The cool night air clung to Lin Yu's skin as he stood at the temple's entrance, the weight of the recent battle still heavy on his shoulders. The broken remains of the jade tablet lay scattered on the floor behind him, but the eerie silence that followed the leader of the Black Lotus Sect's death offered no comfort. He stared at the darkened sky, his breath steady but his mind racing.
Zhao Feng stood a few paces away, his face pale, and his hands trembling as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. Elder Wu was beside Lin Yu, his expression calm yet weary. The old master had seen much in his lifetime, but even he couldn't hide the concern in his eyes.
"This isn't over," Lin Yu murmured, his voice low.
"No," Elder Wu agreed, his tone grave. "You've delayed the sect's plans, but Xiangliu's power will continue to stir. It's only a matter of time before others seek to take up where the Black Lotus Sect failed."
Lin Yu nodded, his gaze drifting back to the shattered relic. Even without the tablet, the serpent's influence within him remained. The mark on his wrist still pulsed faintly, as if the energy unleashed by the battle had only fueled the serpent's presence rather than diminished it.
"I can feel it," Lin Yu admitted. "Xiangliu isn't gone. The relics may be destroyed, but the power inside me… it's growing stronger."
Elder Wu placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "That's why you must train harder than ever, Lin Yu. Xiangliu's power will continue to grow, and with it, your ability to control—or be consumed by—it. But you've shown great resilience today. Don't let this victory be in vain."
Zhao Feng, still catching his breath, approached cautiously. "What do we do now? The Black Lotus Sect may be weakened, but they'll regroup. There are still others in the shadows who covet Xiangliu's power. We're not safe."
Lin Yu sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow. "We can't stay here. The sect will send more after us, and now that I've destroyed the tablet, they'll want revenge."
Elder Wu nodded. "You're right. We must leave the temple immediately. But we need more than just a safe haven. We need to find out who else is involved in this plan. The Black Lotus Sect wasn't acting alone."
Lin Yu glanced back at the temple, the eerie atmosphere lingering as the shadows of the night deepened around them. "I can't help but feel that destroying the tablet was only the beginning. There's something more—something bigger at play here."
"There always is," Elder Wu said, his voice laced with weariness. "The sect's ambitions run deeper than we know. And Xiangliu's resurrection, whether through relics or other means, is something that too many will seek to exploit."
Zhao Feng hesitated, then spoke softly. "There's… something I didn't mention before. Something I overheard when I was still with the Black Lotus Sect."
Both Lin Yu and Elder Wu turned to him, their eyes narrowing with interest.
"They mentioned a name," Zhao Feng continued, his voice barely audible over the wind rustling through the trees. "An ancient cult known as the 'Hand of Xiangliu.' They've been lying low for centuries, waiting for the right time to act. The Black Lotus Sect was just a pawn in their greater plan."
Elder Wu's eyes darkened at the mention of the cult. "The Hand of Xiangliu… I had heard rumors, but I never thought they still existed."
Lin Yu felt a chill run down his spine. "Who are they? What do they want?"
"They're devoted to Xiangliu," Zhao Feng explained, his voice trembling slightly. "More than the sects, more than any other group. They believe the serpent's resurrection is a divine prophecy, that the world must be remade under Xiangliu's rule. And unlike the Black Lotus Sect, they have no interest in controlling the power—they want to unleash it, fully and without restraint."
Lin Yu clenched his fists, the mark on his wrist tingling with the serpent's presence. "Then they're even more dangerous than the sect."
Elder Wu took a deep breath, the gravity of the situation clear in his expression. "If the Hand of Xiangliu is involved, we must tread carefully. They will stop at nothing to see their prophecy fulfilled."
"We need to leave," Lin Yu said, his voice hard with determination. "Find out where this cult is hiding and stop them before they can act."
Elder Wu agreed. "But we cannot rush into this blindly. The Hand of Xiangliu is likely much more powerful than the Black Lotus Sect, and we need allies. We cannot fight this battle alone."
Zhao Feng stepped forward, his resolve clear in his eyes. "I know people—cultivators who have been wronged by the sects, by the corruption in the cultivation world. They would fight with us, if we can find them."
Lin Yu nodded. "Then we'll need to gather them. The sects are scattered now, but if the Hand of Xiangliu is moving, we can't afford to wait. We must strike first."
Elder Wu smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. "You've grown, Lin Yu. You understand now the stakes we face. But be careful—this path you've chosen will only grow darker. You will be tested in ways you cannot yet imagine."
Lin Yu's gaze hardened. He could feel the weight of the serpent's power stirring within him, and the whispers had not stopped. Xiangliu's voice was always there, lurking, waiting for a moment of weakness.
"I won't let Xiangliu control me," Lin Yu said firmly. "I'll find a way to stop him—and the cult."
Elder Wu patted his shoulder. "I believe in you, my student. But remember, even the strongest will can be broken if not properly tempered."
The three of them gathered their belongings and began their journey away from the temple, moving swiftly under the cover of night. As they descended deeper into the forest, the stars above were obscured by thick clouds, and a cold wind began to howl through the trees.
The path ahead would not be easy. Lin Yu knew this better than anyone. The Hand of Xiangliu, the growing power of the serpent inside him, the looming threat of the sects—they were all pieces of a much larger game, one that had only just begun.
As they disappeared into the night, Lin Yu cast one last glance back at the ruins of the temple. The shattered remains of the jade tablet glistened in the faint light, a symbol of the power he had defied but could never fully escape.
The storm was gathering, and Lin Yu could feel it. It wouldn't be long before everything came crashing down.
And when it did, he would have to be ready.