Chapter Forty-Five: Shadows in the West
As the Pavilion Master of Murmurs, Yinmo, led his small group westward, his mind turned inward, contemplating the intricacies of their mission. They were entering the territories of the Three Pillars Temple to the northwest and the Emei Sect to the southwest—two powerful forces within the western region of the Eastern Continent. Based on the information he had gathered, he anticipated that their target, Celestial Sage Qian, would arrive somewhere within this region. He doubted that the Celestial Court envoy would risk traveling through the northern mountains with their perilous terrain and bitter climate. This left only the western and southern approaches, which aligned with the likely routes of the envoys from both the Celestial Court and the Infernal Sect.
Their task was straightforward on the surface—eliminate Celestial Sage Qian, a man whose insight into past and future made him one of the Celestial Court's most formidable assets. But Yinmo understood that the mission held deeper consequences. The Palace of Pavilions desired secrecy above all; this was no mere assassination but an effort to shroud the truth. Too much was at stake, especially given the volatile nature of the events within the Azure Mountains.
As he contemplated the possible fallout, Yinmo's gaze flickered briefly to Li Yan, who walked quietly beside him. The boy was still oblivious to the true weight of his flame, a flame Yinmo considered unique yet unexplained. He didn't know its origin, but he recognized its potential to stir disaster. A power like Li Yan's, unchecked, could ripple across the land, drawing the attention of forces better left undisturbed.
Celestial Sage Qian, with his fabled ability to peer into the unknown, posed an undeniable risk. Yinmo's priority was to eliminate him before he could uncover anything linked to Li Yan's flame or the disturbance within the Azure Mountains. If the sage managed to glimpse even a fragment of that truth, it would spark a fire that the Pavilion Master of Murmurs could not afford. The secrecy surrounding the Azure Mountains and the events that had unfolded there were critical. If the Celestial Court, or worse, the Infernal Sect, came to understand what had happened, it could draw endless scrutiny and, ultimately, compromise his disciple.
A plan was already forming in his mind. Their path would intersect with that of the envoys, and he anticipated that their mission would come to a head in the western region, possibly within the borders of the Three Pillars Temple or Emei Sect territories. Yinmo weighed the presence of these two powers. He knew neither would be easy to bypass or deceive; both the Emei Sect and the Three Pillars Temple were formidable, each respected for their strength and principles. The monks of the Three Pillars Temple would not be easily swayed by underhanded methods, nor would they allow open conflict within their domain. The Emei Sect, though just as strong, was known for its grace and strategic alliances; however, even they would not allow forces to enter their land unchecked.
The situation required precision and finesse. If word reached the Celestial Court or Infernal Sect of their true objective, it would complicate the mission beyond repair. Yinmo understood that he would need to rely on the shadows, moving through them as he always did, masking their presence until the opportune moment. But with Li Yan beside him, he knew this mission would test both of them—his own skill in maintaining secrecy and Li Yan's resolve in facing the uncertainties that lay ahead.
Yinmo had accepted the mission not out of mere obedience to the Palace of Pavilions but out of necessity. This wasn't simply a command to eliminate a seer; it was a calculated move to protect secrets that went beyond the Palace's usual machinations. Celestial Sage Qian's insight posed a danger that struck close to him—too close, with Li Yan's flame hovering at the edge of revelation. He knew that if the sage caught even a glimpse of its nature, the consequences would ripple across the continent, igniting questions and suspicions that neither he nor his disciple were prepared to face. For that reason alone, he moved forward with unwavering resolve, determined to cast shadows deep enough to obscure even the brightest visions.
As they continued along the mountain path, Li Yan found himself glancing now and then at the stranger trailing a few paces behind. The man's quiet, assessing gaze seemed to follow him relentlessly, as if attempting to peel back his very skin to see what lay underneath. It was more than a little unsettling, and the fact that this man had been added to their journey without explanation only heightened his wariness.
"Are you enjoying his stare?" came Feiyan's voice, smooth and faintly mocking, slipping into his mind.
"Enjoying it? Not exactly," Li Yan replied silently, keeping his expression impassive. "I don't even know why he's here."
Feiyan's presence settled around him like a chill. "Clearly, your master has decided you need a… babysitter. Perhaps he thinks you'll be useful enough to require observation."
Li Yan suppressed a sigh. Trust Feiyan to take any chance to needle him. "It's not like I'm causing trouble," he muttered under his breath.
"Indeed," she said coolly. "Though perhaps you'd make a better impression if you stopped fidgeting like a cornered rabbit."
Li Yan felt a flash of exasperation but kept his outward calm, meeting the Master's gaze briefly with all the composure he could muster.
As they walked in silence, Pavilion Master Luoying, the Master of Thousand Shadows, broke the stillness with a low, calculated question. "What's the plan, Yinmo?"
Pavilion Master Yinmo, the Master of Murmurs, barely glanced in his direction, his gaze fixed on the mountain path ahead. After a brief pause, he replied with his characteristic calm, "We'll change our attire once we reach a less visible point. Our robes carry too much weight in reputation here—no sense in drawing unnecessary attention."
Luoying nodded, understanding the wisdom of the choice. Though his own mastery of shadows allowed him to blend into obscurity, they were entering a region dense with sect influences, where subtlety would serve them better than intimidation.
"We'll head to Surat City," Yinmo continued, his voice barely louder than the whisper of the wind through the trees. "It's the largest city in the western region, known for its constant flow of travelers and merchants. If there's any word on Celestial Sage Qian or the Infernal Sect's envoys, we'll hear it there."
Luoying took in the plan with quiet approval. Surat City was not only vast but also a hub for information, where secrets changed hands as easily as coin. It was a sensible destination for gathering intelligence on their targets, and he knew Yinmo wouldn't leave any trace of their true identities as they worked their way through the undercurrents of the city.
"Understood," Luoying replied, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity. Though he remained silent, he couldn't help but wonder what their next steps would be, especially given Yinmo's guarded silence about his ultimate intentions.
As they walked, he cast a sidelong glance at Li Yan, who had managed to acquire a small frown, clearly uncomfortable with the silent scrutiny he was under. Luoying felt an odd flicker of amusement, though he quickly dismissed it, focusing his thoughts instead on the task ahead and the delicate web of shadows he would soon be weaving in the crowded streets of Surat City.
As Li Yan walked a few steps behind, he listened to the low discussion between his master and the Master of Thousand Shadows. He caught pieces of the plan: blending in by changing clothes, heading to Surat City to gather information. It made sense, but the way they spoke as if he were a mere extra grated on him. The whole arrangement felt like he was a tagalong, rather than an active part of their mission.
And then there was the constant, scrutinizing gaze of the Master of Thousand Shadows. The man barely spoke to him, yet his eyes seemed to peel back layers every time they lingered on him, as though searching for something Li Yan couldn't see himself. It was irritating, especially after hearing the man mutter "ordinary" with that unmistakable hint of doubt.
Ordinary. The word gnawed at him. He hadn't spent his time training, pushing his limits, only to be labeled as something so bland, especially by someone like this man, who seemed to size him up as casually as he might a stone on the road.
A faint, sardonic chuckle echoed in his mind. Feeling a little small, are we? Feiyan's voice, smooth and just on the edge of mocking, broke his thoughts.
He resisted the urge to sigh aloud. I'm fine, he thought back with a touch of impatience. Though he's not exactly hiding his… analysis.
Feiyan's amusement deepened. It's only natural to judge things you don't understand. Don't take it so personally, she teased. Besides, compared to the rest of us, you are rather… She trailed off, letting the implication hang.
Thanks for the support, he replied dryly, keeping his expression neutral. He might be annoyed, but he wasn't about to let Feiyan's jabs—or the Master of Thousand Shadows' dismissive glances—get under his skin.
The shadows thickened as they moved forward, and though he could still feel that unsettling gaze on him, Li Yan forced himself to focus on their task. He'd deal with the assumptions and the labels later. For now, he would just follow, observe, and wait for his own chance to prove what he was capable of—if only to wipe that look of "ordinary" from Luoying's face.
As they continued through the winding trails, the Pavilion Master glanced toward the faint outline of buildings visible in the distance. "We're close," he said, his voice smooth and calm. "Surat City lies just beyond that ridge. We'll reach it before nightfall if we maintain our pace."
Li Yan glanced toward the distant cityscape, catching sight of the faint silhouette of towering buildings and the bustling energy that seemed to emanate even from afar. Despite his irritation, the idea of entering the city piqued his curiosity; this would be the largest place he'd visited since leaving the village.
The Master of Thousand Shadows gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable, yet his eyes held a faint gleam of something—perhaps anticipation or perhaps calculation. Li Yan couldn't tell. But he knew one thing: as they neared Surat City, whatever plan these two enigmatic masters had in mind would soon come into play, and he'd finally be able to see how they operated in unfamiliar territory.
For now, he kept his thoughts to himself and kept pace, sensing that whatever awaited them in Surat City would likely challenge all three of them in unexpected ways.