CHAPTER-32 SHADOWS OVER THE CRIMSON SERPANT

The dawn's first light filtered through the dense canopy of the Eternal Forest, casting dappled shadows on the rugged path ahead. Lin Jian stood at the edge of the training ground, eyes narrowed in determination. The day after his monumental duel with Zhou Feng had come, but the battles were far from over.

His harem gathered around him, each member a warrior in her own right — fierce, loyal, and bound to him by trust and shared destiny. The atmosphere buzzed with a mixture of anticipation and unease. Rumors had spread that a powerful faction, the Shadow Lotus Sect, was preparing to challenge the fragile peace forged between the Murim clans.

Lin Jian's mind raced, balancing strategy with instinct. "We cannot let the Shadow Lotus grow unchecked. Their ambitions threaten everything we've built."

Mei Ling, the quick-witted tactician, stepped forward, her sharp eyes gleaming. "We need to gather intel. If we strike blindly, we risk falling into their traps."

Lin Jian nodded. "I'll lead a scouting party. Mei Ling, you coordinate with the others to reinforce our defenses here."

As the harem dispersed to their tasks, Lin Jian felt the weight of leadership settle deeper on his shoulders. Years of reincarnations had prepared him for this — the unyielding responsibility to protect those who depended on him.

The scouting party moved swiftly, slipping through the dense forest like shadows themselves. Lin Jian's senses were heightened; every rustle, every scent was a clue. They reached the outskirts of a ravaged village — signs of a recent attack evident in the shattered homes and smoldering fires.

Among the ruins, Lin Jian spotted a single figure cloaked in black, moving with lethal grace. "Shadow Lotus!" he whispered, drawing his blade. His companions readied themselves as the figure turned, revealing a cold smile.

"You're meddling in affairs beyond your reach," the stranger taunted. "Your reign ends before it truly begins."

Lin Jian's gaze hardened. "We will see about that."

A fierce clash erupted, steel ringing against steel, powers colliding in bursts of light and shadow. The battle was brutal and swift, testing Lin Jian's strength and wit. Yet, even as the enemy retreated, the message was clear: the Shadow Lotus Sect was no mere rumor. They were a storm gathering force — and Lin Jian's legacy was on the line.

Smoke curled from Lin Jian's shoulder where a shadowy blade had grazed him. The wound wasn't deep, but it burned with unnatural cold — the mark of cursed energy. He stared down the forest path long after the enemy vanished, the echo of their final words still ringing in his mind.

"You're too late, Lin Jian. The lotus has already bloomed."

Returning to the sect's mountain stronghold, Jian moved with a grim expression, escorted by his scouting party. The harem gathered in the central hall as news of the clash spread. Mei Ling was first to approach him, her hands glowing with healing chi as she placed them gently over his wound.

"You fought one of their top assassins," she said, her brow furrowed. "And they retreated. That's a message, not a defeat."

Lin Jian nodded. "They're warning us. But it's more than that — they wanted me to know they've already made moves. Probably sowing discord among the other sects."

Just then, the doors swung open and another harem member, Yu Lan — the icy strategist of the Northern Tribes — entered with a tense expression.

"Our spies in the West report that the Crimson Serpent Sect has suddenly pledged allegiance to a mysterious faction. Their leader vanished two nights ago, and a masked envoy from the Lotus was seen leaving their grounds this morning."

Lin Jian's jaw clenched. "That's two sects. We can't sit back."

Xiao Yue, the fiery martial artist with a short temper, slammed her fist into her palm. "Then we strike first!"

But Lin Jian raised a hand. "No. We need more than brute force. We need alliances — and a plan that doesn't rely on us winning every single battle head-on."

The room quieted. For a moment, Lin Jian felt the weight of every past life he had lived. He wasn't just a warrior now. He was a leader of a new generation — a guardian of balance in the Murim world.

"We split into three," he said finally. "Mei Ling and Xiao Yue will head East to meet the Golden Moon Sect. They value honor, and they hate corruption. Yu Lan, you'll return North to rally the remaining tribes — remind them of the threat we faced in the Shadow War five years ago."

"And you?" Mei Ling asked.

"I'm heading West to confront the Crimson Serpent Sect directly," Jian said. "If there's a chance their new allegiance is forced or manipulated, I need to find out. Alone."

His words sparked protest, but he silenced them with a look. "They're expecting me to come with an army. If I walk in alone… I might learn something they're not prepared for."

As the harem reluctantly agreed, Lin Jian's eyes turned toward the mountains. The game had changed. The Shadow Lotus Sect wasn't just a threat.

They were the endgame.

The wind howled as Lin Jian walked the lonely forest road leading into the Crimson Serpent Sect's domain. Mist crept between the trees like pale ghosts, and above, a blood-red moon hung low, as if watching him with suspicion. Every step echoed with tension. He was alone — by choice — without his harem, without his army, armed only with his blades, wits, and indomitable will.

But Lin Jian thrived in situations like this.

As the gates of the Crimson Serpent Sect came into view, he noticed the eerie silence. No guards. No sentries on the walls. Only a strange stillness, broken only by the rustle of dead leaves.

His eyes narrowed.

He stepped forward and pushed open the massive wooden gates, which groaned in protest. Inside, the once-vibrant courtyard was now lined with crimson banners, each marked with a black lotus symbol. Corpses lay piled in the corners — disciples of the sect, left to rot.

Lin Jian moved swiftly, checking the bodies. Some had clean cuts to the throat. Others showed signs of inner energy disruptions — victims of poisoned Qi. But all shared one thing in common.

They had been silenced before they could resist.

Footsteps echoed behind him.

"You came alone," said a smooth, mocking voice.

Lin Jian turned, hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. From the shadows emerged a man clad in elegant black robes embroidered with silver lotus petals. A mask covered the upper half of his face, but his smirk was unmistakable.

"I'm not impressed," the man said. "I expected the Demon of Ten Thousand Lives to at least bring his army."

"I prefer conversations without bloodshed," Jian replied calmly. "But I won't hesitate if you force my hand."

The man chuckled. "We're not so different, you and I."

"No," Jian said coldly. "You serve the Lotus. I serve the world."

With a flash of movement, Jian unsheathed his sword and leapt forward, but the masked envoy parried with a flick of his wrist. Their blades clashed, Qi flaring and sending a shockwave across the courtyard. The envoy laughed as he somersaulted backward, landing atop a rooftop with graceful ease.

"I'll give you a gift, Lin Jian. The Crimson Serpent Sect didn't join us willingly. Their leader, Elder He Xun, resisted — so we broke him."

"What have you done?" Jian asked, voice like ice.

"I left him alive," the envoy said, eyes twinkling. "If you want the truth, find him in the Serpent's Chamber. Assuming he still remembers who he is."

Then the masked man vanished into the shadows, laughter echoing like a curse.

Jian wasted no time. He raced across the grounds, leaping over fallen beams and shattered tiles until he reached the Serpent's Chamber — the sect's central hall. The heavy doors were cracked open, revealing a flickering light inside.

He entered cautiously.

At the far end of the room, bound in dark chains, was a figure slumped over a throne of stone. Elder He Xun. Once proud and fierce, now withered, his face pale and streaked with dried blood. His eyes flickered open as Jian approached, and for a moment, recognition flared.

"L-Lin Jian?" he croaked. "It's too late. They… took everything."

"Who?" Jian asked, kneeling before him.

"The Lotus. They… they use illusions… parasites that feed on Qi. Not just warriors… they've infected leaders, kings… emperors. The Murim world is already theirs."

Jian felt a chill crawl up his spine.

"What can I do?" he asked.

He Xun struggled to speak. "Find the Dreamless Pearl… the only relic that breaks their illusions. Hidden in… Dragonbone Ruins…"

Then his body convulsed — and a sickening, squelching sound followed as a black, writhing parasite burst from his chest. Lin Jian sliced it in half instantly, but He Xun was already gone.

Jian stood, fists clenched, rage burning in his chest.

So this was the Lotus Sect's plan — not conquest by war, but subjugation by corruption. A silent war, waged through dreams, minds, and poisoned destinies.

The world was running out of time.

But Lin Jian was not a man who let fate win.

He turned on his heel and vanished into the night. The Dragonbone Ruins awaited — and with them, the hope of unraveling the greatest illusion the world had ever known.