The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully. When work ended, Ji Chen noticed Su Wan had already left without saying goodbye.
He packed his things, then made his way back to the old alleyway, driven by an urge he couldn't ignore. Maybe he could find some clue about the woman who'd died—or whatever this "Heavenly Tome" really was.
The setting sun bathed the old town in gold, making the narrow streets seem calm, peaceful. You'd never guess someone had been murdered here a week ago.
Ji Chen stood where it happened. The ground was spotless. Not a trace of blood.
Just as he was about to leave, something caught his eye. A faint glint in the corner of a wall.
He crouched down and pried loose a small object from the crack—a silver button, engraved with delicate swirling patterns. It was cold to the touch and didn't feel like any normal metal.
He pocketed it carefully.
As he exited the alley, the sky had already darkened.
He ducked into a convenience store for a drink. While waiting in line, he casually glanced out the window—and froze.
Across the street stood two men in black suits, staring directly at the store entrance.
Pain.
A sharp sting shot through the jade mark on his palm.
Ji Chen didn't hesitate.
He abandoned his drink, faked a phone call, and slipped out through the back door.
The narrow alley behind the store twisted into several turns. He moved quickly, heart pounding, until he reached a half-abandoned construction site.
Then, footsteps.
Fast. More than one.
"Stop!" a hoarse voice barked behind him.
Ji Chen turned.
Three men in black approached in a fan formation. Each wore a strange mask, the eye slots fitted with red lenses that glowed faintly.
"Hand over the Heavenly Tome," the leader ordered, extending a gloved hand. "It doesn't belong to you."
Ji Chen's heart thundered—but oddly, he wasn't terrified. Not like before.
After a week of nightly training, his body had changed. His reflexes were faster. Stronger. More important, he could see the gray mist clinging to these men—just like the green glow from that monster before, only weaker.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ji Chen said, slowly stepping back while channeling the warmth in his core—the energy the scroll had awakened.
"Stubborn fool," the leader spat.
All three lunged.
Ji Chen dodged instinctively, faster than he'd ever moved before. He struck the nearest one in the ribs. The hit landed solid, but the man barely flinched—as if made of rubber.
"Mere mortal," one of them sneered, pulling out a short dagger glowing with green light.
Ji Chen's forehead broke into a cold sweat. He hadn't learned any offensive spells yet. Raw physical strength alone wouldn't be enough.
Just as the dagger came down—
SHING!
A silver arrow shot from above, knocking the weapon from the man's hand.
"Three-on-one? Night Owl Society really has no shame," came a familiar voice.
Ji Chen looked up.
Su Wan stood atop the scaffolding, holding a silver bow that gleamed in the moonlight. Before the masked men could react, she loosed three more arrows. Each one landed with surgical precision at their feet, forcing them back.
"Retreat," the leader growled.
The three melted into the shadows and disappeared.
Su Wan leapt down gracefully, the bow vanishing from her hand as she landed.
"You alright?"
Ji Chen stared at her, still catching his breath. "Who... are you really?"
"This isn't a safe place," she said calmly. "Come with me. I'll explain."
She led him through a maze of alleys until they arrived at a small, unassuming teahouse called Bamboo Harmony. The sign read: Temporarily Closed.
From her bag, Su Wan produced an antique key and opened the door.
Inside, the décor was traditional and elegant. The scent of old wood and tea leaves lingered in the air.
She led him to the innermost private room and shut the doors tightly behind them.
Then, she turned around, raised her hands, and formed a strange seal with her fingers. Silver light danced across her fingertips.
"Formal introduction," she said. "Su Wan. Branch descendant of the Gusu Su Clan. Current Mystical Inspector for Jiangcheng. My duty is to monitor and suppress abnormal spiritual disturbances."
Ji Chen blinked. "You're... one of them, too?"
"A cultivator," she nodded. "Although in modern times, they call us 'awakened' or 'enhanced humans.'" Her gaze dropped to his palm. "That mark—is it from the Heavenly Tome?"
Ji Chen hesitated. Then, slowly, he told her everything. The alley. The woman. The scroll. The visions.
When he finished, Su Wan's expression was grave.
"As I suspected," she said. "The Grand Art of Celestial Genesis. No wonder the Night Owl Society is after you." She stood and began pacing. "The problem is, you've been marked. You won't be safe—not like this. You're barely at the beginner level."
"What even is the Night Owl Society?" Ji Chen asked. "And why did you say 'too'? Are there... more like you out there?"
Su Wan sat down again and poured herself tea.
"They're a cult that's risen over the past three decades. Evil cultivators. They hunt down ancient relics and forbidden techniques. As for us?" She smiled faintly. "We've always existed. The ordinary world just stopped seeing us."
She raised her hand.
A silver-white flame bloomed in her palm, hovering in the air like a living spirit.
"This is the Qingluan Flame. A secret art of the Su Clan. Only those with pure blood can wield it."
Ji Chen watched, spellbound. Then, without thinking, he raised his own hand, trying to mimic her.
To his shock, a faint golden light shimmered at his fingertip. Weak—but unmistakable.
Su Wan's eyes widened. "You manifested that without guidance? The Heavenly Tome must've acknowledged you." She paused, considering. "If you want to survive, you'll need to train. Properly. I can teach you the basics—spells, history, rules of our world."
Ji Chen thought back to the three masked attackers, and nodded. "What's the price?"
Su Wan smiled approvingly. "Two conditions. First: I get full access to the Heavenly Tome's contents. Second: if you ever become powerful enough, you help me prove myself at the Su Clan's Grand Assembly."
"Grand Assembly?"
"I'm a branch member. My mother was a mortal. People like me... we don't get taught high-level techniques unless we earn it."
Ji Chen finally understood the controlled "coolness" he always sensed from her. It wasn't natural—it was self-discipline.
"Deal," he said, extending his hand.
Their palms met.
For a moment, their spiritual energy intertwined. The tea cups around them trembled.
"Interesting," Su Wan murmured. "Our energies are highly compatible. Training starts tomorrow night after work."
As they left the teahouse, Ji Chen couldn't help but ask, "Why show yourself today? You could've kept watching me in secret."
Su Wan pointed at the sky. "Tonight's a new moon. Yin energy peaks. I figured the Night Owl Society would make a move." She paused. "And... you noticed something odd at lunch too, didn't you?"
Ji Chen remembered the fake repairmen. "They were with Night Owl?"
"Just puppets. The Society loves misdirection." She looked at him. "I'll walk you home. Tonight, I'll place protective seals around your apartment."
On the way back, Ji Chen felt a mix of emotions swirling inside him. One week ago, he was just an ordinary office worker.
Now, he was caught up in a secret world that had existed for thousands of years.
And yet, he didn't feel regret.He felt... excited.
The jade mark on his palm pulsed warmly, as if responding to his thoughts.
The first page of the Heavenly Tome echoed in his mind:
In the beginning, there was the Void. From the Void, all things were born. He who inherits this tome... shall inherit the will of the heavens.
Maybe this really is my destiny.