"It's time."
Merlin eventually decided to magically bring everyone back to the lobby. His emerald staff glowed, and they were all brought back via bright green magic circles.
Jin Huang and Lin appeared; Jin Huang was clutching a sealed scroll and sniffing it violently.
Next to arrive were Lu Chen and Cho Yanshi. They stood side by side, holding an object large enough for both of them to bear.
Although it was unclear what exactly the object was, as it was wrapped in cloth, a faint magical energy emanated from it.
Next came Hei Shisan and Shen Wuyou.
They were both clutching tiny, sturdy strongboxes. These boxes each contained something that caused the energy around them to become a bit more active.
There was also a faint glow emanating from the strongboxes.
Then came Qin Shuyue.
She was holding a book, and her eyes were bright with excitement, glistening as she gazed around.
Upon finding Jin Huang, she immediately went over to him, saying, "Jin Huang, you'll never believe what I found!"
Finally, Han Jianyu appeared.
He was the only one who was not standing when he arrived. Instead, he was hunched over on the floor, and there seemed to be tears falling from his eyes.
His arrival shocked the others, and they hurried over to him, asking with concern, 'Are you okay?'
Han Jianyu looked around at them. Then he saw Jin Huang and gasped.
"I... I..."
He tried to say something more, but couldn't.
Merlin tapped his staff, attracting all of their attention.
"Now, listen well," Merlin said. "You have all found that which you were fated to find. And now comes the hardest part of all."
They all looked to Merlin, who was smiling at them. His gray beard was stroked by a free hand while the other clutched his staff.
"Now, I know what you're all thinking."
"You're all excited. You want to begin exploring the things you've found. However, there is something that needs to happen first."
"I explained to you before"— his eyes lingered on Jin Huang and Han Jianyu— "that in order for you to move forward, you have to very strictly follow the path of the Dao. Your specific Dao."
"I will only ever act in the interest of that Dao being followed. That is paramount. We cannot afford for this to be the last time the Supreme Immortal Body appears."
"Now, brace yourselves."
Before they could even ask any questions, Merlin prepared a magical spell.
Wordlessly, the staff moved, the emerald at its tip glowing brightly. His eyes also attained a similar glow.
With a single breath, he uttered the words:
"Take them."
Just like that, magical energy erupted.
Two magical circles appeared.
One beneath Jin Huang, the other... Han Jianyu.
"Huh?" Jin Huang's attention finally left the scroll.
"What are you doing?" Lin cried out. "Stop this at once!"
Cho Yanshi was unsettled, gazing between the two boys and Merlin.
Qin Shuyue yelped in alarm. Hei Shisan and Shen Wuyou looked equally confused, and they hurried toward Merlin, intending to stop him.
Han Jianyu gazed at the magic circle beneath him, then he looked over at Jin Huang.
He sighed, his face still wet with tears.
The next instant, Jin Huang and Han Jianyu vanished.
Hei Shisan and Shen Wuyou arrived at Merlin's side at the exact same moment.
"What have you just done?" Hei Shisan demanded. "Explain yourself!"
Lu Chen surged forward and grabbed Merlin by the collar.
"Now you've done it. I've listened, and I've accepted your explanations, but now this?"
Cho Yanshi came to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down, Lu Chen."
Qin Shuyue hurried over as well, clutching her book tightly.
"What just happened? What did you do?"
Merlin simply chuckled.
"You fools. It's like I gave that whole disclaimer for nothing. Weren't you listening?"
He took a step back, and Lu Chen reluctantly let go of him.
"What I've done is what those boys needed. They have to follow the paths of their own Daos—both of them especially. They can't stay with you. That will only hinder their growth."
His gaze swept across the group.
"Do you understand, or do you need me to smack some sense into you!?"
"So what are you saying?" Lu Chen asked.
Merlin sighed, though there was a faint, amused smile on his face.
"What I'm saying," Merlin began, "is that those boys are the only chance this realm—no, all realms—have at a future free of Heaven's tyranny."
The smile faded, and his expression grew serious. "They need to find their own way. Together, I think they have a chance."
His gaze drifted to the spot where Jin Huang and Han Jianyu had vanished.
"A real chance."
For a moment, the room fell silent.
"Whether they succeed or fail," Merlin continued, "is up to them. Not me. Not you. Them."
He looked back at the others.
"So stop worrying about where they are. Focus now on what you've all found here."
They all looked at each other. Then their gazes drifted to the items they had found within the library.
Merlin's words were still fresh in their minds.
For a moment, they found themselves wondering, one last time, where Jin Huang and Han Jianyu had been sent.
After that, they heeded Merlin's words and turned their focus to what lay before them.
As for Merlin, he left his staff standing upright on the floor and settled into his chair with a smile.
He gazed off into space, his eyes distant.
"I wonder..." A chuckle escaped him.
"I really do wonder just what kind of trouble those two will stir up."
His smile widened slightly.
"It's been a long time since they last met."
The old wizard leaned back in his chair, looking far beyond the walls of the library.
"A very long time."
____________
In Greenwind Province, there were three prominent clans. One of those clans was the Xiao Clan.
The Xiao Clan inhabited the easternmost region of Greenwind Province.
Their territory occupied the land at the foot of a vast mountain range, where dense forests abounded.
They were a clan of powerful mages, renowned throughout the province for their strength and influence.
Recently the clan's Old Patriarch, Xiao Tian, had announced that the Xiao Clan would be hosting a tournament between all three of Greenwind Province's prominent clans.
One day, in the forested mountains behind the Xiao Clan Manor, Xiao Yun- the Patriarch's grandson- was taking a casual stroll.
Suddenly, upon arriving at his favorite spot, he frowned in confusion.
Two people were lying unconscious on the grass.
"That's odd," Xiao Yun said. "I wonder what's wrong with them."
Curious, he approached.
Little did he know, his life was about to change.