9

The Rising Dawn

As dawn broke, casting a gentle light over the landscape, Xiao Lin awoke from a restless slumber. He stretched, shaking off the remnants of his troubled dreams, and prepared himself for the day ahead. After refreshing himself, he set out towards a quaint inn, eager to enjoy a hearty breakfast to fuel his plans.

With the first meal of the day behind him, Xiao Lin headed towards the Tang family's residence, curiosity gnawing at him. As he approached, he was met with a sight that brought warmth to his heart—the Tang family was enveloped in happiness, their laughter echoing in the morning air. This fleeting joy, however, only served to strengthen his resolve. He knew his next target loomed ominously on the horizon: the Soul Sect would likely be on high alert after the recent slaughter of three rival sects.

Xiao Lin's mind raced with possibilities. "The Soul Sect utilizes puppets, making it perilous for me to confront them head-on," he mused. "I'll need to create a diversion and strike when they are most vulnerable."

A dark thought flickered through his mind. "They rely on corpses and souls for their puppet-making—while the Evil Sect uses the blood of prisoners, the Soul Sect repurposes remains to create their minions. Given the recent losses they've sustained, they will be scouring for fresh sources. But where will they look?"

His thoughts crystallized. The only corpses available to them would be those of the branch families he had recently decimated. Yet targeting a single branch family would raise suspicion. "No, I can't alter my objective merely for personal gain. There must be a way to infiltrate the Soul Sect."

As he wandered toward the Soul Sect's territory, his thoughts were interrupted by the hushed conversations of a passing merchant group.

"Be cautious from now on," one merchant cautioned. "There are reports of missing corpses in the villages we've passed. Most of them recently deceased."

"Who would be so twisted as to steal a corpse?" another replied, a shiver running down his spine.

"I suspect it's the Soul Sect," a third merchant interjected, glancing around nervously.

"Don't say that! What if they hear you? We should keep our heads down if we want to stay safe," warned another.

A malevolent smile crept across Xiao Lin's face. This revelation fueled his determination. He adjusted his course towards the village plagued by these sinister occurrences.

As he entered the village, the fear and suspicion etched in the villagers' faces were palpable. News of the corpse theft had instilled a deep sense of dread among them. Adopting the guise of a wandering traveler, Xiao Lin blended into the anxious crowd.

Choosing a secluded forest as his makeshift camp, he settled in and prepared to wait for the inevitable death that would signal the commencement of his plan. Patience was a virtue he had long mastered. After three long weeks, the villagers mourned the passing of one of their own, and Xiao Lin sensed the moment had finally arrived.

That night, as the moon illuminated the graveyard, disciples of the Soul Sect descended upon the village, eager to claim their prize.

"Didn't they say a middle-aged man died?" one disciple remarked, perplexed, as they unearthed the body of a young man.

"Let's not dwell on it. We have a body, and that's what matters," another replied dismissively.

As they loaded the corpse onto their carriage, the disciples spoke of their once-prestigious sect now reduced to thievery due to the Evil Sect's reckless explosion that had cost them so many resources.

The next morning, the villagers cautiously approached the graveyard, only to find their fears alleviated—the body had not been stolen. But a spy from the Soul Sect lurking nearby was left baffled. "Why doesn't the Soul Sect require the dead body anymore?"

Meanwhile, the disciples arrived at the Soul Sect's gates, carrying their prized find.

"Where did you acquire this body?" a senior disciple inquired. "This is perfect for our puppet creations. We must present it to the elder for recognition."

The excitement was palpable as they delivered the body to the elder's hall, only for it to catch the attention of the sect leader, who coveted the corpse for his own ambitious projects.

As the elder entered his chamber to practice the puppet technique, a sharp pain pierced his heart. He opened his eyes to find Xiao Lin standing before him, the body suddenly animated.

"Perfectly convenient," Xiao Lin remarked coldly, his katana glinting menacingly in the dim light. "Now, to disguise myself and eliminate the elders, one by one. Let the shadows of the night cloak my actions."

Xiao Lin donned the guise of the sect leader and, with calculated precision, made his way through the halls, striking down elders and burning their remains to leave no trace.

In a relentless two-hour spree, he executed each elder with surgical precision, his heart heavy with the grim necessity of his actions. No joy accompanied the killings; they were simply the means to an end.

With the elders dispatched, Xiao Lin made his way to the Soul Sect's secret chamber, where the bodies of long-dead ancestors lay undisturbed. He set the chamber ablaze with Evil fire, leaving only ashes in his wake.

Many of the sect's disciples fought back, but their resistance only served to heighten their suffering. Those who attempted to wield soul attacks found themselves injured and incapacitated.

Emerging from the chaos, Xiao Lin called all remaining disciples to the main hall under the pretense of providing new instructions. Fear gripped them as they realized the elders were absent, yet no one dared to question the sect leader.

In the guise of elder Mo Xuan, Xiao Lin addressed the gathered disciples. "As you know, we suffered substantial losses during the Evil Sect's explosion. To compensate, we shall hold a competition for the remaining puppets. Line up according to your ranks."

As the disciples formed a line, anticipation hung heavy in the air. "Your opponent will be on your right. The victor shall earn a puppet. Let the competition begin!"

Initially hesitant, greed spurred the disciples into action, fueling a vicious contest that left many injured and exhausted. Just as they began to believe they had secured victory, a chilling announcement rang out.

Xiao Lin shed his disguise, revealing his true identity. "Now, you all must die."

Shock rippled through the assembly as realization dawned upon them—the sect leader was an imposter.

"Don't expect anyone to save you," Xiao Lin sneered. "I've already dispatched all the elders. Now it's your turn to perish."

With a swift display of swordsmanship and shadow fire, he descended upon them, the cries of the disciples echoing through the hall.

After an hour of carnage, Xiao Lin emerged from the main hall, the floor littered with lifeless bodies, a pool of blood forming around him.

"Sign in," he commanded, and the system responded instantly.

System: Host has attained a new skill—Soul Attack, capable of damaging an opponent's soul.

"Excellent," Xiao Lin mused. "This skill will prove invaluable against formidable foes."

With a final flourish, he slashed his katana, etching the words "Revenge in the Soul" into the ground.

His mission complete for now, Xiao Lin sought the nearest lake to cleanse himself of the bloodstains that marred his clothing. As he reached the serene waters, he removed his garments and stepped into the lake, scrubbing away the remnants of his vengeance.

After a brief swim, he emerged, the sunset casting a warm glow over the horizon. "Five down, another five to go," he thought, contemplating his next moves as he dressed.

Suddenly, he heard rustling in the nearby bushes. His instincts sharpened, and he called out, "Who goes there? Show yourself, or I won't show mercy!"

With a commanding presence, he awaited a response.

From the shadows, a group of young girls emerged, led by a confident woman.

"I am Li Bingbing, and these are my juniors," she explained, her demeanor respectful yet cautious. "We intended to visit the Water Sect, but on our journey back to our Ice Sect in the Song Nation, we were drawn to this beautiful lake. When we arrived, we hesitated upon seeing you in a… compromising state. We hope you'll forgive our intrusion."

Xiao Lin regarded them thoughtfully, curiosity piqued by their unexpected arrival.