Chapter twenty-five: Who knows the answer

The message from the Black scorpion was delivered to Ba Shou, the grizzled commander of the Black Scorpion's elite unit. His face turned stone-cold immediately the message got to him, then turned to the rest of the men and told them the order.

That was all he needed to say as his men were always ever ready.

From their base to the woods was barely an hour ride. Still, the mention of that place made a few eyes twitch. Everyone knew the woods. They knew who lived there. And no one dared trespass.

Ba Shou moved fast. He had chosen only the most seasoned among them—men who had tasted blood, war, and silence. Within minutes, they were on horseback, cloaked and armed, riding out from the cliffs, through the narrow gorge, they past the rushing stream that marked the edge of their unknown destination.

The moment they entered the woods, the world changed. It was as if the forest swallowed all sound and The birds quieted. Even the horses seemed to step lighter, sensing something unnatural in the air. The trees towered like ancient sentries with their branches clawing the sky.

As they ventured deeper, the silence grew heavier. The silence was enough to make a few of the men halt and retreat. But thier hands tightening around sword hilts, prepared. And Ba Shou didn't stop nor did he flinch. He had seen worse in his lifetime, and fear was something he buried long ago.

"Move," he commanded without turning.

They obeyed and the journey continued.

By the time they reached the heart of the forest, even the bravest among them were riding with caution.

And then they came to a hut. It stood crooked and ugly, like a drawing sketched by a child's trembling hand. It leaned slightly to the left, its roof patched with rotting straw, its wooden boards black with age and damp.

Just a few feet from the hut, they saw

a woman. She was seated on a moss-covered rock as though she had been waiting. Her hair was long and tangled, and she wore a tattered cloak.

Ba Shou stopped his horse. The men behind him drew their weapons halfway.

The woman didn't even look up. Her voice rose like wind over a grave.

"So," she murmured. "The black scorpion has finally come Knocking. Took him long enough."

Xhurai once lived in a small kingdom where she was respected and worshipped. Her people knew she was a seer and they came to her to seek answers. She was like the leader of the Little kingdom. But one day, she saw a vision of a seeker born with the most powerful eyes. He was the Legend of all seekers and was the most powerful seer that could even interact with the spirits of the past and future. She was overwhelmed with anger and she left her kingdom and set out on a journey to find the seer. After many failed attempts, she ended up hopeless in this black scorpion's kingdom. But then she saw the vision of the Black scorpion, the emperor of the village where she now stays, wanted a clue to find someone mysterious. She knew that only she could help him and decided to lead him to her woods. And here they were.

After delivering the black scorpion's message, Lady Xurai and the soldiers rode back to the palace, their arrival stirring whisper. When they reached the palace gate, the great hall doors were already open. Emperor Hei Xiezhi was already sitting on the throne waiting.

"I assume you know why you're here," he said sharply, his voice echo through the throne room. "Are you here to work with me... or against me?. Will you tell me the truth?."

Lady Xurai stepped forward. Her was chin high and her gaze unshaken with no hint of fear. "That depends," she said calmly. "I came with a condition."

Hei Xiezhi narrowed his eyes. "Listen, woman," he growled, rising from his throne. "If you betray me, I'll cut off your head myself and feed it to the vultures."

But the threat didn't faze her. She walked past him without blinking and took a seat on a cushioned bench nearby, crossing her legs with ease. A servant, acting on the emperor's subtle gesture, stepped forward and poured her a glass of wine.

"What do you know?" Hei Xiezhi asked at last, his tone shifting—now curious and cautious. "And what is this... condition of yours" he added.

She took a slow sip of the wine and her voice was smooth as she replied. "We have a common enemy, Hei Xiezhi."

Xiezhi's gaze sharpened. No one dared called him by his name. He was taken back by her guts but maintained calm and asked.

"And who might that be?." he asked, leaning closer. His eyes were locked onto hers as though searching for any hint of deceit.

"I have seen it," Lady Xurai said, her voice low but heavy with conviction. "A forgotten bloodline will rise to power. Standing at his side— a seer, and a princess marked by fate."

She paused, letting the weight of her words settle over the room.

"Together, they will shatter your empire, strip you of everything your ancestors built... and destroy you. You won't see it coming—until it's too late. And when he strikes, it will be the end of your name, your throne, and everything you have ever loved".

There was dead silence in the throne room. Xiezhi stared at Xhurai with a blank expression. Her words sounded like a poisonous bee that stung his ear. After a while of dead silent, Xiezhi finally spoke up.

"You came here to tell me that I'll soon be defeated?. " He asked, his voice as hot as fire.

Xhurai laughed like she was satisfied with his fear. Then she finally came clear.

"Well, I can help you. But as I said, there's a condition. " She said as she stood up and walked closer to him.

"What is it?. " Xiezhi asked determined.

"I need the seer dead. The seer that see what I can't see. The seer that speak to those I can't speak to. The seer that hears all I can't hear. I need him.... dead". Xhurai said. Her voice sounded like that of a deadly serpent.

"I don't even know who this seer is. And you have to tell me how I can defeat this three people you talk of. " Xiezhi said.

"I don't really know the answer to that. But I can lead you to who knows the answer. " She said smiling.