Sky Star

Chapter 29: The Enigmatic Melody of the Flute

The eerie flute sound was like an invisible hand clutching the hearts of the three, rendering them motionless, afraid to take even a single step. Xiao Chen’s brows furrowed tightly, his gaze as sharp as a cold star, cautiously staring in the direction from which the flute’s melody originated. He tried to pierce through the unknown mist, searching for the hidden danger within.

“This flute sound is strange. I do not know what kind of demonic presence is behind it, but we must be extremely careful.” His voice was low, taut like a drawn bowstring, carrying a slight tremor. In the silent valley, his words reverberated gently, further intensifying the tense atmosphere.

Yun Yi’s expression was equally grim. His right hand quietly rested on the hilt of his sword, spiritual energy surging in the depths of his body like a lurking flood dragon, ready to strike at any moment. He shifted slightly closer to Xiao Chen and whispered, “This melody carries an eerie, bewitching force. Do not let it cloud your mind. I shall go ahead and investigate. You two remain here. If anything happens, send a signal immediately.”

With that, his figure flickered, vanishing like a black whirlwind towards the source of the flute’s melody. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared behind a thicket of shrubs.

Ling Xue’s beautiful eyes brimmed with worry, her pearly teeth gently biting her lower lip, resembling a red plum blooming in the snow—delicate yet resolute. She stepped lightly towards Xiao Chen’s side, clutching her sword tightly, as though it was her last line of defence.

“Brother Yun Yi, you must be extremely careful. This flute sound is far too strange—I fear…” Her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, carrying threads of unease. Before she could finish her sentence, her worry had already rippled through the air like an expanding tide.

Xiao Chen gave a slight nod, his gaze firm as he looked at Ling Xue, as though conveying his own courage to her.

“Do not worry. Brother Yun Yi is highly skilled; he will surely uncover something. We must prepare ourselves in case anything happens.”

As he spoke, the stellar energy within him began to surge, forming a faint shimmering barrier around his body, resembling a constellation-armoured shield draping over them.

Yun Yi approached the flute’s sound with utmost caution. Each step felt as though he was treading on the edge of a blade. The brittle twigs and fallen leaves beneath his feet let out faint “creaks,” their sound magnified in the eerie silence of the valley, sending chills down his spine.

The closer he got, the clearer the flute melody became—like a soul-reaping chant, whispering incessantly in his ears. He suppressed the strange sensation creeping up his heart, his hawk-like eyes sweeping across the surroundings, leaving no suspicious detail unchecked.

Suddenly, he spotted a swirling mist not far ahead, as thin as a floating veil. Within the fog, a vague silhouette loomed like a phantom, flickering between existence and obscurity. The figure was tall and slender, swaying like bamboo in the wind. A black robe billowed around them, and in their hand, they held a jade-green flute—the very source of the unsettling melody.

Yun Yi’s heart tensed, his steps halting abruptly as though an invisible force had blocked his way. His right hand instinctively gripped his sword hilt, spiritual energy surging to its peak like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

“Who are you? Why are you playing such an eerie tune here?” Yun Yi mustered his courage and shouted, his voice like a great bell, echoing through the valley in an attempt to deter the figure.

Yet, the figure seemed deaf to his words, still lost in their own world of melody. Not only did the flute sound not cease, but it grew even more enchanting, weaving an invisible thread that coiled towards Yun Yi, as though to drag him into an abyss of unfathomable mystery.

A wave of alarm washed over Yun Yi. Sensing danger, he made no hesitation and swiftly retreated. Yet, the flute’s melody seemed almost sentient, trailing him like an unshakable shadow.

Just as he was about to reach Xiao Chen and Ling Xue, the mist surged forward like a tidal wave, engulfing the trio in an instant. They found themselves ensnared within a maze-like haze, their surroundings nothing but an endless expanse of white—so thick that even an outstretched hand could not be seen.

“Xiao Chen! Ling Xue! Be careful!” Yun Yi shouted. But the mist swallowed his voice, distorting it into an indistinct murmur.

The three instinctively pressed their backs together, forming a defensive stance like a trio of hedgehogs bracing against the cold. Each clutched their weapons tightly, their gazes scanning the veiled surroundings with unrelenting vigilance.

The flute melody now echoed from all directions, as if countless phantoms were whispering in their ears, obscuring their sense of orientation and igniting fear in their hearts.

Xiao Chen’s forehead was drenched in sweat, beads rolling down like broken pearls. He tried channelling his stellar energy to dispel the mist, but it remained motionless, seemingly reinforced by an unfathomable force.

“What kind of sorcery is this?” he gritted his teeth, voice thick with unwillingness and rage.

Ling Xue’s hands danced through the air, her mystical arts unleashed at full force. Ice shards and wind blades shot out like a celestial shower, targeting the depths of the mist in an attempt to shatter its hold. However, her attacks vanished without a trace, as though swallowed by an endless void.

Just when they were about to be pushed to the brink of despair, the flute melody suddenly came to an abrupt halt, and the mist began to dissipate gradually.

Yet, before they could sigh in relief, the black-robed figure appeared before them in a flash, as if they had materialised from the darkness itself.

Now, at last, they could see the figure’s face clearly—a face as pale as death, devoid of blood, its eyes like bottomless voids, exuding an endless, lifeless chill. Their lips curled into a faint yet eerie smile, sending shivers down the trio’s spines.

“You have stepped into a place you should never have entered. The gears of fate have begun to turn. Let us see if you are capable of withstanding what lies ahead…”

The figure’s voice was a hoarse whisper, like a spectre murmuring from the abyss, instilling a bone-chilling dread.

As soon as they spoke, they turned and slowly merged into the darkness, vanishing without a trace.

The three exchanged glances, as if awakening from a nightmare.

After a long silence, Xiao Chen was the first to break it.

“No matter what lies ahead, we must press forward. We must find the mysterious tower and unravel all the secrets.”

His voice was like a battle horn, resolute and filled with unwavering determination, sweeping away the lingering fear and reigniting their fighting spirit.

Yun Yi and Ling Xue exchanged a firm nod, as though silently swearing an oath of life and death.

They straightened their robes, bandaged their wounds, and, like warriors reforged, resumed their journey.

Ahead, the direction of the mysterious tower shone like a beacon piercing through the clouds, beckoning them forward.

Though the road ahead remained shrouded in mist and fraught with peril, their steps never wavered…