*Back with another chapter, I have kinda regained my confidence that I needed to continue this story, so let's continue. Hope you enjoy! :D*

It was a beautiful and sunny morning. Although the last night's rain made the land sickening for most people, Jhin did not mind the muddy and wet roads. The journey was going to take quite a long time, but Jhin's parents always taught him to remain positive and patient. It was very refreshing for Jhin to speak to Xar about his past and he even mentioned the piano playing that he did as a child. It was his passion to become a great musician performing on the stage. The thought of the spotlight striking down upon him, him expressing his articulated talent and skills and the crowd appreciating what he does...that was Jhin's dream. Some people would say that Jhin's dream took a wrong turn. The people who knew him have most likely found out about the murders, and he couldn't even see his parents anymore, the danger would be too great. Jhin's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a moving cargo next to him. Jhin quickly activated his spell under his cloak and ended up looking like a Freljordian. The cargo was ridden by an old man and, what looked like, his granddaughter in the back.

The old man (slowing his cargo down and turning towards Jhin): "Need a lift?"

After a few moments, Jhin climbed in the back of the cargo and took his hood down. He sat across from the granddaughter and sighed out of relief.

Jhin: "I appreciate it, sir. Mind if I ask you your name?"

The old man: "Oh, the pleasure is mine. I'm Dorald, and this is my granddaughter, Jenine. Where are you off to, and might I ask your name?"

Jhin: "The name's Jhin. I'm trying to make it to Old Bargate from where I can search for transport towards Zaun. I'm visiting a friend who is starting to work there."

Dorald: "Ah, sounds good, I can take you there, in a few hours we'll be in Old Bargate."

Jhin simply nodded and a silence occurred for a few moments.

"There's been a Jhin roaming around murdering people. You don't look like him, so it must be pretty bad to have the name 'Jhin' right now."

Jhin: "Yeah, no kidding. The merchants all want to know your name in this day of age, and that can be quite troublesome."

Dorald: "I understand, yes. Help yourself to any food or drinks, by the way, make yourself comfortable."

Jhin: "Thank you, Dorald."

Dorald: "My pleasure."

After a few minutes of silence or a cough from Dorald here and there, Jhin started humming one of his favourite songs again. Jenine seemed to know the tune so she started humming as well. After a few minutes of rehearsing the tune, Jhin and Jenine both finished and Jhin did a small bow.

Jenine: "Oh, that takes me back. From where do you know the tune?"

Jhin: "I knew it since my childhood. I always wanted to become a performer or a musician on the stage, so I ended up learning to play the piano. What about you?"

Jenine: "My grandfather taught me the tune."

Dorald: "It's true. (Jhin turned his attention towards Dorald) Her mother loves those piano songs, so I ended up memorizing most of them."

Jhin: "That's wonderful, my parents were also very focused on me becoming successful that they memorized most of those songs, too."

After a few moments, Jhin laid back and started to mentally speak to Xar.

*"How do you like them so far?"*

Jhin: "They seem like good folks, but you can never be too careful. My main concern is they're taking me to Old Bargate, and if they're going to get me there safely, I don't mind hanging around them."

*"Fair enough. Hey, doesn't Jenine look kinda younger than you?"*

Jhin: "Now, that you mention it, it seems like it. It's nice seeing people who are younger than me but aren't spoiled rascals like the rest of the little children."

*"Yeah, I've seen some very annoying brats in my day."*

Jhin: "Same here. There used to be a kid in my city who was just so annoying that everyone just widely ignored him and never talked to him. His parents moved out, so he had to as well."

*"Navori must be an amazing city, isn't it?"*

Jhin: "You were never in Navori, huh? Where did you go with your last host?"

*"We mostly hung around Freljord, he was a soldier or guardsmen for a village, until it got attacked. He didn't make it. I didn't get to stay with him for very long."*

Jhin: "What happened to you?"

*"Well, the enemy had a witch doctor, so they banished me from consuming one of their own or any other human for the next 200 years."*

Jhin: "That's truly unfortunate."

*"Indeed, but it feels good to have a decent host for once."*

Jhin: "It also feels good to have a decent spirit inside of me."

*"Yeah, I am pretty great."*

Jhin visibly glared at the cargo wall and, mentally, at Xar.

*"Alright, I'll give you some credit."*

The conversation seems to have stopped there and the first hours passed fairly quickly, but Dorald slowed the cargo down and Jhin knew something wasn't right. 3 men were seen standing in front of the cargo on the road, blocking it. 2 men stood on the left and right of the cargo, as well. All of them looked armed with daggers and swords.

Dorald: "Folks, you're blocking the road, and we've gotta make it to Old Bargate."

Man 1: "Oh, we'll let you go, after we take Jhin."

Jhin peeked out of the cargo and noticed all 5 of them had The Mark Of Death symbols on their clothing.

*"Ah, crap."*

Jhin (out loud): "Alright, Jenine, Dorald, stay in the back, I'll deal with this."

Dorald: "What are you gonna do?"

Jhin: "You remember that Jhin that killed a bunch of people? (both of them nodded) That would be me."

Dorald and Jenine looked at Jhin in shock.

Jhin: "They're not after me for my killing, they're after me because I left a certain clan. I understand if you don't want to take me to Old Bargate anymore, and that's fine, but right now, I have to take these guys out."

Jhin took his 'Shiverstrike', his dagger, inside of its scabbard and put it on his right side and he pulled out his Whisper. He finally took his mask, cancelled his spell and put the mask on his face.

Jhin: "And now, the curtain rises."

*"Let's go."*

Jhin stepped out of the cargo from the back and quickly shot the man on the cargo's left side.

"One."

The 3 men reacted and quickly sprinted towards Jhin, while the man from the right side also ran in. Jhin let them get a little closer, then he rolled to the side and threw a bouncing grenade that hit the first man, bounced to the rest and finally exploded in the 4th man's face. The 4th man collapsed and the rest got injured. Jhin shot the man closest to him and he fell to the ground.

"Two."

Jhin crouched to prepare his 3rd bullet but by the time he looked up, one of the men was closing in and was about to decapitate Jhin. Jhin quickly reacted, pulled his 'Shiverstrike' out, and blocked the hit. The man's sword was being pressed towards Jhin, but Jhin pushed him back with sheer force. Jhin quickly shot the now knocked back man and got up from his crouching position.

"Three."

Jhin precisely and quickly threw 'Shiverstrike' into one of the last 2 men standing and he hit him on the shoulder. Jhin ran up, grabbed the dagger, pulled it out and proceeded to decapitate the man. The last man swung at Jhin a few times with his dagger, but Jhin dodged with succession and stabbed the last man in the stomach with 'Shiverstrike'. To make sure this was the end of The Mark Of Death members, Jhin pointed his gun towards the man's head.

"FOUR!"

And just like that, the last man's brains were blown out by Jhin's 4th shot.

*"I could hear the Wolf grunting in the distance. Nice work, Jhin."*

Jhin: "Yeah, they need to find better assassins."

*"I guess the best already left."*

Jhin: "Can't argue with that."

Jhin sat on the ground and took his mask off to catch a quick breath. He got up after a few moments and checked the condition of Dorald and Jenine.

Jhin (entering the cargo): "You guys alright?"

Dorald: "Yes, barely. Thank you."

Jhin: "It was my fault, after all, so I don't deserve any gratitude. Either way, I'll be making my way now, good day."

Jhin started to walk out of the cargo.

Dorald: "Well, as long as you don't murder us, we can still take you to Old Bargate."

Jhin stopped, turned around and looked at Dorald, then Jenine. Jenine nodded, confirming what her grandfather is saying.

Jhin: "I would be forever grateful."

Dorald: "Hop on, we'll hit the road."

Dorald drove around the bodies and continued his way towards Old Bargate. Jhin took out a few bandages and covered a few of the cuts and bruises on his arms.

Dorald: "You mind telling us who those guys were?"

Jhin: "I don't know myself, but they had The Mark Of Death symbols on their shirts. It looks like this."

Jhin scribbled down the symbol and showed it to Jenine, then Dorald. Dorald quickly nodded and Jhin continued.

Jhin: "It's a clan that has paid contracts, which are basically murder instructions. They pay you high amounts of money for a stealth assassination. I quickly left since I didn't want to rely on anyone to stage the assassinations that they wanted me to do. I realised I didn't want to murder people for someone else's pleasure, but rather my own. I probably sound sadistic, but you 2 aren't on my priority list for assassinations right now. I consider you both as allies if that makes it any better."

Dorald: "It kinda does. Thanks, I guess."

Jenine looked at Jhin and nodded firmly, which confirmed she appreciated this as well.

Jhin: "I'm kinda burned out, so do you mind if I sleep it off?"

Dorald: "Knock yourself out, friend. I'll inform you when we get closer to Old Bargate."

Jenine offered Jhin a blanket which he gladly accepted.

Jhin: "Thank you, both of you."

Jhin laid down and proceeded to fall asleep shortly after.

*"Come over to my dream world, I got something for you."*

Jhin (thinking): "Alright."

*End of chapter 10.

Cliffhanger, yeah, but I'm a little tired so this is all that's gonna be in this chapter. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading! :D*