Chapter Eight: Unwanted Encounter
Li Yan moved through the forest at a steady pace, his steps light yet purposeful. The journey back to his village felt strange after the year spent training in solitude. The air, the trees, even the soft crunch of leaves beneath his feet all carried a sense of familiarity, yet he felt different—a blend of calm confidence and quiet anticipation.
As he neared the forest's edge, however, a new presence broke through the silence. He sensed it before he saw it—a subtle but undeniable wave of Qi. It was strong, disciplined, like a practiced blade honed over years of training. And it was moving toward him.
Emerging from the shadows was a young man, clad in the unmistakable white and green robes of the Kunlun Sect. His posture was upright, his gaze sharp as he observed Li Yan with the detached scrutiny of someone used to measuring others. He was clearly a cultivator, yet not one Li Yan recognized. There was a mixture of authority and irritation in his expression, as though he'd been given a task beneath his station.
This was Shen Cai, an outer disciple of the Kunlun Sect, whose background and standing marked him as someone respected within the sect's ranks. Coming from a family allied under Kunlun's vast influence, Shen Cai had been a talent among his peers, known for his potential in the wind element. Three years ago, he had entered the sect brimming with ambition, his future bright and his path promising.
But all of that had shifted with the arrival of another.
Ji Yuan—no one from his family, or the sect, could forget that name. The grandson of Old Hu, an elder from a minor side village, Ji Yuan's entrance into the Kunlun Sect had upended expectations and caused waves of resentment among several disciples, especially those like Shen Cai, who had worked tirelessly for their positions. Ji Yuan, however, was no ordinary newcomer; he had quickly earned the favor of the First Elder himself, securing a place that most outer disciples could only dream of.
Rumors had spread like wildfire that Ji Yuan's talent for the wind element was beyond anything the Kunlun Sect had seen in centuries. With an almost unnatural ease, he advanced in his cultivation, leaving disciples like Shen Cai in his shadow. The day Ji Yuan had arrived, Shen Cai had been among those present at the entrance ceremony. But that curiosity had quickly soured when Ji Yuan, with his indifferent attitude, had barely acknowledged the others and had gone on to deliver a public beating to several outer disciples during the sparring trials—Shen Cai included. Since then, Ji Yuan had remained aloof, focused entirely on his cultivation, leaving grievances like Shen Cai's unaddressed.
Now, Shen Cai found himself here, in a remote village, on a mission tied indirectly to Ji Yuan. Old Hu, Ji Yuan's grandfather, had come to Kunlun's city recently, injured and demanding justice for an attack that he claimed had nearly cost him his life. Though Ji Yuan held no apparent connection to his grandfather, the sect elders had taken the matter seriously. The order for this investigation had come directly from Elder Lu Fan, an influential outer elder known for his sharp eye and strict standards.
Elder Lu Fan had always kept a close watch on the disciples, especially those like Ji Yuan who showed exceptional promise. Shen Cai suspected that the elder's decision to pursue this investigation was, in part, a way of appeasing Ji Yuan indirectly. An incident involving the grandfather of the First Elder's prized disciple, even in a minor village, was enough to warrant Elder Lu Fan's interest. And while Shen Cai disliked the assignment, he held out hope that proving himself here might earn him the elder's favor.
As his gaze fell on Li Yan, however, his initial irritation shifted to wariness. The young man before him looked unkempt, his clothes worn and his appearance rough. At first glance, he seemed like a rogue cultivator—someone unaffiliated, who might do whatever was necessary to obtain resources or cultivate in secret. But then Shen Cai sensed it: a faint yet unmistakable warmth, a Qi aura that seemed tempered and contained, unlike anything he expected from a simple forest wanderer.
"You there," Shen Cai called, his voice laced with authority, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. "Are you from the nearby village?"
Li Yan stopped, his gaze meeting Shen Cai's without a hint of deference. "I am," he replied simply, offering no more than necessary.
Shen Cai's eyes narrowed, studying Li Yan's stance and expression. The young man didn't carry himself like a villager; he seemed far too steady, too composed. And the aura he exuded, faint but warm, hinted at something more than ordinary training. It grated against Shen Cai's pride, though he kept his expression neutral. If Li Yan wasn't a villager, then what was he doing here, in this remote place?
"I'm here on orders from the Kunlun Sect," Shen Cai continued, his tone sharp. "We're investigating a recent incident involving an attack on an elder. Old Hu claims it was someone from these parts."
Li Yan's brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't heard of any such incident, though the name Old Hu sounded vaguely familiar, like a story told in passing around the village. He offered a simple nod, remaining silent, not particularly inclined to share anything more.
Shen Cai continued to study him, his mind running through possibilities. Li Yan's appearance was rough, but his aura wasn't. And the faint warmth he sensed around him didn't feel like ordinary Qi; it had a distinct quality that hinted at fire. A treasure, perhaps? Shen Cai's eyes flickered with interest. Rogue cultivators were known to stumble upon rare items or techniques, and this man could be one of them—a thought that made Shen Cai even warier.
"What's your name?" Shen Cai asked, a hint of suspicion creeping into his voice.
"Li Yan," he answered evenly, his tone respectful but cool.
Shen Cai's hand tightened on his sword hilt as he processed this new information. A young man with a mysterious aura, living on the fringes of a village in Kunlun territory? If Li Yan truly was a rogue cultivator, he could be dangerous—possibly someone who had taken refuge in the forest to avoid attention. Rogue cultivators were known for using any means necessary to advance, including crimes that could disrupt the sect's order.
"You don't look like a typical villager," Shen Cai said, his voice edged with distrust. "And you have the aura of someone who's spent time cultivating. Care to explain where a village boy learned to wield Qi like this?"
Li Yan held his gaze, unflinching. "I've spent some time training in the forest. Beyond that, I don't see how it concerns the Kunlun Sect."
Shen Cai's expression hardened. This wasn't the response he expected from someone in his territory. The quiet confidence in Li Yan's demeanor felt almost like a challenge, as if this unkempt young man didn't view him with the respect a Kunlun disciple deserved. It was infuriating, especially considering how much Shen Cai had sacrificed to stand where he was.
"Training, you say?" Shen Cai's gaze grew colder. "Simply spending time in the forest doesn't make one a cultivator, nor does it grant the right to show disrespect to a Kunlun disciple."
Li Yan met his eyes, his expression calm. "I meant no disrespect. I only answered truthfully."
Shen Cai took a step closer, his gaze hardening. He couldn't shake the feeling that Li Yan was hiding something. That faint aura—too focused, too unique to come from a year of simple training—stayed on his mind, making him suspicious. Perhaps this was the rogue he had been sent to root out, someone who could threaten the Kunlun Sect's stability in the region if left unchecked.
"Perhaps," Shen Cai said, his tone lowering, "you'll find the Kunlun Sect's authority more humbling when you understand its weight. A Kunlun disciple does not tolerate insolence, especially from those who cannot prove their loyalty."
The unspoken threat hung in the air, a reminder of the power Kunlun held over these lands. Li Yan held his ground, his gaze unwavering, showing no sign of fear or submission. And in that moment, Shen Cai felt a strange unease—a sense that this wasn't just some ordinary encounter.