Page 26 of The Wind Dancer
“I did what I had to.”
Five heavy gazes locked on me.
“We made a deal. He told me how to open the safe without getting hurt. He said that its contents were my payment. So yes, I brought him peace.”
The elders didn’t move.
They were pulling apart every word, trying to figure out what Iwasn’tsaying.
But I didn’t give them time for it.
“Then I was attacked,” I swiftly continued, keeping my cool. “People in poison green clothes, with chain motifs on the hems. There were several of them, and with them were... creatures from tales. The Carver. And another abomination. I killed the men, grabbed what I could, and barely made it out alive. Unfortunately, I was only able to take a small part of what was in the safe.”
The silence that followed this time was heavy, depressing.
I saw the elders looking at each other intently, and I realized that they knew something about these cultists.
“What do you make of what happened?”
I cocked my head, thinking.
“Judging by everything I saw there, the men were cultists. The dragonblood had hinted at it. There was pure hatred in his words. For reasons unknown to me, they stormed the estate,massacred everyone, and I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
As I spoke, I looked directly at Fu Shang.
For a brief moment, the faintest of smiles touched his eyes.
Judging by his reaction, he was trying to glean more from my words. Which meant one of two things.
Either he knew that something was going to happen there that night and had just sent me there to get rid of the annoying welp.
Or... He knew exactly who would be there and what would happen. That made me more uneasy.
Lian Shu slowly leaned back in his chair, and the jade rosary he had picked up during my account was again placed on the table with a soft clack. He began to speak in his ever-confident, even tone.
“It wasn’t the most pleasant story, but the dragonblood will sort out their own affairs. Cults never showed up without a reason, but they are not our concern. Now, let us move on to Feng Lao’s fate.”
He looked at the other elders.
“I call for a vote on his status as a master Shadow Walker. And I will cast my vote right away in favor of the decision. He is worthy of both his mentor’s legacy and our respect.”
Despite the flattering words, his decision was based on profit. Lian Shu was a calculated man, and his support wasn’t selfless. He saw me as a useful tool.
But it was working in my favor right now.
Jing Lei immediately got riled up. He clenched his fists so tight his knuckles turned white.
“Against,” he huffed, his voice full of fury. “He’s brash, disrespectful, and dangerous. We can’t let him become a master.”
Fu Shang leaned back in his chair, his snake-like eyes glinting.
“Against,” he said softly, but there was a threatening tone in his voice. “He likes playing with fire, and I am not sure he is worthy of our trust, especially at his age.”
All eyes turned to old Yun.
She sat with her head tilted to the side, her fingers slowly moving over the hem of her robe. Her eyes were closed, as if she were deep in thought.
The moment dragged on for what felt like hours, until finally she opened her eyes and looked directly at me.
