act49side

Hey... did you hear about the ghosts in Baizao... before the city moved onto a nomadic plate...?

A ghost army...

You believe in folk tales too? Probably a mirage caused by the strange weather lately!

It's way too realistic to be a mirage...

No, look at their armor! It's totally different from ours!

That's no mirage—

The army closes in, and the guard finally gets a clear look at the moving mass. Silent soldiers bear blurry, yet terrifying faces with old, bloodstained armor, like evil spirits from thousands of years ago.

A soldier's spear point nears the guard's neck before he can even react.

Fall back!

A shadow?

The Imperial Guard apprentice slashes forward, but merely changes the spear's trajectory, while the immense strength hidden in the soldier's attack startles her.

The spear point sweeps above her head, but the weapon unnaturally whips backwards, heading for her vitals.

There's nothing inside—

The soldier is destroyed by her slash.

Strangely, the other soldiers do not treat her as a foe, and simply advance along the empty road silently with no discernible destination.

Captain!

Send word to the other barracks: these soldiers are anomalous enemies; exercise extreme caution against them.

They don't seem to be actively hostile, so don't initiate conflict.

Evacuate anyone along the way and be on guard for developments.

Captain, where did they come from? What even are they...?

...Geists.

Dispatch some men to update the Sui Regulator at once.

They're merely marching forward for now, but we cannot allow them to endanger civilians or trespass into restricted areas.

At once!

I fear this unrest indicates whatever's happening inside the Tomb of Sui must be quelled immediately.

Could His Majesty's decree actually be...

Are they... already fighting?

A crimson sword flash?

My goodness... where did this army come from?!

Th-They're headed our way! Help!

'Scriptgeists'....

Still the same old look. Whose ancient dwelling dream is this?

Is it because It woke up? Or because you've returned home?

Look out!

Are you alright, madam—

Thank you.

How can I ever repay you?

What? No, there's no need for that...

I don't know where these creatures crawled out of, but they're dangerous. Just be careful.

Ch'en notices the woman calmly ignoring the surrounding commotion. She even turns to look at Ch'en herself.

Um...

Noticing the woman's scrutinizing gaze, Ch'en immediately sheathes Chi Xiao—in vain.

A descendant of the House of Yan.

You must have misunderstood, I—

What say you—what's the difference between forcing one person's will upon the masses, and enlightening the masses with the insight of one mind?

Where's this question coming from?

You do not have an answer now?

This isn't the best time to discuss it.

What a shame.

Perhaps we can continue our conversation another time.

...Perhaps.

The woman does not wait for Ch'en to respond before melting back into the crowd.

Strange lady.

Actually, are these monsters that popped up out of nowhere... related to the 'bestial Sui'?

They seem to be coming from the same direction—

The Patrol Battalion flashes across his view as Zuo Le hides behind a wall.

What's going on inside the city...? Whose orders are they following? And why are they so fixated on this token from the Garden?

That approval letter was indeed written in the Supervisor's own hand... but why would she be working with them—

More troops?!

No, that's... that's?!

Countless paintings flash through his mind, until it stops on a scroll depicting the Great Hunt in the Sui Regulator's hidden collection.

I recall a similar scroll in Father's study.

Could they be... geists?!

As he stays deep in thought, the leading geist suddenly rushes towards him.

Look out!

The black geist disperses, leaving splotches of black ink on the nearby walls.

(This inkstain... a scriptgeist?!)

(But how? Don't tell me, that vanished proxy...)

My Lord! Are you—

Pester me any longer and I shan't show you mercy!

Th-There's a misunderstanding, sir!

I saw you getting attacked by that monster, so I ran here to help...

You're not apprehending me?

Huh?

My Lord must be joking... I only just received orders to assist the Candleholders in cleansing the monsters...

Have you seen any other Candleholders?

N-No.

(The city is in turmoil, but the Sui Regulator hasn't sent anyone...)

(And the Patrol Battalion... obviously two different directives have been issued...)

(I must get to the bottom of this, once I meet with the Supervisor.)

My apologies... this was my mistake. Please excuse me.

It's dangerous here. Keep safe.

His sword flashes in a spin as Zuo Le dispatches several nearby geists, and he instantly vanishes into an alley.

S-So fast!

Gah... why the rush?

More and more scriptgeists this way...

Where exactly did they come from...?

—Come out!

Alright, alright... Here I am, don't get mad now.

It's you—!

You, girl, you're coming with me.

Me...?

You don't get along with that Candleholder boy, and you'll just keep fighting in there. Whatever you're looking for, he can find it for you.

And what is your intention, having followed me the whole way?

Why the attitude? Shouldn't you be happy, reuniting with an acquaintance?

You...

I believe the Old Tianshi has her reasons for letting you go.

But I can't trust you... a Shanhaizhong.

Fine, fine... O righteous and benevolent Lord Zuo of the Sui Regulator, I know you look down upon us lot.

But you're being hunted down by your own people. Surely we can cooperate a little?