Chapter 36: All Loose Ends Tied
The echo of her own footsteps was a judgment, each sharp report a fresh condemnation in the shadowy halls of Tao’s stronghold.
Lian Zhen walked with a straight back, a mask of composure she had long perfected, but inside, her heart was a stone in her chest. She pushed down the sickening churn of guilt and fear as she passed under an archway and into a massive, starkly lit chamber.
In the center of the room, a holographic map of the land pulsed with a soft, blue light. Before it, a figure stood like a monolith, encased in gleaming black and gold armor. His back was to her. Tao. The soft hum of mana was a constant pressure in the air, a physical testament to the power he commanded.
He didn’t turn until her footsteps ceased a respectful distance behind him. When he did, his face was placid, his eyes cold as they swept over her, taking in her travel-worn state.
Lian’s hands trembled, a betrayal she couldn’t conceal, so she balled them into fists at her sides and bowed her head. The mission was complete. The guilt was unbearable.
"Lian," Tao’s voice was smooth as polished obsidian, cutting through the tense silence. It was a sound that could soothe or terrify, and today it did both. "You did well, my child."
Her heart gave a traitorous leap at the praise, a desperate, pathetic thing seeking approval. She remained silent, watching from under her lashes as he closed the distance between them, his armored boots making no sound on the stone floor.
"I must say, I didn’t expect you to pull it off so cleanly," he continued, a pleased smile touching his lips.
He was close now, close enough for her to see her own distorted reflection in his breastplate.
"Luring Ning Que into the open... isolating him from any potential support. It was quite impressive." He laid a hand on her shoulder, the weight of it both a comfort and a cage. "Your dedication is commendable."
Lian’s stomach twisted into a knot of acid. She forced a smile that felt like cracking porcelain.
"Thank you, Master." Her voice was stiff, foreign in her own ears. "But... what will happen to Ning and his team?" The question slipped out before she could stop it, her voice fracturing on Ning’s name.