The first rays of dawn broke over the horizon, casting a golden hue on the Cloudspring Sect as Riu Xian stepped outside his small hut, stretching after a restless night. The crisp morning air filled his lungs, and for a moment, he felt a fleeting sense of calm—before the sky above seemed to darken.
He looked up, his eyes widening. Massive flying ships, like celestial whales, were appearing on the horizon, their imposing forms blocking out the morning light. They were a sight to behold, their intricate designs, carved with meticulous detail, glowing faintly with spiritual energy. The vessels moved with an eerie grace, defying the laws of nature that Riu Xian had once known in the Murim world.
"Incredible," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the spectacle. "In the Murim, we could only dream of such things. Forget flying ships; even horses or oxen were the pinnacle of transportation. But here..." He shook his head, a low whistle escaping his lips. "This world is filled with wonders, spirit beasts, divine beasts, and now this. Dragons, phoenixes, qilins… creatures we only believed in myths are real here."
The ships, dozens of them, came to a halt above the sect's central grounds, their towering presence casting long, ominous shadows over the disciples gathered below. A shiver ran down Riu Xian's spine as he watched a group of emissaries descend from the lead ship, their robes shimmering with the icy blue hues of the Bright Snow Sect. The leader, a tall man with a hawkish face and piercing eyes, exuded a commanding aura that seemed to press down on everyone present. The man raised his voice, his words amplified by spiritual energy, making them ring out across the grounds.
"Attention, disciples of the Cloudspring Sect!" His voice boomed, echoing off the surrounding mountains. "You have one hour to decide your fate. Surrender and live, or resist and perish!"
A collective gasp swept through the crowd, followed by a wave of panicked murmurs. Disciples clutched at each other, their faces pale with fear.
The emissary continued, his tone as cold and sharp as a shard of ice. "Disciples below the Foundation Establishment realm may leave the sect now. We do not stain our hands with the blood of the weak. As for those above Foundation Establishment, you have two choices: swear loyalty to the Bright Snow Sect or prepare for war. Make your decision."
The ultimatum hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Fear and uncertainty rippled through the sect like a shockwave. Whispers of escape and surrender filled the air as disciples scrambled to make sense of their limited choices.
"This is it," Riu Xian thought, his pulse quickening. "My chance to leave." He had no ties to this place, no reason to stay and fight a war he had no stake in. But how to escape without drawing unwanted attention?
The sect was in pandemonium. Disciples ran in every direction, some heading towards the gates, others towards the armory, their faces a mixture of fear and desperate resolve. The once-orderly grounds of the Cloudspring Sect had dissolved into chaos. Taking advantage of the distraction, Riu Xian began moving towards the dense forest that bordered the sect, his steps measured and deliberate. He kept his head down, trying to blend into the crowd, but his heart hammered against his ribs with each step.
As he reached the edge of the forest, the scent of pine and damp earth filling his nostrils, he heard muffled voices nearby. He ducked behind a thick cluster of bushes, peering through the leaves. There, huddled together in a small clearing, were Lu Hao, the sect leader's arrogant son, and two of his lackeys. Their faces, usually smug and self-assured, were now etched with fear.
"Are you sure this is the right way, Young Master?" one of the lackeys, a skinny youth named Chen, asked, his voice trembling.
"It has to be," Lu Hao snapped, but his usual arrogance was gone, replaced by a desperate edge. "The Bright Snow Sect won't show mercy to anyone, not even me. I'd rather take my chances out here than stay and fight a losing battle."
Riu Xian's eyes narrowed. Lu Hao, running like a scared rabbit? he thought. And here I thought he'd be the first to grovel before the Bright Snow Sect. Interesting.
He considered his options. Lu Hao and his lackeys were no threat to him now, weakened by their fear. They might even know a safer route out of the sect's territory. The forest was vast, a labyrinth of trees and shadows, and without a proper plan, he could easily get lost or stumble into danger.
Making a quick decision, Riu Xian stepped out from the shadows. "Lu Hao," he called out, his voice steady but quiet.
Lu Hao and his lackeys spun around, startled. Their eyes widened when they saw him, surprise quickly morphing into anger. "You!" Lu Hao sneered. "What are you doing here, trash?"
"The same thing as you," Riu Xian replied calmly, meeting Lu Hao's gaze. "Escaping. The sect is doomed, and you know it. But the forest is dangerous, especially for people like us who've never ventured beyond the familiar trails. Once we enter the deeper parts, it will become treacherous. A temporary alliance might be our best chance. We help each other, and once we're safe, we go our separate ways."
Lu Hao's face contorted with anger, his fists clenching and unclenching. He opened his mouth to retort, but the other lackey, a stocky boy named Wei, spoke up, his tone cautious. "He's right, Young Master. The forest is full of spirit beasts and other dangers. We don't stand a chance alone."
Riu Xian crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Lu Hao. "I don't have time for petty grudges," he said, his voice firm. "If you want to live, we can work together. Otherwise, you're on your own."
The sect leader's son hesitated, his pride clearly warring with his survival instincts. He glanced at his lackeys, then back at Riu Xian, his eyes filled with a mixture of resentment and grudging acceptance. Finally, he nodded curtly. "Fine," he spat. "But don't think for a second that this makes us allies." He turned to his lackeys, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. "We can use him to scout ahead or as a distraction if we run into trouble. When he's no longer useful, we ditch him."
His lackeys, Wei and Chen, exchanged uneasy glances but quickly nodded, unwilling to question their leader's plan.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Riu Xian replied, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
With the fragile alliance formed, the group began their trek into the forest. Riu Xian took the lead, his senses on high alert, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. The trees loomed tall and ominous, their dense canopy blocking out most of the sunlight, casting long, eerie shadows on the forest floor. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decaying leaves. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, every distant growl sent a jolt of adrenaline through him.
As they moved deeper into the woods, Riu Xian's thoughts drifted. He had no intention of staying with Lu Hao for long. The moment he found a chance to slip away unnoticed, he would take it. For now, though, he needed to play along, to ensure his escape route was clear.
"The Bright Snow Sect's ultimatum may have thrown the sect into chaos," he thought, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes, "but chaos is a ladder. And I intend to climb it." He would use this opportunity to escape, to leave the Cloudspring Sect far behind, and finally, start forging his own path in this new and dangerous world.