UnMasked

Right after Chen Yi revealed the truth to his father Chen Hao-

In an enraged voice, Chen Hao shouted, “Ring the bell, Chen Yi, an announcement is required to be made!”

You may be wondering why your leader, Chen Hao, has called you all here. We have received information from the frontlines regarding the rebels. And their leaders. Several prisoners were taken captive at the end of the victorious battle. Many then proceeded to provide us information on the insurrection with their free will when requested to do so. However, unfortunately, those that did not do so, but instead threatened our existence were regrettably executed for our safety.

Consider it that a threat was nipped in the bud in exchange for a peaceful life. With the information received, we were fortunate enough to catch the treasonous leaders and avenge all those who have fallen on the frontlines and avenge those misled by the enemy’s poisonous words. Let us now see for ourselves the identities of the commanders of the revolt. Chen Yi, would you be so kind as to bring the cadavers of the rebel commanders out for us to discern?”

**thud**

Out in the open on the ground were the mangled carcasses of the rebel commanders who had orchestrated the preceding battles, puppeteered the rebellious soldiers into believing a fabricated truth that would have presumably been established if they were to win, one that seemed like a beautiful utopia, but instead was a dystopian underbelly.

Throughout the crowd, stunned and resentful expressions appeared on everybody's faces

“My son Chen Yi has uncovered a piece of very heartbreaking and perturbing news which we would like to inform you. “

Whispers could be heard among the people, echoing in the crowd. Many were murmuring with their neighbours, wondering what the news could be. As if reading their minds he continued to speak. “I have received some pain-inducing information that there is another perpetrator of our losses, that has not yet been caught. They are none other than Chen Wei.”

A gasp resonated throughout the clan, by its furious members. Yells could be heard, demanding something be done by Chen Wei, the true culprit of the war.

“Silence! I have not finished speaking!”, As Chen Hao had said that he exclaimed, “Do you think that simply because he is my son, I will forgive his crimes? After the countless bloodshed and death that has occurred due to his perfidious actions, do you think I am actually that cruel and would turn my back to the people of my clan for him? We simply can not let my son get away with it, we must avenge our fallen, even if it is at the cost of our financial wealth. We must do everything we can to locate the traitor.

Therefore, a bounty of 100 gold coins has been placed on Chen Wei’s head. The one that brings him to me, dead or alive, shall receive the money. It will be enough to last you for an entire year!”

Chen Hao then promptly departed from the dazed crowd. When he reached his abode, he noticed a letter at the bottom of the door. Perturbed, he picked it up and read it. It said:

“Congratulations on achieving victory in the battle. It may seem to you that the battle has finished, but it has just begun.

Note that your wife has still not been returned to you. We have your wife. In order to fetch her back, you need to retrieve her from the lion’s den. Beware, if you do not rescue your wife from the clutches of hell from where she is, even we cannot guarantee what will happen to her.

You have 10 days to retrieve your spouse from the crypts of the Clan of Chaos. If you fail to get your wife back within the time limit, she will be sold to the arcane Sisterhood of the Nether, have her soul ripped apart to work as a slave for the pontifex themselves. Good luck in getting your wife, before her luck runs out.

Signed,

Council of the Unknown”

Chen Hao’s face was devoid of all colour: it was simply drained from his face. He had assumed that the capture of Chen Wei would entail that his wife was returned to him. Nevertheless, it had never crossed his mind that his wife was being held captive by another clan. He was scared, terrified even. The sects that currently imprisoned his wife were so mysterious yet far-reaching that it was presumed that even some high-up members of the imperial family were actually working for sinister organizations like the Council of the Unknown.

Within the darkest depths of his mind, however, he secretly congratulated his back-stabbing, double-crossing son. It was an impressive scheme that was performed beautifully, so beautifully that even he was not completely certain on how it was done. Nevertheless, it was now time to get his wife back from the clutches of evil. He hoped that his son would be fruitful in his mission and would come back shortly as he could not wait to alleviate the sensation of unease and anxiety that he was currently experiencing.

Chen Hao told his son, Chen Yi, about the letter and asked whether he would like to look for his mother with some elders from the sect. Chen Yi replied, “I am confident in my ability and would like to retrieve mother alone. Although my cultivation base may seem pitiful compared to all the geniuses in the region, I have some treasures and I have also received some powerful cultivation arts to aid me in my endeavour. Do not worry about me Father. ” Chen Yi then left the clan secretly to search for his mother.

Chen Hao decided to trust his son for the confident aura that he exuded. He also trusted not only in Chen Yi’s conviction, but also the so-called “treasures” that had been mentioned to him. He additionally prayed to the gods to make sure his son returned back to him safely, and with his wife in tow.

Although it seemed like no one noticed Chen Yi’s departure, Chen Yi himself felt like he was being watched by a powerful figure and although he looked around, he could not detect anyone around him that could potentially give the level of chills on his back that he was presently experiencing. He decided to wait for the figure to reveal themselves before he figured out their intentions towards him and his mission. Thus, he continued his journey on the mercantile road to reach his first destination: the Qingbao clan