Chapter fifteen: Shadows of Inquiry
Shen Cai's fists clenched tightly as he stood before Elder Fan, his anger barely contained. The bitter sting of defeat still burned within him, a humiliation he could neither understand nor accept. Li Yan—a mere villager, an unknown—had somehow managed to best him, a Kunlun disciple, and the memory of it felt like salt in a wound, gnawing at his pride.
Elder Fan's expression was cold and filled with visible irritation. His gaze lingered on Shen Cai, a mixture of disbelief and disappointment shadowing his stern features. "Let me be clear," he began, his voice measured but sharp. "You're telling me that a village boy, a nobody with no known background, was able to defeat a Kunlun disciple?"
Swallowing his resentment, Shen Cai forced his tone to remain steady. "Elder Fan, I believe he was concealing something—a rare treasure, or perhaps a hidden technique. There's no way someone like him could have defeated me otherwise. His strength felt… unnatural."
Elder Fan's eyes narrowed in contemplation, his fingers stroking his beard as he digested Shen Cai's account. He had initially sent Shen Cai as a courtesy to the disciple's family, hoping to establish a minor alliance within the sect and give Shen Cai an opportunity to prove himself. This mission was meant to be straightforward—a trivial task in Kunlun's jurisdiction, nothing more. And yet here stood Shen Cai, recounting a tale of defeat at the hands of a village boy. The elder's patience was wearing thin.
"And you believe," Elder Fan said slowly, a trace of skepticism lacing his words, "that this village boy possesses something powerful enough to challenge Kunlun's authority?"
"Yes, Elder," Shen Cai replied, with a faint desperation creeping into his voice. He knew any sign of hesitation would only further diminish his credibility. "He hid his power until the fight, concealing it beneath a humble appearance. There must be something he's keeping secret—a powerful artifact or technique."
Elder Fan released a frustrated sigh, his mind racing. Another hidden force in Kunlun's territory? The idea was unlikely, yet he could not afford to overlook even a minor threat. "Very well. I'll assign additional support," he conceded. "We cannot ignore the possibility, however small, of a threat within our domain."
Relief flashed in Shen Cai's eyes, mixed with a glimmer of hope. "If you permit me another—"
Elder Fan raised a hand, silencing him. "This time, you will not go alone." He turned toward the door, where two other disciples waited, standing at attention. Liu Min, a disciple with sharp eyes and a perceptive demeanor, exuded a quiet intelligence, while Zhao Rong, tall and solidly built, possessed the calm confidence of a seasoned fighter.
"Liu Min," Elder Fan addressed the keen-eyed disciple, "you will lead this investigation. Verify Shen Cai's report and determine if there is any truth to his claims."
Liu Min inclined his head with quiet confidence. "Of course, Elder Fan. I'll ensure we leave no stone unturned."
Elder Fan turned his gaze to Zhao Rong. "You'll accompany them and offer support if needed. This matter is to be resolved quickly and without incident."
Zhao Rong nodded respectfully. "Understood, Elder Fan. We'll conduct ourselves with due diligence."
With a final, scrutinizing glance at Shen Cai, Elder Fan continued, "One last instruction: be sure to show respect to Old Hu. His family holds close ties to Kunlun through his grandson, Yuan Ji. Such a rare talent coming from this humble village is no small matter. We do not wish to sour that connection with needless friction."
At the mention of Yuan Ji, Shen Cai's jaw tightened. Yuan Ji was the rising prodigy of Kunlun, the First Elder's prized disciple, whose meteoric ascent had left Shen Cai feeling constantly overshadowed. He had long harbored a deep rivalry toward Yuan Ji, frustrated by his own inability to surpass him. The thought of showing courtesy to Old Hu—a mere villager, and the grandfather of his rival—stung him further.
"We'll approach respectfully," Zhao Rong replied, maintaining his disciplined tone. "We understand the importance of Old Hu's family."
With a curt nod, Elder Fan dismissed them. As they exited the chamber, Shen Cai's resentment simmered just beneath the surface. This was supposed to be my chance, he thought bitterly. Now, instead of earning Elder Fan's trust, he was forced to travel under the watchful eyes of Liu Min and Zhao Rong, as though he were a liability. And it was all because of Li Yan, that boy who had dared to humiliate him.
The journey to the village was quiet, Liu Min leading the way with his steady, observant gaze, Zhao Rong walking beside Shen Cai, his presence calm yet unyielding.
Upon arriving, they greeted Old Hu with polite nods. Known in the village for his laughter and lighthearted spirit, Old Hu responded with a smile, though his usual mischief was momentarily subdued. He gave them a simple, respectful nod, then retreated into his cottage, leaving them to carry on with their task.
Shen Cai scowled, his thoughts bitter. How could someone like Yuan Ji have come from such a humble village? The knowledge gnawed at him, deepening his disdain.
As they continued on, Shen Cai muttered, "Strange, isn't it, that someone like Ji Yuan came from a place like this?"
Liu Min cast him a sidelong glance. "Yes. To think that Kunlun's top disciple, the First Elder's chosen, hails from this quiet village…"
Zhao Rong nodded thoughtfully. "It reminds us that talent can emerge from any background. But for now, our focus is Li Yan. If he truly possesses something valuable, we need to uncover it."
Following Shen Cai's description of their encounter, they entered the forest, moving deeper into its darkening shadows. The trees stretched taller as the sun dipped, and an unspoken tension hung in the air as they pressed onward.
After a while, Zhao Rong spoke, his tone cautious. "Are you certain this boy possesses something of worth? It seems… unlikely."
Shen Cai's face tightened. "I'm certain. His strength was unnatural. Whatever he has, we'll find it."
Liu Min glanced around the darkening forest, noting the faint tracks barely visible on the forest floor. "If Li Yan truly has something valuable," he murmured, "he wouldn't stay near the village with it. Somewhere deeper, more hidden, would be a better place to conceal himself."
Shen Cai, still seething from his earlier defeat, nodded with grim determination. "He can't hide forever. He'll have to surface eventually… and if we press further, we might force him out."
Zhao Rong scanned the shadowy undergrowth ahead. "Then we go deeper. If he's in hiding, this is likely where he'd go."
As the trio ventured deeper into the forest, Liu Min's mind drifted back to the whispered rumors they had overheard during their time at Kunlun. Stories of the "Pavilion Master of Murmurs" had always floated around the sect—half warnings, half legends shared in hushed tones. Some claimed he was an eccentric recluse, while others insisted he was an unpredictable force, governing a shadowed domain somewhere near Kunlun's borders. Few truly knew his identity, but his title alone carried an aura of fear.
Zhao Rong had heard the rumors too. He whispered, "They say he commands the forest itself, that even the trees and shadows answer his call. Puppets of strange power patrol his territory, watching everything that enters."
Shen Cai, struggling to mask his discomfort, muttered, "But those are just tales… exaggerated stories to scare children and weak-willed disciples."
Liu Min shot him a look, his gaze cautious but sharp. "Maybe. But if the Pavilion Master does exist, this forest is precisely where he would dwell. If we encounter him, he'll know every move we make before we even think of it."
Their suspicions became a certainty when they spotted unusual figures moving in the shadows—puppets, as expressionless as they were lifelike, drifting through the underbrush with uncanny silence. Every detail matched the tales: the ghostly figures, the oppressive silence, and the creeping sense of being watched.
Finally, as the presence in the forest grew more intense, Liu Min's voice dropped to a tense whisper, "This is his domain. We've stepped into the territory of the Pavilion Master of Murmurs." The trio exchanged uneasy glances, now fully aware of the danger they were courting, knowing that any misstep could bring the forest's master upon them.
"Strangers… trespassers… wandering where they shouldn't…"
Shen Cai's skin prickled, and he exchanged a wary glance with Liu Min and Zhao Rong. "Did… did anyone else hear that?"
Before they could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows, his form draped in darkness, a faint, ghostly glow in his eyes beneath the brim of a wide hat. The disciples instinctively gripped their weapons, taking cautious stances.
The Pavilion Master of Murmurs looked them over with faint amusement, his pale eyes glinting. "So… Kunlun disciples wander into my forest. To what do I owe this intrusion?"
Liu Min stepped forward, giving a respectful nod. "Pavilion Master, we mean no disrespect. We're here on a mission that concerns Kunlun's interests."
The Pavilion Master's brow arched, his tone mocking. "Kunlun's interests, intruding upon my domain? How quaint." His gaze slid over to Shen Cai, a smirk touching his lips. "And you—you carry bitterness, a wounded pride. Tell me, are you here to reclaim your dignity?"
Shen Cai tensed, but he held his tongue. He didn't want to risk further embarrassment by revealing his frustration, especially to this strange figure. The Pavilion Master's presence was unsettling, his very gaze piercing.
Instead, Zhao Rong stepped forward, his tone firm. "Pavilion Master, we seek only to fulfill our mission. We have no quarrel with you."
The Pavilion Master's expression darkened, his amusement fading. "And yet, here you are, trespassing, carrying with you the arrogance of those who think themselves above others."
Before the disciples could respond, the Pavilion Master's form blurred, and in an instant, he was upon them. Liu Min barely had time to raise his weapon, and Shen Cai staggered back as the Pavilion Master's strike bypassed his guard. Zhao Rong braced himself, but the Pavilion Master's movements were fluid and precise, each strike a demonstration of his skill and dominance.
The disciples regrouped, breaths coming fast, their confidence shaken. The Pavilion Master watched them, his gaze cold and detached. "Is this the strength Kunlun boasts of? Disciples who crumble under pressure?"
Liu Min, forcing himself upright, glanced at Zhao Rong. Fear glinted in his eyes as he weighed their options. The Pavilion Master was toying with them, his power palpable. Realizing their lives could end at any moment, Liu Min's voice came out shakier than he intended. "Pavilion Master, we're here only to investigate a village youth—a boy rumored to possess something unusual."
The Pavilion Master paused, his interest piqued. "A youth? And what would a Kunlun disciple seek from a simple villager?"
Zhao Rong answered, hoping to prevent further hostility. "The boy allegedly bested one of our own. We came to determine if he holds anything… of value to Kunlun."
The Pavilion Master's gaze narrowed as he regarded them thoughtfully. "A mere villager… defeating Kunlun's disciples? How intriguing."
A flicker of resentment crossed Shen Cai's face, and though he held back his words, his eyes betrayed his bitterness. "He used something—a technique or treasure. It was beyond what anyone from a village should possess."
A slow smile crept across the Pavilion Master's face. He chuckled, a sound that resonated through the forest like a dark promise. "And you traveled all this way to investigate a mere boy… how amusing."
He looked over the trio, his gaze a mixture of amusement and disdain. "Tell me, what did you hope to achieve? Glory? Redemption?" His eyes settled on Shen Cai, piercing through his bravado. "Did you hope that defeating a 'nobody' would restore your pride?"
Shen Cai's fists tightened, but he didn't answer. Every fiber of him screamed to lash out, but fear held him still.
The Pavilion Master's voice softened, though his words remained edged. "I have little patience for those who invade my domain without purpose." His gaze swept over them, assessing. "If you value your lives, I suggest you return to your sect and reconsider what strength truly means."
With a wave of his hand, shadows seemed to pulse around him, pressing down on the disciples.