Chapter 5: The Hunter's Arrival

Cloudhaven stood silent under the afternoon sun as the Crimson Phoenix delegation crested the final ridge. They made an impressive sight—seven cultivators in flame-red robes, moving with the synchronized precision of elites. Elder Lian waited at the outpost's gates, her simple gray robes a stark contrast to their ornate attire. If she was intimidated by their display, nothing in her posture revealed it. Liu Mei watched the approaching confrontation with a mixture of dread and fascination. She had never seen Elder Lian up close before her visit weeks earlier. Now, standing beside Ren Zhao as they approached the older woman, she was struck again by the quiet power Elder Lian exuded. There was something in her violet eyes that belied her apparent age—something ancient and knowing. "Elder Lian," Ren Zhao said, offering a bow that was technically correct but subtly lacking in depth. "The Crimson Phoenix Sect is honored by your hospitality." "Young Master Ren," Elder Lian replied, returning the bow with equal precision. "Cloudhaven welcomes you, though we are surprised by such distinguished visitors." Her gaze shifted to Liu Mei, a flicker of something—warning? recognition?—passing between them before Elder Lian continued. "And Young Mistress Liu. Twice in one month. We are truly blessed." "Elder," Liu Mei acknowledged with a proper bow. "I understand you have a promising disciple here," Ren Zhao said, moving smoothly past the formalities. "One who has shown remarkable improvement under your guidance." "Lin Feng works hard," Elder Lian replied simply. "Would you like to meet him?" A thin smile curved Ren Zhao's lips. "I would indeed." Elder Lian nodded and turned toward the main hall. "This way. He should be finishing his meditation cycle about now." As they followed her across the courtyard, Liu Mei noticed Ren Zhao's hand moving in a subtle gesture. Immediately, the six Crimson Phoenix disciples spread out, taking positions around the perimeter of the outpost—watching, waiting. Liu Mei's apprehension deepened. This was no diplomatic visit. This was a hunting party. Inside the main hall, Lin Feng sat cross-legged before the central firepit. He rose smoothly as they entered, offering a formal bow. "Elder Lian," he said, then straightened to face the visitors. "Honored guests." Liu Mei barely managed to conceal her shock. The Lin Feng before her was markedly different from the one she had seen just weeks ago. He stood taller, his posture more balanced. His eyes—always intelligent—now held a clarity and focus she had never observed before. Even his qi felt different—more refined, more controlled. Most surprising of all, his cultivation aura clearly indicated the peak of the third level of Qi Condensation, exactly as had been reported—no more, no less. But something about it felt... odd. As if the aura had been carefully constructed, like a garment donned for a specific occasion. "Lin Feng," Ren Zhao said, studying him with those unnerving amber eyes. "I've heard interesting things about your progress." "You honor me with your attention, Young Master Ren," Lin Feng replied, his voice calm. "Though I'm merely a junior disciple still finding my path." "Indeed?" Ren Zhao began to circle Lin Feng slowly, like a predator assessing prey. "Yet you've advanced more in months than you did in years at the main sect. Quite remarkable." Lin Feng smiled modestly. "Elder Lian is an exceptional teacher." "Or perhaps," Ren Zhao said, completing his circle to stand directly before Lin Feng, "there are other factors involved." The air in the hall seemed to thicken with tension. Liu Mei felt the pendant at her throat grow subtly warmer—a reaction to Ren Zhao's proximity, or perhaps to his focused intent. "Young Master Ren," Elder Lian interjected smoothly, "perhaps you'd like to observe Lin Feng's training? He has a session scheduled now, if you'd care to watch." Ren Zhao's eyes remained fixed on Lin Feng for a moment longer before he turned to Elder Lian with that same precise smile. "An excellent suggestion. I'm most interested in your... methods." --- Lin Feng moved through the advanced forms Elder Lian had taught him, careful to maintain the appearance of a disciple at the third level of Qi Condensation—no more, no less. It was like trying to run while deliberately limping—restraining his true capabilities required constant attention. He could feel Ren Zhao's gaze on him, analytical and penetrating. The young master of the Crimson Phoenix Sect lounged at the edge of the training yard with deceptive casualness, one hand absently toying with a jade pendant identical to the one Liu Mei wore. Liu Mei herself stood nearby, her expression carefully neutral. Only someone who knew her as well as Lin Feng might notice the tension in her shoulders, the too-deliberate rhythm of her breathing. "Your form is still sloppy," Elder Lian criticized, playing her role perfectly. "Again, from the beginning." Lin Feng obediently reset his stance and began the sequence once more. As he moved, he allowed himself a brief moment of gratitude for Elder Lian's foresight. Their month of compressed training in the time field cave had prepared him not just in cultivation, but in strategy. *"The Crimson Phoenix delegates will be suspicious from the moment they arrive,"* she had told him. *"We cannot hide your progress entirely, but we can misdirect their attention."* The plan was elegant in its simplicity. Lin Feng would display exactly the level of advancement that had been reported to the main sect—remarkable but not impossible progress for a dedicated disciple. Meanwhile, the cultivation base he had actually achieved—the peak of Foundation Establishment, an advancement that would normally take years—remained hidden behind layers of concealment techniques Elder Lian had drilled into him. It was exhausting work, maintaining the facade. Like holding one's breath underwater while still trying to swim normally. "I've seen enough," Ren Zhao announced suddenly, rising from his seated position with fluid grace. "A most interesting demonstration." Elder Lian inclined her head. "Lin Feng is still learning. His progress is encouraging but hardly exceptional." "On the contrary," Ren Zhao replied, amber eyes gleaming. "I find his progress quite exceptional. So exceptional, in fact, that I'd like to test it myself." He moved into the center of the training yard, robes shifting to reveal the sword sheathed at his waist. "What do you say, Lin Feng? A friendly spar between junior disciples?" Lin Feng hesitated, glancing at Elder Lian. This hadn't been part of their plan. A direct confrontation with Ren Zhao risked exposing the careful façade they had constructed. "Young Master Ren," Elder Lian said smoothly, "Lin Feng has just completed a rigorous training session. Perhaps tomorrow—" "I'm sure he can manage," Ren Zhao interrupted, his tone pleasant but brooking no disagreement. "Unless there's some reason you're reluctant to display your disciple's skills?" The challenge was unmistakable. Refusal would only deepen Ren Zhao's suspicions. Lin Feng bowed formally. "I would be honored, Young Master Ren, though I fear I will provide little challenge for someone of your reputation." Ren Zhao smiled that cold, perfect smile. "We shall see." The Crimson Phoenix disciples who had been patrolling the perimeter now gathered at the edges of the training yard, their presence forming a loose ring around the two combatants. Liu Mei had gone very still, her eyes fixed on Lin Feng with an intensity that spoke volumes. Elder Lian stepped back, her face impassive. "Standard sparring rules apply. No fatal techniques. Victory by submission or incapacitation." Lin Feng settled into a defensive stance, his mind racing. How much should he reveal? Too little, and the defeat would be immediate and suspicious. Too much, and he risked exposing his true level. Ren Zhao drew his sword—a beautiful weapon with a blade like captured flame, the metal itself seeming to shift colors from gold to deepest crimson as it caught the light. He held it in a casual, one-handed grip that nonetheless radiated lethal competence. "Begin," Elder Lian commanded. Ren Zhao moved first, crossing the distance between them with startling speed. His sword flashed forward in a direct thrust aimed at Lin Feng's shoulder—a testing strike, meant to gauge reaction time. Lin Feng stepped aside, the blade missing him by a hairsbreadth. He countered with a palm strike that Ren Zhao evaded easily, twisting to deliver a sweeping slash that forced Lin Feng to leap backward. "Not bad," Ren Zhao commented, his voice betraying no strain. "Your footwork has improved." Lin Feng didn't waste breath on a reply. He circulated his qi according to the metal affinity patterns Elder Lian had taught him, reinforcing his limbs and sharpening his senses. Even operating at what felt like half capacity, he could perceive subtle openings in Ren Zhao's technique—opportunities for counter-attack that would have been invisible to him before. He launched a sequence of strikes, each one carefully calibrated to display third-level Qi Condensation strength—no more, no less. Ren Zhao parried or evaded each attack, his movements increasingly fluid, his amber eyes narrowing in concentration. "You're holding back," he accused suddenly, punctuating the statement with a vicious slash that Lin Feng barely blocked. "As are you, Young Master Ren," Lin Feng replied, allowing a hint of strain into his voice. "I'm honored by your restraint." Something dangerous flashed in Ren Zhao's eyes. "Then perhaps we should both stop pretending." Without warning, Ren Zhao's aura flared dramatically, his qi surging with the unmistakable power of Core Formation. The air around him shimmered with heat, his sword blazing with golden fire that wasn't quite physical. Lin Feng's eyes widened in genuine shock. Core Formation? Ren Zhao couldn't be more than a few years older than him, yet he had already reached a realm that most cultivators spent decades pursuing. "Young Master Ren!" Liu Mei's voice cut through the suddenly charged atmosphere. "This is meant to be a friendly spar!" Ren Zhao didn't even glance her way. "I'm merely interested in seeing how your friend responds to pressure, Young Mistress Liu. Surely a disciple of his... caliber... can handle a bit of genuine challenge." The threat was clear. Ren Zhao was done with subtlety. He meant to force Lin Feng to either reveal his true strength or suffer serious injury. Elder Lian stepped forward. "This has gone far enough. As Lin Feng's master, I—" "Stay back, Elder," Ren Zhao commanded, his voice carrying the weight of his newly revealed cultivation base. "This is between disciples now." Lin Feng felt the jade lotus mark on his chest grow warm, responding to the threat. The carefully constructed façade concealing his true cultivation strained under the pressure of Ren Zhao's overwhelming aura. *Hold fast,* he told himself. *Reveal nothing.* "As you wish, Young Master Ren," he said aloud, settling into a purely defensive stance. "Though I fear I'll disappoint your expectations." Ren Zhao's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that." He attacked again, this time with the full force of his Core Formation power behind the strike. His sword left trails of golden fire in the air, moving almost too fast for normal eyes to track. Lin Feng didn't try to counter. Instead, he focused entirely on evasion, drawing on the Time Flow Disruption technique that Elder Lian had taught him. He couldn't use it at full strength without revealing too much, but even a subtle application allowed him to perceive Ren Zhao's attacks moments before they landed. For several breathless minutes, Lin Feng danced just beyond the reach of Ren Zhao's blade, using minimal qi expenditure, relying instead on the enhanced perception granted by his temporal sense. Frustration began to show in Ren Zhao's expression. Each missed strike, each failed attempt to corner Lin Feng, caused the fire surrounding his sword to intensify. "Fight back!" he demanded, his perfect composure cracking slightly. "Stop running!" Lin Feng saw an opening and took it, landing a palm strike on Ren Zhao's shoulder—enough force to show he wasn't completely defensive, not enough to reveal his true strength. Ren Zhao barely seemed to notice the hit. His amber eyes had taken on an eerie glow, and the temperature in the training yard rose perceptibly as his qi manifestation intensified. "You want to play games?" he hissed. "Let's see how you handle this." He sheathed his sword in a fluid motion, then formed a series of hand seals so quickly his fingers blurred. "Phoenix Breath Technique!" Lin Feng's eyes widened in alarm. The Phoenix Breath was no sparring technique—it was a combat art designed to immolate opponents, known for being virtually impossible to defend against without comparable cultivation. Golden flame erupted from Ren Zhao's palms, taking the shape of a massive bird in flight. The phoenix construct screamed as it dive-bombed toward Lin Feng, its wingspan expanding to cut off any escape routes. Time seemed to slow as Lin Feng faced an impossible decision. He could either reveal his true cultivation to defend himself properly, or maintain the facade and suffer potentially crippling injuries. Through the encroaching wall of flame, he caught a glimpse of Liu Mei's face—her expression a mask of horror and desperation. Beyond her, Elder Lian stood perfectly still, violet eyes unreadable. *Trust her,* a voice seemed to whisper in his mind. *Remember the plan.* In that fractional moment of decision, Lin Feng chose. He maintained his third-level Qi Condensation facade and raised his hands in what would appear to be a pitifully inadequate defense. "Lin Feng!" Liu Mei screamed. The phoenix construct struck with devastating force. Golden flames engulfed Lin Feng completely, the heat so intense that the stone beneath his feet cracked and blackened. For an eternal moment, nothing was visible except the raging inferno. Then, gradually, the flames receded, revealing Lin Feng still standing—his robes charred, his exposed skin reddened but otherwise unharmed. A collective gasp rose from the watching Crimson Phoenix disciples. Ren Zhao's eyes widened in genuine shock. "Impossible," he breathed. Lin Feng swayed on his feet, then dropped to one knee, his breathing labored. "I... yield," he managed, his voice rough with apparent pain. "Young Master Ren... is the victor." Ren Zhao stared at him, amber eyes narrowed to slits. "How did you survive that? No one at Qi Condensation could withstand the Phoenix Breath." Elder Lian stepped forward, her expression thunderous. "Perhaps because you overlooked something, Young Master Ren." She raised her hand, revealing a jade talisman glowing with protective energy. "As Lin Feng's master, I naturally take precautions during all sparring matches." The lie was perfect—a protective talisman deployed by a concerned master explained Lin Feng's survival without revealing his true capabilities. Ren Zhao's gaze shifted to Elder Lian, suspicion plain in his expression. "A most... convenient precaution, Elder." "Not convenient," she replied coldly. "Necessary, as you've just demonstrated. This 'friendly spar' you requested nearly killed my disciple." Liu Mei hurried to Lin Feng's side, helping him to his feet. "He needs medical attention," she said, her concern clearly genuine even if the danger was not. Ren Zhao watched them for a long moment, his face gradually resuming its mask of perfect courtesy. "My apologies for the... enthusiasm of my demonstration. I sometimes forget my own strength." The lie was as transparent as Elder Lian's had been, but protocol demanded it be accepted. "No lasting harm done," Lin Feng said weakly, leaning on Liu Mei's support with carefully calculated helplessness. "It was... educational." "Indeed it was," Ren Zhao agreed, his eyes never leaving Lin Feng's face. "Most educational for all of us." --- Later, in the privacy of the quarters assigned to the Crimson Phoenix delegation, Ren Zhao sat alone, turning a small jade ornament over and over between his fingers. Unlike the detection pendants worn by his disciples, this was a communication talisman keyed to his master back at the Crimson Phoenix Sect. He infused it with a thread of qi, establishing the connection. "Master," he said quietly. "The rumors were correct. Something unusual is happening at Cloudhaven." A voice emanated from the talisman, ancient and dry as autumn leaves. "Tell me." "The disciple, Lin Feng, displays cultivation progress that defies normal explanation. And there's something else..." Ren Zhao hesitated. "I sense jade energy. Faint, carefully concealed, but unmistakable." "The Jade Lotus bloodline," the voice hissed, a note of excitement breaking through the dryness. "After all these years..." "Nothing is confirmed yet," Ren Zhao cautioned. "The energy signature is elusive. One moment I sense it, the next it's gone. And Elder Lian is... formidable. More so than her reputation suggests." "Lian Yueyin always was clever," the voice replied, surprising Ren Zhao with its familiarity. "Even as a junior disciple, she had a gift for deception." Ren Zhao's eyes narrowed. "You know her?" A dry chuckle emanated from the talisman. "I knew all the survivors of the Jade Lotus Sect. Hunted them, one by one, over the centuries." A pause. "Elder Lian is one of the few who eluded me. If she has taken a disciple with the bloodline, the implications are... significant." "What would you have me do?" "Watch. Wait. The Jade Lotus energy cannot remain hidden forever, especially if the boy is actively cultivating their techniques." The voice hardened. "And prepare the Blood Phoenix Binding. If we've truly found a pure bloodline descendant, we cannot allow him to leave Cloudhaven alive." Ren Zhao's expression remained impassive, but his grip on the talisman tightened fractionally. "And my betrothed? Liu Mei appears close to the boy." "A complication," the voice acknowledged. "But a minor one. The alliance with the Soaring Dragon Sect is valuable, but not irreplaceable. If she becomes an impediment, deal with her as necessary." "Understood, Master." Ren Zhao severed the connection, pocketing the talisman with a thoughtful expression. Outside his window, twilight was settling over Cloudhaven, shadows lengthening across the training yard where he had confronted Lin Feng. In his mind, he replayed the battle, analyzing every movement, every reaction. The boy had survived the Phoenix Breath. Protective talisman or not, that should have been impossible for someone at his cultivation level. Unless Elder Lian's explanation was true—or unless Lin Feng was far, far more than he appeared. Either way, Ren Zhao's path was clear. The hunt had begun in earnest now. And he had never failed to claim his prey. --- "That was too close," Elder Lian said, her voice tight with controlled anger. "If I hadn't prepared the deception talisman in advance..." "But you did," Lin Feng replied. They stood in his quarters, voices kept low despite the privacy seals Elder Lian had activated. "Your foresight saved us." "For now," she conceded. "But Ren Zhao's suspicions have only deepened. That attack was no impulsive action—it was a calculated attempt to force you to reveal your true cultivation." Lin Feng nodded, absently touching the jade pendant that hung beneath his robes. "He knows something isn't right. He can sense the jade energy, even with all our precautions." "The Crimson Phoenix bloodline was bred specifically for that purpose," Elder Lian said bitterly. "His ancestors spent generations cultivating sensitivity to temporal fluctuations." A soft knock at the door interrupted them. Elder Lian gestured sharply, and the privacy seals shimmered and faded. "Enter," she called. Liu Mei slipped inside, quickly closing the door behind her. Her face was pale with lingering shock. "Are you truly unharmed?" she asked Lin Feng urgently. "Completely," he assured her. "The Phoenix Breath never touched me." Her eyes widened. "But I saw—" "An illusion," Elder Lian explained. "A specialized application of the Time Flow Disruption technique. Lin Feng was never in the path of the attack." Liu Mei looked between them, understanding dawning in her eyes. "You knew Ren Zhao would try something like this." "We suspected," Lin Feng admitted. "Elder Lian prepared contingencies for various scenarios." "But how did you..." Liu Mei paused, studying Lin Feng more carefully. "You're different. Even beyond what I noticed earlier. Your qi feels..." "More advanced than third-level Qi Condensation?" Lin Feng supplied with a small smile. "Yes." Liu Mei's gaze sharpened. "How much more?" Lin Feng glanced at Elder Lian, who nodded slightly. Slowly, he allowed his carefully constructed façade to drop, revealing his true cultivation base. Liu Mei gasped. "Foundation Establishment? But that's... that's impossible. It's been less than two months since you left the main sect!" "Time is relative," Elder Lian said cryptically. "Especially for those with the right bloodline." Understanding dawned in Liu Mei's eyes. "The jade energy. The warning I sent you. It's all connected to this, isn't it?" Lin Feng nodded. "I found something on my journey to Cloudhaven. Something that changed everything." He hesitated, then made a decision. "I want to show you, but I need to know first—where do your loyalties truly lie, Liu Mei?" Her expression grew solemn. "If you had asked me that question a month ago, I would have said 'with the sect,' without hesitation." She touched the betrothal pendant around her neck, her eyes troubled. "Now... I don't know. The things I've learned about the Crimson Phoenix Sect, about their history, about Ren Zhao himself..." "What things?" Elder Lian asked sharply. Liu Mei met her gaze directly. "They've been hunting people with jade energy for centuries. Not just opposing them politically or in cultivation competitions—actively hunting them. Eliminating them." She swallowed hard. "There are scrolls in the Crimson Phoenix archives that detail these... purges. Ren Zhao showed them to me, as if they were something to be proud of." Elder Lian's expression darkened. "The boy is more forthcoming than his ancestors. They usually keep their bloodline's true purpose better hidden." "He wanted me to understand what would be expected of me as his wife," Liu Mei continued, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "To participate in maintaining the 'purity of the cultivation world' by helping identify and eliminate 'temporal abominations.'" Lin Feng felt a chill run down his spine at the clinical brutality implied in those phrases. "So I ask you again," he said gently. "Where do your loyalties lie?" Liu Mei looked up, her eyes clear and resolved despite the conflict evident in them. "With whatever stands against such monstrous doctrine," she said firmly. "With you, Lin Feng, if you'll have my help." Lin Feng exchanged a glance with Elder Lian, who gave a slight nod of approval. "Then it's time you learned the truth," he said, reaching for the ties of his robe. "About me, about Elder Lian, and about the legacy of the Jade Lotus Sect." As Liu Mei watched, Lin Feng opened his robe to reveal the lotus mark glowing with soft jade light over his heart—the symbol of an ancient bloodline, a forgotten sect, and a power that the Crimson Phoenix had sought to eradicate for centuries. A power that now bound the three of them together in a constellation of danger, loyalty, and defiance against a world that had written their kind out of history.