Under the guise of a simple maid, Yin Shuang entered the Obsidian Peak Sect with surprising ease. A well-placed bribe and a convincing display of humility had secured her a position within the sect's servant ranks.
From the moment she arrived, she kept her head low, silently observing while diligently performing her tasks. Scrubbing floors, preparing meals, washing laundry—all were menial but necessary duties. She endured them without complaint, her hands never idle, her posture always respectful.
It was all part of the plan.
She knew the only way to get close to the so-called Sect Leader was to build trust—starting with the Chief Steward Chen, the one who oversaw the servants. He was a gruff man with a sharp eye for laziness, yet he seemed to appreciate her diligence. Unlike the other maids, she never gossiped, never questioned orders, and completed her work swiftly and quietly.
And all the while, she nursed her hatred in silence.
Yin had not yet seen the Sect Leader, but she had already judged him guilty.
A man who led such a vile sect could not be anything other than a scheming, ruthless villain. He was surely a snake, a cunning manipulator, a man devoid of virtue, who used every opportunity to spread evil.
She loathed him. Every fiber of her being screamed for justice. The Obsidian Peak Sect must be eradicated, and its leader must die.
And soon, she would get her chance.
One evening, the Chief Steward called for her.
"You've done well so far, Xiu Huan" he addressed her with her fake name. "We need more good servants like you."
Yin bowed her head in acknowledgment.
He continued, "Xiao Hua is sick. She's the one who delivers meals to the Sect Leader. Since she can't go, you'll do it instead."
Yin's breath nearly caught in her throat, but she quickly lowered her gaze to hide the flicker of emotion.
This was it.
She had been patient, disciplined, and now, the heavens rewarded her efforts.
Yin calmly accepted the task, ensuring that her Flying Star Needles were prepared and hidden within her sleeves. Once she killed him, she would seize the Celestial Eclipse Manual and escape.
Carrying the basket of food, she made her way toward the Sect Leader's quarters, her mind focused, her movements steady. This was the moment she had trained for.
Inside his chamber, Kai sat cross-legged on the floor, deep in cultivation.
He was on the brink of breaking through to the Foundation Level.
Qi surged through his body, flowing through his meridians like a rushing river. He felt the barriers within him loosening, breaking apart as his Dantian expanded to accommodate the new influx of energy. The feeling was exhilarating—
—and dangerous.
He had to maintain complete control. If his Qi became unstable, if he lost his focus for even a moment, it could have devastating consequences.
His breathing slowed. He concentrated. The Qi spiraled around his core, stabilizing, refining—
And then, at that precise moment—
Yin Shuang silently stepped into the chamber, her presence nearly undetectable.
The moment she laid eyes on Kai, she faltered for just a fraction of a second.
This… was the Sect Leader?
He looked… young. Far younger than she had expected. There was no sinister air about him, no cruel, calculating gaze.
To her, it seemed almost as if he did not belong here.
Her hatred burned away the momentary hesitation. Wolves sometimes wear sheep's clothing.
There was no need for sympathy—only justice.
Her grip tightened on the concealed trigger. He must die. The entire sect must die.
Without another thought, she fired the Flying Star Needles.
The mechanism released the needles with a near-silent click. Razor-sharp and unerring, the needles streaked through the air like meteors towards their target.
Normally, the Celestial Eclipse techniques would instinctively shield Kai from an attack like this.
But at this crucial moment—
All of his Qi was concentrated on his breakthrough attempt.
As the poison-coated needles pierced his skin, an unnatural reversal occurred within his meridians. The surge of Qi that had been building up collapsed inward, disrupting the entire circulation system causing his Qi to flow in the reverse direction.
His chest convulsed.
A searing pain erupted from within.
It was as if his own Qi had turned against him.
An internal detonation ripped through his body. His Dantian shuddered, his meridians snapped like frayed strings—
Kai coughed violently, his vision blurring. A mouthful of blood spewed from his lips, splattering onto the floor. More followed—
A crimson pool formed around him.
He collapsed, barely conscious, his limbs weak, his Qi completely out of control.
Yin Shuang's eyes widened.
She had expected a fight. She had braced for a battle against a formidable villain.
Instead…
He had simply crumpled.
"…So weak?" she whispered.
Her mission was not yet complete.
This was her chance to finish it. To end his life and bring justice to the Azure Cloud Sect. To retrieve the Celestial Eclipse Manual for her Master.
She stepped forward, raising her blade, ready to deal the final blow.