Legend of the Divine Archer

The group gathered in a private room, the warmth of the flickering candles casting soft shadows on the walls. The scent of roasted meats, spiced vegetables, and rich broths filled the air, mingling with the sound of laughter and lighthearted conversation.

The table was laden with dishes that Yan Jin had always favored—spicy stews, delicate dumplings, and savory rice, each bite a reminder of the comforts they had once shared. Despite the weight of the year and a half that had passed, the atmosphere was cozy and inviting, the tension of their past struggles momentarily forgotten as they shared this meal together.

Each of them took turns recounting their experiences over the past year, carefully skirting the sensitive questions. Had Huang reached the Resonance realm? Did he have the strength to defeat the Nie family? Were they truly leaving the tower, or were they simply avoiding the inevitable? Every answer was hedged with hesitation, every word laced with the weight of uncertainty. Though Yan Jin could not see their faces, he could sense the subtle vibrations of anxiety in their voices—the way they shifted uneasily, the hesitations that lingered in their words.

Nioh, ever perceptive, recognized it as the pressure they had all been under, a pressure that had only worsened in his absence. With a deep breath, he decided to break the silence and ease the tension. "Now that we've reached the eastern region, what are your plans?"

Zhang San spoke first, his voice steady but carrying an edge of responsibility. "My sister wants me to return to Border City. I'll be using a teleportation array first thing tomorrow."

A heavy silence fell over the group. Zhang San was the only one with a plan, and the others seemed uncertain, lost in their own thoughts. The weight of their unspoken concerns hung in the air, and no one moved or spoke for a long moment.

"Take Lee Ann with you," Nioh said, his voice firm, cutting through the stillness like a blade.

"What? Why?" Lee Ann shot up from her seat, her expression a mix of surprise and unease. Her hands instinctively clenched at her sides as if bracing for a decision she hadn't expected.

"Right now, I haven't reached the Blood Resonance realm," Nioh explained, his tone serious. "Because of the mark of the throne of pride, the moment I use my blood energy outside the tower, I'll become a target. I can't guarantee your safety."

There was a pause before he continued. "On the other hand, you could definitely prepare my return to the northern region. There's much you can do there—things that would help greatly. Many orphans need support. It's not a place where you'll be under constant threat. You can make a real difference."

Lee Ann's lips parted as she processed his words, but before she could respond, Nioh continued. "I have to take Wei Xi back to his family, and we still need to resolve Yan Bai's situation. If we all leave the tower at once, it will attract far too much attention. Let's split into three groups. I'll leave discreetly tonight with Scara. Tomorrow, Yan Bai and Wei Xi will leave with Zhang San. And Lee Ann, you'll travel with a third person, to confuse them. That way, we'll all have the best chance of disappearing without drawing suspicion."

The plan was set, cold and calculated. Nioh spoke with the authority of someone who had weighed every possibility.

"That should give us enough time to vanish before they realize the trick," he said, his voice quieter now but no less resolute.

With that, Nioh stood, his movements calm and purposeful. He gave a deep bow to the group, a gesture of respect and gratitude. "Thank you for trusting me, for going on this journey with me. Let's drink to our hearts' content before we separate again."

A wave of energy surged through the room as the rest of the group rose to their feet, their voices lifting in cheers, their laughter mixing with the clinking of cups and the sound of celebratory chants.

For tonight, they were free from the looming threat of the Nie family, the throne of pride, or the golden warriors. Tomorrow would be another day—a day to face the unknown, to step into new roles and forge ahead with their separate destinies.

As the night wore on, the alcohol flowed freely, and the group descended into a euphoric haze, their voices ringing with joy and camaraderie. Old worries seemed distant, buried beneath the warmth of the moment.

But deep in the quiet hours of the night, as the group drifted into slumber, lulled by exhaustion and the effects of unrestricted drinking, Yan Jin quietly rose from his seat. His movements were deliberate, each step silent on the stone floor as he slipped out of the room.

With a soft breath, he stepped onto the open-air balcony, the cool night air greeting him like an old friend. The stars above shimmered with a quiet brilliance, the distant hum of the wind the only sound accompanying him.

Alone in the stillness, Yan Jin let the weight of the world slip from his shoulders for a moment, his blind eyes closing as he listened to the silence around him, the same silence that had followed him for so long.

The night had settled deep and quiet, the only illumination coming from the cold, silver light of the full moon, casting long shadows over the stone pathways. Yan Jin's footsteps were soft on the ground as he walked further into the open air, the familiar weight of another presence pressed against him.

He stopped, his body tensing, his every sense heightened. A voice, flat and emotionless, cut through the silence. "I am here to retrieve my reward."

Yan Jin's lips curled into a thin, almost imperceptible smile, though there was no warmth in it. "I would give it to you if the information you shared previously had any use. But it didn't," he said coolly, his tone dripping with disdain.

The figure in the shadows remained silent for a moment before speaking again, the words sharp as daggers. "Are you trying to renege on your debt?"

Yan Jin's expression hardened, his lips barely twitching. "If I did, could you stop me?" He let his aura surge outwards.

The figure didn't flinch, though a slight tremor passed through her voice as she replied, "This is just a clone. I cannot resist. But your plan to leave the tower will be exposed."

Yan Jin shrouded in the dark, his expression unreadable. "What guarantees that it hasn't been exposed already?"

The figure hesitated, a momentary crack in her composure before she responded, "You have to take my word for it."

"Unfortunately," Yan Jin's voice was like ice now, "I don't. I will hold onto the box until I am out of harm's reach. The exchange will take place in Central City, a month from now."

The figure took a sharp breath, frustration lacing her voice. "You—"

"You've waited years. You can wait an additional month." Yan Jin cut her off, his words sharp and final. The way he spoke left no room for argument, no opportunity for negotiation. . He had no intention of playing by anyone else's rules. Not tonight.

The figure, her form still cloaked in the shadows of the night, remained motionless for a moment, her presence almost imperceptible against the dark backdrop of the world around them.

A thin, almost imperceptible shimmer marked her departure as she began to fade into the abyss, swallowed by the depths of the darkness. Her figure dissolved like mist in the air, her silhouette stretching and warping before it vanished entirely, leaving behind only the cold whisper of her absence.

A soft, commanding whistle broke the silence.

In response, a massive, powerful form appeared in the air above him. Scara, the Garuda, soared into view, its silver wings shimmering like blades of moonlight as it circled the tower. Its wings beat steadily, cutting through the night air with a grace that belied its size.

The enormous bird's keen eyes locked with Yan Jin's face, and in that instant, it seemed to understand everything without a word needing to be spoken.

With a fluid motion, Yan Jin took a step back, his body coiling like a spring. Without hesitation, he leapt into the air, his form twisting through the moonlit night. He soared upward, his cloak billowing around him, his figure briefly illuminated by the cold glow of the full moon. The wind howled as he cut through the atmosphere, and in a single, smooth motion, he landed atop Scara's back, the force of his landing barely causing a ripple in the air around him.

Scara adjusted its flight instinctively, the bird's massive wings folding slightly to allow Yan Jin to settle more comfortably as it took to the sky with renewed strength. The ground below them seemed to vanish as they soared higher, the floating tower shrinking beneath them, disappearing into the vastness of the night.