Chapter 41: The Aftermath

The silence that followed Elder Jin's death was heavy. Tang Xiu stood over the man's lifeless body, his sharp gaze scanning the chamber for any lingering threats. The golden glow around him slowly faded, but the oppressive aura he radiated lingered, commanding respect from those around him.

Xu Liang broke the silence, his tone half-joking. "Boss, next time, maybe leave some for us. It's no fun watching you do all the work."

Tang Xiu gave him a sidelong glance. "If you think it was fun, you weren't paying attention. Elder Jin wasn't just strong; he was desperate. That's when people are most dangerous."

Xu Liang scratched his head sheepishly but didn't argue. Lei Xian, however, laughed heartily. "Well, desperate or not, he's dead now. One less problem to worry about!"

Old Hu cleared his throat, his expression serious. "This isn't over. Elder Jin was only a pawn. The Shadow Sect will notice his absence, and they'll come looking for answers."

Tang Xiu nodded. "That's exactly what I'm counting on. We need to draw them out and learn more about their plans."

Lei Xian frowned. "You're saying we're going to provoke them?"

"Not provoke," Tang Xiu corrected. "We'll bait them. If we act recklessly, they'll crush us before we're ready. But if we're smart, we can turn their strength against them."

The group began searching the chamber for anything useful. It didn't take long for Old Hu to discover a hidden compartment in the wall, concealed behind a layer of stone. Inside was a stack of old scrolls, a few jade slips, and a sealed black chest.

"What's this?" Xu Liang asked, picking up one of the jade slips.

Tang Xiu examined it briefly, his expression darkening. "These are techniques from the Shadow Sect. Poison cultivation, soul manipulation… all of it designed to harm and control others. Disgusting."

"What about the chest?" Lei Xian asked, pointing at the black box.

Tang Xiu placed his hand on it, his spiritual sense probing its contents. A faint barrier of energy pushed back against him, but he easily broke through. When the chest opened, a faint black mist seeped out, making everyone take a step back.

Inside was a small vial containing a dark liquid that seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy.

"What… is that?" Xu Liang asked, his voice uneasy.

"Demonic Essence," Tang Xiu said grimly. "It's a concentrated form of corrupted qi. Consuming it would give someone a temporary boost in power, but it would destroy their body and soul in the process."

Lei Xian shuddered. "Why would anyone use something like that?"

"Desperation," Old Hu said. "Or ambition."

Tang Xiu carefully resealed the chest. "We'll destroy this later. For now, we need to leave before more enemies arrive."

As they exited the stronghold, the group found the night air refreshing after the oppressive atmosphere inside. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the surrounding forest.

"What's the next step?" Old Hu asked, his tone calm but expectant.

Tang Xiu thought for a moment before speaking. "We'll head back to the city. This wasn't just about defeating Elder Jin; it was about sending a message. The Shadow Sect will know we're not afraid of them. But we'll need to prepare for their retaliation."

Lei Xian grinned. "Good. I was starting to get bored."

Xu Liang rolled his eyes. "You won't be saying that when we're surrounded by assassins."

Tang Xiu smirked faintly. "If they come for us, they'll regret it."

The journey back to the city was uneventful, but tension lingered in the air. Tang Xiu's mind raced with thoughts of the Shadow Sect, their resources, and their plans. The fragments of Elder Jin's memories he had extracted painted a grim picture—one of widespread corruption and hidden power struggles.

By the time they reached the city, dawn was breaking. The streets were quiet, save for a few early risers going about their routines.

"Back to the inn?" Xu Liang asked.

Tang Xiu shook his head. "No. That's the first place they'll look for us. We'll find somewhere else to regroup."

Old Hu nodded in agreement. "I know a safe house nearby. It's not much, but it'll do for now."

"Lead the way," Tang Xiu said.

The safe house was a small, rundown building on the outskirts of the city. It looked abandoned from the outside, but inside, it was clean and well-maintained.

As the group settled in, Tang Xiu took the black chest and placed it on a table.

"What are you going to do with that?" Lei Xian asked.

"Study it," Tang Xiu replied. "The Shadow Sect wouldn't leave something this dangerous with a low-ranking elder unless it was important. There's more to this vial than meets the eye."

Xu Liang frowned. "And if it's too dangerous?"

Tang Xiu's gaze was cold. "Then I'll destroy it."

The room fell silent as Tang Xiu began examining the chest's contents. The group watched him work, each lost in their own thoughts.

Though they had won this battle, everyone knew it was just the beginning. The Shadow Sect was a powerful enemy, and the path ahead would be fraught with danger.

But as they looked at Tang Xiu, they couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. With someone like him leading them, perhaps they stood a chance after all.