Kai stood silently on the veranda, staring at the swirling mist veiling the distant peaks. The investigation into Zhang Lin had unsettled him deeply. Dealing punishment was one thing; confronting the root of the sect's reputation was entirely another.
His mind drifted to Yin. Her tears, her heartbreak over the massacre at the Azure Cloud Sect—it was a wound that had never healed. It had also marked the moment the Obsidian Peak Sect became known as "evil," a label Kai now carried as its leader.
He had resolved to find the truth, no matter what darkness he might unearth. Thus, Kai had summoned the three elders, determined to piece together what exactly happened in that fateful incident years ago.
As he stepped back into the hall, he found Elder Kong, Elder Pu Erniang, and Elder Huo waiting silently, each seated in their own places around the long, jade-inlaid table. The air was heavy, tense with unspoken accusations and secrets long buried.
Kai's gaze swept over each of them as he took his place at the head of the table. "Thank you all for attending on such short notice."
Elder Kong inclined his head politely, his eyes sharp, unreadable. "Sect Lord, your wishes are our command."
Pu Erniang nodded warmly, her motherly demeanor comforting, though her eyes revealed subtle unease. "Whatever clarity we can offer, we will gladly provide."
Elder Huo simply folded his arms, his mouth twisting into a faint sneer. "I hope this meeting isn't merely to dredge up old grievances."
Kai ignored the veiled disrespect. "I seek only the truth. Elder Kong, let's begin with you. Tell me about your knowledge of the Azure Cloud Sect Massacre."
Kong straightened his robes, his gaze thoughtful. "Sect Lord, as you know, our sect had no leader at that time. The three of us were each responsible for our respective duties. Conflict with Azure Cloud was ongoing, but it was confined to minor clashes, typical sect rivalry. I myself had negotiated with their elders, seeking peace. There was absolutely no motive for massacre."
He paused, his brow furrowing as if reliving unpleasant memories. "More troubling was the nature of the killings. Every victim was slain using the Celestial Eclipse Techniques—methods believed to have vanished centuries ago along with our sect's founder, the Scholar of the True Way. Such techniques are distinct and unmistakable, leaving precise, recognizable wounds that no ordinary cultivator could replicate. Whoever committed this atrocity either mastered these lost arts or was skilled enough to convincingly mimic them."
Kai listened closely, his unease deepening. "And you're certain of this?"
"Completely," Kong affirmed gravely. "I inspected the aftermath personally. There is no mistake."
Kai listened intently, noting Elder Kong's calm, methodical tone. Kong had always been supportive—too supportive, perhaps. Kai wondered if there was something beneath his composed exterior.
Pu Erniang sat quietly at Kai's left, her graceful figure softened by layers of elegant, dark silk robes embroidered with delicate floral patterns. Her raven-black hair, carefully threaded with silver beads and jade pins, framed a face marked by serene maturity. Gentle crow's feet at the corners of her eyes betrayed years spent in both laughter and sorrow.
Kai found himself momentarily drawn into memories of the numerous times he'd seen her interacting with Liu Yu and Liu Yue. Lu Erniang's usually calm face always lit up brightly whenever the twins appeared. Despite their rambunctious behavior, their endless pranks, and their habit of sneaking into restricted areas, she had never once reprimanded them harshly.
On one such occasion, Kai had observed them causing chaos within the sect's poison hall, overturning shelves and mixing rare ingredients haphazardly into noxious concoctions. Yet, rather than anger, Erniang's reaction had been gentle amusement. She patiently cleaned up after them, gently reminding them to be careful but never discouraging their adventurous spirit.
Not only had she given them unrestricted access to the poison hall, an act unthinkable for anyone else, Erniang also ensured they were always provided with their favorite delicacies. The twins had a well-known penchant for sweet lotus pastries and roasted honey duck, and Kai could recall countless afternoons where the aroma of these dishes had drifted pleasantly from Erniang's quarters, accompanied by the twins' gleeful laughter.
Her affection extended even further, frequently brewing personalized medicinal teas to bolster their strength or soothe any ailments. Each visit ended with small gifts—jade pendants or embroidered handkerchiefs—and a gentle reminder to behave, though everyone knew she never truly expected compliance.
Reflecting on these memories as he watched her now, Kai couldn't help but feel comforted by Erniang's reassuring presence. Yet, a small voice in his mind reminded him to remain cautious.
"Whatever clarity we can offer," Pu Erniang repeated softly, pulling Kai back to the present moment, "we will gladly provide."
Kai met her gaze directly. Beneath her calm eyes lay genuine concern, reinforcing the image he'd always held of her, a nurturing figure.
"What about you, Elder Pu?" Kai prompted gently.
Pu Erniang sighed deeply, her kind eyes reflecting sadness. "I remember those days vividly, Sect Lord. Azure Cloud's destruction took us all by surprise. Prior to the massacre, we had occasional conflicts, yes, but nothing extreme. Certainly nothing worth killing an entire sect over." Her voice softened. "The twins, Liu Yu and Liu Yue, were only children back then. They had been training under my supervision, often sneaking into the Poison Hall and causing mischief. They had no involvement—and as far as I know, neither did any other of our sect members."
Kai nodded slowly. The sincerity in her voice was unmistakable, yet he couldn't dismiss his doubts entirely. Pu Erniang, who doted upon the twins, who indulged their every whim, was still a powerful master of poison. Could she be hiding something darker behind her maternal facade?
Opposite Pu Erniang sat Elder Huo, whose intense gaze smoldered beneath thick, furrowed brows.
Elder Huo was a man whose very presence exuded aggression and pride, as if he were perpetually on the verge of exploding into action. His long, crimson robes trimmed with gold matched his fiery disposition, and his coal-black hair, streaked with gray, was tied back tightly, revealing a stern, angular face etched deeply by a lifetime of battles and rivalries.
Kai studied the elder carefully, noting how Elder Huo's thin lips twisted into a faint sneer whenever he was displeased, which was frequent enough. Kai had learned to recognize the signs of Elder Huo's mounting irritation: the way his fingers impatiently tapped against the jade tabletop, his nostrils flaring slightly as if drawing breath for another harsh rebuke.
Elder Huo had always been direct, unforgiving, and demanding perfection from those under his command. Since his recent defeat by Kai, his already volatile temper had worsened. Yet, surprisingly, despite his obvious dissatisfaction, Huo had begrudgingly enforced Kai's new directives in his own harsh, uncompromising way.
Kai recalled overhearing reports of Elder Huo storming through the Crimson Flame Hall just days earlier, roaring at disciples who resisted the changes. The fiery elder had personally overseen compliance, brutally reprimanding and punishing anyone caught defying Kai's orders against needless cruelty and exploitation. Ironically, it was Huo's explosive temper and ruthless enforcement methods that had swiftly brought obedience and discipline to his hall, albeit with some resentment simmering beneath the surface.
Though Kai appreciated Huo's compliance, he could sense lingering hostility in the elder's narrowed eyes—hostility born from wounded pride and a bruised ego.
Lastly, Kai's attention turned to Elder Huo, who had been impatiently tapping his fingers against the table throughout the exchange.
"And you, Elder Huo?"
Huo's eyes flashed with irritation, clearly disliking Kai's authority. "Sect Lord, accusations without proof are meaningless. True, I had little love for Azure Cloud. Their arrogance was insufferable, their mockery relentless. But massacre?" His lip curled in disdain. "Such crude, mindless brutality is beneath me. Whoever slaughtered them used techniques lost long ago, techniques that none here could master."
"No accusations, Elder Huo," Kai replied evenly. "Only questions needing answers."
Kai stared at him intently, sensing hidden rage simmering beneath Elder Huo's words. The grudge from their duel clearly lingered. But was it anger at the accusation or at Kai himself?
"Celestial Eclipse techniques," Kai murmured thoughtfully, glancing back toward Elder Kong. "You mentioned these techniques were lost?"
Kong inclined his head gravely. "Indeed. The Celestial Eclipse cultivation arts vanished with our founder years ago. Before you, no one else in our sect has mastered these techniques."
"Yet witnesses claim those exact methods destroyed Azure Cloud," Kai pressed. "How can that be explained?"
Pu Erniang shook her head sadly. "I fear we may have been deliberately framed. The techniques might have been replicated or mimicked by another sect seeking to weaken our reputation."
Elder Huo leaned back, eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Or perhaps a former member, hiding somewhere, secretly preserving those forbidden skills. Someone waiting to strike at the perfect moment."
The implication unsettled Kai deeply. Could a traitor or renegade disciple truly exist within their ranks? Or perhaps someone from outside had indeed mastered the lost techniques, intentionally framing Obsidian Peak.
"Could there be any trace left behind?" Kai asked, thinking aloud.
"The massacre was years ago," Elder Kong cautioned softly. "But perhaps the Azure Cloud ruins still hold answers. If you truly seek clarity, Sect Lord, the answer may lie there."
Kai nodded solemnly. "Then I shall personally investigate those ruins."
Silence fell over the elders, each eyeing Kai cautiously.
Elder Huo sneered slightly, breaking the silence. "You would willingly step into the jaws of those who hate us? Even now, Azure Cloud's allies would leap at any chance to avenge that massacre."
"I have no other choice," Kai declared firmly. "This is about more than personal reputation. The sect's future depends on finding this truth."
Pu Erniang leaned forward, concern etched into her features. "If you must go, Sect Lord, allow the twins to accompany you. They know the territory well, and I can trust them implicitly."
Kai smiled slightly, warmed by her concern. "I appreciate your care, Elder Pu. I will consider it."
"Be cautious," Elder Kong warned gently. "Whoever orchestrated this massacre is powerful and cunning."
Kai rose slowly, signaling the conclusion of their audience. "You have all given me much to ponder. You're dismissed for now."
The three elders departed silently, each retreating into their respective halls. Kai stood alone, absorbing the weight of what he had learned. The elders' testimonies matched, but each held shades of secrets and half-truths. He was no closer to an answer.
It seemed that confronting the Azure Cloud Massacre was like chasing ghosts.
Kai turned his eyes toward the distant mountains once more, resolve hardening within him. Regardless of how dangerous it would become, he would not stop until he discovered the truth, exposing those behind this tragedy.
Even if that meant facing enemies stronger and more sinister than he could imagine, Kai was determined to clear his sect's name and heal the wounds of the past.
With a deep breath, he steeled himself for the journey ahead. He was about to uncover dark secrets, secrets that could reshape his destiny, and perhaps even change the very foundations of the Ascendant Realm.