Murim Recurve

"Please help me up," Re'Kha muttered weekly, watching Ki'Sha help her get up. Her attention was fully focused on the trailing ends of the Fear Qi that moved through the pipelines.

"What happened here?" Ki'Sha supported Re'Kha as she looked around, feeling the temperature of the surroundings return to normal while the light from the lanterns shone through the corridor.

"I was stalling that Sha when the Blinded Ghost appeared. The moment it did, it chased after the other Sha that ran away in fear." Re'Kha spun truth and lies together, relaying the truth of what transpired while directing the focus away from herself.

"You did well, lady Re'Luk. Let's head to a hospital first thing in the morning and treat your condition." Ki'Sha said, supporting Re'Kha as the two slowly began to descend the flight of stairs. In the meantime, Re'Kha concentrated within the pipelines.

'To facilitate the needs of the populace, water flows through the pipes continuously. How was the flow blocked and the water within the pipe emptied without anyone noticing? This feels like a conspiracy.' She frowned, watching the Fear Qi flow through winding paths for a long distance.

But, as she was spreading her Wind Qi perception through a lot of pipelines, she noticed that despite the length she had traversed, everything was in and around 30 streets from her. Soon, all the flows gushed into the main pipeline that travelled straight for a certain distance until meeting a valve that stopped its flow.

There existed another pipe connected beside, the valve was open. The Fear Qi gushed into it and travelled vertically up before entering a water tank. The water tank was half empty. Four individuals stood within, holding a large trunk. The water reached their hips.

The trunk was filled with water, also containing chains that anchored three boxes within. The chains connecting each box were separate and were attached to all eight corners of the trunk's interior. The Fear Qi flowing out from the pipe poured into the box on the right, entering a locket placed within.

Her perception extended from the pipe and highlighted everything in her senses. The trunk and its chains were outlined as a sharp blank space in her perception. Re'Kha observed it, watching the rain fall on it. The entrance to the water tank was open, allowing the rain to enter.

So, the water within the tank was full of Water Qi. Judging by how there was no damage done to the trunk, she realised it was a Magic Artifact made using Water Qi Essence. There was a small strip attached between the chains and the three boxes that acted as a connecting medium of sorts. For, all the boxes too were Magic Artifacts.

And, judging by how the raindrops falling on it were reflected, it was made from a different element than water. Re'Kha observed the Fear Qi gush into the box on the right and settle within the locket in it.

'So that's its shell. But, how come it is not damaged from the Elemental Qi emitting from the box?' Re'Kha wondered when a thought struck her, causing her to shudder. She noticed how the locket was unaffected, and even seemed to relax in the environment. 'T-That box is made using Fear Qi Essence? But how? Fear Qi Essence doesn't even exist.'

As the box had been activated, the locket felt comfortable. That was why the ghost had returned. One of the four individuals closed the box on the right, sealing it shut using the chains as he deactivated the box. A rumbling sound resounded from within for a moment before turning silent. The box shook a couple of times and became still.

As Re'Kha was observing it, Fear Qi gushed in from the pipe once again, this time originating from another place. The Fear Qi gushed into a box in the centre that contained a bangle as a lady closed it soon after and sealed it using the chains.

After some time passed, another stream of Fear Qi gushed into the box on the left, entering the ring placed within. When it finished flowing, the one in charge of it, a man in his fifties closed it, sealing it using the chains. Each box had eight chains trailing out from its eight corners that were attached to the eight corners of the trunk's interior.

The three boxes were in a deactivated state now as the rainwater fell on them without getting reflected, collecting within the trunk before filling it to the brim. The individual in charge of the trunk, an old lady in her eighties activated it, causing the Water Qi it emitted to be mixed into the water.

After three breaths in time had passed, she closed the trunk, "This should prevent the three Sha from trying to escape."

"They have developed fairly this time." The man in charge of the box on the right said.

"If not for the appearance of the Blinded Ghost, our plan would have proceeded faster." The lady in charge of the box in the middle said.

"We have to relocate now. Burfuna City would station many Harmonisers in this area for the time being. We can't allow the Sha we nurtured with care be killed by their Martial Masters." The man in charge of the box on the left said, gazing at the old lady to hear her final opinion on the matter. She seemed to be the leader of their group.

"Inspections at the gates would become strict to prevent people from carrying out a Sha's shell by mistake. It would be safe to assume they would maintain this level of vigilance until Peak Fire Month. We can act after that." The lady in her eighties said as everyone climbed out of the water tank. She then blew a whistle that didn't release any sound.

But 20 breaths in time later, water flowed through the pipes once again, cutting the perception of Re'Kha. In the meantime, she made note of the place, and their statures, watching the lady in her eighties close the tank's lid upon seeing the water gush in.

The water soon filled up the tank to the brim. The trunk remained at the bottom of the floor, unmoving.