The morning mist clung to the Raine Sect's mountain sanctuary like a veil of secrets. It drifted between the pine-covered peaks and curled around the stone courtyards, softening the edges of the world. Disciples moved quietly through the grounds, their robes brushing against dew-kissed foliage, unaware of the tension brewing behind closed doors.
Inside the Grand Pavilion, the air was heavy with silence. Patriarch Shanell Granger sat at the head of the chamber, her posture regal, her gaze unreadable. Flanking her were the five Immortal Realm elders of the sect, each seated in a meditation posture, their expressions calm but alert. Master Alando stood slightly behind them, arms folded, his eyes narrowed.
A message had arrived at dawn.
An envoy from the Crimson Vale Sect was requesting an audience.
Everyone in the pavilion understood what this visit truly meant. It was about the news spreading yesterday of three Crimson Vale sect elders' deaths and several disciples crippled.
None of the surviving witnesses could identify the attackers according to their intel. The only detail reported was the presence of shadow qi—an elemental force rarely seen. That alone narrowed the list of suspects. And while no one could confirm it, everyone here suspected the same name.
Jalen.
Master Alando had already informed them of what Jalen said the day he rescued the disciples from the ambush they suspected was set by the Crimson Vale sect. It wasn't a vague threat—it was a promise. "I will kill that bastard," Jalen had said, his voice cold and unwavering.
At the time, some of the elders dismissed it as the fury of a protective older brother. But now that promise no longer felt like youthful bravado. It felt like prophecy fulfilled.
Even so, some of the elders harbored quiet doubts. Could it truly have been Jalen?
After all, Master Alando had already made it known that Jalen wielded light, wind, and ice qi—three elemental affinities, each mastered to a terrifying degree. That alone was unheard of. Most cultivators struggled to harmonize even two elements. Dual qi cultivation was rare and dangerous, often leading to meridian instability, spiritual backlash, or internal energy clashes if not managed with specialized techniques.
But three? And now, possibly a fourth?
If Jalen had also mastered shadow qi… It would defy cultivation logic. Not just rare—impossible. The elemental resonance required to balance four distinct forces, especially one as volatile and elusive as shadow, was beyond anything the elders had ever seen or studied. It wasn't just talent. It wasn't just genius.
It was something else entirely.
And yet, the evidence pointed in his direction. The elders didn't speak the suspicion aloud, but it hung in the air like mist—thick, heavy, and undeniable.
Who is this boy, really?
__
The envoy arrived just before noon.
A sleek spirit vessel descended from the clouds, its hull etched with crimson runes that pulsed with restrained power. Two Spirit Fusion Realm cultivators stood at its helm, their expressions stoic. Between them stood Envoy Marek Vale—a senior disciple of the Crimson Vale Sect and cousin to the now-crippled Renzo.
He was tall and composed, dressed in ceremonial robes of deep red and black. His expression was polite, but his eyes gleamed with veiled contempt.
He bowed deeply before Shanell and the elders. "Patriarch Granger. Elders of the Raine Sect. I thank you for receiving me."
Shanell inclined her head with practiced grace. "The Raine Sect welcomes all guests."
Marek smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I come bearing concern. Two nights ago, our sect suffered a devastating loss. Three elders—Spirit Fusion Realm—were killed. Several disciples were crippled. The attack was ruthless. And… silent."
The room remained still. No one spoke. No one moved.
Marek continued, his voice smooth. "We suspect foul play. Perhaps a rogue cultivator. Or… someone with ties to a sect in this region."
He paused, letting the words settle like dust. "Shadow qi was present. That much we know. And that… narrows the possibilities."
His gaze swept the room—not searching for a face, but for a flicker of guilt.
Shanell leaned forward slightly, her tone neutral. "Are you suggesting the Raine Sect was involved?"
"Not at all," Marek said, his smile widening. "We simply seek clarity. If there is a rogue cultivator operating in this region, it affects us all. We would hate for such a threat to go unchecked."
"We will investigate," Shanell replied calmly. "If we uncover anything, we'll inform your sect."
Marek bowed again. "We appreciate your cooperation."
He lingered a moment longer, his eyes scanning the room. Searching. Measuring. He looked at each elder in turn, then at Master Alando, and finally at Shanell herself.
His gaze held a question he didn't dare voice. Instead, he said, "I look forward to seeing what your investigation uncovers."
Then he turned and left.
The spirit vessel rose into the sky, vanishing into the clouds like a phantom.
When the pavilion emptied, Shanell remained seated, her fingers tapping the armrest of her chair in a slow, deliberate rhythm.
Master Alando approached quietly. "They suspect us."
"Of course they do," Shanell replied. "The assassin they sent to kill you and the disciples we sent to the tournament never returned. No word. No trace. They know their mission failed. And they know we suspect them.
"So now they're fishing. Casting lines into every sect they can reach, hoping someone bites."
Elder Dalton, a mid-stage Immortal Realm cultivator with a sharp jaw and flame-etched crimson robes, grunted. "They'll find no bait here…"
Elder Sora, the youngest of the five, her silver-blue robes shimmering like moonlight, spoke for the first time. "What if they discover the truth?"
Shanell was silent for a moment. Then she said, "There is a possibility of that happening. But from what we've seen, they have nothing tangible, or else they wouldn't be probing.
"For now we will continue on like nothing happened. We will send out some people to investigate to put on a show as if we are assisting."
All the elders nodded. And then when the elders were gone, Shanell was left behind with her own thoughts.