The Deadly Encounter

High in the sky, amidst the swirling clouds, Xueyin soared effortlessly on his sword. His mind was focused on the Snake Tribe. Fortunately, Yichun Village is near the tribe. I'll be able to do my research there, he thought. As he approached the village, he decided to head to the inn to rest and, perhaps, gather some gossip about the recent deaths caused by the Xie Sui Sect followers.

Entering the inn, he ordered, "Give me the room on the left side, facing the forest." His gaze swept across the area, and he felt an unusual shift in the air—two cultivators were preparing to fight.

"Innkeeper, hurry. How much for the room?" Xueyin's voice cut through the tension. "I'm not here for this nonsense." He exerted a subtle pressure with his aura, causing the innkeeper to hesitate before quickly handing him the room key.

Xueyin's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the commotion. The cultivators' auras were charged with hostility, and their swords were already drawn.

"Everybody, get out of here!" one of the Xie Sui Sect followers yelled, his voice carrying an unmistakable command. "This place is reserved for my master!"

Clank, clang — the sound of breaking furniture echoed through the inn. Dishes were knocked over, food was splattered on the ground, and the patrons scrambled to escape for their lives. In the chaos, a tiny voice rang out:

"I won't leave!" a defiant voice called. "You Xie Sui Sect are outrageous! You call yourselves a 'good' sect, but you're doing the opposite! Besides, I got here first, and I'm not leaving just because you say so!"

The Xie Sui Sect follower sneered, drawing closer, "Get out of here before my master sucks the life out of you. You'll make a perfect puppet for him, you know. Hahaha!" His wicked laugh echoed in the room. "If you love your head, get out before you lose it."

The tiny voice responded with determination, "You'll have to pass through me first. I won't let you do whatever you please in here."

The confrontation escalated quickly, and with a flick of the wrist, the Xie Sui Sect follower lashed out with a whip, aiming at the challenger. Whip— Clank, clang, clang—the sounds of the battle filled the air.

The challenger—a young cultivator—drew his own sword, an ancient blade that seemed to hum with its own power. He was agile, his movements fluid like water, a stark contrast to the rough, brute force of the Xie Sui Sect follower.

Clash!

The swords met in a flash of light, sparks flying as metal collided with metal. The challenger's blade twirled in his hands, parrying a powerful strike from the Xie Sui Sect follower. The sect member sneered, swinging his whip with a practiced hand, aiming for the challenger's midsection.

Whoosh—crack!

The whip cracked through the air, aiming to strike with precision. The challenger barely had time to react, ducking and rolling to the side, narrowly avoiding the hit. As the whip came down, he spun, delivering a sharp kick to the sect follower's abdomen. The follower grunted, staggering back but regaining his footing instantly.

"You think you can stand against me?" the Xie Sui Sect follower hissed, his eyes burning with malice.

"Try me," the challenger replied with a smirk, his blade still at the ready.

Without warning, the Xie Sui Sect follower flung his whip forward, its tip unraveling in a series of rapid strikes aimed at the challenger's neck. Each lash was faster than the last, a deadly dance of steel and force. The challenger, however, was quick on his feet, dodging with expert precision.

The two exchanged a flurry of blows, swords clashing, whips cracking, and the sound of their movements reverberating through the inn. The air around them seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their strikes, the force so powerful that it sent gusts of wind into the room, knocking over tables and shattering glass.

Xueyin, standing at the side, watched the fight with intense focus. His sharp eyes tracked every move, every swing. His mind was racing—not just with the fight at hand, but also with the realization that this was no ordinary opponent. Could this person be connected to the deaths at the village?

The challenger parried another blow, this time deflecting the whip with his blade. He moved with a fluid grace, almost as if the battle was an elegant dance. But just as he was about to land a decisive strike on the Xie Sui Sect follower, the sect member summoned his energy.

BOOM!

A surge of spiritual qi erupted from the sect follower's body, sending a shockwave through the room. The force of the blast was enough to knock the challenger off his feet, sending him sprawling to the ground. The Xie Sui Sect follower wasted no time, charging forward with a twisted grin on his face, preparing to strike the final blow.

This is it, Xueyin thought, his body tensing in anticipation. But just as the sword came down, ready to slice through the challenger's neck, everything changed.

A thick, foul-sweet scent filled the room, curling its way into every corner like a predator. The incense, so strong it could be tasted, spread quickly, thickening the air with a sickly, overpowering aroma.

Xueyin's eyes narrowed as he recognized the scent—the same incense that had been used to kill his mother. The realization struck him like a blow to the chest, and his eyes shot to the Xie Sui Sect follower.

So it was them… they've been using this incense to silence those who stand against them.

One by one, the inn's occupants began to stagger, their movements sluggish and heavy. They all dropped to the ground, unconscious, their bodies succumbing to the drugged fumes. Even the Xie Sui Sect followers, seemingly impervious to almost everything, were not immune.

Except for Xueyin.

His cultivation shielded him from the effects of the poison-laced incense. He stood tall, unaffected, watching as the room fell silent.

The challenger, who had been in the midst of his fight for survival, was now lying motionless, his sword still in hand but his body limp from the heavy air. The Xie Sui Sect followers, who had been so confident moments ago, were now sprawled across the floor in a stupor.

Only I am awake. Xueyin thought, his mind racing. What is their purpose? Why use this incense?

A faint glimmer of movement caught his eye. The leader of the Xie Sui Sect followers had not fallen, his aura flickering weakly as he struggled to stay conscious. He narrowed his eyes at Xueyin, his face contorted with rage.

"You…" The sect member managed to growl, "You are… immune…"

Xueyin's expression remained cold, unreadable. He stood unmoving, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His eyes, sharp as ever, glinted with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

"It seems you made a mistake," Xueyin said, his voice cold and unyielding. "You thought you could take control here, but you didn't account for me."

With one swift motion, Xueyin's aura erupted around him, sending a wave of energy through the room. The room hummed with his power, the force so intense that it sent the remaining Xie Sui Sect followers scattering, all of them unconscious before they even knew what hit them.

Xueyin turned his attention back to the unconscious challenger. Who are you? And what were you really fighting for?