Episode 26: The Quest for the Flower Key
The academy was alive with whispers about a new task that Master Zhu had assigned. This time, the students were to locate a rare, ancient artifact known as the Flower Key—a round key adorned with intricate flower patterns on its golden base. It was said to be a vital piece in unlocking the secrets of the five elements.
Tanji, always calm and composed, took the challenge seriously. He buried himself in the academy's vast library, flipping through ancient tomes and scrolls. Beside him, Zhai groaned loudly, leaning back in his chair.
"Master, I'm tired," Zhai whined, rubbing his temples. "We've been at this for hours, and I still can't find anything useful about this stupid key. Why is it always us doing all the work?"
Tanji smirked slightly without looking up. "You wanted to come along, didn't you? Now put that enthusiasm to use."
Zhai grumbled but continued reading, his eyes scanning the dusty pages for clues.
Finally, Tanji's fingers brushed across an old, worn page with an illustration of the Flower Key. His eyes lit up. "Got it," he said softly, and Zhai leaned over eagerly to see.
The text revealed the key's location: a hidden grove within the academy's grounds, shielded by layers of magical barriers. The two set off without delay, navigating through the winding paths of the academy's gardens.
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Meanwhile, a group of academy students had also caught wind of the task. Jealous of Tanji's consistent success in previous challenges, they decided to seize the key before he could.
"We can't let Tanji show us up again," one of them said. "This time, we'll be the ones to shine."
The group moved stealthily, unaware that Tanji and Zhai were quietly observing them from the shadows.
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As the students neared the grove, the magical barriers pulsed faintly with golden light. The group of students began casting spells to break through, each trying to outdo the other.
Zhai looked up at Tanji with a mischievous grin. "Master, they're actually making our job easier. Should we just let them do the hard work for us?"
Tanji crossed his arms, watching the scene unfold with an amused expression. "Why not? Let them exhaust themselves. They'll find the key, and we'll take it from there."
Zhai chuckled, leaning back against a tree. "You're a genius, Master. I like this plan."
---
The students finally broke through the barriers, their cheers echoing through the grove as one of them held up the Flower Key triumphantly.
"We did it!"
But their celebration was short-lived. As they turned to leave, Tanji and Zhai stepped out of the shadows, their
presence commanding attention.
"Thank you