After returning to the mountain, Liu Yuxuan left the pair in order to report his findings to his Master. Leaving the matter of the mysterious attacker and the talisman to Feng Jianyu and Zhou Jinhai. The latter allowed his friend to lead him through the sect to whom they both figured was the best person to ask about the artifacts. Senior Martial Brother Hongxi. 

Their destination was a long, low building in the very heart of the sect. Surrounded by some of the most important or secretive departments, the Inner Sect Library was a place reserved for the core members of the Liu - both blood-relatives of the Clan Leader, and the inner sect members, regardless of family ties. Neither Feng Jianyu or Zhou Jinhai were of the Liu clan, but both were inner sect members. So they had full access to the public part of the Liu Library. Once they arrived at the sprawling pavilion, Feng Jianyu led the way, pushing open the large wooden doors and striding into the open space beyond. Shelves lined the walls and free standing units formed a labyrinth of hallways that seemed entirely random. A large open space was towards the center of the building, where low desks were scattered about between hanging lamps and pale green banners hung from the high ceiling, extolling the virtues of learning and wisdom as they swayed in unseen air currents. 

“Hongxi!” Feng Jianyu boomed loudly, striding right towards the back of the hall, leaving Zhou Jinhai to make his way more sedately, fingertips brushing the spines of various books and trailing over piled-up scrolls. Unlike his boisterous companion, JInhai knew the library well, though had never been dedicated enough to brush and ink to work there. The lure of the sword had always been too strong. But he made his way towards the back area easily enough from memory, arriving just as Feng Jianyu banged on the only other door in the hall. 

“Hongxi! Get out here!” He demanded, only stopped from unintentionally knocking the door off its hinges by a gentle touch from Zhou Jinhai. Glancing at his quiet charge, he frowned but sighed, only to whip his head back around as the door opened practically under his clenched fist. Stepping back to allow the newcomer - a slender young-looking man with long black hair half tied up by a plain silver guan and a single eye-glass perched on the bridge of his nose - to emerge from the inner library, Feng Jianyu briefly clasped his fist in a far-too brief greeting, but his attention was on Jinhai. Who for his part, stepped out from behind the larger man’s muscular frame and bowed low, hands clasped formally in the proper version of the martial greeting Feng Jianyu had barely performed. 

“Hongxi-shixiong.” He waited a moment before straightening. His blindfolded visage quietly downturned as he questioned. “Does Senior Brother have a moment to discuss something important?” 

Hongxi, for that was indeed who had almost got a knock on the head from Feng Jianyu’s fist, returned the bow to both men, his own just as low as Jinhai’s had been. While technically their senior in age, both the younger sect members were prodigies in their own right, and were highly respected across the Liu. Feng Jianyu for his battle prowess and mastery of almost every weapon, and Zhou Jinhai for his singular dedication to the sword arts. 

“Feng Jianyu, Zhou Jinhai.” He greeted both men, nodding to each in turn. The blindfold was a little startling, but almost the entire clan knew what had happened to Zhou Jinhai and his partner, Liu Li-Tai. With only the youngest members being ignorant. So he hid any reaction from his expression, fully aware of the glare Feng Jianyu was levelling his way even as his attention was on the soft-spoken Zhou Jinhai. “Certainly. What can I do for you?” He asked in an even tone as he turned and led the way through the maze-like shelving to a small ‘room’ created by the wooden units themselves. Once within he let the cloth curtain fall across the entrance and sat at the only low table in the small space. Motioning for the two to join him, he watched as Zhou Jinhai was directed to a cushion by his companion, and only once he was settled did Feng Jianyu sit down. 

Looking across the table at Zhou Jinhai, Hongxi waited to be told what this was about. He didn’t wait long however, as Feng Jianyu withdrew an old black spearhead and a worn paper talisman, setting them in the middle of the table. Frowning, Hongxi reached up to adjust the monocle in it’s frame on his nose, resettling it as he leaned in to peer at both items. At first he couldn’t see what had caught the other men’s interest, so he glanced up at Feng Jianyu. But it was Zhou Jinhai who spoke, his low melodic voice distant and concerned. 

“The spear head was found by Liu Li-Tai and myself when we were investigating the Hanghua Village incident.” He briefly described the strange fierce corpse they had slain and the shadow that had seemingly attacked them with the spear. Then he motioned at the tattered talisman and explained how once again they had been ‘attacked’ by an archer, but that the arrow had delivered the used talisman to them. Both times it felt more like someone was trying to help them, rather than hunt them. He then explained about the spear head’s probable connection to the Sui, and the talisman’s suspected connection to the same. Then he pulled out a sliver of burned and half melted metal, setting it besides the first two items. “We found this before the spear head. I’m unsure if it’s related or not.” 

Hongxi reached out and picked up the sliver, turning it over on his palm consideringly. “A fragment of a formation plate?” He asked, half inquiry, half statement of fact. 

Zhou Jinhai nodded. “That’s what I thought. But I haven’t examined it properly.” 

Hongxi didn’t miss the slight flinch at those words, nor the unspoken sentiment they carried. He simply nodded, and spent some time examining all three artifacts. After a while he rose and retrieved several mechanical tools, using them to study the items more thoroughly. Once done he set his tools aside and placed the artifacts back in the middle of the table. 

“The spear head and the talisman have a similar spiritual signature. It does seem to match the Sui’s cultivation but I can’t be completely sure. The lingering energy is certainly demonic in nature. The formation fragment is too small and too old, it has no energy left in it. But it does look like it exploded while in use. And it doesn't match any of the formations we hold in the library. But the Formation Master would know more.” He leaned back, using his index finger to push his eyeglass back up his nose. 

The three cultivators were quiet for a while, considering the three items before them, but eventually Hongxi finally moved to stand up, prompting the other two to follow suit. Jinhai carefully gathered up the three items and stored them back in his qiankun pouch. The three bowed formally to each other, even Feng Jianyu, despite keeping most of his attention on the obviously flagging Zhou Jinhai. Once Hongxi left, the two men made their way back out of the depths of the Library, and headed over to where the Formation Master would most likely be located. 

Arriving quickly at a nearby building, they made it part way up the steps before Liu Yuxuan stepped out the large doors at the top. Turning, he seemed surprised to see them, before understanding dawned on his expression and he caught the door before it could swing shut behind him. “Come to see Master Liu HànQiáng?” At their affirmation, he led the way back into the Formation Hall. The entry room was small and just had several men bent over desks. A door led deeper into the building and after a short corridor, they entered a large open space, the majority of which was empty, with strange designs etched into the floor and walls. An archway at the back led even deeper, and the three men crossed the large room and passed through the arch, which led into an almost duplicate space to the library. Except instead of books, materials of all kinds lined the shelves that filled every bit of space on the available walls. Several desks where scattered across the room, each piled high with scrolls. The largest desk sat at the back, with an equally large pile of bits and pieces spread out atop it’s surface. A tall, wiry older man was hunched over his work. His short beard was neatly trimmed. Hair pulled back in a severe knot at the top of his head. His sect robes were ink-smudged and a little burnt at the sleeves. 

All three younger cultivators stayed where they were, barely within the room as they bowed low, hands clasped in the proper martial greeting. Even Liu Yuxuan, who had just left the Master’s presence, held his greeting until at length a distracted voice bid them to enter. Together, the three walked across the cluttered workroom, waiting quietly before the desk until the older cultivator finished his work and looked up. 

Liu Yuxuan stepped forwards, indicating his two companions. “Shifu, this is Feng Jianyu, and Zhou Jinhai. They have come to speak with you.” He motioned to each, and they finally straightened after they were introduced. Even the less socially obedient Feng Jianyu remained quiet. As was proper in the presence of a Senior Master. 

“Yes yes.. What do you want?” Liu HànQiáng asked in a gruff, distracted tone. 

Zhou Jinhai stepped forward, bowed again briefly, before withdrawing the three items from his pouch l. One hand seeking a bare space not already occupied by scrolls or tools, before carefully setting the items down with his other. Then he stepped back. 

“The metal splinter and the spear head were found during my initial investigation of Huanghua Village.” He explained briefly. “The talisman was found today, but I believe it’s related to the spearhead.” He dropped into a low bow once more, speaking to the floor as he continued. “This junior respectfully asks for assistance in identifying the use of the splinter that we think is from a formation plate.” He stayed in his bow until Feng Jianyu lightly touched his elbow, indicating that Master Liu HànQiáng had agreed. 

The Formation Master had picked up the metal slither as Jinhai had been speaking and was examining it with a small metal and glass eyepiece. “Return in three days.” Was all the man said as he stood and, with the piece of metal in hand, left the three and disappeared through a door previously hidden behind a hanging scroll. Feng Jianyu stepped forward and picked up the remaining two items, placing them on Zhou Jinhai’s palm so the other man could put them away in his qiankun pouch. Then the three turned and left the Formation Hall. 

Once outside Liu Yuxuan turned to his two friends and bowed in apology. “I know he’s all gruff and dismissive. But he’s just focused on his work.” Feng Jianyu grunted but Zhou Jinhai was the one who replied, reaching out to lift Liu Yuxuan up from his bow. “Senior Liu HànQiáng has every right to act as he sees fit. It’s fine Feiyu.” He assured in a gentle tone. 

After a short round of temporary farewells, Feng Jianyu and Zhou Jinhai left to report all that had happened to the sect Leader. They once again found Liu Huizhong in Serenity Hall, sat at his desk in the partitioned off back area, pouring over the collected reports coming in from the teams sent out to investigate the complicated situation currently unfolding in the Jianghu. After being beckoned forth, Zhou Jinhai once again explained what had happened at the Guardian Pagoda, and went through the disastrous Huanghua Village incident, focusing on the two items they had found and the suspicious derelict complex. He had reported everything months ago when he had eventually awoken from his coma. But now that he was again mobile, he wanted to be allowed to continue the investigation that had taken Liu Li-Tai’s life. 

All the while, Feng Jianyu stood at his side, nodding to confirm various points as Jinhai spoke. When at length the room once more fell silent, Liu Huizhong leaned back in his chair and regarded the injured man for a long time. Finally he sighed, seeing the stubborn expression on the younger’s usually placid features. 

“You will go even if I refuse your request.” He said, not allowing Zhou Jinhai to refute the statement. Instead turning his gaze to the surly warrior at Jinhai’s side. Feng Jianyu had been on his own investigation at the time of the incident, but that had been handed over to his subordinates to handle after the assassination attempt. The cultivator was one of the Liu sect’s strongest up and coming members and would be the perfect choice to send with the injured Zhou Jinhai back to an area of known danger. Stroking his chin for a long moment, the sect Leader sighed. “Feng Jianyu will go with you. And if Li Xiao-Yu is back already, take him too.” While Huizhong didn’t think another assassin would be hanging around the ruins waiting for a second chance at Zhou Jinhai’s life, there was no sense taking the risk when it could be easily mitigated. Li Xiao-Yu was a strange personality in the Liu. Unlike almost all Liu cultivators, he eschewed the sword, preferring to fight without weapons. Though he did carry a sword as a backup. Liu Huizhong had never seen the man use it for anything other than flying or as an oversized carving knife. But he was strong and capable, and was a fierce warrior to match the two before him. Li Xiao-Yu had been traveling alongside the clan Heir, Liu Tian Shan. Acting as Huizhong’s eldest son’s bodyguard while the youth was gaining experience out in the Jianghu. The youngest of his children, A-Bao, was a boy of seven and was kept within the inner sect while he trained and took his lessons. As such, he had no need for a bodyguard just yet.