Orders from the Shadows

Meng Qingshan sat alone in his chamber, sharpening Hei Xin, the dark sword that now held the bond with his demon, Zhuan Xinyi. The ritual had taken more out of him than he had expected, and his body was still recovering from the strain. The demonic energy inside him stirred restlessly, though he had learned to control it better over the years. His mind, however, was far from calm. The events of the last few days had been filled with unsettling whispers and rumors from within the sect.Suddenly, the door creaked open. An elder from the demonic sect, wearing dark robes that flowed like shadows, stepped inside. His face was cold and unreadable as he approached Meng, his footsteps echoing against the stone floor."Meng Qingshan," the elder began, his voice as cold as ice. "The sect has new orders for you."Meng raised an eyebrow, curious but wary. "Orders? What kind of orders?"The elder folded his hands behind his back, his expression serious. "We've recently discovered the true cause of the illness spreading through the region. A small, insignificant sect is responsible for spreading this plague—perhaps intentionally. We cannot allow this insult to stand. They've disrupted the balance, and their actions threaten our survival."Meng frowned. "A small sect? How could they have the means to create such a disease? It doesn't make sense.""That's not for you to question," the elder snapped, his patience clearly thin. "The leadership has decided they are guilty, and they must be eradicated. You are to lead the attack on their stronghold and wipe them out."Meng sat silently, processing the weight of the order. He had been on countless missions before, but this felt different. He'd heard rumors about the illness spreading through the righteous sects, and now his own sect believed this small group was responsible. It didn't add up."Who is this small sect?" Meng asked quietly."The Yunshan Sect," the elder replied. "They're weak, nothing compared to us. Their eradication will be swift, especially under your leadership."Meng's eyes narrowed. The Yunshan Sect was indeed small, barely a blip on the radar of most major factions. Still, the command to destroy an entire sect, without clear evidence of their guilt, left a bitter taste in his mouth."Do we have proof that they caused the illness?" Meng asked, his tone cautious.The elder's gaze darkened. "You do not question the will of the sect, Meng Qingshan. Your loyalty is being tested. You will carry out this order, or the consequences will be severe."Meng clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to argue further. He knew better than to outright defy the elders, especially when his position was still precarious after the summoning ritual. He had to tread carefully."Understood," Meng finally replied, his voice stiff.The elder gave a satisfied nod and turned to leave. "The Yunshan Sect's stronghold lies in the northern mountains. You'll find them there. Kill them all."Once the elder had left, Meng let out a long breath, gripping Hei Xin tightly. Something about this order didn't sit right with him. The Yunshan Sect was small and weak—why would they create a disease that could provoke such a widespread conflict? And why was the demonic sect so quick to jump to conclusions?He stood up, sheathing Hei Xin, and headed out of his chamber. As he walked through the dark halls of the demonic sect, his mind raced. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was all wrong. There had to be something else going on, some deeper plot that he wasn't seeing.He reached the courtyard, where Jiang Tian was sparring with a few other disciples. Tian noticed Meng's presence and called out to him, "Hey, Meng! You're looking better. How's the recovery?"Meng gave a nod but didn't stop walking. "I'm fine. I've been given a mission."Tian raised an eyebrow, wiping sweat from his brow. "A mission? You don't sound too excited about it.""It's nothing worth talking about," Meng replied curtly, not wanting to drag Tian into the dilemma in his mind. "Just some small sect we're supposed to deal with."But Tian was perceptive and immediately noticed the tension in Meng's voice. "Something's off, isn't it?" he asked, his tone more serious now.Meng paused and glanced back at Tian. For a moment, he considered telling him everything—his doubts, his concerns about the orders—but he stopped himself. Tian was loyal to the demonic sect, and Meng wasn't sure he could trust him with his growing suspicions."It's nothing I can't handle," Meng said finally. "I'll deal with it."Tian gave him a searching look but didn't press further. "Alright. Just don't let it weigh on you too much."Meng nodded and left the courtyard, heading towards the northern mountains where the Yunshan Sect lay. His heart was heavy with uncertainty, but he knew he had no choice. He had to follow through with the mission, even if every instinct in him screamed that something was wrong.As he ventured into the dark wilderness, the memory of his brother, Chen Ming, flashed in his mind. Chen had always been the one to trust his instincts, to protect others even at the cost of his own life. Meng clenched his fists, silently promising himself that he would uncover the truth behind this illness and the sect's orders.For now, though, the blood of the Yunshan Sect would stain his hands.