Loose Ends

Over the centuries, the story of Wu Jiang's exile became a rallying cry for his descendants. It wasn't merely about revenge; it was about reclaiming their rightful place in history. To the Jiang Clan, the emperor's decision represented everything wrong with the rigid hierarchies of the old world—an unwillingness to adapt, to embrace change, or to recognize true talent when it emerged.

This resentment simmered quietly for generations, passed down through stories told around campfires and etched into the annals of the Jiang Clan's records. Every child born into the clan learned of the injustice suffered by their ancestors, of how the Wu Imperial Clan had turned its back on one of its brightest stars. And every child grew up knowing that their ultimate goal was to prove the emperor's decision wrong—to rise above the circumstances forced upon them and become something greater than anyone could have imagined.

The final days of Emperor Wu Tianheng were marked by a mixture of regret and resignation. As he approached the end of his mortal coil, preparing to ascend to the heavens or fade into oblivion.

In a quiet moment, surrounded only by his most trusted advisors and personal guards, Wu Tianheng issued a final decree. This document, written in his own hand with trembling fingers, sought to amend the harsh judgment passed down centuries earlier. Recognizing the overreach of his initial decision, the emperor declared that the descendants of Wu Jiang would no longer be considered traitors. Furthermore, they were granted permission to return to the Sea and Mountain Realm under certain conditions: after a period of one thousand years, any member of the Jiang lineage could petition for reintegration into the Wu Imperial Clan.

This stipulation carried symbolic significance. One thousand years was both a long enough span to allow passions to cool and grudges to fade, yet short enough to ensure the Jiangs wouldn't be forgotten entirely. It also served as a test of endurance—if the Jiangs could survive and thrive despite their expulsion, perhaps they truly deserved redemption.

"The old man was too rigid. He should have let me eradicate them back then. After all, he was the architect of their exile. He should've burned the roots to ash, not let them grow stronger!"

Wu Shu's voice dripped with contempt. His father, Emperor Wu Cheng, had once been the driving force behind Wu Jiang downfall. Now, a millennium later, the consequences of that decision festered like an unhealed wound. But instead of destroying them completely, he left behind a seed—a promise that if a prodigy carrying Wu Jiang's bloodline emerged after a millennium, the Jiang lineage would be welcomed back into the Wu Imperial Clan.

To Wu Shu, this decision reeked of weakness, an unnecessary concession that now threatened his future rule.

Sound Soul Valley.

The quiet desolation of the Sound Soul Valley enveloped Jiang Chen as he arrived at the designated meeting place. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"The Shadowclaw Sect truly knows how to choose their places," he murmured under his breath.

Though uncertain whether they would honor their word, Jiang Chen knew he couldn't afford to ignore this opportunity. The truth about his clan's massacre was too important to pass up.

Suddenly, his sharp eyes narrowed as a figure emerged silently from the shadows—a black-robed man with a featureless black mask concealing his face.

"You are Jiang Chen?"

"You are a member of the Shadowclaw Sect?"

The two locked gazes for a moment before nodding simultaneously, acknowledging each other's identities.

"I have come as agreed," Jiang Chen stated firmly. "Now tell me the identity of the person who ordered your sect to exterminate my clan."

The masked man studied him for a beat before a strange gleam flickered in his eyes.

"Not only will I tell you," he replied cryptically, "but I will also show you."

"Show me?" Jiang Chen repeated, his expression shifting. He immediately understood what those words implied.

"Where?"

The masked man nodded solemnly. "Follow me."

Despite his lingering suspicions, Jiang Chen complied, following the man toward a secluded small mountain peak. Even as he moved, his divine sense flared, scanning the area for traps or ambushes.

As they approached, Jiang Chen noticed multilayered formations shimmering faintly around the peak—fourth-grade concealment arrays designed to obscure sight and presence.

"You don't need to worry; these are merely concealment formations," the masked man chuckled, glancing sidelong at Jiang Chen. "I believe someone of your caliber can discern this much."

Jiang Chen nodded, Indeed, as a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, Jiang Chen possessed keen insight. After verifying the formations posed no immediate danger, he stepped inside without hesitation, allowing the masked man to lead him deeper.

Moments later, the formations flickered to life, swallowing the mountain in a haze of light.

Nearby, Wu Shu descended gracefully from the heavens, his presence exuding arrogance despite the stealth required for this clandestine encounter. Scanning the vicinity with his divine sense, he found everything seemingly normal and nodded approvingly to himself.

"Have you been waiting long, Young Master Wu?"

A warm voice broke the silence, accompanied by the emergence of Mie Lin, the new Shadowclaw Sect Master, stepping calmly from the shadows.

"Hmph, I've just arrived," Wu Shu replied curtly, feigning indifference though inwardly startled. Despite her skillful approach, he hadn't detected her aura until she chose to reveal herself.

"It seems not all members of the Shadowclaw Sect are useless after all," he thought privately, masking his surprise with disdain.

"Elder Jin disappeared some time ago and hasn't reported back since leaving to meet you," Mie Lin stated matter-of-factly, her expression unreadable. "He mentioned he'd seek you out."

"So?"

Wu Shu's demeanor remained unchanged, though internally he scoffed at her probing attempt. "Elder Jin's movements are none of my concern. I know nothing about his whereabouts."

Mie Lin's lips curved into a serene yet chilling smile. "Of course, Young Master Wu is far too important to waste time on such trivialities."

"Tell me, what are your plans regarding the brat of the Jiang Clan?"

Mie Lin's smile turned razor-sharp. "You've always been impatient, Young Master. But this is no trivial matter. The Jiang brat's survival has already caused too much trouble. We need a solution—now."

Wu Shu's patience snapped. "Make it quick, then. How do you propose to eliminate him?"

Mie Lin's lips curled. "A simple matter of leverage. The Jiang brat has a… attachment. A woman named Su Jen. A core formation cultivator, no less. She's the one who sheltered him after our last attempt failed."

Wu Shu's eyes glinted. "Kidnap her. Make him come alone."

"Exactly." Mie Lin's voice turned cold. "And once he's isolated, we strike. No witnesses, no loose ends."

Wu Shu's smirk was feral. "Good. Ensure it's done swiftly. I want him dead before he can ascend further."

Mie Lin's gaze drifted toward the concealed peak. "Of course, Your Highness."

Unseen to both, Jiang Chen's hands balled into fists. The words "loose ends" struck like a dagger.

So it was Wu Shu, the crown prince of the Rising Cloud Empire, who had ordered the assassination all those years ago. The memory of that night, the blood, the screams, flashed before his eyes, a chilling reminder of what he had barely escaped.

He had always suspected the involvement of the Wu Imperial Clan, but to have it confirmed, to see the disdain in Wu Shu's eyes, ignited a fire in his heart that wouldn't be easily quelled.

Beside him, the masked man remained silent, his posture unreadable. Whether he was surprised by this revelation or not, he kept it well hidden.

Su Jen…

His breath almost stopped. All those years ago, she'd saved him from the assassins sent by this very man. Now they sought to use her as bait.

The masked figure beside him shifted, as if sensing his rage.

Patience, Jiang Chen told himself. Let them reveal their full plan.

Now was not the time for rash actions. He needed to know more, to understand the depth of their plans