Whispers of Conspiracy

Li Yuan stepped down from the arena, his body still tingling from the intensity of his battle with Zhao Feng. The murmurs of the crowd buzzed around him like restless insects. Some disciples looked at him with awe, others with fear, and a few with undisguised hostility.

"That kid is dangerous," one whispered.

"He came out of nowhere, and now he's already this strong? It doesn't make sense."

"Do you think someone is backing him?"

Li Yuan ignored them. He was used to unwanted attention now, and he had no interest in wasting energy on idle gossip. However, one thing was clear—his victory had upset the balance within the sect. There would be consequences.

As he reached the edge of the training grounds, a familiar voice stopped him.

"Li Yuan, wait."

He turned to see Elder Han standing there, his expression as unreadable as ever. The old man's sharp eyes studied him for a long moment before he spoke again.

"Come with me."

Li Yuan hesitated but nodded. He had a feeling this wasn't just a casual conversation.

The elder led him to a secluded courtyard at the back of the sect, far from the prying eyes of the other disciples. The area was quiet, surrounded by tall bamboo trees that swayed gently in the breeze. A small stone pavilion stood in the center, with a pot of steaming tea waiting.

"Sit," Elder Han said, pouring two cups.

Li Yuan obeyed, taking the cup with both hands but not drinking yet. His instincts warned him to stay alert.

"You performed well today," Elder Han began. "Too well."

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow. "I thought victory was the goal."

"It is," the elder said. "But power always draws attention—both good and bad. You have no background, no powerful clan, yet you defeated Zhao Feng, one of the strongest outer disciples. The sect will start asking questions."

Li Yuan remained silent, sensing the true reason behind this conversation.

"The Four Seasons Sect is not as peaceful as it seems," Elder Han continued, his voice lowering. "There are forces within the sect that do not welcome unknown variables like you. And there are those who—if they cannot control you—will try to eliminate you."

A cold wind blew through the courtyard, rustling the bamboo leaves.

Li Yuan met the elder's gaze. "Are you warning me or threatening me?"

Elder Han chuckled. "If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't be sitting here drinking tea. No, I'm offering you advice—survive. The true battle is not in the arena. It's in the shadows."

Li Yuan exhaled slowly, setting his cup down. "And what do you gain from telling me this?"

Elder Han's eyes gleamed. "Let's just say I dislike wasted potential. But don't misunderstand—I'm not your ally, just an observer. What you do with this warning is up to you."

Li Yuan nodded. He had no reason to trust the elder, but the information made sense. He had already suspected that his rapid rise would attract unwanted enemies. Now, he had confirmation.

Before he could ask more, Elder Han stood. "That's all for today. Be careful who you trust, Li Yuan."

With that, the elder turned and vanished into the night, leaving Li Yuan alone in the silent courtyard.

---

Back in his quarters, Li Yuan sat cross-legged on his bed, replaying the day's events in his mind. The battle, the strange look from the violet-eyed girl, and now Elder Han's warning…

Something bigger was happening within the sect, and he had unknowingly stepped into the middle of it.

As he meditated, circulating his Yuan Qi to recover, a soft knock came at his door.

He frowned. At this hour?

"Who is it?"

No answer.

His eyes sharpened as he quietly moved toward the door, his senses fully alert. He pressed his ear against the wood, listening for any sound—breathing, movement.

Nothing.

Slowly, he opened the door.

A gust of wind rushed in, carrying the faint scent of jasmine.

No one was there.

But as he looked down, his eyes narrowed.

A small silk pouch lay on the ground, tied with a delicate silver ribbon.

Curious, he bent down and picked it up. As soon as he untied the ribbon, a folded piece of parchment slipped out.

Unfolding it, he read the elegant, flowing script:

"Meet me at the Moonlight Pavilion. Midnight. Come alone."

No name. No signature.

Li Yuan's grip on the note tightened.

A trap? A warning? Or something else entirely?

His mind raced through the possibilities. He had made too many enemies recently to blindly trust an anonymous message. But at the same time… he had a feeling this was important.

As the moon climbed higher in the sky, Li Yuan made his decision.

He would go.

And he would be ready for anything.