Chen Fong cut through the narrow alleyways of Purple Lotus City, taking the back routes to avoid drawing attention. The moon cast long shadows between the buildings, and the night air carried the scent of incense from nearby temples.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the alley. The temperature dropped and frost crept across the stone walls. Chen Fong stopped, his hand moving to the hilt of his blade.
"The famous Li Shen." A voice echoed from the shadows. "Or should I say, Chen Fong?"
A figure materialized from the darkness - an elderly man in flowing white robes that seemed to float on an unseen breeze. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly blue light, and his long white beard moved as if underwater.
The Spectral Sage. One of the Ten Sages of Hell who had attacked the White Crane Sect. "Your disguise may fool these Vipers," the Sage said, "but the dead sees all truths."
Chen Fong drew his blade. It seemed the Hell Sage was here to finish the job. The System pulsed within him, ready to channel his vassals' powers. Took them long enough, but he determined not to die today.
"How did you find me?" Chen Fong kept his voice steady, though his mind raced through escape routes.
"The Skull Sovereign has eyes everywhere." The Spectral Sage raised his hand, and ghostly chains materialized around them. "And your little performance at the White Crane Sect left quite an impression."
The spectral chains clinked as they closed in, their ethereal links glowing with the same eerie blue as the Sage's eyes.
Chen Fong barely had a second to assess his current situation. His mind flashed to the fall of the White Crane Sect - the flames, the screams, the destruction that followed in the wake of the Ten Sages. Now one stood before him to bring that same darkness to Purple Lotus City. After killing him.
"The Skull Sovereign grows tired of these petty clan fights." The Spectral Sage's voice carried the chill of the grave. "The Vipers think themselves mighty in their fortress of poison and schemes. But they will soon follow the Cranes to the grave."
Chen Fong's grip tightened on his sword. "You'll find the Viper warriors aren't as easy to break."
"Do not worry, we agree." The Sage's laugh echoed off the walls. "The Vipers own ambitions will tear them apart. The nobles already whispered of rebellion, the merchant houses grow restless, and the Viper Heads.." His ghostly eyes fixed on Chen Fong. "Well, you have seen how divided they are."
The truth of those words cut deeper than any blade. While he planned to divide and conquer the nobles, Chen Fong ironically had witnessed the fractures within the clan. The Viper King had built the Heads to be strong and independent, but such impressive arrangement also contained its own fatal weakness. Each Heads had their own ambition. Even if they all acted for the good of the clan, they moved in different directions, threatening to pull the clan apart. The Skull Sect didn't need armies to conquer Purple Lotus City. They just needed to fan the flames of discord already burning within.
"Ra Cun sits upon his throne of poison, blind to the rot spreading through his ranks." The Sage raised his hands, and more spectral chains materialized. "When chaos erupts, when brother turns against brother and friend against friend, the Ten Sages will descend. And Purple Lotus City will fall, just as the White Crane Sect did."
The cold reality settled over Chen Fong. The Spectral Sage had just declared that the invisible invasion had already begun. One that was using the Viper Clan's own weaknesses as weapons against them.
In the rare chance an honest man survived this encounter, he would be put into a dilemma. Considering how the Vipers would act, informing them of the Sage's presence would merely further the break. He would become the harbinger of the Vipers' destruction and the future of the Vipers would unfold as the Skull Sovereign had dictated.
Chen Fong lowered his blade, a calculated smile crossing his face. "I share your assessment."
The Spectral Sage's ethereal chains halted their advance. "Go on."
"The male Viper Heads are ambitious, paranoid, quick to suspect betrayal." Chen Fong took a step forward. "I have noticed how Jiao Long and Wen Shi often clash over military control. How Yun Feng undermines them both."
The ghostly figure's eyes narrowed. The young man was quite perceptive. The observation was in line with the Skull's intelligence reports. This Crane had shed his noble ways so quickly. He wasted no time to make his way to the top in his new home. "Am I to understand that we share the same goal?"
"I propose a truce. I have won the trust of Xie Mu, Yuan Xia, and Lan Zhi. They will move as I tell them. While the rest, I leave them up to the Skulls." Chen Fong's voice dropped lower. "When the time comes, the clan will tear itself apart without a single Sage lifting a finger."
The Spectral Sage drifted closer, his cold aura making frost patterns on the alley walls. He became curious as to what this man wished to accomplish. What use was power in a soon to-be-ruined city, or was he currying favor with the Skulls. "So this is how you plan escape from the dead today. By selling your newest benefactors. Why should I trust you?"
"We work towards the same end and I have offered you an easier path to bring about the Vipers' downfall." Chen Fong shrugged. "I do not underestimate your prowess, Sage. But I will not go down easily. I will make sure that my death will alert them of your presence. A united Viper Clan will delay the Sovereign's path to domination."
The spectral chains retracted, dissolving into wisps of blue light. "An interesting proposition. The male heads are already prone to infighting. A whisper here, a rumor there..."
"While they battle for power, I'll ensure the girls are... otherwise occupied." The system pulsed within Chen Fong, confirming his path. "I believe there is no need for us to meet again. But in case I need your assistance, this alley will be our contact point. Find anything out of place here."
"Very well." The Sage's form began to fade. "But remember, Chen Fong - or whatever name you choose - betrayal works both ways."
The Spectral Sage's form shifted, his ethereal appearance solidifying into something more corporeal. The white robes darkened to a deep black adorned with bone patterns, and the ghostly blue light in his eyes dimmed to reveal sharp, calculating pupils.
"You have entertained me. As a token of goodwill, I will reveal myself to you." The Sage pulled back his hood, revealing a face marked with ritual scars forming intricate patterns. "I am Xun Bai, Third Sage of the Ten."
Chen Fong's muscles tensed. The name carried weight - Xun Bai was known for orchestrating the fall of three major clans through internal strife alone. His mastery of manipulation had earned him the title "Puppetmaster of the Dead."
"Your reputation precedes you," Chen Fong said, keeping his voice level despite the revelation. "The architect behind the Crystal Valley massacre."
"A simple matter of planting the right seeds of doubt." Xun Bai's scars seemed to shift in the moonlight. "The clan leader's wife was particularly susceptible to suggestions about her husband's infidelity. By the time she poisoned him, the other families were already at each other's throats."
The System pulsed a warning in Chen Fong's mind, detecting the subtle traces of dark qi emanating from Xun Bai. This was no ordinary sage - his very presence seemed to twist the natural flow of energy in the alley.
"Then we understand each other perfectly," Chen Fong said. "You've proven your methods effective. I simply offer to complement them."
Xun Bai's lips curved into a smile that never reached his eyes. "Indeed. Though I wonder. Does Ra Cun know what kind of serpent he has welcomed into his nest?"
Chen Fong grinned as he departed from the alley.
Chen Fong stood in Viper Manor's dark courtyard, assessing. The Iron Talon Sect had weakened the Viper Clan, and the Ten Sages of Hell prepared their final strike. This threat could serve his ambitions - to climb ranks or remove future oppositions.
He had tasked Qin Feng and Qin Ru to monitor through city contacts while he developed his strategy.
Ra Cun's fist slammed against the ornate table, sending tremors through the council chamber. Jade cups rattled, spilling tea across ancient scrolls. The Viper King's face twisted with barely contained fury as he addressed the gathered Viper Heads.
"A Sage of Hell walks on our streets." His voice cut through the tense silence. "Right under our noses."
Chen Fong studied the faces around the table. Jiao Long's jaw clenched, his hand resting on his weapon. Wen Shi stroked his beard, eyes darting between the other members. The usually composed Xie Mu sat rigid, her fingers drumming against the table's surface.
"How did they breach our defenses?" Yuan Xia demanded while resting her head.
"Our patrols reported nothing," Jiao Long growled. "No disturbances at the gates, no unusual activity."
Lan Zhi cleared her throat. "Perhaps they had help from within."
The accusation hung heavy in the air. Suspicion flickered across faces as the Viper Heads exchanged glances. Chen Fong caught Xie Mu watching him, her expression unreadable.
Ra Cun's scarlet robes rustled as he paced. "The Skull Sovereign grows bold. First the White Crane Sect, now this intrusion." He paused, snake-like eyes scanning the room. "We must respond with force."
"Force?" Wen Shi scoffed. "Against a Sage of Hell? We'd be throwing lives away."
"Better than cowering behind our walls," Jiao Long shot back.
The chamber descended into heated arguments. Chen Fong remained silent, observing as the seeds of discord Xun Bai mentioned began to sprout. The System pulsed within him, detecting the mounting tension between the Heads.
Ra Cun raised his hand for silence. Poison qi leaked from his fingers, a visible reminder of his authority. "We will not act rashly. But neither will we allow this threat to go unchallenged."
Xi Fang's dark eyes tracked Chen Fong's movements across the council chamber. Her fingers traced the rim of her jade teacup as she watched him navigate the heated debate between the Viper Heads.
Xi Fang set down her cup. "Chen Fong." Her voice cut through the arguing Heads like a blade. "You've been unusually quiet on this matter."
The chamber fell silent. Ra Cun glanced at his wife, surprised by her sudden interruption. Chen Fong felt the weight of her assessment - not just of his words, but of his potential value to her own ambitions.
"One shadow and we are already in disarray," Chen Fong replied, meeting her gaze.
A slight smile curved Xi Fang's lips, appreciation flickering in her eyes at his response. He was not afraid to offend, but due to his words, the room had cooled.
System Notification: Potential Vassal detected—Xi Fang. Unique skill: Viper Mirage. Combat efficiency rating: Exceptional.
"We don't know which Hell Sage walks among us, but their mere presence threatens our alliances. The other clans watch our every move, waiting to see signs of weakness."
Ra Cun's muscular frame tensed as he absorbed his wife's words. "The Viper Clan will maintain vigilance. Our scouts will monitor their movements, and we stand ready to strike if needed."
Chen Fong leaned forward, seeing his opening. "Perhaps we should focus first on identifying which Sage we face. Each possesses unique abilities - some rely on brute force, others on subtler methods."
"What do you know of the Ten Sages?" Xie Mu's sharp eyes fixed on him.
"Only what most warriors have heard," Chen Fong replied carefully, thinking of his encounter with Xun Bai. "Some specialize in combat, like the Crimson Sage with his blood techniques. Others, like the Spectral Sage, prefer manipulation and subterfuge."
Xi Fang set down her cup with deliberate care. "The question isn't just their abilities, but their motives. Why send a single Sage instead of mounting a full assault?"
"Unless," Chen Fong suggested, "their goal isn't direct confrontation, but something more insidious."
The chamber grew quiet as the implications sank in. Ra Cun's scarlet robes rustled as he shifted in his seat, while the other Viper Heads exchanged wary glances.
Chen Fong moved through Viper Manor's halls with purpose, stopping to speak in hushed tones with various clan members. He shared carefully crafted fragments of information - a whispered word about strange movements in the night, a casual mention of unexplained documents found in unusual places.
"I saw shadows moving near the restricted archives," he told a group of guards, his voice carrying just enough concern to plant seeds of doubt. His words spread through the ranks. Each conversation added another layer to his alibi - he'd been training with Qin Feng when the Spectral Sage was reportedly seen near the eastern wall, sharing tea with Xie Mu during another supposed sighting.
In the courtyard, he approached Jiao Long and Wen Shi as they discussed patrol rotations.
"The night patrols reported unusual frost patterns in the alleyways," Chen Fong mentioned, knowing Xun Bai's distinct spiritual signature would be recognized. "Could be similar to what I saw at the White Crane Sect."
Jiao Long's face darkened. "Where?"
"Near the merchant quarter. The same area where several noble houses reported missing documents." Chen Fong kept his tone neutral, letting them draw their own conclusions.
The information spread like poison through water. By midday, whispers of a spy circulated among the Viper Heads. Suspicion fell naturally on those with access to sensitive areas - the very places where Chen Fong had ensured he had been seen with others.
"It's clever," Xie Mu remarked during their afternoon meeting. "Whoever this spy is, they're well-positioned within our ranks."
"Indeed," Chen Fong agreed, knowing his public movements and constant interactions with key members made him an unlikely suspect. "We should review who had access to the eastern archives last week."
The seeds of doubt took root, turning the Viper Clan's gaze inward - exactly as planned. Each suspicion, each whispered accusation served to strengthen Chen Fong's position as fear gnawing at everyone else's thought.