Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The Voices of the Past

Xiao Lian's breath caught in his throat. The spectral figure before him was unmistakable—Bai He, his master, his guide, the man who had shaped him into the warrior he was today. But Bai He had fallen, cut down in the massacre at the Aetherwind Sect.

And yet, here he stood, his robes flowing as if caught in an unseen current, his silver hair glowing faintly in the dim valley light.

"Master…" Xiao Lian's voice was barely above a whisper.

Yun Mei tensed beside him, her grip on her daggers unwavering. "Xiao Lian, that's not him."

The figure tilted its head slightly, as if considering her words. Then, in a voice that echoed like distant thunder, it spoke.

"You have come at last."

Xiao Lian swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay steady. "Are you… real?"

Bai He's expression did not change. "I am a shadow, a remnant of what once was. A voice carried by the winds of fate."

A gust of wind swept through the valley, stirring the mist at their feet. Around them, more figures began to emerge from the shadows—warriors clad in ancient armor, their faces blurred by time.

"The Valley of Echoes," Bai He continued, "is a resting place for those bound to the Aetherwind. Here, the past lingers, waiting for one who can listen."

Xiao Lian felt a shiver run down his spine. "Why am I here?"

Bai He's gaze seemed to pierce straight through him. "Because the winds have chosen you. Because you seek the truth."

The surrounding spirits stirred, their forms shifting like smoke. The whispers returned, stronger now, layering over one another.

"The Aetherbound rise…"

"The Windblade must awaken…"

"Beware the shadow that walks as a man…"

Xiao Lian clenched his fists. "I don't understand."

Bai He stepped closer, the glow around him pulsing like a heartbeat. "Then listen, Xiao Lian. The Windblade is more than a weapon. It is a key. And there is more to your bloodline than you know."

The air grew heavier, pressing down on him. Xiao Lian's vision swam, the whispers crashing over him like waves. Then, just before the darkness took him, he heard Bai He's final words—

"Wu Jian is not your only enemy."

The world tilted. The valley dissolved into mist.

Then—blackness.