The air was thick with tension, and Feng Zhen could feel the weight of the rogue's words pressing against him like an invisible hand. Days had passed since his encounter with the mysterious figure in the Ascension Simulator, and despite his efforts to focus on training, his thoughts continually circled back to the same unresolved questions. Bai Rong's true intentions, the rogue's cryptic warnings, and the unsettling idea that someone more powerful than Bai Rong was controlling the sect's direction had all stirred something deep within him.
Feng Zhen sat in his study, the dim light casting shadows on the walls. The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of paper as he sifted through the texts scattered before him. It had become a ritual: to search for any clue, any piece of information that could explain the rogue's cryptic message. Every scroll he opened, every book he read, only seemed to deepen the mystery. The Skybound Sect had a long and storied history, its leaders revered as paragons of virtue and strength, but what if that history was nothing more than a carefully constructed façade?
His hand froze as he turned the page of an old sect ledger, the script unfamiliar and ancient. His eyes narrowed as he deciphered the text, the words sinking into his mind like ice water.
"The Ascendant, known to few as Bai Rong, is not the originator of the Skybound Sect's strength. The true founder remains lost to time, a shadow buried beneath layers of truth and deceit. There are those who walk in the light, and those who dwell in the dark."
Feng Zhen's pulse quickened. This was a revelation—a stark contradiction to everything he had been taught. Bai Rong, the man who had built the Skybound Sect into a mighty force, was not its true founder? The words hinted at something darker, something deeper than he could fully comprehend. He needed more answers, but where could he find them?
The crackling sound of the door opening broke his train of thought. He quickly closed the scroll, instinctively sliding it into a hidden compartment beneath the table. Bai Rong's trusted lieutenant, Shen Wei, entered the room, his face calm but unreadable as always.
"Master Feng," Shen Wei said, bowing slightly. "The leader requests your presence. There are matters to discuss."
Feng Zhen's stomach tightened. He had hoped for some time to digest his findings before facing Bai Rong, but this was the inevitable next step. With a nod, he stood and followed Shen Wei down the long hallways of the sect's headquarters. The palace-like structure of the Skybound Sect seemed to stretch endlessly, its ornate halls echoing with the footsteps of many. The walls were adorned with portraits of past leaders, their faces serene and untouchable, gazing down upon the disciples who walked beneath them.
Despite the grandeur of the sect's headquarters, a sense of unease gnawed at Feng Zhen. Every step felt heavier than the last, as if the very walls themselves were closing in on him. The rogue's words echoed in his mind: "You are a pawn, marked by forces beyond your control."
Was it possible that Bai Rong was simply another puppet in a larger game?
They arrived at a set of double doors, intricately carved with symbols Feng Zhen didn't fully understand. Shen Wei knocked twice before pushing them open. Inside, Bai Rong stood by the grand window, looking out over the sprawling sect grounds. The leader's silver hair shimmered in the dim light, and his posture was both commanding and graceful. Despite his outward calm, Feng Zhen couldn't shake the feeling that Bai Rong had known everything before he even entered the room.
"You wanted to see me, Master Bai?" Feng Zhen asked, his voice steady, though his heart was racing.
Bai Rong turned slowly, his piercing eyes locking with Feng Zhen's. There was something unsettling about the leader's gaze, as though he could see into the very depths of Feng Zhen's soul.
"Feng Zhen," Bai Rong said softly, his voice smooth and almost hypnotic. "You have made significant progress. The sect is pleased with your growth. However, there is a matter that needs your attention."
Feng Zhen didn't let his guard down, though the compliment did give him pause. Bai Rong's words always had weight, but there was a strange edge to them now.
"Of course," Feng Zhen replied, taking a step forward. "What is it?"
Bai Rong's expression darkened, and he gestured for Feng Zhen to sit. As they both settled into the chairs across from one another, Bai Rong leaned forward, his fingers steepled together.
"There are forces within the sect that threaten its stability," Bai Rong began, his tone shifting from the calm, measured one to something more serious. "I have heard rumors of discontent among certain factions. Some believe the sect has strayed from its original purpose, and they are seeking to disrupt our path."
Feng Zhen's mind raced. Was this what the rogue had hinted at? Could there really be factions within the sect—hidden beneath the surface—that sought to undermine Bai Rong's rule? Was this the instability that the rogue had alluded to?
Bai Rong continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I trust you, Feng Zhen. I need you to investigate these rumors. The truth is often buried in lies, and the lies may be closer to home than you think."
Feng Zhen's pulse quickened, but he masked his reaction. This was what he had been waiting for—an opportunity to uncover the secrets that lay beneath the surface. But at the same time, something in Bai Rong's words unsettled him. He didn't believe in coincidences, and Bai Rong had always been a careful man. Was it possible that the leader already knew more than he let on?
"I will do as you ask, Master Bai," Feng Zhen said, nodding resolutely. "I'll uncover the truth."
As he rose to leave, Bai Rong's voice stopped him. "Remember, Feng Zhen, sometimes the truth is not something you can handle. Once it's uncovered, it can never be put back in the box. Be cautious."
Feng Zhen's mind churned with the implications of those words. He couldn't shake the feeling that Bai Rong was playing his own game, one that might involve him in ways he didn't fully understand. But for now, he had no choice but to play along.
---
Back in his quarters, Feng Zhen paced the room, his mind working at full speed. He had been given a task, but it felt more like a test—one that he wasn't sure he was prepared for. The rogue's cryptic warnings mixed with Bai Rong's words in his mind, creating a tangled mess of suspicion and uncertainty.
If Bai Rong was truly hiding something, how deep did the deception go? Was the entire Skybound Sect built on lies, as the rogue had suggested? And if so, who were the true masters behind the scenes?
Feng Zhen sat at his desk, reaching for the scroll he had hidden earlier. He needed to understand more. The sect's history, its foundation, the origin of its power—he had to know everything. Only then could he make sense of Bai Rong's true role and the larger game at play.
His fingers brushed the parchment, and for a moment, a thought passed through his mind. What if the answers he sought were already in front of him, hidden in plain sight?
The mystery of Bai Rong, the rogue's words, and the unknown forces moving in the shadows were only the beginning. The real question now was: How much of the truth could he handle before it consumed him?
Feng Zhen knew that the game was far from over—and that the pieces on the board were far more dangerous than he could have ever imagined.