The faint chime of a bell echoed across the Earth Division's quarters, sharp and deliberate. Li Tian opened his eyes slowly, his mediation interrupted by the arrival of a messenger cloaked in the academy's formal robes. They bowed stiffly, their expression guarded but carrying the weight of official business.
"Teacher Li Tian," they announced, their voice flat. "The Senior Council has requested your immediate presence in the Council Hall."
Li Tian didn't react outwardly, though his system flared faintly in the back of his mind, an almost imperceptible pulse warning him of the subtext behind the polite phrasing of requested.
System Notification:
Evaluation Alert – Observation by Senior Council initiated. Intentions partially obscured. Caution advised.
He nodded once, calm as the earth beneath his feet. "I will attend shortly," was all he said. The messenger hesitated, perhaps expecting more, but Li Tian's composed silence gave them no reason to linger. They departed without another word, the door closing with a soft click behind them.
Yin Yue stood near the window, her sword resting against the sill. Her brow furrowed as she turned to him. "The Senior Council?" she asked, concern veiled poorly behind the question.
"They're watching us closely now," Li Tian said, smoothing his robes as he rose. "This is no longer about matches or tournaments. The Earth Division has unnerved them."
"Should we be worried?" Feng Shan asked, leaning heavily against the doorframe. His massive frame seemed lighter as unease crept into his voice.
Li Tian paused, glancing at each of his students. "Not worried," he said slowly, his tone steady as stone. "Aware. Stay in the quarters. Focus on your training. Avoid unnecessary interaction with other divisions."
He didn't tell them more, nor did he reveal the system's insight into the academy's shifting tides. It wasn't time for them to carry that weight. Not yet.
The Council Hall loomed larger than it needed to, its vaulted ceilings and ornate designs projecting authority meant to suppress those beneath it. Li Tian stepped through the tall doors, his steps unhurried but deliberate.
The Senior Council sat atop a raised platform, their gazes piercing, their robes marked by the flowing insignia of the academy's highest authority. At the center, Elder Meng, the head of the council and a figure of quiet dominance, watched Li Tian with the faintest curl of curiosity on his lips.
"Li Tian," Elder Meng began, his voice smooth but sharp. "Your successes have drawn much attention. Both admiration and… inquiries."
Li Tian bowed respectfully, his expression controlled. "It is the boundless opportunity provided by the academy that allowed the Earth Division to reach this stage," he replied, careful with his words.
The council hummed quietly amongst themselves, faint murmurs of deliberation. Elder Meng leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped together. "A humble response. Yet humility, though admirable, does not answer the questions raised of late. We must wonder; how has a division, long dismissed as ordinary, achieved such… extraordinary results under your guidance?"
Li Tian felt the system's presence sharpen, threads unraveling the hidden intent behind the words.
System Notification:
Probing Alert – Elder Meng seeks clarification on anomalies in the Earth Division's progress. Veiled suspicion detected.
*Response Guidance Unlocked – "Shadow Veil": Deflect inquiries with strategic ambiguity. Offer partial truths to maintain credibility without exposure.
"I focus on fundamentals," Li Tian answered smoothly, locking eyes with Elder Meng. "Weakness often lies in a lack of foundation. I ensured the Earth Division mastered what others overlook."
Elder Meng's eyes narrowed, but before he could press further, another member of the council interjected, voice sharp and cutting. "Foundations alone do not explain the defeat of Jian Shun, one of the Heaven Division's pride."
Li Tian turned to the speaker, a thin smile barely curving his lips. "Discipline did. Yin Yue trained tirelessly. Strategy and precision were as essential as raw strength. Hard work, at times, can surprise even the strongest opponent."
The council fell silent at that, though their expressions revealed little agreement. The tension in the room thickened, but Li Tian's calm remained unbroken. Beneath his composed exterior, the system flickered again, insights coming into sharper focus.
System Notification:
Council Observations – Divided priorities detected. Elder Meng monitors for control, while others seek exploitable flaws. Faction rivalries influence their questioning.
This wasn't just an interrogation, Li Tian realized—it was a performance. Each council member tested their own private theories, their own agendas intersecting with the broader currents of the academy's turmoil.
Back at the Earth Division quarters, Yin Yue paced restlessly. "We shouldn't just sit here," she muttered, her hand brushing the hilt of her sword.
"Orders are orders," Jie Ming said, though his usual playfulness was muted. "Teacher knows what he's doing."
A soft rustle caught their attention. Cao Ren frowned, stepping toward the window where a faint breeze stirred the curtains. On the sill, a folded parchment rested, its edges frayed as if handled hastily.
"What's this?" Feng Shan asked.
Cao Ren unfolded the message, his gaze sharpening at the handwritten scrawl. "It's addressed to Teacher Li."
The group gathered around as he read aloud the cryptic words.
Beware the roots beneath the tree. They grow deeper than they appear. Alliances shift in shadow. Not all battles are fought on the platform.
"They're warning him," Yin Yue said, her voice low. Her fingers tightened around her blade. "But why? And who?"
Cao Ren shook his head, his eyes scanning the message for further clues. "It's unsigned. But whoever left this knows the academy's inner workings too well. This isn't idle gossip."
"What do we do?" Feng Shan asked. "If this is real, Teacher needs to know. But he's still with the council."
"We wait," Yin Yue said firmly, though unease coiled in her sharp tone. "He'll need to see this as soon as he's back."
The moon hung high by the time Li Tian returned, his shadow long against the dim glow of the hallway lanterns. Yin Yue was the first to meet him, her gaze searching his expression for answers.
"You're late," she said softly, concern knitting her words.
Li Tian paused, his expression unreadable. The air around him held the weight of something unsaid, though his gaze remained steady. "The council had many questions," he said simply, leaving the rest unspoken.
Yin Yue held up the message before he could say more, her urgent eyes meeting his. "We found this," she said. "Someone left it for you."
Li Tian took the parchment, his face giving nothing away as he read it. The system hummed faintly at the edge of his awareness, its quiet presence parsing the ominous words.
System Notification:
Analysis Complete – Message traced to anonymous intermediary within Martial Division. Probability of credible warning exceeds 85%.
Li Tian folded the note neatly, placing it in his robes. His gaze turned to his students, each of them watching him intently, brimming with silent questions.
"What does it mean?" Yin Yue asked finally.
Li Tian's pause felt like an eternity. When he spoke, his voice was calm but edged with steel. "It means the path ahead grows darker," he said. "And we must tread carefully—or risk losing everything."
The room fell into stillness, the weight of his words pressing down on them all. Beyond the window, the academy's shadows stretched longer. Somewhere within them, unseen forces stirred.
Li Tian turned to face the night, his mind steeling itself for what was to come. The earth beneath him might shift and crack, but he would remain unbroken. For his students. For their future.
For the truth buried deep within the academy's foundation.