Chapter [B4] 16 — Changing Tides
Something had changed. And I wasn’t talking about the Azure Dragon. I’d felt it while on the way back, the change in the world around me. I hadn’t truly understood what it had been, but it filled me with a bad premonition nonetheless. I’d had a thought gnawing at my chest for some time now. If the demons had known the Azure Dragon would be in the Cradle, and had even managed to get there before us, then why had Yang Shen himself not arrived there to get the Divine Beast? I would not have had a chance against him, and the entire idea had been to get there faster than him. Even with Xuanwu’s help, things would’ve been difficult, but sending one of his demons instead… It left me with a bad feeling.
Just what was he doing instead?
The carriage thudded around us as we arrived back at Seventh Peak city, and I found the air filled with a buzz of energy. But not in a good way. There was anxious nervousness filling the winds, whispers flowing through the air, something had happened and whatever it was, it was not going to be good news.
As we arrived at the Lord’s manor, a servant rushed out in a hurry, looking incredibly panicked. Before I could even ask, the servant bowed. “The lord is requesting your presence immediately. Please head inside.”
I glanced towards my companions and then gave a nod as we headed inside.
***
“Heavens damn that demon!” I heard Lord Zhou cursing as he slammed a fist into his desk and for a moment I was afraid it’d shatter into a million little pieces. This was the first time I’d seen him lose his cool like this.
I stood there, bowing my head, waiting for him to get his calm as we all arrived.
The lord finally noticed us, raising his head and then sighed, nearly sinking into his seat. “Apologies, Lu Jie. There have been… changes while you were gone,” the Lord said.