Chapter 2: The Poisoned Infiltrator
The cold mountain wind cut through the night as Ye Xian landed soundlessly atop a slanted rooftop, her breath steady despite the lingering sting of failure. Below her, the courtyards of the Azure Wind Sect stretched in perfect order—disciples patrolling the walkways, lanterns flickering against the carved pillars of the sect's main hall.
Her mind, however, was fixed on one thing.
Shen Liwei was immune to Silent Vein.
The poison should have worked—it had always worked. The fact that he had felt nothing at all meant that his immunity had been deliberately cultivated. That level of resistance was not natural. Someone had prepared him for an assassin's strike long before she ever arrived.
That single realization changed everything.
Killing him from the shadows would be near impossible. A second failed attempt would raise too many alarms. The only way forward was to get close.
She exhaled slowly, adjusting the delicate jade hairpin in her hair—a hidden blade coated with a slow-acting poison. Not meant for Shen Liwei, but for anyone who might uncover her identity too soon.
Then, in a single motion, she shed her assassin's robes. Beneath them, her new identity waited—a soft gray dress, simple yet refined, the attire of a wandering physician seeking refuge.
By the time she reached the outer courtyard, she was no longer Ye Xian, the assassin. She was "Miss Xie Yan", a healer with no past, no affiliations—only a desperate wish to serve the sect that had once been a sanctuary for lost souls.
A lone disciple stood at the entrance, half-drowsy from his late-night shift.
She let her voice tremble slightly, adding just enough hesitation to seem genuine. "Apologies for the intrusion. I am Xie Yan, a traveling physician from Willow Mist Valley. I have heard that the Azure Wind Sect welcomes those who seek knowledge and protection. I humbly request entry."
The disciple blinked, clearly unprepared to handle unexpected visitors at this hour. "At this time of night?"
"Forgive me. The mountain roads were treacherous, and I could not travel faster." She lowered her gaze. "If I must wait until morning, I understand. But the rumors spoke of a sect that does not turn away those in need."
The disciple hesitated. His hand hovered near his sword, but her appearance—harmless, weary, and unarmed—worked in her favor.
"Wait here," he said before disappearing into the inner halls.
She lowered her hands into her sleeves, her fingers brushing the cool edge of a hidden dagger. If they grew suspicious, she would have to vanish before they could set a trap.
A few minutes later, the disciple returned, his face uneasy. "Sect Leader Shen has granted you an audience."
Her stomach tightened. So soon? She had expected to be examined by the sect's stewards first, to gain entry slowly. But being summoned directly to Shen Liwei himself was dangerous.
No choice. Play the role.
She kept her eyes lowered. "I am honored."
Inside the Hall of Clear Winds
The audience chamber was lined with tall, carved pillars and woven silk banners bearing the Azure Wind Sect's insignia—a silver blade against a storm-lit sky. Ye Xian walked forward carefully, every step measured.
Shen Liwei sat at the head of the hall, his expression unreadable. In the brighter candlelight, his presence was even sharper than before—not just the practiced grace of a sect leader, but something far more dangerous. A man who had faced countless assassins and never fallen.
And now, she stood before him.
She kept her head lowered, the perfect image of humility.
"I am Xie Yan," she said, her voice soft yet steady. "A physician trained in herbal medicine and acupuncture. I seek refuge within the sect, if the honorable Sect Leader would allow it."
Silence.
Then—
"You arrived in the middle of the night," Shen Liwei said, his tone calm, but the weight behind it unmistakable. A test. A trap.
"Forgive me, Sect Leader," she replied smoothly. "I had no intention of disturbing your rest. I had hoped to arrive before sundown, but the mountain roads are unfamiliar to me."
A pause.
Then Shen Liwei's gaze flickered to her hands. "Your fingers."
Ye Xian stiffened. Had he already noticed something?
"You claim to be a physician," he continued, "yet your hands have the callouses of a swordswoman."
Damn. She had prepared for this, but not so soon.
Her lips curled into a gentle, self-deprecating smile. "I… learned to defend myself, Sect Leader. The roads are dangerous for a woman traveling alone. I am no warrior, but I could not afford to be helpless."
Another silence.
His eyes remained locked onto her, assessing. She could almost feel the weight of his scrutiny, the sharpness of his mind working through every possibility.
Then—
"Physicians are valued here," he finally said. "But trust is not given so easily."
She nodded her head without looking at him, hiding the flicker of relief beneath the movement. "I understand, Sect Leader."
"You will serve under the sect's chief physician for now," he continued, "and we will see if your skills are as you claim. Until then, you will be watched."
A warning. A leash.
But it was exactly what she wanted.
She put her hand on her heart. "Thank you, Sect Leader Shen. I will not disappoint you."
She felt his gaze linger for a moment longer before he finally turned away, signaling the end of the meeting.
As she was led to her new quarters, Ye Xian's heart remained steady, her mind already working through the next steps.
She was inside.
Now, she would watch, listen, and wait.
And when the time was right—she would strike.
End of Chapter 2