Chapter 14: To Be Chosen - 5

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Chapter 14: To Be Chosen

Qing Xuzi disappeared into the depths of the dongfu, leaving Qin Kaiyi standing in his wake. The air thickened, anticipation humming in the silence. The venerable master emerged, bearing several ancient tomes. With a deft motion, he shifted the bookshelf, revealing a hidden passage-a yawning maw leading into the earth.

"Come in," Qing Xuzi's gaze held secrets, and Qin Kaiyi obeyed, stepping into the darkness alongside him.

Through winding tunnels, they ventured, until they reached a stone chamber. Here, the air tasted of earth and time. Qing Xuzi approached a stone table, its surface etched with cryptic symbols. From a hidden alcove, he retrieved an ebony box, its gold inlay glinting like forgotten magic. He placed it in Qin Kaiyi's hands.

"Shifu, what is this?" Qin Kaiyi's voice trembled

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"Shifu, what is this?" Qin Kaiyi's voice trembled. This unexpected turn left him unsteady. He hadn't anticipated this clandestine journey.

"Open it." Qing Xuzi's eyes bore into Qin Kaiyi's soul, and the room seemed to hold its breath.

"Yes." Qin Kaiyi lifted the lid, revealing an emerald-green bracelet. It sparkled, translucent and pure, yet ink-like mist threaded through its core. The mist-dense, inscrutable-was etched with ancient runes. Qin Kaiyi's pulse quickened. What secrets lay coiled within this artifact?

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