The Dawn of the New World



"So what...you'll spend the rest of your life in this place?"

"Only until I can find a solution or a way to hide it. I'm working on something but it will take a few months if not years," Jin Wang replied as if he was talking about someone else.

And his casual indifference left Hao Xuan wondering if there was more to it.

"And that's okay with you?"

"Of course not," Jin Wang chuckled, "But I had already made my choice when I first came to see you. Worrying about it does nothing-"

He suddenly paused as if something important had come back to him and met Hao Xuan's gaze, "That little squid guy of yours, did you try to contact him?"

"Squid guy? Fortis you mean?" Hao Xuan confirmed with a raised eyebrow, "What about him?"

"Can you...find where he is?"

"No, I tried earlier but he was out of reach. Why do you ask?"

"I think...I'm not sure but I think the Abysswalker took him."

"!!!!"

"WHAT?!"

"Shh, keep your voice down, these people are already on edge as it is," Jin Wang grabbed Hao Xuan by the shoulder and pulled him around the corner, where the surroundings changed once again to a giant destitute cavern with no one else in sight.

Hao Xuan pulled himself away, "Let go, what the fuck you mean the Abysswalker took him?!"

With a heavy sigh, Jin Wang recalled the events of their 'fight'.

"When he found me I wasn't alone. There were a lot of people nearby including that little octopus guy and for some reason, the Abysswalker was interested in him because he kept looking at him curiously. It was like he recognized him from somewhere. And when it was over I noticed that the octopus was missing too."

"No one has seen him since then. I tried a few locator spells but nothing worked. It would explain why if the Abysswalker has him."

Hao Xuan went silent for a brief moment, "Where the fuck is he? The Abysswalker?"

Jin Wang shrugged, "No idea. I know a lot of their people have already left the planet. The ones that remain are either stuck here or have another way out. That bald-headed kid and almost everyone else from the Temple left too."

"Fuck me, more and more shit keeps getting piled on at every juncture," Hao Xuan cursed while punching the air.

Jin Wang hesitated for a moment before patting him on the shoulder with a conflicted look, "The emperor...he might have answers."

"ANSWERS?!" Hao Xuan spun around on his heels slapping his hand away, "Do you even know what they fucking want from me?! That motherfucker is at war with a Demon King and has pulled me into their shitshow. Either he or Maymun has been behind everything, trying to manipulate me to do whatever the fuck they want but...no more. I won't do anything they ask!"

*Sigh*

"It's not that simple. Do you really think they will just let you go after all this time and effort? Especially the Emper-"

Jin Wang froze mid-sentence before awkwardly pulling his hand back.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, never mind. Forget I said anything at all. Go do your thing, I'll be here when you're done. You said you needed the location where Princess Ceni and that Ma Jiang girl were behind held right?"

"...."

"Yeah...? Did I already ask that?"

But instead of answering Jin Wang pulled out a round stone from his pocket and chucked it over to him. There was a circle and some complicated symbols etched on either side of it.

"This is a map, it will lead you to them. Channel some Qi into it and it will reveal-"

"Yea I know how it works," Hao Xuan cut him off with a suspicious gaze, "When did you have the time to prepare this?"

"Does it fucking matter? You wanna save them or not?!"

"....You're right. Thanks for this, I'll be back soon."

Hao Xuan turned around to walk behind the corner and disappeared immediately.

Jin Wang's balled-up fist relaxed as he shook his head weakly while mumbling to himself, "What are you planning now? Haven't you done enough already? You heard him, there is no way he will do anything you want."

With a bright flash of white light an ethereal figure materialized behind him. Jin Wang turned around to face him, "Just leave him alone, enough blood has been spilled already."

"He will come to me of his accord," a stern voice echoed within the cavern, "It has already been done. He will get down on his hands and knees to beg for my help, for another chance. And in return for all that he is, was, and ever will be, I will grant him his wish."

"HIS wish?! Don't make me fucking laugh!" Jin Wang spat at the figure's feet.