[Note: Now chapters are going to be big but I will make them entertaining at least]
A few days had passed since Fang Shung began her secret cultivation within the Gu Yue Clan's hidden treasury. She was now immersed in the heart of the clan's resources, a place concealed from prying eyes, surrounded by shelves of Gu, precious materials, herbs, and spirit stones that glittered under dim light. The chamber smelled faintly of old stone and rare herbs, the scent of power waiting to be claimed.
Fang Shung's hands moved carefully through the boxes, a glint of greed in her eyes as she browsed the Rank 5 Gu recipes, her fingers tracing over their names. Each recipe she gathered felt like another step toward her goal. *This clan kept these secrets hidden for generations, all hoarded and buried, she thought with satisfaction. *And now, they are mine to take*.
She glanced at the piles of spirit stones stacked in crates along the walls. She had already claimed 15,000 from her enslaved aunt, uncle, and Madam Shen, the head of the maids. They had all dutifully handed over their wealth, unable to resist her will. *This is what loyalty means, she thought, smirking to herself. Not the kind they preach about in the clan, but true loyalty—bending to my every command*.
Pausing, she picked up a small, rusty bud nestled in one of the crates. As she cupped it in her palm, it unfolded with a faint crackle of energy, revealing a Rank 3 "Lightning Eye Gu." The surface of the Gu pulsed with faint streaks of lightning, casting an eerie glow across her face. She recognized it immediately. "This must be from the last wolf horde," she murmured, studying the Gu's faint cracks and scars from battle.
With deliberate focus, she activated Oneself As Dao, a technique she had perfected through trial and pain. She closed her eyes and began to absorb the Dao essence contained within the Gu, feeling golden markings sear onto her skin before disappearing beneath the surface. Her veins pulsed, raw with power. Every cell in her body seemed to hum with newfound strength, but she pushed it aside, channeling her focus back to the task.
Then a noise broke her concentration—a light shuffling. Wasn't this place supposed to be secure? Her eyes snapped open, heart pounding as she turned, only to see her uncle emerging from the shadows, bowing deferentially.
"Forgive me, Mistress," he murmured, a hint of apprehension in his voice. "I did not mean to startle you."
She narrowed her eyes, her voice as sharp as ice. "I only need your loyalty, not your presence. If you disrupt my work again, I'll make sure you never see the light of day."
Her uncle dipped his head, murmuring apologies as he backed away, vanishing into the darkness of the corridor. Fang Shung watched him go, the muscles in her jaw clenched with irritation. They are slaves, all of them. And yet sometimes, they still dare to disrupt me, she thought bitterly.
Once alone, she locked the chamber's door, weaving layers of concealment and silence around herself before retreating to her quarters nearby. She had taken residence in a shadowy cavern close to the treasury, shielded from sunlight and isolated from the bustling life of the clan. Exhaustion was creeping in, but she forced herself to remain awake, her mind replaying her plans. *I have the recipes, the Gu, the power. The Bai Clan will be next, then the Xiong… But first… I need rest*.
Her feet felt heavy as she stumbled into her room, the once luxurious surroundings now faded to her tired eyes. She stripped off her outer robe, letting it fall carelessly to the floor, and threw on a loose, white garment. As she collapsed onto the bed, the softness of the pillow enveloped her, her consciousness slipping away before she could finish another thought.
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In her dreams, darkness closed in around her like a swamp, thick and suffocating. She stood alone, knee-deep in murky waters, a sense of unease clawing at her chest. Shapes moved at the edges of her vision, shifting shadows that whispered, "Traitor, betrayer…"
The murmur grew louder, the voices taking form as familiar faces rose from the water—her father, her aunt, her uncle. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and their voices dripped with venom. "You think you control us, but power slips through your fingers. One day, it will be you, Fang Shung, who kneels."
She tried to speak, to silence them, but her voice was gone. She reached out, but her hands sank into the water as if her body were melting into the swamp. A sudden chill shot down her spine as something brushed her leg—a large, slimy tendril curling around her ankle, dragging her down.
Panic surged within her, raw and primal. She struggled, thrashing in the water, but the tendrils tightened, pulling her deeper. She gasped, choking on the foul stench of decay. Above her, the figures grinned, their faces twisting into grotesque masks of mockery. *No… I am not weak. I am in control!*
A monstrous creature emerged from the depths, its eyes red and glowing, its gaping mouth lined with jagged teeth. It lunged, its maw swallowing her whole as she fell into endless darkness, her body numb, her mind paralyzed with terror. Just before everything went black, she heard a whisper, low and mocking. "Power means nothing here…"
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Fang Shung awoke with a gasp, drenched in cold sweat, her breaths ragged. She clutched at her chest, her heart racing. Her mind grasped at the remnants of the dream, but the details slipped away like water through her fingers. She was left with only fragments—a swamp, faces, a dark presence. Ridiculous. Just a dream, she told herself, forcing her breathing to slow. *Dreams mean nothing. They are distractions from power, nothing more*.
Forcing herself to her feet, she dressed in a new robe, sliding on dark earrings that gleamed like polished obsidian. As she looked in the mirror, she noticed the dark bags under her eyes, shadows that even her strongest resolve could not hide. Perhaps I have pushed myself too far, she admitted, if only to herself.
Moments later, she emerged from the cave and entered the clan pavilion, where her father and Clan Leader Bo waited. They looked at her with concern etched in their faces, but she brushed it off, giving them a cold, assessing stare.
"Fang Shung," her father began, his voice hesitant, "you look unwell. Perhaps you should rest."
Her lips curled in a faint sneer. "Rest? When there's an entire clan to subjugate? We're moving forward," she replied, her tone brooking no argument. "The Bai and Xiong clans will be mine soon enough. I only need your obedience."
She watched them exchange glances, their loyalty unwavering but tinged with worry. Fang Shung ignored it, focusing instead on the image in her mind—a world where they, like all others, knelt at her feet.
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Fang Shung gripped the reins tightly, the leather digging into her palm as she rode a horse for the first time, the animal's steady gait matching her rising anticipation. Beside her, her father and Clan Leader Gu Yue Bo rode with an air of authority, but she knew the truth—they are my slaves now. The thought sent a thrill through her. Today marked the beginning of her grand scheme, and nothing would stand in her way.
As they approached the Bai Clan's gates, the path wound upward through the dense forest, each step echoing her growing resolve. Soon, they will bow to me, not just in greeting, but in submission, she thought, the anticipation twisting in her stomach. They faced no identity checks or guards; after all, who would question the power of Clan Leader Gu Yue Bo? They have no idea of the storm approaching.
The massive doors of the Bai Clan swung open, revealing the guards who bowed low, their reverence palpable. "We greet Senior Clan Leader Bo," they intoned, their voices tinged with respect and ignorance. Fools, Fang Shung mused, a smirk tugging at her lips. They will soon learn their place.
Gu Yue Bo stroked his beard, the gesture almost comical to her. "Take us to your clan leader," he commanded, voice dripping with the authority he no longer truly held. "Important business concerns this matter."
Oblivious to the tension threading through the air, the guards eagerly complied, leading them deeper into the heart of the Bai Clan. As they moved, Fang Shung felt a surge of power coursing through her, a dark energy that thrummed with each step.* Everything is falling into place*.
The Bai Clan compound loomed before them, its architecture eerily similar to her own, yet the details stood out—the Gu Masters donned distinctive uniforms emblazoned with "Bai" insignias, headbands indicating their ranks. Each symbol was a reminder of their structured hierarchy, one she intended to dismantle and rebuild in her image.
As they reached the five-story pavilion, grey tiles gleaming ominously under the overcast sky, Fang Shung's heart raced with exhilaration. Armed Gu Masters stood guard, their iron armor glinting menacingly. She reveled in the sight. They were soon going to be her puppets.
The heavy door creaked open, the sound echoing through the tension-filled space. Fang Shung dismounted gracefully, her eyes surveying the guards with a predatory gleam. Let them feel the weight of their ignorance, she thought, suppressing a wicked smile. Her father and Clan Leader Bo followed her lead, their roles as her pawns firmly established in her mind.
This is the moment I've been waiting for, she reminded herself, inhaling deeply as she stepped forward into the heart of the Bai Clan, ready to enact her dark will.
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"I wonder what Clan Leader Gu Yue Bo has to say," came the voice of Bai Clan Leader, echoing across the dimly lit hall. Draped in his dark green robes, he sat at the head of the room, surrounded by the elders, his stare piercing, relentless. Age had not dulled his gaze—it had only sharpened his instincts.
Gu Yue Bo met his gaze with a calm expression, though a flicker of caution lingered in his eyes. He suspects something, Gu Yue thought, suppressing a smirk. He knew the game he played was a dangerous one. "Nothing of grave concern, Brother Bai," he replied with a practiced neutrality. "I come with… inner matters."
Bai Clan Leader's eyes narrowed. Inner matters? This old fox rarely ventures out for anything trivial. Suspicion flared in his mind. He had dealt with Gu Yue for decades—each word was a move in a greater scheme. "Would these matters have anything to do with that so-called genius of yours… or Elder Fang?" he asked, his voice a cold blade, probing for weakness.
Gu Yue Bo's gaze didn't waver. "Yes. Both are involved."
A flicker of apprehension passed over the Bai Clan Leader's face, though he masked it quickly. He studied Gu Yue Bo's expression, as if trying to pry the truth from his stone-faced calm. Finally, he gave a slow, deliberate nod, dismissing the elders with a wave of his hand. "Leave us," he ordered, his voice cold, and one by one, the elders filed out.
Once the hall was empty, Gu Yue Bo glanced at Fang Shung, signaling her. Fang Shung stepped forward, her face set, her hands moving in a practiced motion as she erected a soundproof barrier around them. Bai Clan Leader's eyes followed her carefully, unease sparking in his gaze.
What is this secrecy? What are they planning? He felt the faint stirrings of anxiety—a rare sensation, one he hadn't felt in years. Yet he buried it, schooling his features into an impassive mask. "Is this level of secrecy necessary?" he asked, his tone laced with forced calm.
Fang Shung gave him a fleeting glance, her lips curving into a cold, dismissive smile. He has no idea… The arrogance, she thought, relishing his unease. Without a word, she opened her clenched fist, revealing the Gu worm in her palm.
The sight of it made Bai Clan Leader's breath catch—a Manipulation Gu, a white centipede bristling with black needle-like legs, Rank 5. So, it's come to this? His mind raced. He knew the power of a Manipulation Gu; once activated, it would tear through his mental defenses, corrupting every thought and making him a slave to her will. But surely, she wouldn't dare—
Before he could finish the thought, Fang Shung released her aura, activating the Gu with ruthless precision. A dark wave surged over his mind, and he felt his thoughts buckle, folding and twisting under her influence. Panic clawed at him, but it was buried beneath an unnatural calm. His resistance ebbed, his will crumbling as her power seeped into his mind, filling every corner with her voice, her commands.
No… this can't be happening… I am Bai Clan Leader, not some puppet…
But his thoughts grew sluggish, sinking like stones into a bottomless lake. His breathing slowed, his heartbeat drumming in his ears as her influence wove deeper, snaring his logic, his sense of self.
Fang Shung leaned closer, her smile widening. Look at him—reduced to this in mere seconds. Pathetic.
The Bai Clan Leader's gaze softened, glassy and compliant, his voice barely more than a murmur. Fang Shung's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, savoring her victory. She had him—the mighty Bai Clan Leader, her puppet. She spoke, her voice a whisper that dripped with malice.
"Now… let's begin."