PATRIARCH! PATRIARCH!
A guard stumbled into the grand hall, his armor clattering as he tripped on the deep crimson carpet, scraping his face against the intricate weave. He ignored the sting and the trickle of blood, his eyes wide with pure terror.
"Hah… Hah… Patriarch!" he gasped, struggling for breath. "Word from our spies in the Sword Spirit and Beast Flame Sects! They are mobilizing their forces! The commotion is deliberate—they are not even trying to hide it!"
Qi Lantian, seated on his patriarch's throne, did not flinch. He merely waved a dismissive hand, as if swatting a gnat. "You may leave."
"Y-Yes, Patriarch!" The guard scrambled backward, his relief palpable as he fled the oppressive atmosphere of the hall.
Alone, Qi Lantian's calm facade remained, but a storm brewed behind his eyes. What game are the three of you playing? he mused, his mind racing through possibilities.
He retrieved his sound transmission talisman, his voice deceptively calm, like the still surface of a deep lake. "Investigate the motives of the three powers. Absolute stealth is required. Do not reveal your presence."
Haaah…
A slow sigh escaped him. Even within the fortified walls of his estate, he could feel the subtle vibration of panic, the hushed, fearful whispers of his clansmen. Is this their true objective? he wondered. To cripple us with fear before the first blow is even struck?
He activated his talisman again, his tone shifting to one of sharp command. "Gather all available forces. Secure the four gates. Report any unusual activity. And quell the panic among the disciples. Now." He severed the connection, the silence that followed feeling heavier than before.
His gaze turned west, towards the Fen Clan territories, piercing through the walls as if he could see Fen Jeuchen himself. "What hell are you planning?" he whispered, the words a venomous promise meant only for the wind.
---
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The measured sound of footsteps echoed in the Fen meeting hall, accompanied by the mournful howl of the wind slipping through the stone arches.
Elder Fen Ju appeared, his steps deliberately loud, announcing his presence before he bowed deeply. "Your Highness, the news is confirmed. The Qi Clan is in disarray. Patriarch Qi Lantian struggles to contain the panic."
A raspy, chilling laugh escaped Fen Jeuchen's lips. "As expected. Hehe-he."
"And we have identified Qi Clan spies circling our perimeter and the other sects," Fen Ju added.
"HA HA HA HA!" Fen Jeuchen's booming laughter held no joy, only sadistic triumph. "Even the unflappable Qi Lantian feels fear now! Good! Let him choke on it. Let him dread the unknown. I want his foundation to shake before we tear it down!"
"Our forces are rallied, Patriarch," Fen Ju continued, his tone turning cautious. "But the numbers are… pitifully small, given the time constraint. Would it not be wiser to delay? Even a month would allow us to gather a more formidable army and increase our chances of victory."
"Idiot!" Fen Jeuchen snapped, his voice cracking like a whip. "A month? You think the Qi Clan will sit on a hot frying pan for a month and do nothing? No! They would use that time to fortify their defenses, dispel the panic, and root out our advantages! The essence of this plan is surprise! They believe we are only beginning our preparations. They will not expect an attack tonight!"
He leaned forward, his eyes glinting. "Furthermore, delay will shatter the morale of our own forces and try the patience of our… allies. You know Sect Master Hua Yan's temper. He would abandon this alliance out of sheer impatience, leaving us to face the Qi Clan alone. Waiting only serves our enemy."
"Y-Yes… Patriarch is wise. This one understands," Fen Ju said, bowing again, a new layer of fear and reverence in his voice.
"Hmph. You are dismissed. Gather every able body. Tonight, we bring carnage to the Qi Clan's doorstep."
"At once, Patriarch."
As Fen Ju retreated, Fen Jeuchen's eyes narrowed, tracking the elder's back. This old fox suspects my vendetta is the true engine of this war. His questions are probes, attempts to reassure his own conscience. He thinks he is cunning, patient enough to wait for his own opportunity to strike. A cold smile touched Fen Jeuchen's lips. But I am the predator here. Once the Qi Clan is ash, you will be the next hidden malady I purge.
---
"Lethean… Lethean, wake up." Caiyi's voice was a soft melody as she gently brushed the hair from her son's forehead.
"Mmm…" Lethean's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft morning light framing his mother's concerned face.
Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes with small, pale hands. "What time is it, Mom?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep.
"It's already noon," she said, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"Noon?!" Lethean's eyes shot open, and he jolted upright.
"Pfft…" Caiyi stifled a laugh at his alarmed expression. "I'm teasing you, my little worrywart. It's only 6. But it is unlike you to sleep so late. Your body's clock has always woken you at 4 for training."
Lethean fell silent, a deep unease settling in his stomach. She was right. Years of discipline had made it instinctual. This sudden change… it felt wrong, a disruption in the natural order of his being. "I… I don't know," he murmured.
"Well, you need not push yourself," she said, pulling him close and planting a kiss on his brow. "After your bath, you can rest. I will handle your duties today."
"No!" The word erupted from him, sharp and sudden.
Caiyi recoiled, stunned. "Le'er? What is it?"
Lethean himself seemed surprised by his own vehemence. He took a breath, the strange, unshakable dread coiling in his gut. "I… I want to stay with you today. Please."
"Oh, Lethean," she sighed, her worry returning. "You've been my shadow these past days. If you are unwell, rest. I will be quick."
"I'm fine," he insisted, his ocean-blue eyes holding a depth of emotion that belied his age. "I just need to be with you today."
Seeing the resolve in his gaze, she surrendered helplessly. "Alright. But remember, whatever worries you, you can always tell me."
He nodded, a solemn gesture that did little to dispel the cold foreboding in his heart.
---
Meanwhile, atop a verdant hill overlooking his domain, Qi Lantian stood with furrowed brows, his gaze fixed west. The puzzle of the three sects' mobilization turned over in his mind.
CRAAAHHHH!!!!
A sound like tearing silk ripped through the morning quiet. He turned to see a crow—a creature of void-like blackness with eyes that glowed like fresh blood—perched on a gnarled, withered branch.
CRAAH!
It shrieked once more, a sound that felt like a portent, before launching into the sky. Its dark form was swallowed by the clouds until it was nothing but a memory.
Qi Lantian stared after it, a profound disquiet settling in his spirit. "A strange omen," he muttered to the empty air, shaking his head as if to clear it of the unnatural chill the bird had left behind. His thoughts reluctantly returned to the Fen Clan, but the image of those blood-red eyes was now seared into his memory.
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