The Xuemo Sect was now almost in sight.
The convoy thundered forward, slicing through the wind with unyielding force.
But then....Duie's gaze caught on something in the distance.
His horse slowed.
Shock flickered across his face...shock, and a sudden unease.
When Su Nian followed his line of sight, his own breath caught, and his horse, too, slowed.
Within moments, the pounding of hooves faltered.
The entire company came to a halt.
Yu Sui and Mo Yan exchanged glances.
All eyes were now drawn toward Duie.
Far ahead, green banners rippled in the wind.
Beneath them stood a number of figures.....some in the robes of officials.
But Duie's gaze was not on the men.
It was fixed entirely upon the words inscribed upon those banners...
Words that stirred something deep within him, something half-forgotten, as though his own past had just whispered in his ear.
---
Flashback
This was before Duie had gone to study at Liuguang Sect Academy.
One afternoon, a friend of his sister Zuyu came to their home.
Duie was in the kitchen, preparing tea for her.
She had come to deliver her wedding invitation.
The three of them sat together at the table on the balcony.
The weather was perfect.....sunlight spilling warmly over the world, white clouds drifting lazily across the autumn sky.
It was October.....neither too hot nor too cold, only a gentle sweetness in the air.
The cool wind carried golden leaves from the trees, scattering them across the balcony floor.
The sound of light laughter and conversation filled the space.
The young woman who had come to visit was to be married in just a few days...to a man from the beautiful Langshan Sect, an ordinary man in every way, but one who had captured her heart.
Zuyu was delighted for her friend.
But the young woman had also brought something else with her...a letter.
A letter written in a script she could not read.
From the folds of her clothing, she withdrew it, laying it upon the table with a small sigh.
"This is from my fiancé," she explained, "but I don't understand the language it's written in. It's similar to Chwen, but… it isn't Chwen. I've given up trying to read it. If either of you could help, I would be deeply grateful."
When Zuyu opened the letter, Duie only had to glance at the script once.
Recognition struck instantly.
It was Daoren language.
Silence fell over the balcony like a sudden shadow.
It was as though a hidden truth had been laid bare....as if fate itself had been sitting there with them all along.
The wind still blew.
The leaves still fell.
But the laughter was gone.
Zuyu's face turned pale with astonishment as Duie confirmed it.
"Yes. This is Daoren language."