White Phantom – Chapter 21: Echoes of the Past

The wind howled through the valley, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and the faint rustle of fallen leaves. Bai Shen stood alone on the edge of a cliff, his white hair whipping in the breeze. His blind eyes remained expressionless, yet his heart trembled.

The whispers had returned.

"Bai Shen… why did you let me die?"

Mei Lin's voice echoed in his mind, soft yet piercing like a dagger laced with sorrow.

His fists clenched. He had spent countless nights in solitude, pushing his body beyond its limits, training until exhaustion drowned his thoughts. Yet, nothing could silence her voice.

Even now, standing atop the precipice, he could almost feel her presence beside him—her warmth, her touch. A cruel illusion, a trick played by his broken mind.

"Enough," he muttered, shaking his head.

Yet, the memories refused to fade. The night Mei Lin died was etched into his soul like an unhealed wound. The scent of blood, her fading breath, the way her fingers had trembled as she reached for him—only to collapse in his arms, lifeless.

His grip on the hilt of his sword tightened. Phantom Echo. That was the name of his technique—the power he had honed through his blindness. A power Mei Lin had once admired.

"Bai Shen, your gift is beautiful. You hear the world in ways no one else can."

And yet, it had failed her.

A sharp gust of wind tore through the silence. Bai Shen exhaled and took a step forward, descending from the cliffside path.

---

The Wandering Girl

Further down the valley, a lone traveler made her way through the dense forest. Dressed in a dark blue robe, her black hair tied into a loose ponytail, Lan Yue moved with the grace of a seasoned martial artist.

She had been following Bai Shen's trail for days, ever since witnessing his battle against the assassins in the last town. Something about him intrigued her—his ghostly presence, the way he fought without sight yet saw everything.

And yet, what drew her most was the unbearable sorrow in his every step.

Lan Yue had seen men burdened by revenge before, but Bai Shen… he was different. His pain was silent yet deafening, hidden beneath a mask of indifference.

She quickened her pace, leaping from branch to branch until she caught sight of him moving through the misty path below.

Before she could call out, Bai Shen stopped.

"I know you're there." His voice was calm, yet edged with warning.

Lan Yue smirked. "You're sharp."

"I don't like being followed."

"You don't seem to like much of anything." She landed a few meters away, keeping her stance relaxed. "You're Bai Shen, aren't you?"

He didn't answer.

Lan Yue crossed her arms. "You destroyed the Shadow Serpents in the last town. People are talking. Some say you're a vengeful ghost. Others say you're a blind swordsman seeking death."

Silence.

She sighed. "I say you're someone who doesn't know where to go."

Bai Shen finally turned his head slightly toward her, his empty gaze unnerving yet strangely captivating. "And what do you want?"

Lan Yue tilted her head. "Maybe I just want to know what happens next."

---

Echoes of the Phantom

The air grew heavier. Bai Shen suddenly turned his head, his senses flaring. His fingers brushed against the hilt of his sword, Phantom Echo whispering through the wind.

A presence—no, multiple.

"Move," he ordered.

Lan Yue barely had time to react before three figures emerged from the mist. Cloaked in dark robes, their auras pulsed with killing intent.

Bai Shen didn't hesitate.

Phantom Echo: First Requiem.

The sound of his unsheathing sword resonated through the valley, a deadly wave of vibrations slicing through the air. The assassins staggered, their movements disrupted.

Lan Yue watched, eyes widening.

"He doesn't even need to see them…"

One of the assassins lunged. Bai Shen sidestepped effortlessly, his blade drawing a thin arc. A gasp, a spray of blood—the man fell without a sound.

The other two hesitated.

Bai Shen stood motionless, sword dripping red. "Who sent you?"

No answer. Only silence, followed by a renewed attack.

Lan Yue stepped forward, drawing her own weapon. "I guess talking is pointless."

A smile tugged at Bai Shen's lips—cold, fleeting. "You should stay out of this."

Lan Yue merely grinned. "And miss the fun? Not a chance."

---

Unfinished Vengeance

The battle was brief. By the time the last body hit the ground, Bai Shen remained standing, his breathing calm. Lan Yue wiped her blade clean, glancing at him.

"You're really something."

He didn't respond. His thoughts were elsewhere.

The assassins—they had carried the mark of The Black Veil, an organization tied to the Shadow Sect.

The same sect responsible for Mei Lin's death.

Lan Yue noticed his clenched fists. "You recognized them, didn't you?"

Bai Shen turned away. "This has nothing to do with you."

She scoffed. "Maybe not. But you're not alone in this."

He paused. The words struck something deep inside him—a truth he wasn't ready to accept.

Without another word, he walked away, disappearing into the mist.

Lan Yue sighed and followed.

After all, she wasn't planning on letting letting him go so easily.

End of Chapter 21.