Three months had passed since the gate to the Realm of Jinn was sealed. The lands were now filled with civilizations of various races building peaceful lives together. Floating islands remained home to creatures who preferred solitude or distance from the bustle of the mainland.
In the small village of Welin, Gan and Eryndra lived peacefully, running a humble tea shop they had opened together. The once-quiet shop was now livelier—especially with frequent visits from Yolaqen and Yarantha. Yarantha, the graceful and powerful magical queen, always drew attention whenever she came. The atmosphere became more vibrant whenever they gathered there, sharing stories and laughter amidst the calming aroma of tea.
One peaceful afternoon, Yolaqen shared an idea:
"Gan, how about we visit the Realm of Jinn?"
Gan, who had long harbored curiosity about that world, immediately showed interest. Eryndra, though slightly surprised, eventually gave her blessing with full trust.
Yolaqen added,
"I’ve also been thinking… perhaps we could introduce tea to the Realm of Jinn. What if Eryndra became our tea ambassador?"
Eryndra thought for a moment before smiling and nodding.
"Why not? That sounds exciting," Eryndra replied.
Yarantha, who had been listening to the conversation, also spoke up,
"I’ll follow in a few days for diplomatic affairs."
They agreed to travel to the Realm of Jinn on the same day.
Seven days later, they all prepared to depart. Eryndra brought various tea ingredients—fresh leaves from *Camellia sinensis*, selected herbs, and dried fruits specially blended for her mission as a tea ambassador.
Before the massive gate to another dimension, Yolaqen opened the path with magic. As they stepped through, a cold wind and a foreign aura greeted them. Those who had never set foot in the Realm of Jinn immediately felt the difference—heavier, wilder, and filled with an indescribable vibration.
Yolaqen looked at them calmly.
“This place is still far from the civilized center of the Intelligent Jinn. The surrounding area is still filled with Chaotic Jinn, so stay alert.”
Along the journey, swarms of Chaotic Jinn occasionally attacked, but they were easily handled thanks to the group's seasoned battle experience.
Eventually, they arrived at a large city surrounded by high mountains called Grili. Gan looked around with wide eyes. The city was bustling—stalls lined the streets, Jinn moved about, busy with their daily affairs. There was no sign of the chaos they had once imagined.
Eryndra stood frozen, her eyes wide.
“I thought the Realm of Jinn was all chaos…”
Yolaqen gave a faint smile.
“That was before. Now, the Intelligent Jinn have built their own civilization.”
Yolaqen then said,
“The tea promotion starts tomorrow. For today, enjoy the city.”
Gan and Eryndra decided to explore the city, taking in sights they had never seen before—while Yolaqen and Yarantha headed to the palace to attend to important diplomatic matters.
At the grand palace of Grili, Yolaqen and Yarantha were received with great respect by the city's leader, Zedrik. They immediately began negotiations concerning various governmental matters, aiming to strengthen ties between their world and the now-prosperous City of Grili.
After the discussions, Zedrik invited them outside the city to show something sacred to the people of Grili: the Qiqin Tree. The tree towered above, its blood-red leaves reaching for the sky as if trying to pierce the clouds.
This tree was known for possessing reincarnation magic (*Rinne ?300*).
As they approached, both Yolaqen and Yarantha felt a strange aura—an intense life force radiating from the area around the tree. Yolaqen asked Zedrik about it, and he explained that the Qiqin Tree absorbed captured Chaotic Jinn through its roots to reincarnate them into Intelligent Jinn. Even some Intelligent Jinn voluntarily surrendered themselves for purification and rebirth. In Grili, reincarnation through the Qiqin Tree was a sacred ritual, seen as cleansing one’s sins and offering one's soul for a brighter future.
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However, Yolaqen frowned. Something felt off. “There should be a holy aura… but why does the darkness grow stronger the closer we get?” she thought silently. Her magical instincts trembled, sensing a hidden truth.
Later, Yarantha shared her intention with Zedrik about a special ingredient for a unique tea she hoped to promote in Grili. She wished for the city to become the main producer of this ingredient for the entire Realm of Jinn. Zedrik, intrigued by the opportunity, agreed to further discussions. They talked at length while riding a unique creature—four-legged like a horse, but with two sharp horns—back to the city center.
The next day, in a special meeting room of Grili’s main trade company, Eryndra began her presentation. She showcased various tea ingredients and demonstrated techniques for producing high-quality tea. Eryndra explained her findings:
“The soil in Grili is very suitable for cultivating *Camellia sinensis*. The climate and soil elements are nearly perfect.”
After long and in-depth discussions, Eryndra successfully convinced the trade company to become the primary supplier of tea ingredients—marking the first step in spreading tea culture throughout the Realm of Jinn.
**GAN'S INVESTIGATION**
That night, beneath the dark skies of Grili, Gan tightly held onto a secret mission entrusted to him by Yolaqen and Yarantha—to investigate the mysterious Qiqin Tree. From a distance, he observed the massive tree, its blood-red leaves swaying gently in the night breeze. Guards surrounded the tree, making Gan’s approach a delicate task.
With remarkable agility, Gan silently crept through bushes and shadows, gradually drawing closer to the tree. At times, he had to silently take down a few guards, rendering them unconscious without raising alarm. Amid the giant roots of the tree, his attention was caught by a dark crevice—a hidden passage beneath one of the large roots.
Without hesitation, Gan entered the tunnel. A damp, dark atmosphere greeted him. Soon, he stumbled upon a shocking sight: many unconscious Intelligent Jinn were being slowly transported toward the center of the tree’s root system. Gan quickly hid behind a large root, observing every movement intently.
The unconscious Jinn were laid atop the tree’s roots. In silence, Gan watched as the roots absorbed their bodies. Moments later, from the same spot emerged horrifying creatures—their bodies textured like tree roots, hair made of tangled vines, and their entire forms radiating a suffocating dark aura.
Gan whispered to himself,
“This isn’t holy reincarnation… this is something dark. The Qiqin Tree… is hiding the truth.”
All the previous tales—that the tree purified and reincarnated the Jinn—were a mask for something far more sinister.
After memorizing all he saw, Gan began to retreat. But fate turned against him—a guard stumbled upon him and shouted an alarm. In a flash, many guards swarmed, surrounding Gan.
Gan immediately activated his power—a clear yellow aura burst from his body (*Yami ?210*). With swift movements, he spun into light, striking and downing the attacking guards. One after another fell, but more came, tightening the encirclement. Gan knew he couldn’t keep fighting—he had to escape.
Summoning all his strength, Gan raced out of the Qiqin Tree’s zone, chased by the cries of guards fading behind him. Gasping for breath, he finally returned to the city of Grili, weaving through narrow alleys until he reached Yolaqen at their agreed rendezvous point.
Still panting, Gan reported,
“Yolaqen… everything we believed about the Qiqin Tree… was a lie. It doesn’t purify—it births dark creatures.”
Yolaqen took a deep breath, her gaze sharp yet calm.
“I had a feeling something was wrong… and now we have proof. This is bigger than we imagined.”
That night, a dark truth began to unfold before them, opening a new chapter in a mystery yet to be unraveled.
