Shadows and Plans

 The late afternoon sun bathed the Xiang Sect in a golden hue, but the atmosphere remained tense. Hidden among the tranquil courtyards and training fields, an unseen threat stirred, one that had infiltrated the sect in the guise of a new disciple but was rather working for Li's enemies.

Under the guise of a mild-mannered scribe, the spy, Huang Ren, moved through the sect with practiced ease. His unassuming appearance, a lean build, a slightly hunched posture, and ink-stained fingers, allowed him to blend seamlessly among the disciples and administrative staff. He had a submissive and passive demeanour aimed at making himself less conspicuous.

As Zhang Wei and his friends finalized their plan beneath the willow tree, Huang Ren lingered nearby, pretending to catalog spirit herb records for the medicine pavilion. His ears perked up at the sound of their voices, which he could hear clearly with the aid of a listening device given to him by the masked man, and his quill paused mid-stroke.

"Three days," Zhang Wei said, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's how long we have to prepare. But first I need to take a map of the sect and its surrounding lands from the scripture pavilion. I heard elder Han say some time ago that the map of the Abyss is contained in it. If I can get it, then we leave at dawn in three days' time."

Mei Ming frowned, her hands clenching in her lap. "How are we going to bypass the patrols? The elders will notice if we vanish. Especially now, with everything going on and everyone on edge. You know security has tightened since elder Yi's death."

"We'll split up," Lei Chen suggested. "Meet at the northern pass just beyond the sect's boundary. We can't risk moving together until we're out of sight."

Lei Yun nodded reluctantly. "But what about supplies? We can't carry too much without drawing attention."

"I've already started gathering what we'll need, I was also able to get three space rings from elder Han's stash" Zhang Wei said. "Herbs, healing elixirs, rations. Mei Ming, you'll need to get talismans from the archives. Can you do it without raising suspicion?"

Mei Ming hesitated, then nodded. "I can make it seem like I'm working on a personal cultivation project. But we have to be careful. If anyone finds out…"

"They won't," Zhang Wei assured her. "We'll cover our tracks."

Unnoticed by the group, Huang Ren dipped his quill in ink and made a subtle mark on his parchment, a cipher indicating their planned departure. He tucked the note into his sleeve, mentally planning his next report.

Later that evening, Huang Ren slipped into a secluded storage room under the pretence of organizing records. He placed the encoded message into a small lacquered box and whispered an incantation. The box hummed faintly before vanishing in a wisp of black smoke, a direct line to his masters outside the sect.

Moments later, a voice crackled in his mind.

"Report."

"The boy's friends are planning to leave the sect," Huang Ren murmured, his lips barely moving. "They aim to rescue him from the Abyss. Departure in three days."

"Good. Continue observing them. Ensure their plan succeeds, but subtly. We need them to act as our trailblazers to locate the boy."

"And the elders, especially elder Yuan?" Huang Ren asked.

"Distract them if necessary. Ensure they remain unaware until it's too late to intervene. Eliminate anyone that proves difficult. You can use the poison herb with you. The same one you used for elder Yi."

Huang Ren bowed his head slightly, though there was no one to see. "Understood."

The connection severed, and Huang Ren returned to his work, a small smile playing on his lips.

Meanwhile, in the sect's main hall, the elders were gathered once more. The room was quieter than usual, the air heavy with the weight of unspoken fears. Elder Yuan sat at the edge of the long table, his expression unreadable as he listened to the ongoing debate.

"Elder Yuan, your insistence on pursuing the Soul-Seeking Art is reckless," Elder Fang said, his tone exasperated. "We've been through this. The boy's fate was sealed the moment he fell into the Abyss."

"And I say again, Li is alive," Yuan retorted, his voice firm but calm. "We cannot abandon him based on assumptions." 

Elder Lin sighed, her gaze softening. "Yuan, we understand your loyalty to your disciple. But we must think of the sect. The Abyss has claimed countless lives. Even if he is alive, reaching him would endanger you too. Must we lose a life to save another life?"

"Not to mention the chaos his absence has caused," another elder added. "The disciples are restless. Rumours spread like wildfire. If we lose more lives pursuing a doomed mission, we risk destabilizing the entire sect."

"And what message do we send if we do nothing?" Yuan countered. "That we abandon our own the moment things become difficult? That we value safety over courage? How long do you think it will take for us not to get anymore disciples if we do that?"

The room fell silent, the elders exchanging uneasy glances. Finally, Elder Lin spoke again.

"Yuan, let me ask you this. If Li's fate were reversed, if he were the master and you the disciple, what would he do?"

Yuan paused, the question catching him off guard. He closed his eyes, his mind racing. He imagined Li standing before him, his youthful face determined but compassionate. Li would have done everything in his power to save him. That much, Yuan knew.

"He would do everything in his power to rescue me," Yuan said quietly. "Same way I must rescue him."

The elders murmured among themselves, the room once again descending into quiet chaos.

As the elders debated, Zhang Wei and his friends put the finishing touches on their plan. They had moved to a more secluded spot in the sect's forest, where the rustling leaves and chirping birds masked their conversation.

"Everything's set," Lei Chen said, double-checking their supplies. "Rations, weapons, talismans. We're as ready as we'll ever be."

Mei Ming looked uneasy. "What about the Abyss itself? Do we even know what to expect?"

"Not entirely," Zhang Wei admitted. "But I've heard stories. It's a realm of chaos and despair, filled with creatures born of darkness. We'll have to rely on each other and stay vigilant. We must be circumspect in entering the Abyss, we can't enter it headlong."

"And what if we're caught before we even get there?" Lei Yun asked.

"We won't be, stop being a pessimist," Zhang Wei scolded him. "But if we are, we stick to the story. Say we're on a routine training mission. The elders might be skeptical, but they can't prove otherwise without exposing their own inaction."

"But they might stop us if they suspect our story" Lei Yun insisted.

"Then we make sure our excuse is convincing" Zhang Wei insisted.

The group nodded, their resolve hardening.

In the shadows, Huang Ren observed them, his mind racing. He knew he had to tread carefully. If the elders caught wind of his actions, his cover would be blown. But the reward for ensuring Li's elimination outweighed the risks. His mind swirling at the thought of the reward promised him.

As the group dispersed, Huang Ren slipped away, blending into the evening crowd. He made his way to a hidden chamber beneath the sect, where a faint shimmer of dark energy marked the presence of his masters' influence.

"The plan is proceeding," he reported, kneeling before the ethereal projection of his superior. "The disciples will leave in two days. I've ensured their supplies are intact and their path unobstructed."

"Good," the figure replied, its voice like grinding stone. "Continue monitoring them. And when the time comes, ensure they lead us directly to the boy. His power must be extinguished before it reaches maturity."

"As you command," Huang Ren said, bowing his head.

As the projection faded, Huang Ren rose, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. For all his loyalty, he couldn't shake the unease that gnawed at him. He dismissed it quickly, focusing on the task at hand.

Back in the elders' hall, the meeting finally adjourned. Elder Yuan lingered behind, staring at the empty seats around him. He knew his path was set, regardless of the others' doubts.

"Li," he murmured to himself, his fists clenching. "Hold on. I'm coming."

As he turned to leave, a faint whisper reached his ears. It was barely audible, like the rustling of leaves in the wind. He paused, his senses on high alert.

"Who's there?" he called out, his voice firm.

The shadows seemed to shift, but no one answered. Elder Yuan narrowed his eyes, a chill running down his spine. He left the hall, his thoughts heavy with suspicion.

Unbeknownst to him, Huang Ren had been listening from the shadows, his presence masked by a talisman of concealment. As the elder's footsteps faded, Huang Ren slipped away, a new plan forming in his mind.