The Gathering Tempest

The echoes of the tournament still lingered in the air long after the final match had ended. The applause, the cheers, the murmurs of approval—it was a turning point for Void Horizon. Yet, despite the apparent victory of Ling Feng over Wei Jian, despite the seeming acceptance of the council's authority, Yang Yu knew that the storm had not yet passed.

It had only just begun.

The disciples dispersed from the arena, many talking excitedly about the battles they had witnessed. Some, particularly the younger ones, seemed inspired by the tournament's outcome. They had seen discipline triumph over raw aggression, and for the first time, they understood that strength was more than just power—it was control, it was strategy, it was wisdom.

But others left in silence. The older disciples, those who had thrived under the old ways, were not so easily convinced. Some had grudgingly accepted the results, but there were those who remained unconvinced, their belief in absolute strength unshaken.

And at the heart of that faction stood Wei Jian.

He had not stayed to watch the celebrations. The moment he had lost, he had left without a word, his expression unreadable. Yang Yu had seen the tension in his shoulders, the way his fists clenched at his sides as he walked away.

It was not over.

"He won't let this go," Xiao Mei said quietly, standing beside Yang Yu on the council platform as they watched the last of the disciples leave the arena. "He's planning something."

Yang Yu exhaled slowly. "I know."

Ling Feng approached, his brow furrowed in concern. "Master, I've been watching Wei Jian's movements for some time now. He's gathered followers. Some are just discontent, but others… they're dangerous. They aren't just unhappy with the council. They want to overthrow it."

Yang Yu's gaze darkened. "Then we cannot afford to wait. If we let this fester, it will grow into something we cannot control."

"And if we strike too soon, we risk dividing the sect permanently," Xiao Mei countered. "We need to be careful, Master. The council is still new. If we act like tyrants now, we will prove them right."

Yang Yu turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "And if we do nothing? If we allow them to grow stronger, to recruit more? This will not end with words, Xiao Mei. Wei Jian does not want to compromise. He wants control. If we wait too long, we won't be able to stop what's coming."

Xiao Mei hesitated, then sighed. "I know."

Yang Yu nodded. "Then we need to act. But carefully."

The Shadows Stir

As night fell over Void Horizon, the sect was quiet—but it was not at peace. In the depths of the outer sect grounds, far from the watchful eyes of the council, a gathering was taking place.

Wei Jian stood at the center of a circle of disciples, his expression cold and calculating. Around him, nearly thirty disciples stood, their faces a mixture of anger, frustration, and quiet determination.

"We all saw what happened today," Wei Jian began, his voice calm but laced with contempt. "They say the council is fair, that it gives power to everyone. But what did we witness?"

His gaze swept over the crowd. "A rigged fight. A council that intervened the moment true strength was displayed. A leader—Yang Yu—who has become weak, bowing to politics instead of power."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the gathered disciples.

"Void Horizon was built on strength," Wei Jian continued. "It thrived because the strong ruled, and the weak served. That is the natural order of the world. But now, that order is being destroyed. This council wants to make us equal."

He let the word hang in the air, spitting it out like a curse.

"But we are not equal. Some are meant to lead. Some are meant to follow. That is how it has always been. That is how it should be."

The murmurs grew louder. Some disciples nodded, their expressions hardening. Others shifted uneasily, uncertain but unwilling to speak against him.

A young disciple, one of the few still hesitant, finally spoke. "But Master Yang Yu is still strong. He agreed to the council, yes, but he hasn't abandoned power. He's still leading us."

Wei Jian's eyes flashed. "Then tell me this—why did he let me lose today? Why did he allow Ling Feng to stand against me, to humiliate me in front of the entire sect? If he still believed in strength, he would have let the fight continue. But he didn't. Because he's afraid. He has changed."

Silence fell over the gathering.

Wei Jian took a step forward. "I will not stand by while Void Horizon is turned into a haven for the weak. If Yang Yu will not protect the sect's true strength, then we will."

The meaning was clear.

This was no longer just dissent. This was the beginning of something far more dangerous.

A coup.

A Council Divided

Back in the war room, the council gathered once more. The atmosphere was tense, heavy with the weight of what was to come.

"We have confirmed reports," Ling Feng said. "Wei Jian is rallying disciples. He isn't just stirring discontent—he's preparing for something bigger."

Yang Yu nodded. "Then we stop him now."

Xiao Mei frowned. "And what does that mean, Master? Do we exile him? Do we imprison him? Or do we kill him?"

The room fell into silence.

"We cannot afford to appear weak," Zhang Wei, the head of the Research Division, said. "But if we start executing those who oppose us, we will become the very thing we claim to be fighting against."

Yang Yu's fingers tapped against the table. "Then we don't give them the chance to rebel."

The council turned to him, waiting.

Yang Yu's gaze was cold, calculated. "Tomorrow, we call for Wei Jian. Publicly. We bring him before the entire sect and give him a choice. He can stand with Void Horizon, or he can leave."

Xiao Mei narrowed her eyes. "And if he refuses?"

Yang Yu's jaw tightened. "Then he will prove to everyone that he is an enemy of the sect. And we will deal with him accordingly."

Xiao Mei exhaled, rubbing her temples. "This is risky."

"Everything is risky now," Yang Yu replied. "But we cannot hesitate. We act now, or we let him gather more strength. There is no middle ground."

The council fell into uneasy silence.

Finally, Xiao Mei nodded. "Then we do this together."

The Day of Reckoning

The next morning, the entire sect was summoned to the main courtyard. Thousands of disciples gathered, murmuring amongst themselves. Rumors had already begun to spread—something was happening. Something important.

At the center of the platform stood Yang Yu, flanked by the council. His expression was unreadable, his presence as commanding as ever.

Then, Wei Jian was brought forward.

The crowd fell silent.

Yang Yu's voice rang out, cutting through the morning air like a blade.

"Wei Jian, you have spoken against this council. You have spoken against the unity of Void Horizon. Now, you will answer for it."

Wei Jian met his gaze without fear. "And if I refuse?"

Yang Yu took a step forward, his aura pressing down on the entire courtyard. "Then you will no longer be part of Void Horizon."

The crowd tensed.

Wei Jian smirked. "Then I choose neither."

He turned to the disciples. "Who stands with me?"

For a moment, silence.

Then, one by one, disciples stepped forward.

First ten.

Then twenty.

Then fifty.

Yang Yu's eyes darkened. "Then you are no longer my disciples."

The storm had come.

And Void Horizon was about to be torn apart.