figure who had defied House Zhao, of mercenaries sent to crush him and returning in disgrace.

In the slums, stories twisted and grew with each telling. Some claimed Shen Tian had used forbidden arts. Others believed he had made a pact with dark forces.

Fear and fascination blended together.

And Shen Tian remained at the center of it all.

Jiang Hao tossed a coin pouch onto the rickety table, the sound of clinking metal filling the small room. "Your winnings."

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow. "Winnings?"

Jiang Hao smirked. "People are betting on you now. Some think you'll survive. Some think House Zhao will bury you within the week. Either way, the fights have already begun."

Shen Tian chuckled softly. "Let them bet. It changes nothing."

Jiang Hao sat across from him, his usual easygoing demeanor tinged with caution. "You do realize this isn't just about House Zhao anymore, right?"

Shen Tian remained silent.

Jiang Hao sighed. "The other factions are watching. Some see you as a threat. Others…" He leaned forward. "They see an opportunity."

Shen Tian exhaled. He had expected this. The slums thrived on power shifts. A single spark could set an entire district ablaze.

And he had just struck flint against steel.

The first invitation came at dusk.

A hooded figure approached, moving with the deliberate grace of someone accustomed to shadows. A woman—tall, poised, with a presence that commanded attention.

She stopped a few paces away. "Shen Tian."

He met her gaze. "And you are?"

"A messenger." She tossed a small wooden token onto the ground between them.

Shen Tian picked it up. A symbol carved into its surface—three interwoven daggers.

Jiang Hao tensed. "The Black Veil."

Shen Tian turned the token over in his fingers. "Interesting."

The woman smirked. "My master wishes to meet you."

Shen Tian studied her expression. No deception. No fear. Just curiosity.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because you intrigue him."

Shen Tian considered it. The Black Veil was an underground faction that operated in the shadows of Broken Sky City. Assassins, informants, and spies.

They did not make careless moves.

And yet, they had sought him out.

"…Where?" Shen Tian finally asked.

The woman smiled. "Follow me."

They moved through the slums in silence. The woman led him through narrow alleys, past abandoned buildings where even the desperate dared not linger.

Finally, they arrived at an old, decrepit temple.

Inside, a single candle flickered, casting long shadows against the walls.

A man sat cross-legged before it—dressed in dark robes, his face partially concealed by a silver mask.

"Shen Tian," the man greeted, his voice smooth, measured. "You've been making quite an impression."

Shen Tian studied him. "And you are?"

"Call me Xue Lan." The man gestured for him to sit. "I represent those who prefer to remain unseen."

Shen Tian took a seat across from him. "You didn't summon me for pleasantries."

Xue Lan chuckled. "No. I summoned you because you are at war with House Zhao… and wars require allies."

Shen Tian's expression remained unreadable. "And what do you gain from this?"

Xue Lan's eyes glinted behind his mask. "Chaos breeds opportunity. The more House Zhao scrambles to contain you, the more gaps appear in their defenses. My faction thrives in such conditions."

Jiang Hao, who had remained quiet until now, folded his arms. "So you want to use him."

Xue Lan shrugged. "We use each other. It's how the world works."

Shen Tian tapped his fingers against the wooden floor. "And what do you offer in return?"

Xue Lan's smirk deepened. "Information. Resources. Protection… within reason."

Shen Tian exhaled slowly. An alliance with the Black Veil would be a double-edged sword. Useful, but dangerous.

Still, he did not reject the offer outright.

"…I will consider it."

Xue Lan inclined his head. "That is all I ask."

As they left the temple, Jiang Hao muttered under his breath. "I don't trust them."

Shen Tian chuckled. "Neither do I."

Jiang Hao shot him a look. "Then why entertain the idea?"

Shen Tian gazed up at the sky, where the first stars of the evening had begun to emerge.

"Because the real battle hasn't begun yet."

House Zhao was preparing something.

He could feel it.

And when they struck again…

He would be ready.