The night within the White Lotus Clan fortress was eerily quiet, the kind of stillness that set Lan Yue's nerves on edge. The torches lining the courtyard flickered in the gentle breeze, casting long shadows across the stone walls. The towering pagodas and grand halls, once symbols of safety and order, now felt like looming specters of hidden dangers. Every corner seemed to hold secrets, and every shadow threatened to swallow them whole.
Lan Yue moved through the courtyard with Li Feng beside her, their footsteps nearly silent on the stone paths. The tension between them was palpable, not because of any distance between them, but because of the weight of what they had learned. The White Lotus Clan—their home—was hiding something dark, and they were no longer sure whom they could trust.
"We need to start with the guards," Lan Yue whispered, her voice barely audible in the stillness. "Someone had to know about our mission to the Citadel. If we can figure out who's been talking, we'll be closer to finding the traitor."
Li Feng nodded, his expression hard. "There's a night watch on the perimeter. If there's any chatter among the guards, we'll find it there."
They moved quickly but cautiously, staying in the shadows as they made their way to the outer wall of the fortress where the night guards patrolled. The perimeter was sparsely lit, the occasional torch casting just enough light to see the guards stationed along the wall. From the distance, the soft murmur of voices reached Lan Yue's ears.
"There," she whispered, nodding toward a pair of guards standing near the north gate, their silhouettes faint in the dim light. They seemed relaxed, unaware of the storm brewing within the clan. But Lan Yue knew better than to trust appearances.
As they approached, careful to stay hidden in the shadows, they overheard snippets of conversation.
"…didn't think they'd be back so soon," one of the guards said, his voice low.
The other guard grunted in response. "You think they know?"
Lan Yue's pulse quickened. They were clearly the subject of this conversation. She exchanged a quick glance with Li Feng, and he gave a subtle nod. They needed to hear more.
"They might," the first guard muttered, his tone tense. "But it doesn't matter. As long as the council stays quiet, no one's going to ask questions."
Lan Yue's heart pounded in her chest. This was it—proof that something was being hidden. The council's reluctance to act, their cold reception of her and Li Feng's warning, was no coincidence. Someone within the council was involved in whatever conspiracy had led to the ambush.
"We can't stay here long," the second guard said, his voice filled with unease. "We've already done what was asked. If they start digging too deep…"
Lan Yue's breath hitched. The guards knew something. They were involved—maybe not directly, but they had been part of whatever plan had been set in motion to stop her and Li Feng. And they were afraid of being exposed.
Before the guards could say more, Li Feng stepped out from the shadows, his spear in hand, the blade gleaming in the faint light. "You're going to tell us everything."
The guards froze, their faces pale as they realized they had been overheard. One of them instinctively reached for his sword, but Lan Yue was faster. In an instant, her sword was at his throat, the Lotus Flame glowing softly along the blade.
"Move, and I'll cut you down," Lan Yue said, her voice cold and steady.
The guard's hand hovered above his sword, but he didn't move. His eyes darted between Lan Yue and Li Feng, panic setting in as he realized they had been caught.
"What do you know about the ambush?" Li Feng demanded, his voice sharp and authoritative. "Who ordered it?"
The guards exchanged nervous glances, but neither spoke. Lan Yue could see the fear in their eyes, the hesitation. Whoever had orchestrated this plot had them scared.
"You'll tell us, or you'll be dead before sunrise," Lan Yue said, pressing the blade of her sword closer to the guard's throat. "I suggest you start talking."
The guard swallowed hard, his eyes flickering to his companion, who remained silent. After a tense moment, he finally spoke, his voice trembling.
"We were just following orders," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "We didn't know… we didn't know it would go this far."
Lan Yue's chest tightened. "Whose orders?"
The guard hesitated, his face pale with fear. "It came from the council. But not all of them. Just… just one."
Lan Yue's pulse quickened. "Who?"
The guard's voice trembled as he spoke. "Elder Han. He told us to make sure you didn't leave the Citadel alive."
Lan Yue's breath caught in her throat. Elder Han—a senior member of the council, known for his strict adherence to tradition and loyalty to the clan. The idea that he could be involved in a conspiracy against the clan itself seemed unthinkable. And yet, here was the truth, laid bare in front of her.
Li Feng's expression darkened, his grip tightening on his spear. "Why? What does he have to gain from this?"
The guard shook his head, his voice filled with fear. "I don't know. We were just told to keep you away from the council. To make sure you didn't come back."
Lan Yue's heart raced. Elder Han had ordered their deaths. He had orchestrated the ambush, and he had done it with the intent of silencing them—keeping them from exposing whatever dark secrets lay within the White Lotus Clan.
"We can't let this go unanswered," Li Feng muttered, his voice filled with barely restrained anger. "If Elder Han is behind this, we need to confront him."
Lan Yue nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. Confronting Elder Han directly was dangerous—he was powerful, influential, and if he had the backing of other members of the council, they could be walking into a trap. But they couldn't let this betrayal go unanswered. They needed to act—and fast.
"Elder Han has to be stopped," Lan Yue said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "If he's working with the Shadowborn, or using their power for his own gain, then the entire clan is at risk."
Li Feng's expression was grim. "We'll have to be careful. If we go after him without proof, the council will turn on us. We need to gather more evidence before we make our move."
Lan Yue nodded, her chest tightening with the weight of the task ahead. They were walking a dangerous path, one that could lead to their deaths if they weren't careful. But there was no turning back now. Elder Han had betrayed them, and if he wasn't stopped, the White Lotus Clan would fall.
"We'll find the proof," Lan Yue said quietly. "And when we do, we'll bring him down."
With that, they left the guards behind, their minds racing with the realization of how deep the conspiracy ran. Elder Han's betrayal was only the beginning—there was a darkness festering within the clan, and it was up to them to root it out before it was too late.