Shadows of the Scarlet Lotus

The night sky is dyed a pale red, a strange phenomenon that puts everyone in the sect on alert. From the summit where the Main Hall stands, the disciples observe the crimson moon that seems to devour the stars. There is something haunting in its radiance; even the wind seems colder, loaded with a whisper that no one can understand.

I'm on the meditation platform, sitting in the lotus position, trying to concentrate. But the qi in the air is agitated, as if an invisible storm is stirring it. My connection to spiritual energy is unstable, and every attempt to channel it ends in a feeling of emptiness.

—It's disturbing, isn't it?

Hua Mei's voice brings me out of my thoughts. He is standing a few meters away, staring at the moon with an inscrutable expression. His blue tunic looks gray under the reddish light, but his bearing remains that of someone untouchable, distant.

"It is," I reply, standing up. I had never seen anything like it.

She nods, but doesn't say anything else for a moment. Then, finally, he turns to me.

—Lian Zhi, what do you know about the legends about the Crimson Moon?

I frown, trying to remember how little I've read. —It is said that it appears before a great disaster... Or that it is an omen of change.

Hua Mei seems satisfied with my answer. —It's both. The last time it appeared, the major sects clashed in a war that nearly destroyed the region. But it also marked the rise of a great hero.

His tone is neutral, but there is something in his words that puts me on guard.

—Why are you telling me this?

She hesitates for a moment, something unusual for her. Finally, he takes a step closer. —Because I think this time… the disaster and the hero are connected.

The force of his words leaves me breathless. I try to process them, but before I can respond, a distant roar breaks the silence of the night. The sound is low, but it reverberates in the air like distant thunder.

-What was that? I ask, my hand instinctively going to the handle of my sword.

Hua Mei doesn't respond immediately. He's watching the horizon, and his usually calm eyes now reflect concern.

"Something has woken up," he finally says, his tone grave. Something that should not have left its prison.

Before he can ask for an explanation, a messenger comes running, panting, his robe soaked with sweat.

—Miss Hua Mei! Disciple Lian Zhi! —he exclaims, bowing quickly—. Master Hua Tian has summoned all the core disciples to the Hall of Judgment. Something urgent requires our attention.

Without another word, Hua Mei nods and turns to me. His expression hardens, and I see a spark in his eyes that I hadn't noticed before: determination.

—Get ready, Lian Zhi. Tonight everything will change.

The Hall of Judgment is the most solemn place in the sect. The elders gather here only in times of crisis, and today, everyone is present. Master Hua Tian stands in the center, his stern face illuminated by the reddish light filtering through the large windows. Around them, the other sect leaders whisper to each other, their expressions reflecting the same concern I've seen on Hua Mei.

"We have received alarming news," Hua Tian announces, his voice echoing through the room. The evil energy we feel is not an accident. The Crimson Seal, which has kept the Dark Dragon locked away for centuries, is weakening.

A murmur of disbelief runs through the room. Even I, being one of the newer ones here, know what that means. The Dark Dragon is one of the most feared creatures in legends. An entity that not only destroys, but corrupts everything in its path.

—What can we do, teacher? —asks one of the elders.

Hua Tian takes a moment before answering. —First, we must strengthen the seal with a ritual. But that will only buy time. The most important thing is to discover what or who is weakening the seal from within.

I feel a chill run through me. From within... That means that someone or something has accessed the place where the Dark Dragon is located.

"The core disciples will be assigned to immediate missions," Hua Tian continues, his gaze scanning the room. Some will search for the ingredients for the ritual. Others will investigate the anomalies in the surroundings.

When his gaze meets mine, I feel a weight fall on my shoulders.

—Lian Zhi. Hua Mei. —His words are clear, leaving everyone silent—. You two will head to Qianlong Valley. The source of the seal's weakening reportedly comes from there.

My mind races. Qianlong Valley is known to be an inhospitable place, full of spirit beasts and natural traps. It is not a place for the weak. But before he can fully process the order, Hua Mei steps forward and bows.

—Understood, master. We will prepare immediately.

The confidence in his voice infects me, although the fear is still present. As we leave the room, I can't help but wonder: Am I really prepared for what's coming?

The answer doesn't matter. Because, whether you like it or not, destiny is already in motion.