Wu Zheng sat cross-legged in his room, the atmosphere peaceful yet tense, with the luxurious furnishings surrounding him. The walls were adorned with elegant tapestries, and soft golden light from a lantern cast a gentle glow across the polished floors. Despite the richness of the room, nothing was extravagant or overdone—just a reflection of understated elegance.
A bright screen hovered before him, the light from it illuminating his face. It was the notice board, a function of his system that provided important updates within the clan. Wu Zheng's gaze moved over the lines of text, scanning the latest information. Nothing noteworthy so far—just reports of the duels from the banquet and a few minor incidents.
He sighed and closed the screen with a flick of his wrist.
But just as he was about to turn his attention elsewhere, a soft chime echoed in his mind, and the bright screen reappeared in front of him. A new notification flashed at the top. Wu Zheng's eyes narrowed in surprise as he opened it.
The message read: [Wu Cheng has acquired a cyan rank cultivation technique from Wu Chen.]
A glint of surprise flashed through Wu Zheng's usually calm gaze. His thoughts began racing as he processed the notification, instantly running through three possibilities.
"The first possibility," he mused, "is that Wu Chen's cover was blown. He might have been caught colluding with the Jiang clan, and Father acquired the technique after interrogating or searching him."
He paused for a moment, considering it. "But no… if that were the case, I would have received a corresponding notification about Wu Chen's capture. It's unlikely."
He shifted his thoughts to the second possibility. "Perhaps Wu Chen never betrayed the sect in the first place. He could have been working for Father all along, acting as a double agent. If that's true, the technique would naturally have fallen into Father's hands."
But a third, more intriguing possibility formed in his mind. "Or, Wu Chen could have planned to betray the sect initially, but after seeing the reward promised by the Jiang clan, he decided to turn the tables. He could have acquired the technique and then returned to confess to Father, effectively betraying the Jiang clan instead."
Wu Zheng couldn't help but shake his head slightly, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Does this guy need to betray someone just to get a good night's sleep?"
He let out a small sigh, and after a moment of reflection, ruled out the first possibility. "If Wu Chen had been exposed as a traitor, there would have been more noise about it. Father wouldn't have kept it quiet."
As for the second and third possibilities, Wu Zheng didn't feel the need to choose between them. The outcome was the same: Wu Chen had handed the technique over willingly, which meant he was still, in some capacity, loyal to the sect.
But just as Wu Zheng reached this conclusion, a frown crept across his face once more. Something wasn't adding up.
The Jiang clan couldn't have been so careless, could they? Wu Zheng frowned, tapping his fingers on the table. Did they not foresee the possibility of Wu Chen turning on them after receiving the technique?
It was difficult to believe that a powerful family like the Jiang clan would be so short-sighted. Could they have been so desperate that they ignored the risks? Or worse, were they so confident in their own power that they simply didn't care about the consequences?
Perhaps they have another trump card, Wu Zheng thought. Something even more dangerous than the cyan rank technique. Something they think will ensure their success, no matter what happens.
Suddenly, clarity washed over him. The Zahir clan. If they were involved, this could be far more dangerous than it appeared. They might not have any reason to attack the Wu clan now, but that could change if someone gave them one. The Jiang clan's recklessness might just be part of a larger plan.
Wu Zheng let out another long sigh. "I shouldn't concern myself with this," he murmured. "Strength is what matters. If I'm strong enough, it won't matter who stands against me."
Rising from his seat, Wu Zheng's resolve sharpened. "Tomorrow, I'll greet mother and sister, then leave for my cave. It's time to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm."