The sun rose over Crimson Flame Mountain with indifferent cruelty — bright, unyielding, illuminating every crack in the facade the sect had maintained for centuries.
Word of the night on Crimson Lotus Peak spread like wildfire through dry grass
No one had seen it happen, but everyone felt it: a sudden spike of volcanic qi that made the air shimmer for miles, followed by the unmistakable aftertaste of yang essence mingling with flame yin
Disciples whispered in training halls
Inner elders exchanged glances during morning assembly
Even the outer disciples, usually too busy with chores to care, paused when they felt the distant tremor
By midday, the fracture lines were visible
Zhao Tian stood in the central plaza, surrounded by a growing crowd of his followers — young masters, Core Formation enforcers, and a handful of Golden Core elders who had long resented the Grand Elder's "softness.
His sword rested on his shoulder, tip pointed skyward, but his knuckles were white around the hilt
"They defiled Crimson Lotus Peak," he said — voice carrying, not shouting, but cutting through the murmurs like a blade
"Matriarch Huo Lanyue — the strongest woman in our sect — has been taken by that trash
The same trash who stole my fiancée
The same trash who corrupted Madam Su.
He turned in a slow circle, eyes burning
"And the Grand Elder does nothing
He lets them walk free
He lets them breathe our air
How long before they take everything
How long before they turn this sect into their personal brothel?
A low rumble of agreement rippled through the crowd
One Golden Core elder — a stern woman named Elder Cai — stepped forward
"Zhao Tian speaks truth," she said
"The Grand Elder's mercy has become weakness
We must act
We must purge.
The plaza grew louder
Xiao Yang, Su Qingxue, Ling Xue'er, and now Huo Lanyue stood on the steps of Jade Phoenix Peak — watching from above
Huo Lanyue leaned against a pillar, arms crossed under her breasts, still wearing the translucent crimson robe from last night (now mended, but deliberately left sheer)
She looked amused
"They're adorable," she said
"Like children playing at revolution.
Su Qingxue's voice was ice
"They're not children
They're scared
And scared men do stupid things.
Ling Xue'er stayed quiet — eyes fixed on Zhao Tian below
Xiao Yang felt the stir again — the system's faint presence
Opportunity detected: Sect fracture
Zhao Tian leads rebellion
Crush him publicly to solidify your position
Reward: +0.09% Nascent Soul purity
Accept
He dismissed it without a word
But the thought lingered — quiet, insistent
Huo Lanyue noticed his silence
"You're thinking about it," she said
"About going down there and ending him.
Xiao Yang exhaled
"I'm thinking about how many more will die if I do.
Huo Lanyue's smile faded
"Then don't think
Act
That's what monsters do.
Before anyone could respond, a messenger disciple rushed up the steps — face pale, bowing so low his forehead hit stone
"Matriarch Huo… Grand Elder Zhao Wuji summons all of you
To the main hall
Immediately.
The four of them exchanged glances
No words were needed
They descended
The main hall of Crimson Flame Sect was vast — crimson pillars carved with coiling dragons, ceiling lost in smoke and flame motifs, throne-like seat of the Grand Elder at the far end
Zhao Wuji sat there — silver hair unbound, eyes closed, aura calm but heavy
The hall was full: elders on both sides, disciples in ranks, Zhao Tian at the center with his supporters
When the four entered, silence fell like a blade
Zhao Wuji opened his eyes
He looked at Huo Lanyue first
"You've chosen your side.
Huo Lanyue shrugged one shoulder — robe slipping just enough to draw eyes
"I chose pleasure over boredom
Is that a crime now?
Zhao Wuji's gaze shifted to Xiao Yang
"You've grown quiet since your return
No demands
No threats
Why?
Xiao Yang stepped forward — alone
"Because I don't need to threaten," he said
"The truth is threat enough.
Zhao Wuji leaned forward slightly
"And what is the truth?
Xiao Yang looked around the hall — at the faces twisted with fear, anger, envy
"The truth is this sect is rotting
From the inside
You sit on your throne and pretend mercy will hold it together
But mercy is just delayed punishment.
A murmur rippled through the crowd
Zhao Tian stepped forward — sword drawn
"You dare lecture the Grand Elder
You — a nobody who fucked his way to power?
Xiao Yang looked at him
"I fucked my way to nothing
I'm still nothing
But you… you're less than nothing
Because you lost her
And you'll lose more.
Zhao Tian's face twisted
"I'll kill you.
He lunged
Sword light flashed — Core Formation peak, blazing with righteous fury
Xiao Yang did not move
Huo Lanyue did
A wall of crimson flame erupted between them — not attacking, just blocking
Zhao Tian's sword bounced off it
He staggered back
Huo Lanyue's voice cut through the hall — calm, amused
"Touch him again, boy, and I'll turn you to ash
And I'll enjoy it.
Zhao Wuji raised one hand
Enough
The flames vanished
He looked at Xiao Yang
"You've made your point
But points don't hold sects together.
He stood
The hall fell silent
"I will not execute you," he said
"Not today
But I will not protect you either
From this moment, you four are no longer under sect protection
Survive on your own merit
Or fall.
He turned and walked toward the rear doors
No final glance
No anger
Just exhaustion
Zhao Tian stared after him — stunned
Then he looked at Xiao Yang
"This isn't over.
Xiao Yang smiled — small, cold
"It never was.
The four of them left the hall
Behind them, the sect fractured further
In front of them, the mountain path stretched — open, dangerous, free
Huo Lanyue walked beside Xiao Yang — close enough that her hip brushed his with every step
"So," she said lightly
"No sect protection
No mercy
What now?
Xiao Yang looked ahead — toward the wilds beyond the sect border
"Now," he said, "we build something new
Or we burn everything down trying.
Su Qingxue and Ling Xue'er fell into step beside them
No one spoke