Chapter 58 – Counterattack

  Jun De stepped through the gates of the Tranquil Mountain Sect just as the sun began to set. The stone archway cast a long shadow behind him, and the guards barely spared him a glance as they seemed preoccupied with something else.

  The Outer Sect was buzzing with nervous energy.

  Disciples hurried between courtyards and training fields, their heads bowed as they rushed. No one stopped to converse, and the usual disruption that his appearance caused went unnoticed as the Disciples didn’t have time to spare.

  ‘What’s going on here?’ Jun De wondered. He doubted it had anything to do with the attack on the Green Willow Hamlet, which was too remote and unimportant to cause a ruckus in the Outer Sect.

  Jun De passed a group of junior disciples practicing sword forms under the watchful eyes of an Elder. Normally, they would have stared at him and whispered about his performance in the Tower or his actions in the Inheritance Site.

  But today, they barely looked up.

  The Outer Sect felt tighter and more tense than he remembered. It was as if everyone was preparing for something to happen, and they wanted to be ready for action.

  Jun De moved past the main Outer Sect and climbed the winding path toward the Upper Ridge where his own home was located. But instead of turning toward the gate of his courtyard, Jun De headed for Elder Shen’s immortal cave.

  When he reached the Elder’s gate, Jun De took a moment to compose his thoughts. The events of the past few days settled on his chest like a stone.

  Lin Yue had gone with her grandparents to Tranquil City, staying there to make sure they were settled and safe. The city had been tense, and the streets were heavily patrolled. The disappearances were no longer rumours that were whispered as gossip.

  Now, everyone knew they were real, and the threat was growing.

  Finally, having gathered his thoughts and composed himself, Jun De knocked on the gate.

  The doors creaked open almost immediately, and Jun De saw Elder Shen standing in his courtyard with a grave expression. He looked Jun De up and down, and despite the fact that Jun De was uninjured and his robes were pristine, Elder Shen somehow knew that something had happened to him.

  “Come in.” Elder Shen said quietly, gesturing toward a soft cushion. Jun De entered the courtyard and bowed politely before straightening and taking a seat.

  The courtyard was still and quiet, and while the faint breeze still carried the familiar scent of pine incense that Elder Shen preferred, it couldn’t mask the heaviness in the air.

  Elder Shen watched him for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing faintly, before he spoke again.

  “You’ve seen the truth of the disappearances for yourself now, haven’t you?” The Elder made the question sound more like a statement.

  ‘How did he know?’ Jun De wondered, as he nodded slowly.

  “Green Willow Hamlet was attacked by dozens of cultivators. They were organized and coordinated, but also wild and unchecked. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Jun De explained. He hesitated for a moment before continuing.

  “They are using the same method as Ren Sihan. It’s some kind of item that boosts their cultivation, but it comes at a cost. Their leader sacrificed all of his people when he took it, and he reached the 6th Level of Qi Condensation. I…I killed him.” Jun De admitted, and his voice faltered.

  Elder Shen didn’t look surprised. If anything, he seemed older in that moment as his gaze went distant. It was like he was piecing together a puzzle that had finally begun to take shape.

  “And Lin Yue?” Elder Shen asked.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “She’s safe. She’s in Tranquil City with her grandparents and the rest of the villagers, those who survived the attack. But the city is tense, and the City Lord's Guards are patrolling. Did something else happen while I was away?” Jun De inquired.

  Elder Shen began to slowly walk around the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

  “You did the right thing, Jun De. There is no need to feel regret or guilt in taking a life when it is necessary to prevent tragedy. The path of cultivation often demands that we make difficult choices. But, if you hesitate too long in the face of evil, others will pay the price.”

  Jun De nodded, and surprisingly, his guilt at killing the leader of the attacking cultivators eased at his words.

  Elder Shen noticed the reaction Jun De had and felt relieved that he understood. He wouldn’t want Jun De’s regret and guilt to form an Inner Demon and affect his future growth. The Tranquil Mountain Sect may be peaceful compared to an Unorthodox Sect or the world of Jianghu, but that didn’t mean it was without its dangers.

  “The path of cultivation inevitably leads to conflict. Whether it is against others, the heavens, or even against yourself, conflict is at the heart of it all. Every step forward is a challenge, every breakthrough is in defiance.”

  Jun De remained silent, letting the words sink into him like a stone settling in water.

  “You’ve taken a life now, Jun De, but it will not be the last. What will define you is not the number of lives taken, but the reason for your actions. The purpose is what is important.” Elder Shen finished.

  “I understand.” Jun De replied as he looked down at the ground in front of him. Elder Shen looked at him and felt a flicker of pride in his heart.

  “The Ren Clan Patriarch vanished during his own celebration, with Ren Sihan disappearing along with him. And now these attacks are spreading throughout the region. Small hamlets, merchant caravans, and even minor Sects have gone silent.” Elder Shen said, his tone grim.

  “You believe it is all connected?” Jun De asked with a frown.

  “We are certain of it. The Inner Sect Elders have divined that a larger force is at work here. They are organized and coordinated. Perhaps it is even the work of a hidden demonic Sect, operating from the shadows.”

  “Each day they operate freely, the stronger they will grow and the harder they will be to root out.”

  Elder Shen’s expression turned solemn.

  “Tomorrow, a dozen Sects across the region will begin a coordinated hunt for the demonic cultivators. The attacks have become too bold, and we can no longer afford to wait.”

  “Our forces will begin by investigating the Sects that have gone silent. One in particular, Hollow Stream Sect, has stopped responding to our communications this morning. That is where we will begin.”

  Jun De nodded slowly, already bracing himself for what was about to happen.

  ‘Please don’t say that I will be taking part in it!’ Jun De thought.

  “We will be departing with the Tranquil Mountain’s Sect flying ship at dawn. Elder Mu will be leading the campaign, along with the Inner Sect Disciples and the Outer Sect Elders. I will be accompanying her, and so will you.”

  Jun De’s heart sank as he heard those words.

  “You will be entering the Inner Sect soon, so it is only natural for you to participate. Several other promising Outer Sect Disciples will be joining us as well. They are in the 6th and 7th Level of Qi Condensation and are preparing for entry into the Inner Sect.”

  “Rest and prepare, Jun De.”

  When he returned to his own courtyard, Jun De sat in silence, staring at the sky as twilight deepened into night.

  The golden Flame nestled in his Dantian flickered gently in contentment, and the Warflag of Dominion had once again taken its place hanging over the bridge that crossed the small pond at the center of the courtyard.

  “I won’t be able to run or hide from this.” Jun De murmured, before letting out a sigh. Why couldn’t everything just be peaceful and normal for a while?

  “If I’m going to be chasing after demonic cultivators with the Elders, I need to be strong enough to survive. Just having the Flag of Dominion isn’t enough, I need to improve my cultivation.”

  Jun De sat down cross-legged on his cultivation mat in his meditation chamber and closed his eyes. His breathing slowed, and the world fell away. For the first time since he had arrived in this new world, he took his cultivation seriously.

  Within his Dantian, the golden Qi surged like a vast tide as it crashed against the invisible barrier that separated him from the 6th Level of Qi Condensation. Each time it struck, the pressure shook through his body, like waves colliding with a rocky shore.

  Again and again, the Qi withdrew and slammed forward as it drew more spiritual energy from the chamber around him.

  Finally, after a half dozen tries, the barrier splintered like glass. Everything went still, before a flood of spiritual energy rushed through him. A rush of Qi poured into his Dantian, swirling like a golden storm.

  The Dawnheart Flame ignited in response, flaring to life with a joyous roar as if it were waiting for this moment. Warmth coursed through Jun De’s body, filling his limbs, healing his fatigue and sharpening his senses.

  The spiritual energy within him resonated, harmonizing with perfect balance.

  Outside his home, golden light surged upwards in a pillar of light that shot toward the sky. The spiritual energy of the Outer Sect glowed in its brilliance. For a moment, it looked as though a second sun was rising.

  Elder Mu stood watching him on a distant peak, her spiritual sense covering Jun De’s home in order to assess his progress.

  A small, pleased smile played across her lips, and with a wave of her sleeve, a gentle mist veiled the light and shielded it from prying eyes.

  “I look forward to your entry into the Inner Sect, Jun De.”