NOVEL WEB Chapter 180: soon
"Whispers of a Distant Ruin"
1 Arrival at the Pavilion
Silver Muse glided over the eastern rooftops like a silver dragonfly. Kent kept one hand on the throttle rune, the other on the rune compass that pointed to the Nexus Pavilion. His heart still beat fast from Jade Monroe's call. Auri perched on the backrest, tail-flame flicking small sparks that drifted into the morning air.
Down below, market stalls opened for business. Bakers spread sweet-bun scent across busy lanes. Spirit-herb vendors arranged bundles of green leaves on bamboo mats. Barely a week ago Kent himself had stood among them selling carrot samples. Today he came as a special guest, maybe even a partner on something bigger.
The pavilion rose ahead—white marble pillars, jade-green banners hanging from a circular roof. Kent slowed the skimmer and touched down on the small landing pad reserved for visiting craft. The hull kissed the rune anchors with a soft thunk. Almost at once two Nexus attendants hurried forward, bows clipped at their belts, to help tie Silver Muse's mooring lines.
Auri hopped onto Kent's shoulder. "Chip?" he trilled, asking if he could follow.
"Stay close," Kent said. "This talk may be important." He smoothed his tunic, checked that the Soul-Slasher dagger rested easy at his side, then stepped down onto polished stone. The attendants bowed, but he hurried past them into the main hall.
Inside, carved phoenix beams met high overhead, and thin sunlight spilled through colored panes, painting red and gold stripes on the mosaic floor. Jade Monroe waited at the far end under a hanging scroll of mountain peaks. She wore traveling clothes today—dark trousers, a fitted jade coat, soft boots laced for speed. At her waist rested a slim box, likely holding documents. A single hairpin kept her long hair in place, but strands already slipped free as if in a hurry.
"Kent Li," she greeted, voice low but firm, "thank you for coming quickly."
Kent bowed. "Nexus leader, you said something about a new ruin?"
"Walk with me," she answered. She turned and led him down a side corridor, quieter and dimmer. Auri fluttered overhead, but Jade did not object.
2 The Secret Briefing
They stopped in a small map room. Charts filled every wall—trade roads, border watch-towers, old ruin marks. Jade Monroe tapped a distant corner on one hanging map, far beyond the borders of their own province. A red string traced a route across mountain ridges into a neighboring state called Yanling Dominion.
"A pocket dimension just showed signs of opening here," she said, tapping the red mark. "My scouts detected a surge of spatial energy two nights ago. The gate is unstable, maybe four days from full opening."
Kent folded his arms. "Why me?"
"Because two reasons," she said. "First, the ruin's resonance pattern matches the rune coin matrix you sold me—thirty-three sigils in concentric rings. That means knowledge of your matrix may unlock the inner chambers faster. Second,…" She paused, eyes narrowing with something like worry. "…Yanling Dominion forbids other nations' expeditions. Official watchers like mine cannot simply land there. I need someone who can move quietly—someone without obvious Nexus uniform."
"A spy mission," Kent said, pulse quickening.
"An observation mission," she corrected. "In and out. Study the gate. Copy any rune inscriptions. Retrieve small relics if possible." Her gaze hardened. "And—prevent rival states from sealing it first. If one of them locks it down, we lose research for years."
Kent let out a slow breath. "So just you and me?"
"For ease of travel, yes," she said. "A private skimmer, low height, midnight crossing. We fly north two days, cross the ridge, set down near the target, gather data, return."
Kent considered. In his head he saw seedlings still fragile, the new bacteria tank humming quietly, his SP count hovering just over a million. Dangerous travel might break his fresh routines—but ruin knowledge could raise them all.
"Give me five minutes to think," he said.
Jade nodded. "I'll prepare flight charts." She stepped to a side table.
Kent turned to Auri. "What do you think?"
"Chip!" Auri trilled, flipping a small circle. It sounded like approval.
A message buzzed in Kent's system view—Immortal Assembly still pending. No word. Meanwhile SP income from the microbe tank trickled at a silent rate. Good.
He faced Jade again. "I'm in. But we must leave word for my sister."
Jade smiled slightly, relief softening her eyes. "Naturally."
3 The Family Objection
Returning home took half an hour. Kent coasted low to avoid attracting watchers' attention. Auri preened, excited.
He parked Silver Muse near the shed. Nima sat on the porch rail eating a bowl of noodles. When she saw him, she waved the chopsticks. "Back so soon? Where's my souvenir?"
Kent took a breath. "We need to talk."
Inside the kitchen they sat at the small cedar table. Xian Yu joined them, carrying a mug of jasmine tea. Kent explained Jade Monroe's offer: a quick, quiet trip to a newly opening ruin across the border.
Nima's chopsticks froze mid-air. "Across the border? Like… enemy territory?"
"Not enemies," Kent said carefully. "Just… protective of their ruins."
"That's worse!" she cried. "They'll chase you and chop off your head!" A dramatic image, but Nima's face was serious. "I'm not letting you go alone."
Kent rubbed his forehead. "Nim, it's covert. Quiet. Like slipping into a festival without tickets. Two people mean fewer footprints."
Auri hopped onto Nima's bowl, pecked a noodle, then chirped at Kent as if scolding.
Xian Yu sighed. "Child, such trips carry risk. But Jade Monroe is able. And Kent has grown. Still, a companion can help."
Nima brightened. "Exactly! I'll be that companion."
"No," Kent said firmly. "If something goes wrong, I can flee alone. If you're there, I must protect you."
She crossed her arms. "You think I can't protect myself? I'm Level-D high peak, almost C." She flexed, a noodle dangling from her lip. "Besides, Auri fires medium-grade phoenix flames now. We'll roast any bandit who tries."
Kent stared at her determined gaze. Five months ago she had cried over stolen cup noodles. Now she brandished ruin adventures as casually as farm chores. Pride and terror wrestled in his chest.
"We'll discuss after supper," he muttered.
4 Supplies and Secrets
Kent retreated to the shed, opened a small locker, and packed ruin kit items:
Collapsible pick hammer
Rune chalk sticks
Spirit-glass sample jars
Field notes notebook
Spare dagger
He wrapped them in oiled cloth and set them in a side box of Silver Muse. The bacteria tank purred along, fans turning. Temperature steady. Mood stable. Good.
System, he thought, If I am away two days, keep auto-correct on tank.
Acknowledged. Temperature alarms will forward to wrist band.
He closed the shed door.
Nima marched over hugging Auri. "Brother, if you don't let us come, we'll follow anyway in Silver Muse's locker."
"That locker is tiny."
"We'll shrink." She stuck out her tongue.
Kent exhaled through his nose. "Fine. We bring Jade the question. If she okays, you may join under my command. One slip, you obey retreat."
Nima pumped a fist. "Deal."
5 Return to the Pavilion
Late afternoon sun hung low when Silver Muse touched down again on the Nexus pad—this time with three passengers. Jade Monroe waited wearing a light travel cloak. She raised one eyebrow at Nima stepping off behind Kent and Auri waving from his shoulder.
"Add-ons?" she asked.
Kent bowed. "Captain Nima—my sister—and Auri. They… insisted."
Nima bowed deeply. "Nexus Jade, please allow me to assist. I'm fast, I know basic medicine, and I can sneak like a ninja." She tried a serious tone.
Auri chirped a short tune. Jade studied them. "Small bodies mean small shadows," she finally said. "Very well. But your brother commands. Any disobedience—mission aborted."
Nima saluted. "Yes, ma'am!"
Jade smiled faintly. "Pack fast. We depart three hours after dusk."
6 Final Preparation
Jade led them to a side hangar. Inside waited a lean black skimmer—longer than Silver Muse, painted matte to blend with night. Nameplate: Silent Star.
"We fly this. Faster than your craft, but no bright runes," Jade explained. She checked each storage bay:
Two packs of compressed ration bars
Four canteens of high-grade spirit water
Cold-run talisman blankets
One fold-out shelter
Two invisibility mesh cloaks
Kent placed his notebook case and tool satchel in the forward locker. Nima added a pouch labeled "Emergency Snacks," which Jade weighed in her hand but let pass.
Fuel crystals glowed in the engine cradle, low intensity; enough for five days range.
Jade gestured to a chalk map on the floor: route line, crossing point, ruin circle. "We leave at 21:00 sharp," she said. "Stop once for refuel at a hidden ridge cave. Land near ruin entrance by 04:00 day after tomorrow. Gate fully stabilizes around sunrise."
Kent etched times into memory.
Xian Yu arrived, having followed on foot. He bowed to Jade then turned to Kent and Nima. "I accept staying as home guardian. But mind your promises." He placed two small jade tags around their necks—light detection wards. "If danger over C-class approaches, they warm."
Kent touched the tag. "Thank you, Master."
Nima hugged the old man. "Carrots back by time we return, okay?"
Xian Yu laughed. "Water them when you come home."