Making moves behind the scenes

The infant, oblivious to the weight of what had just transpired, let out a soft gurgle, his tiny fingers curling and uncurling as if trying to grasp at the phantom that had just vanished. His mother, still weak from childbirth, held him closer to her chest with her delicate features locked in a daze.

The man beside her, the Third Elder of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Feng, finally exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His sharp, refined features twitched slightly as he stared at his newborn son's left arm, where the dragon tattoo had disappeared into the skin. His heart pounded, though he kept his expression composed.

"This… What exactly did I just witness?" he muttered under his breath, his voice was laced with both awe and unease.

The maid beside them, a woman who had served their household for years, trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "M-Master, Madam… The Azure Dragon… it—"

Before she could finish, a thunderous voice rang out from outside the courtyard.

"MAKE WAY FOR THE PATRIARCH!"

The gathered clan members immediately stepped aside, creating a clear path. Moments later, the imposing figure of the Xiao Clan Patriarch strode into the courtyard, his long ceremonial robes flowing behind him. His sharp, aged eyes scanned the scene before locking onto Xiao Feng with an unreadable expression.

Behind him, the elders followed closely, their gazes flickering between curiosity and restrained skepticism. Some had been openly excited earlier, but now, in the presence of the Patriarch, they composed themselves.

Xiao Feng stiffened, his grip on his wife's shoulder tightening slightly. He quickly lowered his head in respect. "Patriarch."

The woman in his arms struggled to sit up straight, despite her exhaustion, and followed suit with a small nod.

The Patriarch's gaze swept over the three of them before settling on the infant wrapped in silk. He took a step closer. "This is the child?"

Xiao Feng hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Yes, Patriarch. My son."

The Patriarch stared at the baby in silence, his gaze lingered on the infant's left arm. Though the tattoo was no longer visible, something in his sharp, experienced eyes told him that whatever had happened was not an illusion. He reached out with a single finger and gently touched the baby's small hand.

The moment he did, a faint pulse, something indescribable yet tangible, passed through his fingertips. It was subtle, so subtle that none of the other elders seemed to notice but the Patriarch who had been cultivating for decades wasn't someone the elders could easily compare to. His expression remained unchanged, but deep in his heart, a ripple of thought began to spread.

"This presence… It's faint, but…"

The infant stirred slightly, his silver-tinged hair catching the faint light of the fading golden hues in the sky. The change was subtle, but the Patriarch noticed it instantly. His fingers twitched slightly before he withdrew his hand.

Elder Zhen, who had been waiting in silence until now, stepped forward, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. His voice carried a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Patriarch, what happened here today was… unusual, to say the least. The appearance of the Azure Dragon… What do you make of it?"

The Patriarch didn't answer immediately. His gaze flickered toward Xiao Feng, who remained quiet with his jaw tight, as if uncertain of how to frame his thoughts.

After a moment, the Patriarch finally spoke, his voice was calm yet firm. "The heavens have acknowledged this child in some way."

His words weren't exaggerated, nor did they carry the weight of divine proclamation. But they were enough to make the gathered elders exchange subtle glances.

Xiao Feng's wife, still cradling the child, looked up with a mix of exhaustion and hope. "Does that mean… our son is truly blessed?"

Before the Patriarch could respond, Elder Zhen let out a soft chuckle, though there was no warmth in his eyes. "Blessed? It's too soon to say." He folded his hands behind his back. "The Azure Dragon's appearance is indeed an omen, but omens can be interpreted in many ways."

His words were carefully chosen, neither outright dismissal nor acknowledgment. Some of the elders nodded slightly, their expressions shifting into something more neutral.

Xiao Feng finally lifted his head, his voice steady but edged with something guarded. "Elder Zhen, what are you implying?"

Elder Zhen smiled faintly, though his eyes remained cold. "Nothing at all, Elder Feng. I simply mean that we should be cautious in our interpretations. After all, power, whether from the heavens or otherwise... comes with its own dangers."

Xiao Feng's eyes darkened slightly, but before he could respond, the Patriarch raised a hand, silencing the brewing tension.

"That's enough," he said, his voice carrying the weight of finality. His gaze fell once more on the child. After a long pause, he nodded. "For now, we will observe. This child… is indeed special."

Xiao Feng exhaled softly, though his body remained tense. His wife lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening around the silk blanket wrapped around her son.

Elder Zhen said nothing further, but a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips before he turned away.

"Okay everyone, no need to disturb the Third Elder's family for now... Let's all give them some space to recover." It was Xiao Che, the fifth elder who spoke in an amicable tone. He was a middle-aged man with a wise and friendly deposition that caused people to be drawn to him, because of this, although he was only ranked fifth among the ten Elders of the Xiao Clan, he was allocated with the same respect and regard in which the Grand Elder was held in.

"I admire Elder Che's wisdom."

"Elder Che is always so considerate."

"Elder Che is right..."

Many in the crowd, including both disciples and the elders accompanying the Patriarch, eagerly sought to curry favor with Xiao Che. If it were merely due to his amiable nature and widespread popularity, such deference from fellow elders would have been unwarranted. However, everyone understood that beneath his warm smile lay a power both terrifying and unmatched among the elders of the clan. Although officially ranked fifth, Xiao Che was by far the strongest among the elders, his strength surpassing theirs by a considerable margin. The ranking of Xiao Clan elders was based solely on seniority rather than cultivation prowess; positions were assigned in the order one became an elder, regardless of age or cultivation. This seemingly arbitrary system had led to the peculiar reality where the most formidable elder held only the fifth seat.

As the crowd slowly began to disperse under the Fifth Elder's orders, Xiao Feng remained standing beside his wife, his thoughts lingered on the increasingly venomous threat which was the Second Elder, Xiao Zhen.

He knew that tonight's events would ripple through the clan and cause a huge commotion across Floating Wind City in which the Xiao Clan resided. And though he should have felt pride, a cold unease settled in his chest, because he knew better than anyone about the fickleness of the human heart.

He was not naive. Not everyone in the Xiao Clan would see his son as a gift. Most especially not the other powers of Floating Wind City.

Some would see him as a threat.

—————————

"Welcome back Master, I have already acquired the thing you ask for."

"Oh? It seems I have underestimated your efficiency yet again."

A man with a refined yet unassuming presence sat alone in a dimly lit chamber, the flickering candlelight casting shifting shadows across his face. His robes, though simple, were embroidered with faint silver patterns, subtle marks of status that only the most observant would notice in the dimly lit room. His expression was serene, almost gentle, yet his eyes held a depth that could swallow men whole.

Before him, placed carefully upon an aged wooden table, was a small ornate box. The servant who had delivered it stood a few paces away, his posture stiff, his breathing controlled yet slightly hurried. He had done his task well, yet something about the man before him made him uneasy.

"You have it?" The man's voice was smooth, carrying a warmth that felt out of place in the heavy silence of the room.

"Yes, Master. The Meridian Crippling Nectar has been acquired." The servant bowed lower as he spoke, carefully placing the small vial on the table. The liquid inside shimmered faintly under the candlelight, its golden hue deceptively beautiful.

The man reached out, picking up the vial between two fingers, his gaze locked onto it as if he were holding a piece of fate itself. A slow, almost imperceptible smile curved his lips.

"Excellent," he murmured.

The servant hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Master, is this truly necessary? A newborn child..."

A single glance silenced him. Not a glare, nor an expression of anger, just a look, calm and unwavering, that sent a cold shiver down his spine.

"Necessity is a matter of perspective," the man said, his voice still gentle. "A mere child he may be, but in time, he could become something far more… problematic."

The servant dared not speak further. He knew of his master's ways best, his ability to weave plots so deep and intricate that by the time his enemies realized the trap, they had already lost everything.

The man twirled the vial between his fingers, deep in thought. The events of the day were only but a slight turbulence that gently rocked his plans backwards a bit. The child of Xiao Feng, marked by the heavens, had drawn too much attention, in fact his birth successfully drew the eyes of everyone and that made it easier for him to make moves behind the scenes. The Patriarch had sensed something. Elder Zhen had already begun calculating his own moves. The entire clan and even the entire city was now watching... Or rather... Distracted!

That child, if left unchecked, could become a force that disrupts everything.

But crippling him now, subtly, without a trace would change the course of his destiny before it had even begun.

The Meridian Crippling Nectar was not a poison in the traditional sense. It did not kill. It did not maim. It did not even leave a single external mark. But it would sever the pathways of cultivation within the body, rendering the child incapable of ever advancing beyond the lowest levels. A perfect tool, elegant in its cruelty.

The man set the vial back down, his fingers tapping softly against the wood. This was not something that could be rushed. The child was too closely watched at the moment. He needed a perfect opening, perhaps in the coming days, when the excitement settled and vigilance waned. Or perhaps... He could create his own opportunity. Thinking up to here, a bone-chilling smile crept onto his lips in a terrifying fashion.

His smile remained, as calm and warm as ever.

"Tell no one of this," he said softly, dismissing the servant with a flick of his fingers.

As the door shut behind him, the man leaned back, his eyes glinting in the candlelight.

In the grand game of power, the strongest piece was not always the one with the most force. Sometimes, it was the one that never even had a chance to play.

The piece that no one had a chance to guard against before it struck.