Chapter sixteen: Threads of Inquiry
The Pavilion Master's faint smile played on his lips as he studied the three Kunlun disciples. His pale eyes gleamed with growing interest, although the flicker of amusement in them was offset by an unreadable intent. Though he had already told them to leave, something in their story had piqued his curiosity, making him reconsider the reasons for their intrusion.
"Let me understand this clearly," he continued, his voice layered with an almost mocking curiosity. "You're telling me that Kunlun sent three disciples—strong, disciplined young men like yourselves—to investigate… a mere village boy?"
Shen Cai's fists clenched, his pride stung by the Pavilion Master's words. The bitter taste of humiliation lingered, and even now, standing before this formidable figure, it felt like an insult he could not fully shake. "Li Yan is no ordinary villager, Pavilion Master," he replied tightly, each word edged with frustration. "There's no other way someone like him could have defeated me without… something hidden. A rare artifact, perhaps. Or a technique far beyond what he should possess."
The Pavilion Master's smirk widened ever so slightly, a faint gleam of condescension flickering in his gaze. "Oh?" he murmured, letting the single word hang between them like a weight. "A village boy strong enough to defeat a Kunlun disciple? Now that is… intriguing." His gaze slid over Shen Cai, savoring the discomfort in his expression. "Does this strength unsettle you so greatly that you felt the need to run back to Kunlun?"
Shen Cai's jaw clenched, the insult striking closer than he would have admitted. "This isn't about my pride, Pavilion Master," he replied, voice tight. "It's about Kunlun's authority—and maintaining it."
Elder Fan had sent him on this mission as a simple test, a trivial task to showcase his loyalty. Instead, he'd returned with tales of failure, and the disappointment in Elder Fan's eyes had cut deeper than he had expected. And now, to endure this further humiliation from the Pavilion Master—it was more than his pride could bear.
But the Pavilion Master's expression remained amused, his pale gaze lingering on Shen Cai. "Ah, so it's Kunlun's honor at stake," he replied, his tone coolly dismissive. "Of course."
Liu Min, sensing the tension growing between Shen Cai and the Pavilion Master, stepped forward slightly, his demeanor calm and measured. Known for his perceptive eye and careful judgment, Liu Min was not easily shaken, but even he held himself with extra caution here. "Pavilion Master," he said respectfully, "it is true that our sect takes the security of our domain seriously. If there exists any unknown power within our territory, it is our duty to uncover it."
The Pavilion Master's gaze shifted to Liu Min, assessing him with a faintly approving glint. Unlike Shen Cai's barely concealed resentment, Liu Min's poise seemed to intrigue him. "And you believe that this boy, Li Yan, hides such a power?" he asked, his tone faintly curious.
"It's possible," Liu Min replied, his voice steady. "Shen Cai encountered abilities beyond his understanding. We cannot ignore even the smallest disturbance within our territory."
The Pavilion Master chuckled softly, his gaze sharp as he turned back to Shen Cai. "Tell me, does Kunlun often send its disciples to investigate every whisper in a forest, or do they only come running when they've suffered a… personal loss?"
Shen Cai bristled, but Zhao Rong, who had remained quiet until now, stepped forward, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "Pavilion Master, we did not come to challenge you," he said calmly. With his solid frame and calm demeanor, Zhao Rong exuded the discipline of an experienced cultivator. "We seek only the truth about this youth, nothing more."
The Pavilion Master tilted his head slightly, as if weighing Zhao Rong's words. "Truth, you say? And what if that truth is that your fellow disciple's loss was merely a result of his own… inadequacies?" His gaze flicked back to Shen Cai, whose fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white.
"He concealed something," Shen Cai retorted, voice low but heated. "His strength was… unnatural. No mere villager would possess such power."
The Pavilion Master's amusement deepened, but a faint glimmer of interest had begun to spark beneath it. "Concealed strength, hidden power…" he murmured, almost to himself. "A village boy, strong enough to unsettle Kunlun's proud disciples… I must admit, the tale grows more intriguing by the moment."
The disciples exchanged wary glances. Liu Min, ever the cautious one, sensed the Pavilion Master's shifting mood and bowed slightly. "Pavilion Master, we understand the honor of being in your presence," he said diplomatically, choosing his words carefully. "Our only wish is to complete our task and depart without causing you further disturbance."
The Pavilion Master's gaze lingered on Liu Min for a moment before shifting back to Shen Cai. "Ah, but that is precisely the issue, isn't it?" he said, his voice soft and cold. "You bring your Kunlun 'honor' into my domain, seeking a mere village boy, yet you cannot even tell me what it is that frightens you about him."
Shen Cai's jaw tightened, but Liu Min's calm voice interrupted before he could respond. "Pavilion Master, Kunlun does not fear a single boy. However, any force within our domain, if unknown, must be understood." His tone was steady, but his eyes held a quiet determination, the kind that was unbending yet respectful.
The Pavilion Master regarded Liu Min with a faintly approving glint in his eye. "Diplomatic, aren't you?" he mused. "Unlike your companion here." He cast a look at Shen Cai, who flushed with indignation.
But before Shen Cai could speak, Zhao Rong, ever the voice of reason, added, "Pavilion Master, if you possess any knowledge of this Li Yan, it would aid us greatly. Our aim is only to uphold the stability of our sect's territory."
The Pavilion Master's faint smile vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating gaze. "And why," he asked softly, "would I assist Kunlun in tracking down a boy whose very existence has proven to be such… entertainment?"
The three disciples fell silent, the realization settling over them. This was not a man—or whatever he was—who would assist them out of kindness. The Pavilion Master was as eccentric as he was ruthless, his motives driven by his own amusement and whims.
For a moment, only silence filled the clearing. Then, with a flicker of disdain, the Pavilion Master dismissed them. "Seek him if you must. But remember, my forest has eyes that do not tolerate trespassers lightly. Should you linger here without purpose…" His eyes glinted with a faint, dangerous warning. "You may find yourselves… misplaced."
They exchanged nervous glances, but each disciple managed a respectful bow, murmuring their thanks, before retreating from the clearing. As they moved away, Shen Cai's resentment simmered beneath his polite demeanor. It should have been his chance to prove himself to Kunlun; now, he was under the Pavilion Master's mocking scrutiny. And all because of Li Yan, the boy who had humiliated him so thoroughly.
Once the disciples had vanished into the trees, the Pavilion Master remained, his gaze lingering thoughtfully on the path they had taken.
"Li Yan…" he murmured to himself, the name carrying an unfamiliar weight on his tongue. A village boy, hidden in plain sight, yet holding enough power to unsettle Kunlun's proud disciples. How very… unusual.
He tilted his head, his gaze deepening. "Perhaps the boy is more than he seems… perhaps even worth my time."
With a subtle flick of his cloak, the Pavilion Master melted back into the shadows, his thoughts fixed on this new thread of intrigue that led to Li Yan.