Lanternrock stood at the edge of chaos.
The city's usual hum of activity felt charged with tension, like the air before a storm. Merchants moved more quickly through the streets, their eyes darting nervously from side to side. Guards from various factions stood at every corner, hands never straying far from the hilts of their weapons. The atmosphere was thick with suspicion and unease. Every whisper seemed laced with hidden meaning, every glance was heavy with fear of what was to come.
Hui Jian moved through it all like a ghost, unseen and unnoticed, his thoughts buzzing with the endless stream of possibilities provided by the Mind Flower Gu. Since refining it into his vital Gu, it had become the perfect tool for the delicate work of scheming. His mind felt sharper than ever, capable of weaving complex plans that extended far beyond what he could have managed before. Ideas bloomed like flowers, and his mental clarity allowed him to see the movements of his enemies before they even realized what they were doing.
His influence was growing. He had sown seeds of distrust in both the Jade Fist Clan and the Red River Sect, and now they were sprouting. Rumors of betrayal echoed in the taverns and back alleys, whispered by anxious subordinates and ambitious underlings. Both factions were growing paranoid, increasingly focused on rooting out traitors in their midst. In their distraction, they failed to see the real threat—Hui Jian, quietly pulling the strings.
As he passed through the bustling marketplace, Hui Jian spotted two low-ranking members of the Jade Fist Clan standing in the shadow of a tall stone building, their conversation too quiet for others to overhear. Hui Jian's ears, however, were sharp, and he subtly positioned himself close enough to catch fragments of their conversation.
"...Mu Xuan's orders...guard the warehouse," one of them muttered, his voice tight with anxiety.
The other scoffed, casting a quick glance around. "It's more than just a warehouse. You didn't hear? They're moving materials...big enough to fund an army."
Hui Jian's interest piqued. Materials, something valuable enough for the Jade Fist Clan to take extra precautions. He made a mental note of it, already imagining how he might use that information to his advantage.
He continued walking, slipping into a narrow alleyway where Lian Shu waited for him in the shadows. The man's thin face was hidden under a hood, but Hui Jian could see the glint of his calculating eyes.
"The Whispering Shade has been busy," Lian Shu said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Red River Sect is growing restless. They're planning something, and it's going to be bloody."
"Good," Hui Jian replied, his tone calm. "The more chaos, the better."
Lian Shu smirked. "Chaos is one thing. But a full-blown war? Even you can't control that."
"I don't need to control it," Hui Jian said, his mind already calculating the fallout of a full-scale conflict between the factions. "I just need to be in the right place when the pieces fall."
Lian Shu studied him for a moment before nodding. "The Whispering Shade has a job for you. There's another shipment coming in tonight. Supplies bound for the Jade Fist Clan. We need to know where it's going and how heavily it's guarded."
Hui Jian's mind raced. This was the second time in as many days that he had heard about valuable supplies being moved. First the materials in the warehouse, now this. It seemed the Jade Fist Clan was preparing for something big. He could feel the pieces aligning, and the opportunity to profit was growing by the minute.
"Consider it done," Hui Jian said, already turning away. "I'll have the information you need before the sun rises."
As he slipped back into the crowded streets, his mind worked tirelessly. The Jade Fist Clan and the Red River Sect were on a collision course, and Hui Jian had no intention of getting caught in the crossfire. But if he could gather enough information—and the right resources—he could position himself to come out ahead when the city finally erupted into violence.
Hui Jian spent the rest of the day preparing, moving with quiet purpose through the streets of Lanternrock. He visited the hidden market first, a place where low-level Gu Masters and rogue traders met to exchange information and sell rare goods. The market was hidden in a narrow alley between two crumbling buildings, accessible only to those who knew where to look.
The crowd was thin today, a sign of the growing tension in the city. Only a few Gu Masters stood at the various stalls, inspecting low-grade Gu worms and herbs with careful eyes. Hui Jian moved through the market, picking up snippets of conversation as he went. It was clear that the city's factions were tightening their grip on the city, preparing for the coming storm.
At one stall, an old merchant with a crooked smile and stained fingers gestured for Hui Jian to approach. The man dealt in minor Gu and low-level materials, but his real value came from the information he picked up from the countless customers who passed through his stall.
"You're a familiar face," the merchant croaked, his voice rasping as if it hadn't been used in days. "Looking for anything special today, or are you here for news?"
Hui Jian leaned in slightly, his expression neutral. "I hear the Jade Fist Clan is moving something valuable. Do you know anything about that?"
The merchant's eyes gleamed with sudden interest. "Ah, you've got a good ear, young master. There's a shipment of high-grade refinement materials coming in tonight. Mu Xuan's been putting every available man on it—guards, informants, even mercenaries. They're nervous about something."
"How heavily guarded?" Hui Jian asked, his mind already calculating the risks.
"Very," the merchant replied, tapping his nose. "But here's the thing—there's a rumor going around that the Red River Sect knows about it. Some say they're planning to strike while the iron's hot."
Hui Jian's eyes narrowed. The pieces were falling into place. A major shipment of refinement materials, heavily guarded, and both the Jade Fist Clan and the Red River Sect were involved. This was no ordinary power play. Both factions were preparing for war.
"Where's the shipment coming from?" Hui Jian asked.
The merchant grinned, leaning in as if sharing a great secret. "Word is, it's coming in from the east gate. But if I were you, I'd keep my distance. Too many eyes on this one."
Hui Jian nodded, slipping a few primeval stones into the merchant's hand. "I'll keep that in mind."
With the information secured, Hui Jian moved quickly, making his way to the eastern edge of the city. As the sun began to set, the streets grew quieter, the tension palpable. Lanternrock felt like a powder keg ready to explode.
The shipment would arrive soon, and Hui Jian needed to be in position to watch it unfold. He wasn't interested in stealing the goods outright—at least not yet. His plan was far more subtle. He needed to gather information, to understand the movements of both the Jade Fist Clan and the Red River Sect. Once he knew how they operated, he could manipulate the situation to his advantage.
As he approached the eastern gate, Hui Jian slipped into the shadows of a nearby alley, his form blending seamlessly into the darkening city. From his vantage point, he could see the gate clearly. Guards from the Jade Fist Clan were already posted there, their faces set in grim determination. A few mercenaries stood among them, men hired for their brute strength rather than loyalty.
Hui Jian waited, his eyes scanning the streets for any sign of movement. Time passed slowly, the minutes stretching out as the last rays of sunlight faded from the sky. The air grew colder, and the city seemed to hold its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Then, just as the moon began to rise, the sound of wheels on cobblestone reached Hui Jian's ears. A wagon appeared at the edge of the street, flanked by more guards from the Jade Fist Clan. The wagon was covered with a thick tarp, and from the way the guards were positioned, it was clear that whatever lay beneath it was valuable.
Hui Jian's eyes flickered with interest. This was it—the shipment of materials that could tip the scales in the conflict between the Jade Fist Clan and the Red River Sect.
He watched as the guards led the wagon toward a warehouse near the city's edge. His mind raced, considering his next move. There were too many guards to attack the shipment directly, but that wasn't his plan. He needed to find out where the materials were being stored, and more importantly, how the Red River Sect would react.
As the wagon disappeared into the warehouse, Hui Jian slipped out of the alley and followed from a distance. The Mind Flower Gu pulsed within him, feeding him ideas, strategies, and contingencies. He could feel the tension rising, the sense that something monumental was about to unfold.
And when it did, Hui Jian would be ready.