The next morning Blue laid propped against the pillows on his bed. The smell of herbs and ointments filled his infirmary room. He rotated his right arm, pain still throbbed throughout, but his arm was whole again.
His mind wouldn't settle. Memories of the tournament replayed. The fight with that master, Blue replayed it over and over, searching for a different outcome. Everyone ended the same, him on the ground looking at Ryul, fear written across his face.
Footsteps approached Blue’s door. He looked up as Wu Jin slid the paper screen open and stepped inside.
"Here." He tossed a vial to Blue. "Another present from So-Yeon. It will help stabilize your qi and flow after that messy breakthrough you had during your fight."
"She gave you this?" Blue asked as he examined the vial.
"She might not believe who you are, or trust you. But, she doesn't want you dying before she's had a chance to test you properly. Wu Jin crossed his arms. "I'm not entirely certain if that's a blessing or a curse for you either."
Wu Jin grabbed a stool and sat. "The Tang Matriarch also asked if we could help her find her missing scouts in the Black Pines. I'm sending Rogue Edge." Wu Jin sighed. "I'm aware you won't let them go without you. So focus on recovering. You will leave in three days."
Wu Jin paused.
"Also, tomorrow. The Alliance expects you at their vault to claim your prize. If you don't show, you forfeit your chance. And honestly, maybe that's exactly the right move. After the Wudang incident, the Alliance will probably have it out for Silent Edge. Especially you, since you seem to be the center of attention."
Blue stared at the floor for a long moment. Then he looked up at Wu Jin with a grin. "I busted my ass to win that tournament. I'm getting my treasure."
"That prize may be a trap." Wu Jin raised a brow.
"So be it, I'll make sure to take from the Alliance, like they tried to take from me. I'll use whatever artifact I can find from the vault. And I'll use it to protect my family. That includes Silent Edge."
Wu Jin smiled and nodded. "Your stubbornness is going to get you killed one day. But we will die beside you Blue." Wu Jin stood. "Please, learn to think before you act though. Don't turn into your uncle." With that Wu Jin walked out.
The next morning Blue was focused on stabilizing his qi and his recovery. "I refuse to let the Alliance see me weak."
Wu Jin walked in. "Ready?"
Blue nodded and hopped off the bed. Wu Cheng and Tang Yeol stood outside waiting.
"Let's go." Wu Jin ordered. The four men left, and headed toward the Alliance.
They approached massive stone doors. Jaegal Li and Namgung Hyeon stood, waiting for them to arrive at the vault. Iron Order guards lined the walkway that lead to the vault.
As Blue approached, Jaegal Li took a step forward. "Blue. Congratulations on your tournament victory. The Alliance Leader has graciously decided to allow you entry, despite the unfortunate incident with Wudang."
The Alliance Leader smiled. His eyes locked onto Yeol. "Aren't I forgiving?"
Yeol scoffed, loud enough to be heard. Jaegel Li gestured for Blue to follow him. He folded his arms behind his back and walked toward the Vault entrance while speaking. "Inside, you will find treasures gathered from countless generations of Murim. Some even come from the gates themselves. Priceless relics of a time passed. You may choose one. Any that you favor. No questions asked."
Jaegal Li paused and turned. He looked past Blue toward Cheng, Wu Jin and Yeol. "Consider this not just a prize for the tournament. But also a gesture of reconciliation between the Alliance and Silent Edge." He looked down at Blue. "Take your time. Find something useful for yourself and for murim."
Blue stepped through the stone doors and let out a heavy sigh. "Fuck, my whole body aches still. I can't let those two see Silent Edge as weak though. That Jaegal Li sure does have a way with words though. If I didn't know any better, I'd assume he was a friend."
Blue looked up. His breath caught as the vast vault opened before him. Rows of treasures spanned the walls. Lanterns casted shadows over blades and racks of armor.
Swords gleamed. Spears of every length leaned against walls. Racks of elixirs filled the walls, each bottle promising decades of cultivation.
His gaze looked beyond the elixirs and a bow caught his attention. A golden bow, that looked like a dragon. It was sleek, yet surprisingly terrifying. Beyond that, gate born magic items, harvested from other worlds Blue could barely imagine. As Blue stood in the same spot wondering where to look first, something caught his eye.
A golden box sat on top of a glass container. The interior lined with velvet. 10 red rocks radiated from it. Without a thought, Blue walked forward. "These alone could get me to grandmaster, with plenty for them to also reach that level. Shit, half of Silent Edge could cultivate off these and advance." Blue reached out to grab one of the crystals. As he grabbed one, his system came to life, it scared him and the crystal fell back into the box.
[System Alert]
[Warning: Black Pantheon Power Detected]
[Corrupted Crystal: Dispose Immediately]
Blue froze. "Black pantheon? Corrupted? What the fuck is it going on about."
Blue took a step back. "What is the Alliance involved in. My system wouldn't just lie."
Blue closed the lid to the box and picked it up. He stared at the box. "How am I supposed to dispose of it. If I take it out with me, I'll waste my chance to get an artifact."
Blue scanned the vault. He noticed a corner full of armor and rusted swords, broken crates and rags. Cobwebs covered all of it. Blue smiled and walked over to the corner that looked like it hadn't been touched in a decade. He reached deep between the crevices and placed the box deep in the corner. He pulled his arm out and dusted the cobwebs off. As he did the pile toppled. CLANG. CLANG. CLANG. Armor and swords fell on top of each other and scattered all over the floor. Blue bent down trying to clean up the mess he made. Then he noticed it. A pendant. Broken and jagged. "It looks similar to grandfather's." As he picked it up, his system pinged again.
[System Notification]
[Item Identified: Compatibility Confirmed]
[Effects: Restricted Access - Conditional]
[Fragment Status: 1 of 3 collected]
[Collect All Three For Resonance]
"What the fuck? Did this just turn into a side quest? Am I in a damn RPG?" Blue stared at the pendant. He looked up at the rows of weapons, elixirs, artifacts, magic items. He hung the pendant from his chain in front of his eyes and sighed.
"All the treasures here and you want me to take this useless pendant?"
[System Notification]
[Affirmative. Collect the remaining two. One lives in Murim. One on Earth.]
Blue stared at the screen. "Can you tell me who you are? You're obviously not some program."
Nothing.
"Seriously, what is going on with this system. You're really not going to give me any more clues or anything are you?."
Silence.
Blue sighed again. "Figures. More games with no rules." Blue slipped the chain over his neck and placed the pendant under his robes. He turned and headed toward the exit. He passed the rows of weapons and elixirs. "This better be fucking worth it." He stepped out of the vault.
The Alliance Leader and Jaegal Li both stood waiting.
"So, what did you choose?" Hyeon asked.
Blue lifted the pendant. "This."
Hyeon's brows curled. He glanced at Li. "That was in our vault?"
I will have someone look into it sir." Li nodded.
Cheng peeked over Blue's shoulder. "Doesn't look like much, but if Buddha led you to it, there's a reason."
Wu Jin crossed his arms. "Let's hope it pays off. Let's go home."
Hyeon stepped forward. "Very well, that is what you chose, I hope you don't come to regret it. You may leave."
Yeol stared at Hyeon before they turned to leave. "Time and place." He growled.
Hyeon smiled, watching the three elders gather around their young warrior as they turned to leave.
As they left a guard stumbled out of the vault catching his breath as he approached Hyeon.
"Leader! The box... it's missing."
Hyeon's eyes went wide as his head snapped back to Blue as he walked away. Then a grin bloomed across his face. "Did that boy just play us?"
Jaegal Li allowed himself a quiet, measured laugh. "It appears so. He smuggled them out. No doubt, to share them with his precious sect.
Hyeon turned to Li. "Then we wait. They will grow stronger, but not for their own sake."
As the elders and Blue reached the outside of the Alliance compound, Blue finally spoke.
“I found a box full of crystals in there. Overflowing with qi. It was the first thing I picked up. But my system told me they were corrupted. I think you guys were right, the Alliance is up to something.”
Wu Cheng shot him a worried look. “You didn’t take them, did you?”
Blue shook his head. “No. I hid them in a corner nobody’s touched in years.”
Wu Cheng sighed. “Good.”
Wu Jin grunted. “I knew that bastard would try to harm you, or all of Silent Edge. We’ll have to tread carefully.”
Ahead of them, Yeol stopped, fists clenched tight. He turned back. “We need to grow stronger,” he said. “And wipe the Alliance off the map once and for all. I’m sorry my family’s feud has drawn you all into this. But for the sake of Tang, I will burn Murim to ashes if I must.”
Wu Cheng smiled faintly. “No need for that, old friend. We aren’t the only ones suspicious of the Alliance. We’re fighting on two fronts. Against monsters and the Alkiance. We have to be smart.”
He nodded to Blue. “We’ll help you gather your siblings, in Silent Edge, where the Alliance can’t harm them.”
Blue swallowed hard. “Thank you. All of you. You’ve never questioned me. You’ve given me a home, a family. I won’t ever forget that.”
He lifted his head. “Uncle, Elder Cheng is right. I don’t know much about politics or schemes, but I know this. I will get my siblings back together. I swear it, on my name as Tang Jiung.”
Yeol stepped closer, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. “If that’s the case, my nephew, remember this. A Tang repays favors twofold. Grudges tenfold and disrespect a hundredfold. Live by that. Whether here, or on Earth, you will always be a Tang.”