The journey back to the sect was marked by an eerie silence. The weight of their encounter in the Shadowfall Forest hung heavy over Lei Tian, Lin Yue, and Qin Hao. Each step carried them closer to safety, yet the knowledge of the dark figures and their intent left an unsettling feeling in the air.
Qin Hao, still frustrated, kicked a loose rock on the path. "We should have chased them down," he muttered. "Letting them escape makes us look weak."
Lin Yue shook her head. "That wasn't a battle we could win. They let us live because they wanted to. We need to report this to the sect elders before we make reckless decisions."
Lei Tian remained quiet, his mind replaying the subtle ways he had manipulated the battle without revealing his true strength. The masked figures had been strong—too strong. And yet, something about their presence still felt incomplete, as if they were only a fragment of a much larger threat.
By the time they reached the sect gates, night had fallen. The towering stone walls of the Azure Sky Sect stood like silent sentinels, the moon casting long shadows across the ground.
As they approached, a group of disciples on patrol noticed their battered appearances and rushed forward.
"Senior Sister Lin! Senior Brother Qin! What happened?" one of the disciples asked, concern evident in his voice.
Lin Yue waved him off. "Summon the elders. We have something urgent to report."
The disciple hesitated, glancing at Lei Tian before nodding and dashing off into the sect grounds.
Within minutes, the trio found themselves in the Grand Hall, standing before several elders of the Azure Sky Sect. At the center sat Elder Jian, a wise yet imposing figure with sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through any deception.
Lin Yue took a step forward and recounted their mission. She described the disturbed altar, the masked figures, and the overwhelming presence of dark energy. As she spoke, the expressions of the elders darkened, especially Elder Jian's.
When she finished, a tense silence filled the chamber.
Elder Jian finally spoke. "You have done well to report this. This is not the first time we have encountered whispers of such dark forces. The fact that they were at the Shadowfall Forest suggests their reach is growing."
Another elder, Elder Xuan, stroked his long beard. "The energy you describe… It is unnatural. It bears resemblance to forbidden arts that were thought to be lost centuries ago."
Qin Hao clenched his fists. "Then why are we standing here? We should be hunting them down!"
Elder Jian shot him a sharp look. "Recklessness will only lead to ruin. We do not act without knowledge. For now, we will increase the patrols around Shadowfall Forest. You three will remain within the sect until we decide the next course of action."
Qin Hao gritted his teeth but said nothing.
Lin Yue bowed slightly. "Understood, Elder."
Lei Tian nodded as well, though his mind remained elsewhere. If the sect elders had encountered traces of this dark force before, then perhaps there were records—records that might give him insight into his own mysterious abilities.
After their debriefing, the trio left the Grand Hall. Qin Hao stormed off in frustration, while Lin Yue sighed, glancing at Lei Tian.
"You're quiet," she observed.
Lei Tian offered a faint smile. "Just thinking."
She nodded. "Rest for now. We may not be allowed to leave the sect, but that doesn't mean we can't prepare. Something tells me this is just the beginning."
As she walked away, Lei Tian turned toward the sect's library. If there were secrets buried in the past, then it was time to start uncovering them.
And for the first time in a long while, he felt that his destiny was beginning to take shape.