As the dust finally settled, the prince's entourage scrambled to collect what was left of Chu Fengxian—both physically and emotionally. He returned to us in freshly pressed robes, his face arranged in a haughty, dismissive expression as if the earlier fight had been nothing more than a passing fever dream. I could practically see him thinking, A minor setback. Just a…warm-up.
Beside him, however, was a figure who instantly caught my attention, stealing even Yue Liqin's thunder for a moment. She was striking, her beauty a blend of elegance and sharp precision.
Her jet-black hair cascaded down her back like a silky waterfall, while her steely silver eyes scanned the scene, seemingly taking in every detail with an air of detached scrutiny. Her sword hung effortlessly at her side, its aura nearly as intimidating as hers.
The whispers of the crowd carried her name, "Shi Wenyan," over the gathered disciples like a ripple.
Elder Wei, standing nearby, couldn't help himself, throwing in one of his trademark "scoldings," though his grin completely ruined the effect. "You really overdid it this time, Yue Phaelo. Couldn't you have held back just a bit? For the sake of the mountain?"
I rolled my eyes, stifling a laugh. "Held back? Elder, if I'd really gone all out, we'd be rebuilding the entire mountain range from scratch by now."
Elder Han snorted from behind him. "Right. You're so 'considerate,' Phaelo. Always taking it easy on your opponents and our poor mountains."
Splitting Sword let out an awkward chuckle, cupping his hands respectfully towards my father. "Fellow Daoist Yue, you have a most talented son indeed! Truly a genius, as the rumors say! To fight on par with someone beyond his realm so effortlessly—it's impressive!"
'We're in the same realm, old man,' I thought, barely managing to keep the sarcasm off my face. But since he was mostly right, I let it slide. He probably didn't want to admit that his prodigious prince disciple had been trounced by someone supposedly "equal." I couldn't blame him; it's hard to make "got defeated by a smirking younger cultivator" sound impressive.
As we continued exchanging pleasantries, I noticed Chu Fengxian seething beside Splitting Sword, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought he might crack a tooth. His expression was a bizarre mix of frustration, resentment, and bruised pride.
Above us, the buzz among the disciples grew louder. The inner and core disciples of the Heaven Secret Sect were still in full gossip mode, their voices barely hushed.
_____
"Did you see that? I thought Chu Fengxian was supposed to be unbeatable!" one core disciple whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yue Phaelo didn't just put him in his place—he sent him there with express delivery!" another disciple added, clutching his chest as if he'd been holding his breath the entire fight.
"And that last strike? It was like he sliced the sky in half. The heavens practically screamed!" A younger disciple looked on with stars in his eyes, clearly entranced.
Elder Wei chuckled, enjoying the buzz. "That's our boy, alright," he muttered to Elder Han.
"Oh, you're just glad it wasn't your head on the chopping block this time," Elder Han retorted, elbowing him.
Meanwhile, Long Zhen and Bai Lifen, were shaking their heads in awe. "Forget sending letters home," Long Zhen whispered. "I think I'll just stick close to him from now on. Better survival rate."
"Agreed," Bai Lifen replied, nodding seriously. "Who needs a letter of recommendation when you've got Phaelo as a friend?"
And then there was Ling Xueying, the daughter of General Ling. She hovered nearby, her gaze flitting between the prince and me, her expression one of open conflict, her inner struggle was painted all over her face, and I could almost hear her heart waging its own battle.
_____
Once the lighthearted exchanges and muttered banter subsided, Splitting Sword regained his composure and gestured for us to follow. He hadn't come here just to watch his disciple's pride get dented.
The real reason was far graver, and I could sense a shift in his tone as he prepared to address it.
We gathered in the main sect hall, with Splitting Sword taking center stage. The grand hall's marble floors gleamed beneath us, and the walls bore intricate carvings depicting past battles and ancient tales. The place was fitting for a serious conversation—though, after the prince's display, I wasn't sure anything could feel "serious."
"As you may know," Splitting Sword began, his voice solemn, "the emperor is aware of the Demon Sect's reappearance." His words hung in the air like a storm cloud. "We have reason to believe their power is growing rapidly, even infiltrating areas once believed safe."
The crowd stirred, though no one spoke. My father's gaze remained steady. "Yes, we are aware."
Splitting Sword nodded, his face grave. "The emperor is deeply concerned. He knows that the Heaven Secret Sect has begun preparations to address the demon threat, but he believes a combined effort is necessary to eradicate it before it spreads further."
My first grandmother, standing behind me, raised an eyebrow. "So, the emperor seeks an alliance with our sect on this investigation?"
Splitting Sword bowed his head in respect. "Precisely. He has sent me, one of his trusted men, to ensure that we can form a united front against this threat."
Chu Fengxian, now dressed in his fresh robes, cleared his throat, his usual arrogance tempered by the earlier skirmish. "This alliance is essential if we are to destroy the Demon Sect before it gains a foothold. To stop their influence from spreading faster than we would want.
There were murmurs of agreement and some audible tension as the disciples around me digested the implications. The notion of the Demon Sect creeping into the heart of the empire had everyone on edge.
"We will combine our forces," Splitting Sword continued, "with the Sky Above Realm's resources joining the Heaven Secret Sect's expertise in tracking and neutralizing demonic threats. Together, we can locate and dismantle the Demon Sect before they become an unstoppable force."
The room settled into a tense silence as the weight of the mission sank in. I leaned back, a smirk tugging at my lips as my mind raced ahead. The Demon Sect? Now that promised the be fun. Sure, it was dangerous and probably something that would test even the strongest among us. But it was exactly the kind of chaos I'd been craving.
I could already feel the thrill of battle stirring in me, a faint sense of excitement at the thought of what awaited us. A chance to face something truly powerful, maybe even a bit unpredictable? Now that was something worth putting my strength to the test for.
_____
As Splitting Sword continued laying out the strategy, I caught Long Zhen leaning over to Bai Lifen, whispering, "Forget survival rate—now we're in it for the glory too."
Bai Lifen grinned, her excitement palpable. "With Yue Phaelo around, we're bound to be right where the action is. He's practically a magnet for chaos!"
Meanwhile, Ling Xueying's eyes flickered back to me, her lips pressed still "snared"
And as for my family, their expressions hadn't changed. My grandmothers and mother still bore those faint, amused smiles as if this whole alliance was a new chapter to the Yue and Bao families.