15: A Warning in the Dark

Chapter 15: A Warning in the Dark

The night was quiet, but I knew better than to trust silence.

Even within the fortified walls of the Seventh Division's stronghold, an unsettling presence lingered in the air.

Xiao Rin's words from earlier still echoed in my mind.

"There's someone else watching you now."

She never gave unnecessary warnings.

Whoever was watching me wasn't just curious. They were dangerous.

And I had a feeling they wouldn't wait long to make their move.

🔹 A Sudden Summons

The next morning, loud knocks at my door woke me early.

I opened it to find a Seventh Division disciple standing stiffly outside, his expression unreadable.

"Vice-Leader Qiu Hong has summoned you," he said.

I raised an eyebrow. "Now?"

The disciple nodded. "Immediately."

I sighed, grabbing my Hidden Blade and strapping it to my waist.

Qiu Hong wasn't the type to summon people without reason. Something had happened.

And I had a feeling it wasn't good.

🔹 Meeting Qiu Hong

Qiu Hong's private study was dimly lit, filled with the scent of burning incense and old parchment.

Scrolls covered his desk—battle strategies, assassination reports, and secret intelligence.

As I stepped inside, he didn't acknowledge me at first.

Instead, he calmly poured himself a cup of tea.

Then, without warning, he tossed a blood-stained scroll toward me.

I caught it midair and unrolled it.

The moment my eyes landed on the words inside, my grip tightened.

📜 "Ye Qing is to be eliminated. A confirmed threat to our operations. He must not reach Supreme Master Realm. Do not fail."

A kill order.

On me.

The insignia stamped at the bottom of the scroll wasn't from the Silent Blades Sect.

It was from inside the Demonic Cult.

I looked up. Qiu Hong was watching me, his usual smirk absent.

"So," he said, tapping his fingers on the desk, "care to explain why one of our own is trying to kill you?"

🔹 Who Wants Me Dead?

I kept my face neutral. "I was hoping you'd tell me."

Qiu Hong chuckled. "Oh, don't play innocent, Jiang Feng. Or should I say… Ye Qing?"

I didn't react.

At this point, there was no point in pretending. My identity was already spreading through the Seventh Division.

Qiu Hong leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "This wasn't just any kill order. Someone high-ranking is behind this."

I stayed silent. There were only a few possibilities.

Wu Jian, the mastermind of the Silent Blades Sect.

A rival elder within the Demonic Cult, fearing my rise in power.

Or someone even higher… pulling the strings from the shadows.

Qiu Hong sipped his tea, then smirked. "Here's the fun part. Whoever sent this kill order didn't use the Silent Blades Sect."

I narrowed my eyes. "Then who did they send?"

Qiu Hong chuckled. "See for yourself."

He gestured toward the door.

At his signal, a Seventh Division warrior stepped inside, dragging a half-dead man behind him.

I recognized him immediately.

One of the assassins from the Shadow Creek ambush.

His face was battered, his robes torn, and fear flickered in his eyes as he saw me.

Qiu Hong leaned back. "He's the only one we managed to capture alive. And guess what? He's not from the Silent Blades Sect."

I exhaled. "Then who does he work for?"

Qiu Hong smirked. "That's what you're about to find out."

He gestured toward me.

"He's yours. Get your answers however you like."

🔹 Interrogation

The assassin trembled as I crouched down in front of him.

He was trained, no doubt about it. But fear was creeping in.

"You know who I am," I said, my voice calm.

The assassin gulped. "I… I won't speak."

I smiled faintly. "Oh, you will."

Then I gripped his wrist and twisted—not enough to break it, but enough to send searing pain up his arm.

He gasped, barely holding back a scream.

"Who sent the kill order?" I asked.

The assassin clenched his jaw, shaking his head. "I—I can't say—"

I twisted harder.

"AHH—!"

The assassin panted heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Then, finally, he whispered, "Elder… Wu Jian."

Qiu Hong raised an eyebrow. "Wu Jian? You're sure?"

The assassin nodded rapidly. "I swear… I heard the order myself. He wants Ye Qing dead before he grows stronger."

My eyes narrowed.

So Wu Jian had made his move.

But something wasn't adding up.

If Wu Jian wanted me dead, why didn't he just send Bai Long again?

Why go through the trouble of using someone outside of the Silent Blades Sect?

There was something deeper at play.

I released the assassin's wrist and stood. "We're done here."

Qiu Hong signaled his men. "Dispose of him."

The assassin's eyes widened. "Wait, no—!"

The guards dragged him out of the room, his screams fading into the distance.

Qiu Hong turned back to me. "Well, that answers one question."

I sighed. "But it raises even more."

Qiu Hong smirked. "That's how this game works."

🔹 A Warning from Xiao Rin

That night, I stood on the rooftop of my quarters, staring at the moon.

The pieces were starting to come together.

Wu Jian wanted me dead.

The Seventh Division was testing me.

And someone else—someone even more dangerous—was moving in the shadows.

I sensed movement behind me.

Without turning, I sighed. "You again?"

Xiao Rin's soft chuckle came from the darkness. "You're getting better at noticing me."

She stepped beside me, her silver dagger spinning between her fingers. "So, what did Qiu Hong want?"

I glanced at her. "You already know, don't you?"

She smirked. "Of course. But it's more fun to hear you say it."

I exhaled. "Wu Jian sent a kill order on me."

Xiao Rin hummed. "Expected."

"But…" I continued, "he didn't use the Silent Blades Sect. He hired outside assassins."

That made Xiao Rin pause.

Her playful smirk faded slightly, replaced with something else—concern.

I narrowed my eyes. "That reaction tells me you know why."

Xiao Rin hesitated. Then, in a softer voice, she said, "It means Wu Jian doesn't fully control his own sect anymore."

I stiffened.

"Someone is working against him," she continued. "Someone with power. If Wu Jian is using outside assassins, it means he's playing defensively."

I frowned. "So if Wu Jian isn't the real mastermind behind this…"

"Then someone else is pulling the strings," Xiao Rin finished.

The realization hit me like a blade.

I wasn't just fighting Wu Jian anymore.

There was another enemy, hidden deep in the Demonic Cult.

And I was right in the middle of their war.

Xiao Rin turned to me, her expression unreadable.

"You're in real danger now, Ye Qing."

I smirked. "When was I not?"

She chuckled. "Fair point."

But we both knew—this was different.

Something bigger than us was about to unfold.

And I needed to be ready.

🔹 End of Chapter 15