The medicine Pavillion bustled with activity as groups of disciples filed in, their robes dirtied from the Qinxu Forest mission but their faces bright with anticipation. The hall itself was imposing, its high walls adorned with shelves lined with jars of rare herbs and potions. Elder Han, the Hall's overseer, stood at the front, his sharp eyes scanning the returning disciples with a mix of worry and curiosity mixed with expectation.
Disciples of the Medicine Pavillion in charge of collecting the herbs sat around waiting to receive the disciples. Elder Han also received the disciples because of the large number they had to deal with.
Zhang Wei's group approached the Elder's table, their storage bags brimming with their haul. Lei Yun couldn't help but grin as they placed their bags down, one after the other, each filled to capacity. Their excitement was however tinged with anger when they remembered Lei Chen's storage bag and the haul of rare herbs within. They looked at one another, exchanging a silent agreement to get back at the culprit.
"Impressive," Elder Han remarked, his voice carrying across the hall. He began to inspect the contents, his expression revealing little. Other groups, already finished with their submissions, watched with a mix of curiosity and quiet rivalry.
"Such rare herbs" said a disciple in envy.
"I wonder how they got so many rare herbs" replied another.
"Zhang Wei is the leader of the group, so what do you expect" another said sarcastically.
"I wish I had joined their group when we were forming groups" said another enviously
The tension in the room grew as Elder Ji and his assistants tallied the herbs. After several long moments, Elder Ji turned to face the disciples. "The results are in."
A hush fell over the hall.
"The group led by Zhang Wei has gathered the most rare and valuable herbs, including several specimens critical to high-level alchemy. Their efforts have secured their victory in this mission."
Cheers erupted from their group, and even a few grudging nods of respect came from rival teams. Lei Chen clapped Zhang Wei on the back, grinning broadly. "We did it! A thousand sect points each. Imagine what we can do with that!"
Elder Han raised a hand, silencing the crowd. "Your achievement is commendable, but remember, these missions are not merely competitions. They are tests of your discipline, skill, and teamwork. We have lost some disciples during this mission, which is inevitable. You all must therefore work and train harder in order to get stronger. Remember the sect tournament is coming up soon."
All the disciples cheered in excitement. Li also nodded faintly but his mind was elsewhere. The reward felt irrelevant compared to the weight of his lingering visions. The Sovereign's words echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of the dangers yet to come. He looked at all the happy sect disciples and sect leaders wondering if his presence in their midst will lead to their deaths. He steeled his resolve and became more determined to get stronger and gain control over his powers so that he could protect his sect. Although he wasn't familiar with several of the disciples, he considered them all his family. Despite scuffles that may arise among them from time to time, they were still family. Afterall, families fight but stay together.
After their victory was announced, Zhang Wei told Elder Han that his group had sensitive information to relate to the elders. The group was then escorted to the Sect Elders' Hall. The air was tense as they recounted their journey, leaving no detail unspoken. When it came to Lu Heng's betrayal, Zhang Wei stepped forward.
"Honoured Elders," he began, his tone steady. "We must report a grave matter. Lu Heng, one of our own, turned to the dark arts within the forest. He used forbidden techniques to steal life force, killing three disciples that we know of, Lian Mei, Tian Rong and Bai Fu. He faced us in battle and we were able to vanquish him."
Gasps and murmurs filled the hall as the elders exchanged grim looks.
Elder Yun, a stern woman with piercing eyes, leaned forward. "Are you certain of this? The consequences of such accusations are severe."
Li spoke then, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his heart. "We witnessed it firsthand, Elder Yun. He was consumed by his pursuit of power, and in the end, it led to his destruction."
Elder Yun's gaze lingered on Li for a moment before she nodded. "This matter will be investigated further. You have done well to bring it to our attention."
"We also want to report the finding of this rare herb, elder Han' Said Zhang Wei as he motioned to Mei Ming who then reached into her storage bag and brought out the Pheonix Blossom and handed it to him. 'We know how sensitive information about the herb is, that's why we didn't bring it out with our other haul."
The elders gasped in surprise as the plant came into the open, its scent permeating the air and its flowers opening up and shimmering light splashes of water hit by sunlight. All of the leaves looked green and healthy.
"Where did you find this? Exclaimed elder Han as he stepped forward and grabbed the plant from Zhang Wei.
"Is this the treasure Pheonix Blossom with record of only one owned by the ...." Elder Yun trailed off in mid-sentence before the boys could answer the question posed by elder Han.
All the elders crowded round elder Han and the plant, Zhang Wei and his group completely forgotten as they ohhed and ahhed over it. They turned the plant all over, inspecting it from every angle and even sniffing it.
"Calm down elders, let's hear from them how they got the rarest plant in the empire" declared elder Han as he placed the plant on a table in the middle of the room.
"We saw it a cave that was guided by a basilisk" Zhang Wei replied as he narrated their encounter with the serpent but deliberately leaving out Li using his power to overcome the beast. When he ended his account, he reached into his storage bag and brought out the basilisk egg.
The stunned look on the elders face cannot be described as they stared in morbid fascination at a sight they had never seen before.
"Out! The five of you out! And make sure otto utter a word of any of these two items to anyone outside this room" ordered elder Yun, ushering the children hurriedly out.
As the group exited the hall, the weight of their report hung heavy in the air. Mei Ming walked beside Li, her expression clouded. "Do you think the elders will uncover everything?"
"They'll do what they must," Li replied, his tone distant.
As they left the vicinity of the elder's hall, the group saw several disciples gathered in the sect's courtyard. Gao Fen and his lackey Wu Han were also there, lounging at a corner, regaling a group of girls about their journey through Qinxu forest. Zhang Wei approached Gao Fen, who was looking smug despite his group's poor performance.
"Gao," Zhang Wei said, his voice low and firm. "We need to talk."
Gao Fen turned, his smirk fading slightly as he saw Zhang Wei's serious expression. "What about?"
"Lei Chen," Zhang Wei said, his voice laced with restrained anger. "He told me what happened in the forest. You ambushed him and left him for dead. Care to explain?"
Gasps and whispers rippled through the disciples nearby. Gao Fen's eyes narrowed, his posture defensive. "That's a serious accusation, Zhang Wei. Do you have proof?"
"Lei Chen is the proof," Zhang Wei shot back. "He survived your cowardly attack and told us everything. You wanted his herbs, and you didn't care if it cost him his life."
Gao Fen sneered. "And you believe his word over mine? Maybe he's exaggerating to cover his own incompetence. Or perhaps he lost those herbs to someone else and is looking for a scapegoat."
Lei Chen stepped forward, his hand gripping his sword hilt. "You lying snake. I know what I saw. You and your lackeys ambushed me. I barely made it out alive."
Tension crackled in the air as disciples gathered around, their whispers growing louder.
"Enough!" Zhang Wei's voice cut through the noise. "Gao Fen, if you have any honour left, you'll admit what you did."
Gao Fen's smirk returned. "Believe what you want, but I won't be dragged down by baseless accusations."
Zhang Wei clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. "This isn't over."
As Gao Fen walked away, the group exchanged uneasy glances. Mei Ming placed a hand on Lei Chen's arm, her voice soft. "Don't let him get to you. The truth will come out eventually."
"I'm going to my quarters, I need to rest" declared Li as he left the group and went in the direction of his quarters. The others looked at him worriedly but shrugged in resignation as they also found their way to their quarters. They all needed rest after the weeks spent in the forest
Li sat on his bed in his room, his mind racing. The day's events had done little to ease his inner turmoil. The Sovereign's voice echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the weight he bore.
"Rise, or perish. Sacrifice is inevitable."
He clenched his fists, frustration boiling within him. He couldn't let his visions come true. He wouldn't lose his friends—not Mei Ming, not Zhang Wei, not anyone. But how could he protect them if he couldn't control the power within him?