Chapter 89

At daybreak, Ji Chun stepped into the courtyard to wash, the morning air thick with moisture that clung to every surface. A chill breeze made him shiver as he scooped clean water from the basin.

"Ji Chun Dashi," came a voice from beyond the gate, "the Sect Leader requests your presence in the main hall."

"Many thanks, benefactor," Ji Chun bowed before carrying the water inside. His gaze fell upon Su Ran still asleep - bare shoulders peeking above the blankets, cheeks flushed with warmth. Memories of last night surfaced, bringing both tenderness and regret. He pressed a kiss to Su Ran's cheek, fingers brushing through sleep-tousled hair. "Time to wake," he murmured.

Su Ran responded with an incoherent hum, rolling away. Ji Chun's heart swelled with fond exasperation. After their exhausting night, he hated to disturb him, but duty called. "Su Ran..." he tried again, this time helping the groggy man sit up. Su Ran remained half-asleep through the entire dressing ritual, only blinking into full awareness when splashing his face with cold water.

After gathering Mu Miefeng and Xue Yao, they joined the stream of sect members converging on the main hall. The unusual morning summons suggested important news. When all were seated, Shang Luo entered - his usual polished appearance betrayed by shadows under his eyes that didn't escape Ji Chun and Su Ran's notice.

"Forgive the early summons," Shang Luo began with practiced charm, "but our archives revealed crucial clues about Di Mang." His gaze swept the assembly like a physician assessing patients. "Having stayed two days, I presume you've all... explored the back mountain."

That carefully weighted pause made Ji Chun's shoulders tense.

"Then explain the blood dragon!" burst out a minor sect leader, barely containing his fury. His decimated contingent - originally a dozen strong, now just three - told their own grim story.

Shang Luo's expression darkened. "That creature never existed there before. It appeared suddenly after the mountain trembled." He paused, letting the gravity sink in. "By the time we noticed disappearances among our own and discovered the beast, it was too late to warn visitors. We posted warnings along the mountain paths - have none of you seen them?"

"You sent us to our deaths!" Another leader surged to his feet, sword quivering in accusation.

Shang Luo's teacup met the table with a sharp crack. "What gain would I have from such treachery? Those signs were placed clearly! Perhaps your people were too hasty in their exploration?" His veneer of civility cracked, revealing genuine anger that silenced the room.

A wiser sect leader intervened with conciliatory bows. "Xiongdi [sworn brother] Qin speaks from grief. We meant no offense."

As Qin offered stiff apologies, Shang Luo's composure returned like a drawn curtain. "The blood dragon," he continued smoothly, "according to our texts, is a celestial guardian of the earth..."

"This celestial beast is ferocious and bloodthirsty, possessing immense strength and sustaining itself on human blood," the sect leader explained. "Should Di Mang leave its guarded territory, the creature will gradually weaken. Those who've witnessed the blood dragon's power understand its might—yet I must warn you, there are three such beasts on this mountain. What you've encountered is merely the first. Each grows stronger as one approaches the cave."

He paused, letting the grim reality settle over the assembly. "And should you breach the cavern, locating Di Mang presents another challenge entirely."

The gathered sect leaders exchanged troubled glances. Many had seen the blood dragon's devastation firsthand. With only three days remaining, the prospect of confronting not one but three of these heavenly guardians seemed suicidal. Yet the lure of treasure kept their feet rooted to the floor.

Noting their hesitation, the sect leader cleared his throat. "There is, however, a method to subdue them." All eyes snapped back to him. "Our records indicate the beasts have one weakness. We require but two things: a bowl of blood drawn from the palms of fourteen sect leaders, and our sacred dragon-chanting herb. Boiled together for four days, these ingredients form a pill. When thrown into a blood dragon's maw during combat, the creature will shrivel into a pool of blood within an hour."

Though the thought of battling the beasts still chilled them, having a solution bolstered the leaders' courage. Murmurs of agreement rippled through the hall.

"The dragon's blood serves another purpose," the sect leader continued. "The cavern's true path is treacherous—one misstep means death. Its map lies hidden above our mountain gate, decipherable only with three samples of dragon blood. So I ask: will you contribute your blood to this endeavor?"

"Gladly!" came the unified response, though one leader voiced the obvious concern: "We number only six sects here. How shall we procure fourteen samples?"

Laughter answered him. "Simple enough! Word has spread of Di Mang's appearance—sects are converging from all directions. A summons from the Sha Yin Gate would bring the required numbers within days."

"Which fourteen sects must participate?" another asked.

The sect leader's smile deepened. "Any willing to seek Di Mang may join." His cryptic tone went unnoticed as excitement overtook the crowd.

Ye Bangzhu rose slowly. "If it pleases the Sect Leader, several eligible sects currently reside in Xilongzhou town."

"Your assistance would be most welcome, Elder Ye. Seven days hence, on the fourth of May, we shall hold a celestial ritual. I trust all will contribute their blood then." The sect leader bowed as the assembly dispersed.

As Ji Chun and Su Ran turned to leave, Su Ran suddenly stepped forward. "Sect Leader—a moment."

The leader turned, his expression carefully neutral. "Su Gongzi?"

"Regarding yesterday's proposed... collaboration," Su Ran murmured, watching him closely.

The sect leader's face remained impassive. "I'm afraid I don't recall any such discussion."

Recognizing the dismissal—and the danger of pressing further—Su Ran withdrew coldly. "My mistake. Good day." He departed without seeing the fleeting regret in the leader's eyes, quickly smothered by colder resolve.