Chapter 16: Shadows in the Sect
The Azure Sky Sect was restless.
From the training grounds to the outer gates, whispers filled every corner. Disciples gathered in groups, talking in hushed tones as though the walls themselves could hear them.
> "They said the boy who ranked Top Ten can't walk anymore."
"Wasn't he the one always with that always looks calm, Ashen?"
"I heard it was poison."
"Poison? Inside the sect tournament?"
The rumor twisted with every retelling, and before the sun had even risen again, the story reached villages, clans, and rival sects.
Many said the Azure Sky Sect had failed to protect its own disciples.
Some claimed the sect had poisoned its competitors to control the results.
Truth didn't matter anymore. In the world of cultivators, reputation was everything.
---
The Emergency Council
That evening, the sect's main hall blazed with torchlight. The air was tense, heavy with authority and fear.
The Sect Leader sat high on the platform, eyes cold and sharp. The elders stood below him, silent and uneasy.
At the front stood Elder Shen, Lian's master, beside Elder Feng, his face still marked from the clash with Ashen.
The Sect Leader's voice cut through the silence.
> "It has been less than a day, and the rumors have already reached the borders. Every clan and merchant house now whispers that the Azure Sky Sect has grown corrupt or careless."
He paused, scanning the faces below.
> "If we do not act now, our alliances and future recruits will vanish."
Elder Feng stepped forward, slamming his palm on the table.
> "Then act now! Punish the one who caused this mess. The boy, Ashen—he's the reason our sect's name is dragged through the mud! He attacked elders, destroyed the recovery tent, and turned this place upside down!"
Murmurs rippled through the hall.
A few nodded, but most frowned or looked uncertain.
Elder Shen's voice came calm but cutting.
> "Elder Feng, that accusation makes no sense. Ashen is friends with the poisoned boy. They entered the tournament together, trained together, and risked their lives for one another. Do you really think he would poison someone he calls brother?"
The room fell quiet. A few elders exchanged glances, realizing how absurd the claim sounded.
Elder Feng glared.
> "You're defending him because your own disciple is close to him. You let emotions cloud your judgment, Shen."
Elder Shen didn't flinch.
> "No. I'm defending logic. The boy might have lost control, but he's not a traitor. And deep down, you know it."
Tension flared again, but the Sect Leader raised a hand, silencing them.
> "Enough. We settle this with proof, not shouting."
He looked to Elder Shen.
> "Report what you've learned."
Elder Shen bowed slightly.
> "The healers confirmed traces of Nightmarrow Extract in Raizen's system—an old battlefield poison that destroys nerves and blood flow. We found residue on a tonic bottle mixed into the recovery hall's supplies."
A wave of alarm moved through the room.
> "Nightmarrow? That's forbidden across the continent!"
"How could something that rare get into our sect?"
Elder Shen nodded.
> "That's the problem. It's nearly impossible to brew or smuggle without inside help. Whoever did this knew the sect's medicine stores and healer rotations."
Elder Feng frowned.
> "You mean an infiltrator?"
Elder Shen's gaze hardened.
> "Or someone within the sect."
---
The Sect Leader's Decision
The Sect Leader stood. His presence alone quieted everyone.
> "No matter who did this, it will be found. We cannot let this poison eat away at our name."
He turned toward both men.
> "Elder Shen, you will lead the investigation. Elder Feng—you will assist him."
Elder Feng's jaw tightened.
> "Sect Leader, with all respect—"
> "That's an order," the Sect Leader cut him off. His tone left no room for argument.
"Search every storehouse, every herb record, every healer's report. No one leaves the sect until we have answers."
The room fell silent again.
Everyone understood what was at stake.
If the culprit wasn't found soon, the Azure Sky Sect's glory could crumble overnight.
---
Divided Voices
Outside the main hall, elders and disciples muttered among themselves.
> "Blaming Ashen was foolish."
"Still, attacking an elder… he's dangerous."
"He saved that boy's life before the poison even took hold!"
"You can't deny what we saw—the aura he released was terrifying."
Support and doubt mixed like oil and fire.
Lines were being drawn quietly within the sect.
Some saw Ashen as a necessary storm—a force that stood against corruption.
Others whispered that he was a threat the Sect Leader couldn't control.
---
Elder Shen's Concern
That night, Elder Shen stood on his veranda, staring at the moonlit mountains.
One of his senior disciples approached, bowing low.
> "Master, Elder Feng's men are spreading word that Ashen might have caused the poisoning to cover his own wrongdoing."
Elder Shen's eyes narrowed.
> "Ridiculous. Anyone who's seen those children together knows better."
> "Should I stop the rumors?"
> "No," Shen said quietly. "Rumors die faster when you don't chase them. But keep an eye on Feng's faction. They're desperate to shift blame."
The disciple hesitated.
> "Do you think someone inside the sect really planned this?"
Elder Shen turned, his face shadowed by the lantern's light.
> "Yes. Whoever did it knew exactly when the healers changed shifts and where the potions were stored. That's not random. Someone inside wanted to hurt those kids—or wanted to hurt Ashen through them."
He looked up at the dark sky.
> "We're not dealing with carelessness. We're dealing with intent."
---
A Forbidden Conversation
Deep within the back halls of the sect, a single lantern flickered weakly against the stone walls.
Two figures stood there — Elder Feng and Ren Huo, the latter's expression tight and wary.
Ren Huo whispered, glancing around,
> "Elder… the investigation's getting too close. Elder Shen already found traces in the recovery hall. If he connects it to the herb stores—"
Elder Feng cut him off with a sharp glare.
> "He won't. I made sure those ledgers were burned. But you need to keep your mouth shut, Ren Huo. One slip, and we both hang."
Ren Huo clenched his fists.
> "This wasn't part of the plan. The boy—Raizen—he wasn't supposed to be crippled permanently."
Elder Feng's tone turned cold.
> "Plans change. A small sacrifice was necessary. The Sect Leader's trust in Shen must break. Once that happens, I take control of the inner council."
Ren Huo stepped back slightly, his voice low.
> "And if someone finds out about the Nightmarrow Extract?"
Feng's lips curled into a thin, venomous smile.
> "Then they'll blame Ashen. They already do. He's the perfect distraction — wild, impulsive, and untrusted. Let them tear each other apart."
He moved closer, lowering his voice.
> "Remember this, Ren Huo. Power isn't about strength — it's about control. And by the time they realize what happened, it'll be too late."
The lantern flickered again — and went out, leaving only silence and the faint smell of burned oil.