Han Wuang Shi walked steadily along the rugged, unpaved path, his hand resting behind his back near the hilt of his sword. His gaze was fixed forward, yet his eyes occasionally darted sideways, as if tempted to look back. Despite the impulse, his head remained straight, and he continued his rhythmic stride. Around him, the serene vegetation swayed gently, stirred by the light breeze of his passing. In the sky, clouds marking the arrival of a new season began to gather.

  Wuang Shi paused for a moment, looking upward to gauge the heavens. “There are a few days left before the first snowfall,” he mused inwardly. The cold autumnal winds brushed against his stoic face as he resumed his journey.

  Back at the heart of the cavern, Gu Zong stood frozen before the Jiuhuang Yin Zither, his eyes wide with a lingering, uneasy silence. He leaned in closer to inspect the instrument. The strings were thin and taut, shimmering with a crystalline white-blue light.

  As he touched a single string with his fingertip, it vibrated like the surface of disturbed water, emitting a melody that was simultaneously sweet and piercing. However, when his gaze fell upon the emblem carved into the zither, his breath hitched.

  “This is strange,” he thought, his brow furrowing. “Wuang Shi told me there would be a carving of a single swan. But here... it is a pair. A union of two swans. Did Wuang Shi not know about this?”

  He pursed his lips, diving deeper into his thoughts. “This is no ordinary zither. I must ask him... No, wait. Why would that ‘Stone Tablet’ say anything? And yet, he knew exactly where to find it. Ahh! Nothing makes sense! What am I supposed to do with this now? Where do I even keep it?”

  As soon as Gu Zong reached out and lifted the Jiuhuang Yin, he noticed a hidden compartment beneath its base. Nestled inside was a maroon-colored scroll. Curiosity flared within him, but before he could examine it, a thunderous roar echoed through the cave the waterfall had resumed.

  Seeing the torrent of water rushing toward him, Gu Zong snatched the scroll and bolted for the bank. In that moment, the Jiuhuang Yin Zither vanished from his hands, merging into his very being as if it had become a part of his soul. He stared at his empty hands in disbelief, but the maroon scroll remained, solid and real.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  The lake began to refill as the waterfall poured down, no longer violent but steady and calm. As the water rose around his ankles, Gu Zong noticed a school of vibrant, colorful fish swimming near his feet. His eyes lit up with childlike wonder, and he reached out to stroke them.

  Among them, a particular white fish caught his eye. Its scales were pristine, and its fins trailed behind it like long, delicate silk ribbons. Gu Zong was instantly captivated. But as he reached toward it, the fish darted away, vanishing into the depths.

  Gu Zong’s face fell. He wrinkled his nose in annoyance. “I knew it. Even the fish here is just like Wuang Shi arrogant but beautiful.”

  Suddenly, the realization of Wuang Shi’s absence hit him. As he looked around, the memory of what had happened underwater surged back with vivid intensity. He saw the image of Wuang Shi’s face leaning in, the silhouette of his lowered lashes, and the sensation of those lips pressing against his own.

  Unconsciously, Gu Zong’s fingers traced his own lips. Snapping out of the trance, he gave himself a light slap. “That Wuang Shi... how dared he! He... he actually...”

  He choked on the words. He couldn't even bring himself to say aloud that Wuang Shi had stolen his first kiss. A deep crimson flush spread across his cheeks, ears, and neck. In a fit of petty annoyance, he grabbed a seashell from the lake bed and stomped toward the shore.

  Only then did he realize his robes were completely open, fluttering loosely as he walked. He remembered how Wuang Shi had tried to catch him by the belt when he slipped. Gu Zong collapsed onto the ground, clutching his head in mock despair.

  “Ahh! I’ve been plundered! What has happened to me?” he wailed at the sky. “O Gods, please punish that arrogant tiger! Don’t give him any food today!”

  As he sat there pouting at his disheveled clothes, a sudden gust of wind blew through the cavern. The silk belt, which Wuang Shi had neatly folded and left upon a nearby stone, caught the breeze. It slid off the rock and landed directly on Gu Zong’s head, slithering down his shoulders like a silken serpent until it fell into his hands.

  Gu Zong fell instantly silent. His inner turmoil vanished as he stared at the fabric. He hadn't expected to find it here, let alone so carefully preserved. His face softened, and a strange light flickered in his eyes.

  After a long silence, broken only by the roar of the falls and the sighing wind, Gu Zong rose. He adjusted his robes, tied the belt firmly around his waist, and picked up his sword. A strange sense of peace settled over him; his gait became slow and heavy with newfound purpose.

  Tucking the maroon scroll into his robes, he stepped onto the rugged path, following the faint but clear footprints left behind by the man who had given him his breath.