Chapter 21: Shattered Paths
Two years had passed since Lin Feng had left the sect, the Thunder Cloud Sect, to wander the wilderness and focus on his own growth. During these years, he had kept to his solitary training, refining his techniques and pushing the limits of his cultivation. The world outside had been a blur to him, and he had been at peace with his isolation.
However, time had not been kind to the Thunder Cloud Sect. Lin Feng had heard nothing of the strange woman, the swordswoman, or the mysterious intruder that had broken into the sect two years ago. He had been so focused on his own path, so intent on honing his abilities, that he hadn't thought of the events that had transpired before his departure.
But now, a chilling sense of foreboding gripped him as he heard rumors of the sect's fall.
The sect, once known for its mighty disciples and grand influence, had been destroyed. Word spread like wildfire across the martial world—the sect's headquarters, once a towering edifice on the peaks of a mountain range, now lay in ruins. No one knew exactly how or why it had happened, but there were whispers of a mysterious figure who had been responsible for its obliteration. Some said it was a revenge-fueled attack, others believed it to be a strategic maneuver, but all accounts were unanimous in one thing: the destruction had been swift and merciless.
Lin Feng's heart sank at the news. He had left the sect with no intention of looking back, but the fall of such a powerful institution left a bitter taste in his mouth. Had the mysterious figure he had encountered during his final days there been the one responsible? Was it that same person who had intruded the sect two years ago, leaving only destruction in their wake?
What of Bai Ren? He hadn't heard anything about her since the night of their encounter. She had been a powerful figure, one who seemed to understand something about Lin Feng that he hadn't even realized about himself. Had she been part of the destruction? Or had she been a casualty of it? Lin Feng couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that there was more to her disappearance than he could understand.
He had only seen her briefly, and yet there was something about the way she had looked at him, the way her presence had dominated the atmosphere that night, that made him feel as though she was more than just an ordinary warrior. But she had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only questions.
Lin Feng clenched his fists, frustration welling up inside him. He had trained tirelessly for the last two years, growing stronger by the day, yet now, he found himself helpless in the face of the chaos that had unfolded. The very sect that had once claimed him as a disciple was no more. And the woman who had appeared so mysteriously in his life, guiding him toward a destiny he hadn't yet grasped, was now gone.
The world outside had continued to spin, and he had been too caught up in his own journey to notice how much had changed. The sect's fall was only the beginning. In the wake of its destruction, rumors were spreading—dark whispers of new power rising in the east, of forces both ancient and new converging on a world that seemed on the brink of a new era.
Lin Feng shook his head, his thoughts racing. It wasn't like him to be distracted by the events of others. He had trained alone, fought alone, and he had become stronger for it. Yet, now, the question remained: what was he supposed to do now? Was there a new path waiting for him, or had the destruction of the sect irrevocably changed the course of his journey?
Suddenly, a shadow passed overhead, breaking his thoughts. Lin Feng looked up, his eyes narrowing instinctively. His senses flared, and his hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword. Someone was approaching, but this time, it wasn't a wild beast or a wandering traveler. There was something different about the presence—a familiar, yet distant energy that sent a ripple through Lin Feng's spiritual sense.
A figure appeared from the forest's edge, moving with purpose. It was a woman, but not one Lin Feng had seen before. Her features were obscured by a dark cloak, and she walked with an air of quiet confidence, as though she had no fear of anything in the world. Lin Feng's instincts flared again, and his sword remained ready.
"Who are you?" Lin Feng called out, his voice steady but cautious.
The woman stopped just out of reach, her presence weighing heavily on the air around them. She didn't speak immediately. Instead, she lifted her hood slightly, revealing a pair of cold, calculating eyes that seemed to see right through Lin Feng. Her lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.
"I've been looking for you, Lin Feng," she said, her voice like the wind itself—soft yet sharp.
Lin Feng's grip on his sword tightened, but he didn't move. He could feel the power radiating from this woman, something familiar yet impossible to place. "Who are you?" he asked again, more firmly this time.
"I am someone who knows more than you think," the woman replied, her tone cryptic. "Someone who can show you the truth you've been seeking."
Lin Feng frowned. The strange woman's words echoed in his mind, but his instincts told him to remain cautious. There was something off about her presence—something that set her apart from the world he had grown so used to.
"You're not the only one searching for answers," she continued, her voice growing colder. "But unlike you, I'm not afraid to face what's coming."
"What do you mean?" Lin Feng asked, his curiosity piqued.
The woman hesitated for a moment, then looked him in the eye. "The sect is gone. And with it, the path you thought you were walking. But there's more to this world than what you've seen. There's power waiting for those who can claim it."
Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. She was talking about the destruction of the Thunder Cloud Sect as if it were just the beginning, as if the world was on the cusp of something far greater—and far darker.
"What is it that you want?" Lin Feng asked, his voice now tinged with suspicion.
"I'm not here for you," she said, shaking her head slowly. "But your path is tied to mine now. Whether you want it or not, the world is changing, and you will have to decide what role you will play in that change."
With that, the woman turned away, disappearing back into the shadows of the forest, leaving Lin Feng standing there, more confused than ever.
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In this version of Chapter 21, I've incorporated the following changes:
Two years after Lin Feng left the sect: It focuses on Lin Feng's training, isolation, and the aftermath of the destruction of the Thunder Cloud Sect.
Sect destroyed by the mysterious intruder: It hints at the events that have unfolded in the last two years, tying the destruction of the sect to the mysterious intruder from Chapter 17.
Bai Ren's disappearance: Lin Feng hasn't heard from Bai Ren since she disappeared, adding to the mystery around her.