The Mystery of the Ink Order

The cool-to-the-touch "Ink" token gleamed with a dark luster under the pale moonlight, its swirling patterns seemingly possessing a captivating, mesmerizing power. A faint stench of blood mingled with the decaying odor inherent in the desolate garden, utterly nauseating. The black-clad man's corpse lay limp against the broken wall, his eyes behind the mask wide open, frozen in the terror and resentment of his death, becoming the most glaring footnote to this night.

Pei Qinhu squatted beside the corpse and searched it carefully again, but found nothing except the token. He stood up, dusted off his hands, and frowned. "It's eerily clean. There's nothing there except this broken token." He looked at Ming Shiyin, "Lord Ming, what's the origin of this character '墨'?"

Ming Shiyin did not answer immediately. His slender fingers traced the distorted vortex pattern on the token, his eyes swirling like stars, as if he were deducing something. After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice carrying an unusual solemnity: "The Mohist school was once a prominent school of thought, advocating universal love, non-aggression, meritocracy, and conformity. However, it split internally hundreds of years ago due to ideological differences. One branch adhered to the ancient ways and lived in seclusion; the other... went to extremes, believing that only through absolute 'order' and 'control' could worldly conflicts be eliminated. Their methods... gradually became cruel, and they were known as the 'Ink of the Dark Night'."

“Ink of the Night…” Yi Xing repeated the name softly, his fingertips tracing the armrest of his wheelchair. “Control… order… This seems to subtly align with their cultivation of ‘Soul-Separating Grass’ and their unknown mechanical experiments at the Seaview Villa. For their so-called ‘order,’ they can treat human life like dirt and commit such heinous acts?” His voice carried a barely perceptible anger, for the innocent Dr. Wang who died tragically, and for this distorted “Dao.”

"When justice dons the cloak of silence, evil will sing its praises with unbridled fervor; only by letting the truth speak out can we rebuild the monument of order on the wasteland of morality."

Gongsun Li gripped the umbrella-sword tightly, her pretty face covered with a layer of frost: "So, Dr. Wang's death, and the previous attempt to frame Yi Xing, were all the work of 'Night Ink'? What exactly are they trying to do? What is hidden in that book, 'Tian Yuan Ce,' that is worth such a huge fuss?"

Yang Yuhuan, holding her pipa, spoke with a chilling tone in her gentle voice: "They chose this abandoned Wanghai Villa, using the old waterway to introduce saltwater, cultivate poisonous plants, and conduct secret experiments... Their intentions must be far-reaching. This Chang'an city has probably already been infiltrated by their shadows."

Ming Shiyin put away the token and glanced at everyone. "This place is not safe to stay. Although the commotion wasn't large, it's hard to guarantee that it didn't alert the other guards in the garden. We need to leave as soon as possible and discuss this further." His gaze finally landed on Yi Xing, asking, "Yi Xing, what's your opinion?"

Yi Xing pondered for a moment, sorting through his chaotic thoughts: "Master, everyone, I believe there are several things that need to be addressed immediately. First, this token and the corpse of the man in black must be secretly handed over to Lord Di Renjie as soon as possible. The 'Ink of the Night' has reappeared in the world, and its influence may have already infiltrated Chang'an. This matter concerns the safety of the nation and is not just a matter for our Yao Tian clan. We need to rely on the power of the Dali Temple and even the imperial court."

He paused, then continued, "Secondly, we need to strengthen surveillance of the Wanghai Villa, but we must avoid alerting them. After this incident, they will definitely be more vigilant. We need to know what they will do next and who they will contact."

“Third,” Yi Xing’s gaze sharpened, “we need to delve deeper into the secrets of the Tian Yuan Strategy. Dr. Wang died because of it, and the other party’s obsession with it must hide a key. Perhaps… we need to find another person who can decipher its mysteries.”

"Fourth, we know nothing about the organizational structure, core members, or ultimate goal of this 'Ink of the Night.' We must use all available channels to find out their background."

His thinking was clear and logical, outlining the current predicament and future course of action. Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Alright.” Ming Shiyin nodded. “Let’s proceed accordingly. I will find a way to ‘send’ the body and the token to the gate of the Dali Temple. As for monitoring the villa, Ah Hu, you will select a few clever and reliable brothers to take turns on guard duty, observing but not making contact.”

"Understood!" Pei Qinhu nodded vigorously.

"Interpreting the 'Tian Yuan Strategy'..." Ming Shiyin pondered for a moment, "Perhaps there is someone we can try. This person is eccentric and has been living in seclusion for a long time, but he is extremely knowledgeable in ancient books and mechanical arts. However... it is not easy to persuade him to come out of seclusion."

"No matter how difficult it is, we must give it a try," Yi Xing said firmly.

"As for investigating the details of 'Ink of the Night'..." A profound light flashed in Ming Shiyin's eyes, "I will handle it personally."

With the plan settled, the group didn't delay any longer. Pei Qinhu cleaned up any traces that might be left at the scene, and then, under the cover of night, the group quickly left the dangerous and desolate garden.

On the way back to Yaotian's base, the atmosphere was even heavier than on the way there. This wasn't just because they had encountered a formidable enemy, but also because the unknown threat represented by the name "Ink of the Dark Night" hung like a massive dark cloud over everyone's hearts. The opponent was no longer a petty villain lurking in the shadows, but a colossal entity with a long history, a tightly organized structure, and a terrifying ideology.

Back in that familiar, warm room filled with calming incense, Yi Xing finally relaxed, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. He hadn't felt it during his intense mental state, but now, as he relaxed, he felt a dull ache in his chest and some difficulty breathing. He couldn't help but cough a few times, his face appearing even more translucent in the lamplight.

"Rest quickly." Yang Yuhuan immediately stepped forward to take his pulse, and then took out ginseng pills for him to take, her movements gentle and swift. Gongsun Li hurriedly went to bring warm water and a hot towel.

Pei Qinhu looked at Yi Xing's weak state, feeling both heartache and anger. He slammed his fist on the door frame: "These bastards! Once I find out where they are, I'll wipe them out!"

Ming Shiyin patted Pei Qinhu on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down. "Anger won't solve anything. Facing an opponent like this, calmness and wisdom are even more necessary." He walked to Yi Xing's bedside, looked at his slightly relieved complexion after taking the pill, and said gently, "You did very well today. You remained calm in the face of danger and thought things through thoroughly."

Yi Xing shook his head slightly, his voice somewhat weak: "This disciple has only done his duty. It's just... this 'Ink of the Dark Night'..."

“There’s no need to worry too much,” Ming Shiyin interrupted him, his tone carrying a calming power. “When soldiers come, we’ll meet them head-on; when water comes, we’ll dam it. Chang’an has stood for a thousand years, weathering storms and tribulations. It’s not something that can be brought down by mere demons and monsters. You should rest and recuperate. I’ll take care of the rest.”

His words carried an undeniable confidence, which reassured Yi Xing somewhat.

As night deepened, Yaotian's residence returned to tranquility. But everyone knew that beneath this calm, turbulent undercurrents were brewing. A small token bearing the character "墨" (Mo), like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, was creating ripples that were rapidly spreading and would eventually evolve into a storm that would sweep across the entire city of Chang'an.