That same spear fell tip first into the ground beside Cha Ming, right where he’d been standing before Feng Ming had instructed him to move over. It disappeared as it entered their concealment. Cha Ming raised an eyebrow as Feng Ming picked it up, inspected it, then nodded. “Good ole lucky spear,” Feng Ming said. “Since I lost the Magma God’s Spear, I can’t well return home unarmed. Though,” he said, shaking his head, “it’s unfortunate I lost my father-in-law’s weapon. He’s going to kill me when I get back.”
A second spear flew down from the battlefield, this one from an unlucky marshal in the Ji Kingdom’s forces. It was a golden spear with red patterns, fire aligned, glowing bright with merit glow.
“Ah,” said Feng Ming, picking it up.
“This is too much,” Cha Ming said, shaking his head ruefully as Feng Ming stowed the new spear, the replacement for his Magma God’s Spear.
Prizes in tow, they flew through the streets away from the carnage. They rushed through the city gates, which were now unguarded due to the chaos, flying past unwitting guards who could only gawk at their passage. They continued flying even when twelve shining pillars of ochre light descended on the creature, locking it in place. Runes glowed on those pillars as they formed chains that bound it, stopping it from moving. They contained its devouring powers, which couldn’t quite feed on the transcendent energy they were composed of.
They were safe. They’d accomplished their missions and left the city undetected before Zhou Li arrived. In Cha Ming’s eyes, blind as they were, that was the very definition of success. He only wished it didn’t taste so bittersweet.
Epilogue
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The clock in Wang Jun’s office marked each agonizing second as it passed. He sat before Elder Bai and Wang Bing as they went over their morning reports. It was painful to listen, not because of the results—they were doing well—but because of what he’d rather be doing: finding Hong Xin. The fact that he’d finally found her after all this time only to lose her again was both infuriating and depressing. It felt like some god of mischief had a grudge against him, forever filling his life with painful twists and turns.
Elder Bai was reaching the end of his monthly report. At long last, they’d finally surpassed Wang Ling’s asset base. “I’m not sure whether it was more due to our aggressive growth lately or his aggressive losses, but results are results,” Elder Bai said proudly. His face fell when he saw Wang Jun’s distant expression. “Should we schedule this meeting for another time, perhaps? You don’t seem as ecstatic as I’d imagined.”
“This meeting time is fine,” Wang Jun said. “Please, don’t worry about me, I’m just tired and overworked. I have many things weighing on my mind.”
Elder Bai didn’t know about Hong Xin or her identity as Headmistress Hong. Neither did Wang Bing.
“Since it’s a day for happy news, I thought I should let you know about my good news,” Wang Bing said. She sat there, waiting with her hands folded in front of her cup. He noticed a jade ring on the fourth finger of her left hand.
“Congratulations,” Wang Jun said, smiling lightly. “I can’t say I caught his name earlier.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Wang Bing said. “I didn’t tell you, as I didn’t want you sneaking into his house at night threatening his poor little life.”
“Surely you can tell me now?” Wang Jun said. “I wouldn’t be so cruel as to take away your husband now that you’re already married.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “He’s a designer named Han Shui. He makes the most wonderful clothing out of the finest demon silk.”
“Make sure to buy yourself a congratulatory gift from me,” Wang Jun said.
“Already have,” Wang Bing said. “The shoes are very nice. Thank you.”
Elder Bai coughed uncomfortably.
“In any case,” Wang Bing continued, “it’s clear that you have something on your mind. I just thought I’d give you some extra happy news this morning. You know, aside from the fact that we’re winning and all.”
“Thank you, both of you, for all your hard work,” Wang Jun said. “I know it’s meant many long hours, much time away from your families, and extra elbow grease. You’re the best team a man could ask for. I’m proud of you.”
They both nodded as they packed up their things and shuffled out of the office, leaving Wang Jun to his thoughts.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The clock’s sound, previously a mundane backdrop in his plain office, infuriated him with every passing second. “Shadow?” Wang Jun asked. There was a small delay before the shadow emerged from his own figure, facing the light instead of shying away from it. “What have you discovered?”
Still nothing, the shadow said. I found the culprits. They are all Spectral Assassins of high rank. But from what I can tell, this wasn’t plotted by the Spirit Temple. It was a contract, nothing more. An expensive one.
“Still nothing…” Wang Jun muttered. A knock came at his door. The shadow, knowing exactly what to do, moved away from the light and imitated Wang Jun’s pose. “Come in.”
“Young Master Jun?” a quavering voice said.
Wang Jun looked up and saw a younger man with blond hair. A lesser member of the Wang family, so he was relegated to messenger duty. “The Patriarch has requested your presence.”
“I’m not interested,” Wang Jun said, waving him away.
“He said you’d say that,” the messenger said, “so he asked me to tell you he had very special news to share with you, news that would overjoy you.”
Wang Jun frowned at that. Just what game was the Patriarch playing, today of all days? Would he dangle the leadership in front of him like a carrot, only to snatch it back due to a technicality? He
