9. The Beginning of the Plan

"What are you all talking about? What happened to my father?" The girl in green jade-like robes trembled. She couldn't even control her breathing as she landed on the ground.

That girl was Wu Yun Qi, the daughter of Wu Hao. Her long hair was tied with butterfly-shaped jade ornaments on each side, forming intricate twin buns. Yun Qi was distinct with her striking green eyes.

Seeing her in such a state, Wang Jun glanced at Jian Hong before stepping forward to calm Yun Qi. "Junior sister, you need to be strong. None of us wanted this to happen."

Even in Wang Jun's embrace, Yun Qi shook her head repeatedly. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she struggled against everything around her. "This can't be, it can't be true! My father isn't dead! He's still alive; he would never leave me, never!"

Breaking free from Wang Jun's hold, she ran toward the coffin nearby. Her breath hitched as she saw one of the lifeless bodies lying inside—it was Wu Hao.

Yun Qi shook her head in denial, her voice rising into a hysterical scream. "No! Father! You promised to surprise me once I found the blue lotus. I've found it now," she paused, extending her hand until a rare blue lotus floated in her palm. Like a madwoman, Yun Qi showed the plant to her father, whose eyes had peacefully closed forever. "Look at this, Father. You said before I turned seventeen, I needed to find this lotus to become the sect leader. But Father, I never wanted to be the leader. What use is the position if I lose you? I just wanted to be a simple person, to follow you wherever you go. I don't want anything else, Father. Please come back."

Yun Qi sobbed, clinging to the side of the coffin. Although it looked like an ordinary coffin, it had the ability to preserve the souls of the deceased. Moreover, it could contain multiple bodies within it.

Seeing the daughter of their sect elder in such despair, the surrounding disciples could only lower their heads. None dared to speak. Even Jian Hong turned his face away, his eyes red as he struggled to suppress his own tears. He didn't know what to do.

"Father, you promised to wait for me. You promised to teach me how to purify the blue lotus. I've come back; why have you left? Why won't you open your eyes? Did I do something wrong? I promise not to misbehave anymore, just please come back. Come back, I beg you! Father!" The fourteen-year-old cried so hard that her shoulders shook.

As her body began to collapse from weakness, Jian Hong quickly caught her. "Yun Qi, you must hold on. Don't give in like this."

But the girl shook her head, looking utterly defeated in his arms. "Brother, I can't lose Father. When I was just a baby, I lost my mother. He was all I had, the only one. Why did he have to leave too? Why did he abandon me as well?" She continued crying until her eyes stung and her chest ached.

This time, even Jian Hong couldn't stop himself from crying. His reddened eyes reflected the pain of seeing his sect member in such anguish. "I'm sorry for failing to protect your father. I'm sorry for failing to protect everyone." His head lowered, and tears fell onto Yun Qi's face.

"I have no one left, Brother. Without Father, I'm alone. I don't know how to go on, how to live my life. I don't know what to do, Brother! He was my father; he wasn't supposed to leave!" She clutched Jian Hong's robe tightly, pulling at his chest. "Father promised never to leave me. He promised to protect me. Why did he break his promise? Why?!"

Yun Qi screamed in despair, resting her forehead against Jian Hong's chest. Her endless crying soaked his clothes with warm tears. Jian Hong could do nothing to change what had happened. The elders' deaths had left an unhealable wound on the sect.

After some time, Jian Hong felt Yun Qi's body go limp. She had lost consciousness in his arms. Realizing this, Jian Hong wiped his tears harshly and lifted her into his arms. "I'll take Yun Qi to rest. Afterward, we'll pay our final respects to the elders."

---

Twelve hours had passed since Yun Qi lost consciousness, yet by nightfall, there was still no sign of her waking. Jian Hong had called a healer earlier, but it made no difference.

"This ordeal must have shaken Yun Qi deeply. We can't imagine the extent of her suffering," Wang Jun said as he brought food for Yun Qi that evening. Jian Hong, standing like a statue nearby, only nodded faintly.

"This tragedy has shaken all of us, the entire Tian Ba Sect," Jian Hong replied, his hoarse voice betraying the tears he had been holding back.

Noticing this, Wang Jun turned to Jian Hong and patted his shoulder lightly. "Senior, you don't have to bear this burden alone. I know this is hard on you too. And you shouldn't blame yourself. We must focus on avenging the sect against the demon clan."

"If they knew I also possessed dark powers, would they hunt me and harbor such hatred as this?" Jian Hong muttered. The reality of his dark powers often left him powerless. He was caught in a great dilemma over his abilities. Was this the time for him to unleash them?

At that moment, Jian Hong and Wang Jun were startled by Yun Qi suddenly coughing. Rushing to her side, Wang Jun helped her sit up and handed her some water. "Are you okay? Do you feel better? How are you feeling?"

After placing the glass back on the bedside table, Yun Qi stared at Wang Jun with an unreadable expression. Her eyes were sorrowful, yet she said nothing. Eventually, Wang Jun pulled her into his arms. "It's okay. Everything will be fine. You have to believe that. I'm here, Senior Hong is here. You're not alone. None of us will leave you; we're always with you."

Hearing this, Yun Qi's sobs grew louder. She tightened her grip, venting the sadness that churned within her. "Wang Jun, now that my father is gone, I have no family left. What am I supposed to do? I didn't even have enough time with him. I wasn't there in his final moments. How can I ever forgive myself?"

"Hey," Wang Jun gently broke the embrace and looked at her tear-streaked face. "Listen to me. If Elder Wu Hao saw you crying like this, he wouldn't like it. He might even punish me too. So stop crying."

He extended a hand to wipe away her tears, but Yun Qi cupped his hand against her face instead. Watching this, Jian Hong took a deep breath. Everyone in the sect knew about Yun Qi and Wang Jun's close relationship.

Yet, no matter what, before Yun Qi met Wang Jun, she had always been Jian Hong's cheerful and obedient little sister. That bond would never change. As her brother, Jian Hong's heart shattered seeing Yun Qi like this.

He moved to sit on the edge of the bed and gently stroked her hair. "Yun Qi, Wang Jun is right. This isn't your fault. None of us could have predicted this. All of this... is the demon clan's doing."

"The demon clan," Yun Qi repeated Jian Hong's words, her gaze distant yet burning with concealed anger. Her fists clenched tightly, prompting Wang Jun to gently hold them.

He shook his head. "Not now. We must train harder to avenge them. Only then will we stand a chance."

Jian Hong nodded in agreement. "If we act now, we'd only be throwing our lives away. That would render the elders' sacrifices meaningless."

"Then what should we do? Brother, I can't just sit here and wait. My father's death must be avenged. For every drop of his spilled blood, I swear I'll repay it a thousandfold." Yun Qi's resolve strengthened. Her face was taut with emotion, her veins visible from the intensity of her determination.

"I have my own vengeance to pursue, Yun Qi. But to truly succeed, we need to be one step ahead of them," Jian Hong replied, his tone firm.

Yun Qi looked at Wang Jun, then back at Jian Hong. "How?"

Instead of answering, Jian Hong stood and turned his back to Yun Qi, his actions enigmatic. "You'll find out tomorrow. But for now, there's one thing you must know. Yun Qi, your father and the other elders... they aren't truly gone."