Search for Answers

The Punishment Hall had officially stepped in.

Outer Sect patrols, led by several disciplinary officers, had already spread across the training grounds, gathering statements from anyone who had spoken to Zhao Feng in recent days.

A group of disciples stood nervously before Elder Mo, their eyes shifting between each other. Some looked uneasy, others indifferent, and a few seemed eager… either to help or simply to be part of the gossip.

Elder Mo sighed internally as he glanced at the gathered disciples.

"Why am I wasting time on this?"

Still, he went through the motions.

His voice was calm yet firm as he spoke. "Tell me what you know."

What followed was a collection of reports. Some helpful, some entirely useless, and a few downright ridiculous.

"I saw Zhao Feng three days ago near the outer training grounds."

"I heard he found a secret realm and didn't want anyone to know! Maybe he entered and… never came out!"

"Zhao Feng owed me ten spirit stones. He conveniently disappears, and now I'll never get paid? Suspicious, isn't it?"

"What if an evil cultivator took him? I read about cases like this in the archives; demonic sects sometimes infiltrate and kidnap disciples for dark rituals!"

"Zhao Feng? Who's that?"

"The night he disappeared, I saw a shadow figure moving near the shrine! It was fast, too fast for a normal disciple. Maybe… a ghost?"

Elder Mo rubbed his temples.

"Ghosts? Really?"

He waved his hand. "Enough. I don't need speculation, just facts."

A few disciples glanced at each other, some looking guilty, others embarrassed. The serious ones remained silent, while the opportunists tried not to laugh.

But Elder Mo wasn't entirely disappointed.

Among the nonsense, he had extracted one useful piece of information which confirms the information he already had.

"So, Zhao Feng was looking for something near the ruins before he vanished."

With that, he turned to the lead investigator.

"Send the patrols to inspect the ruins."

...

By the time the disciplinary officers arrived at the ruins, the sun had already passed its peak.

The collapsed shrine stood silent and undisturbed, its ancient walls now barely holding together.

The patrols spread out, carefully exploring the area.

Without taking into account the destruction that the place was in, the ruins looked almost the same as always… lifeless, abandoned.

At first, they found nothing unusual.

Then…

One of the sect's investigators suddenly stopped.

A faint, almost imperceptible energy lingered in the air.

He frowned. "what is this?"

Another investigator walked over, inspecting the ground.

"It's weak… but it's still active."

The first investigator looked uneasy. "What kind of energy is this? Even though it is weak, it seems to be consuming the ruins."

Their conversation came to a halt as Elder Mo stepped forward.

He placed a hand on a nearby stone, his spiritual sense sweeping across the area.

And in that moment, he understood.

Decay Qi.

He knew exactly what it was.

"So, it's resurfacing here again…"

But Elder Mo said nothing, instead, he gave a casual shake of his head.

"The formations around this shrine have been broken for a long time," he said. "Is likely residual energy from the past. It means nothing."

He dismissed it.

The investigators nodded, accepting his explanation without question.

But deep down, Elder Mo knew better.

This was no mere residual energy.

Decay Qi had always been a part of this place.

And now, someone had stirred it again.

...

The day passed without issue for Lu Chen.

As far as he was concerned, nothing had changed.

The sect was abuzz with rumors about Zhao Feng, but no one had approached him. He had made the right choice. Staying quiet, keeping to his training.

If there was an investigation, it hadn't reached him yet.

And yet, someone was watching him.

Far beyond Lu Chen's perception, a figure stood in the shadows.

The masked man.

His robes fluttered slightly in the wind, but his presence remained still, as if he were part of the scenery.

His golden eyes, hidden beneath his mask, were locked into Lu Chen as he moved through the sect grounds, his expression unreadable.

He had already conducted his own investigation.

Lu Chen was a nobody.

A low-ranked Outer Sect disciple with no significant background, no powerful backing, and no real accomplishments to his name… at least, until now.

And yet, this same disciple had evaded him twice.

The first time at the Forbidden Chamber.

The second time at the abandoned shrine.

And both times, Lu Chen had not only escaped but done it so decisively, and smooth for someone of Qi condensation realm.

It wasn't luck, It wasn't a coincidence. This was pure skill and dynamic reading of the situation, it's not something that can be trained without years of battle experience or natural talent.

And this disciple was clearly the last.

The masked man was no longer watching Lu Chen to hunt him down, Lu Chen didn't seem to be a threat to the sect.

For now…

He was simply observing.

...

Elsewhere, in a secluded bamboo courtyard, the breeze was gentle, and carried the distant sounds of birds singing.

Gu Tianying was sitting comfortably on a wooden bench.

A soft, relaxed expression, as if he were merely enjoying the morning breeze.

Before him stood a low ranked Outer Sect disciple, dressed in simple sect robes, his stance nervous but respectful.

"My lord, the situation has begun shifting," the disciple spoke quietly. "Elder Mo has started an investigation, but it seems he isn't taking it too seriously."

Gu Tianying's fingers tapped lazily against his wooden tea cup.

"Of course, he isn't," he said. "He's not the type to waste energy on a matter that doesn't directly concern him."

He took a slow sip of his tea before placing the cup down with an elegant motion.

"Have you prepared the message?" he asked.

The disciple immediately nodded, pulling out a small jade slip.

"Yes, but… this message needs to be delivered outside the sect. It will be difficult to avoid notice, even more now that the punishment hall is quite active."

Gu Tianying showed no concern.

"Then you'll have to be… creative."

The disciple stiffened as Gu Tianying leaned forward, his tone pleasant yet unyielding.

"I want the message delivered without a trace. I don't care if you use merchant caravans, spirit beast couriers, or even beggars in the outer city… I want it done quietly and fast."

The disciple swallowed hard. "Understood, my lord. It will be done."

Gu Tianying leaned back pleased.

"Good!"

As the disciple turned to leave, Gu Tianying's voice stopped him.

"And one more thing."

The disciple froze.

"If you use a caravan or anyone else, dispose of it after you have done so." Gu Tianying added lightly. "There must be no evidence, understand?"

The disciple hesitated only a moment before nodding.

"Yes, my lord."

With that, he hurried away, leaving Gu Tianying alone in the quiet courtyard.

Gu Tianying exhaled slowly, closing his eyes.

Everything was moving exactly as he had hoped.

The factions in the sect were already at odds.

The Punishment Hall had begun to become active, and the fuse for all of it was a single Outer Sect disciple.

Gu Tianying smiled to himself.

"Lu Chen…"

The name had caught his attention.

Not because Lu Chen was strong, or because Lu Chen was important. But because he was calculating, cautious, and clever.

And more importantly… he was unpredictable.

That made him both a good tool and a problem.

If that ant Lu Chen was not controlled, one day it might become a nuisance.

It may sound paranoid, but Gu Tianying is not someone who lets promising elements go unnoticed. But he doesn't like to eliminate these types of people, at least not until get the most out of them.

Lu Chen could be a perfect tool for creating chaos, a tool to weaken the factions.

still water is not healthy.

"Let's see how far you can go before they devour you." Gu Tianying murmured to himself, amusement dancing in his eyes.

He lifted his teacup once more, taking a slow sip.

For now, there was no need to intervene directly.

Lu Chen would make his own enemies soon.

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