~For just a little hope~

***

The Village of Qingshui

Yun Guo was led into Qingshui Village with the Lightstone clutched tightly in his hand. Though he couldn't see, he could hear the whispers of the villagers gathering around him, their voices filled with curiosity, fear, and a flicker of hope.

"Is he the one?" someone murmured.

"He's blind," another voice said skeptically. "How can he help us?"

The clinking of Eryan's armor cut through the crowd's murmurs. "Step back," he barked. "Elder Zhang will decide what to do with him."

Yun felt the villagers parting around him, and moments later, he was brought into a large wooden hall. The air inside was cool and smelled of incense and old wood.

"Sit," Eryan ordered gruffly, guiding him to a low wooden bench.

Yun waited in tense silence until the sound of a cane tapping the floor signaled someone's arrival. The voice that followed was calm and deliberate.

"You've traveled far, stranger," said Elder Zhang. "Tell me—how did you come to hold the Lightstone?"

Yun hesitated, still unsure how much to trust these people. "I found it," he said carefully, "in a ruined temple. It… called to me."

There was a murmur among the villagers gathered outside the hall. Elder Zhang's voice lowered slightly, but it remained steady.

"The Lightstone does not call to just anyone. It chooses. This is no coincidence."

"What does it mean?" Yun asked, gripping the artifact tightly. "Why did it choose me? I don't even belong to this world."

Elder Zhang's cane tapped against the floor again, a thoughtful pause before he answered. "Perhaps not, but the balance of Huaxia has drawn you here. The Lightstone is a relic of great power, tied to the harmony of light and shadow. Its return signals that the balance has been disrupted. If the balance is not restored…"

His voice trailed off, leaving the threat unspoken.

"And you think I'm the one who can fix it?" Yun asked bitterly. "I'm blind. I don't even know where I am, let alone how to save an entire world."

The elder chuckled softly. "You underestimate yourself, Yun Guo. The prophecy speaks of a blind seer who will restore balance to Huaxia. Blindness is not a weakness—it is a gift. You see the world not with your eyes but with your heart. And that may be exactly what we need."

Yun opened his mouth to argue but stopped. Was it possible the elder was right? Could his blindness, the very thing he had considered a curse, actually be a strength?

Before he could answer, the door to the hall creaked open, and a young woman entered.

"Elder Zhang," she said softly, "forgive the interruption, but the Shadow Scouts have been spotted near the eastern fields."

A ripple of tension swept through the room. Elder Zhang's voice grew sharp. "How far?"

"Not far," the woman replied. "They'll reach the village by nightfall."

Yun felt the air shift as Elder Zhang turned back to him. "You have questions, but they must wait. If the Scouts have come this far, it is no coincidence. They seek the Lightstone."

Eryan's voice cut in, his tone cold and suspicious. "Perhaps he led them here. How else would they know to come now?"

"I didn't—" Yun started, but Elder Zhang silenced him with a raised hand.

"No one could lead the Scouts here without the artifact," Zhang said. "They have their own means of sensing it. Eryan, gather the Shanwei. We must protect the village."

Eryan hesitated but eventually nodded. "As you wish, Elder."

As the hall emptied, Yun turned toward the elder. "What are these Scouts?"

"Servants of shadow," Zhang said grimly. "They are the vanguard of the greater forces that threaten Huaxia. If they reach the village, they will leave no one alive."

"Then let me help," Yun said without thinking.

Zhang raised an eyebrow. "You would fight?"

Yun tightened his grip on the Lightstone. "I may be blind, but I'm not useless. If this artifact chose me, then let me prove it."

The elder was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Follow Meilin. She will guide you to the eastern fields."

Yun was led by Meilin, the young woman who had interrupted the meeting. Her voice was soft and reassuring as she guided him through the village and toward the eastern fields.

"They won't be easy to face," she said. "The Scouts are fast, and their weapons are coated in shadow poison. Are you sure about this?"

Yun smirked faintly. "No. But I'll manage."

As they reached the fields, Yun could hear the distant sound of hoofbeats and guttural growls. The Scouts were coming.

"Stay here," Meilin said, placing his hand on the trunk of a tree. "The Shanwei will handle this."

But Yun shook his head. "No. If this world expects me to restore balance, then I can't run from this."

As the sounds of battle erupted around him—clashing swords, screams, and snarls—Yun focused on the artifact in his hands. Its hum grew louder, vibrating with energy. For the first time, he felt its power truly awaken.

Suddenly, a wave of clarity washed over him. Though he couldn't see, he could feel the Scouts' presence—their movements, their intentions. It was as if the Lightstone was guiding him.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered, stepping forward into the chaos.

***