~~~

The Bright Phantasm Sect is on alert.

The defenses surrounding the compound have proven to be ineffective. A group of mysterious assailants managed to break in and set off an explosion. There is not a single person whose mind is unable to grasp the implications of such a thing.

If it has happened once, it can happen twice.

Patriarch Wong increases the number of disciples on guard duty. Meanwhile, Feng Zhi decides to keep Liu Jin, Huang Shing, and Lu Mei in the compound so that they may be ready to act in the event of another attack. Only Bei Hong is sent out into the Night Forest.

The rest of the Bright Phantasm Sect is free to go about their day as usual.

At least, that is what they try to do.

They cannot shake off the uneasiness that has taken hold of their home. How can they be expected to behave as if all was well when it clearly isn’t? Any second that passes is a second in which they can be attacked. That knowledge hangs over them like a sword throughout the day. Some overcompensate with loud laughter and boastful displays. Others become quiet and withdrawn.

Regardless, it is an unpleasant day for the Bright Phantasm Sect.

When night falls, two people leave the city in secret, one of them with several treasures of the Bright Phantasm Sect stored in a spatial pouch. Their duty is to take the treasures to a neighboring branch of the Bright Phantasm Sect, so that they may be better protected.

Everyone in the Bright Phantasm Sect already knows about it.

This is no accident or carelessness. Rather, the knowledge was deliberately spread among the disciples throughout the day.

That is, after all, Feng Zhi’s plan.

~~~

“I do not mean any offense, Young Master. But isn’t this a little too simple?” Lu Mei asks once Wong Shou and his father have been sent away.

“Of course it is simple. There is no need to overcomplicate things. If the information leaks, it will serve as proof someone in the Bright Phantasm Sect is related to the attacks.”

“And if not?” Liu Jin asks.

“Then it shall allow us to safely transport valuable treasures away from danger.”

~~~

It is a simple plan. At least, that is how it looks like on the surface. Liu Jin is pretty sure it will end up working, one way or another.

However, he cannot say he’s happy.

It is not because Feng Zhi figured out he has a spatial pouch. Though that is slightly worrisome, it is not as if he has been all that discreet about it. It is also not because they are traveling through the Night Forest at night. Though the mists are denser than during the day, the two have been given a Mist Pointer, which should safely guide them to their destination.

The problem is the person holding the Mist Pointer.

Wong Shou.

On paper, pairing them makes sense. Should their journey go without issue, Wong Shou’s presence will be necessary to explain everything. Similarly, there is no way Liu Jin will ever let his spatial pouch out of his sight.

However…

Neither has said a word to each other all day.

They walk and walk and walk without even looking at each other, the awkwardness between them growing with each moment. It is such that even the fallen leaves crunching under their feet and the small animals scurrying about feel unbearably loud.

“I feel as if I should apologize,” Liu Jin says once he cannot bear the silence any longer, well over an hour after they have left Night Phantasm City. “It was not our intention, but our words last night have clearly made you uncomfortable.”

“That is not it… I…” Wong Shou takes a deep breath to calm himself down. “As valued allies who are putting their safety on the line, you all had the right to express your concerns. There is nothing to apologize for.”

“Oh?” Liu Jin raises an eyebrow. “I thought we were to speak plainly with each other. Or was that limited to only one night?”

Wong Shou looks taken aback. Slowly, his lips form a small, tired smile. “It seems I am the one who should apologize this time.”

Silence hangs over them once more. This time it lasts but a minute, just enough time for Wong Shou to gather his thoughts.

“I know the probability of Elder Wong being behind this is high.”

A part of Liu Jin wants to tell Wong Shou he shouldn’t force himself to call him that. That it is okay if he wants to call him uncle instead. Still, he stays silent, realizing it will be easier for Wong Shou if he doesn’t interrupt.

“I cannot blame you for pointing out the possibilities I did not wish to acknowledge, nor can I be angry at you for now putting the hypothesis to the test. That would be petty and not at all suitable for someone of my position. The Bright Phantasm Sect will not be served well if I become the sort of person who will grow angry with others for saying things I do not wish to hear.”

“But you’re still angry,” Liu Jin points out. He wouldn’t have said so much just now if he didn’t feel strongly about it.

“Irritated,” Wong Shou corrects. A lone twig snaps under his feet. He checks the Mist Pointer once more, but Liu Jin is sure he only does it to avoid facing him. “It is nothing important.”

“If I were in your place, I’d probably be irritated as well,” Liu Jin says. “No one likes someone they care about being suspected of wrongdoing. I am just surprised at how protective you are of the person in question.”

Wong Shou sighs heavily.

“I guess Uncle has not made the best impression on you.”

“On the contrary, he made an extremely good impression. He was honest and forthright, so much he did not bother hiding what he thought of you in the past. That is why it surprises me to see you defend him so readily.”

“I defend him because he wasn’t wrong. Every criticism that left Uncle’s lips was one I had thought of first. My father may have been certain of my abilities, but I could never share his confidence. No, calling it confidence is too much. My father was deluded.”

Liu Jin blinks. That is unexpectedly harsh.

“Uncle was right to doubt me. I was too weak-willed and indecisive to be the man my father expected me to be. If my weakness hadn’t been so plain to see, Uncle would have never gained as much support as he did. That is why I could never resent him. Whenever he said my father made a mistake by choosing me as his heir, I couldn’t do anything but agree with him.”

“And yet, you proved him wrong.”

Wong Shou chuckles sadly. “Flattery won’t make me feel better about what we are doing. If this works—”

“Then let us hope it doesn’t,” Liu Jin says, much to Wong Shou’s surprise. “It is as you said last night. There is still no guarantee it is your uncle behind this. He’s far from the only person that can fall for Young Master Feng Zhi’s trap.”

The people of the Bright Phantasm Sect have been informed various treasures will be discreetly moved to another branch. However, the disciples are certain the treasures are being taken to Crescent Moon City. Meanwhile, the Elders know that is just a cover story, and the treasures are being moved to Rusted Tree City instead. As for Elder Wong, Feng Zhi had explained to Patriarch Wong and his son that Elder Wong would be told they are going to Moon Shine City.

All this misinformation was carefully spread throughout the Bright Phantasm Sect over the course of the day. They had to time each reveal just right to avoid the information spreading too far. Similarly, it wasn’t just one group that discreetly left the Bright Phantasm Sect’s compound that night but three. Depending on which one is attacked, they will know who leaked the information.

It is why Wong Shou has been so sullen since leaving Night Phantasm City. The two are on their way to Moon Shine City. If they are attacked, it will be another point against Elder Wong.

“You are right, of course.” Wong Shou tries to smile, but it is obvious he is forcing himself. “Let us hope the worst doesn’t come to pass.”

Personally, Liu Jin wouldn’t call that scenario the worst. In fact, the worst scenario would probably be—

The air behind him whistles, and it is only because Liu Jin hears it in time that he ducks, letting something pass right over his head.

[Ground Contraction]

Liu Jin vanishes just as something invisible strikes the ground with tremendous force. A disturbance of Qi alerts him of another threat. Around Wong Shou, several shades are emerging from the ground. Five. Ten. Twenty. Their numbers keep growing. The Young Master of the Bright Phantasm Sect is so shocked by the ambush that he’s being overwhelmed. His fists lash out wildly as he tries to get some space.

Liu Jin dives into the horde, his spear slicing and stabbing with deadly efficiency. One shade after another dies as he makes his way to Wong Shou and grabs him.

[Ground Contraction]

Accelerated by the technique, Liu Jin rams right through the mass of shades and breaks free. Wong Shou looks dazed for a moment but quickly recovers and assumes a combat stance, his Qi flaring around him.

Spirit Realm, Second Level.

Curiously enough, the shades don’t follow after them. They stay in place, watching them. They are all so close to each other, their dark clothes cause them to blend into one another as if they were but a single body.

“Found.”

“Chase”

“Capture.”

“Flee.”

“Protect.”

“Kill.”

Their words are but hisses at first, but they grow louder and louder. Sometimes only one of the shades speaks. Sometimes it is all of them at once. Last night, they had theorized what Wong Shou had heard could be the controller communicating through his creations.

Liu Jin suddenly doesn’t think that is the case.

“See!” Wong Shou yells. His face is pale. “It is like I told you!”

“I do see,” Liu Jin admits, his voice betraying none of his thoughts. “What I don’t see is the one that attacked me just now.”

That attack had been heavy, far stronger than any of the shades he had fought so far should be capable of.

“He’s still here.”

His presence hovers on the edge of his senses. Somehow, Liu Jin can tell it is not just the mist that is hiding this shade. He is cloaking himself with some sort of technique, yet Liu Jin can tell this thing is in the Spirit Realm.

“Probably waiting for us to let our guard down.”

“I see.” Wong Shou takes a deep breath. “In that case, allow me to deal with the shades in front of us. You deal with our cloaked adversary, Lord Qing.”

Liu Jin's doubt must have shown on his face because Wong Shou adds, “They merely caught me by surprise! I’m more than capable of handling fodder like this!”

Faced with so many opponents, it would be natural to assume they would have to team up. However, Wong Shou and Liu Jin are simply not familiar enough with each other. At worst, they might end up getting in each other’s way. That is why there is merit to Wong Shou’s suggestion.

It might be simpler if they each handle one problem.

“Very well!” Liu Jin twirls his spear exactly once.

And throws it.

It cuts through the air, dispelling the mist through sheer force, and embeds itself deep into a tree. As soon as the leaves start falling, Liu Jin dashes in, stepping on his spear and using it as a springboard.

Fear.

Shock.

The instant his fist connects, Liu Jin feels both those things. He also becomes aware of just how impossibly tough the body of his foe is. Liu Jin’s punch doesn’t even stagger the thing.

This shade is definitely not like the others.

The shade roars, and Liu Jin quickly ducks under what is surely a massive arm. It tears through the tree behind him as though it were made of paper, sending splinters flying all over the place. Liu Jin plants his arm on one of the branches, twists his body, and kicks.

A grunt of pain leaves the shade’s mouth.

That is all Liu Jin manages.

Using [Ground Contraction], Liu Jin dashes back, his feet skidding across the dirt. A second later, a small tremor rocks the ground as the shade lands. A huge chunk of earth is lifted and thrown at Liu Jin.

Liu Jin dodges it.

“Sloppy.” Then another one. “Slow.” And another one. “Weak.”

“Shut up!”

Liu Jin uses [Ground Contraction] again, this time to dash in. Taking advantage of the added acceleration, he drives his elbow into the giant’s chest as hard as he can.

The blow barely staggers him.

“How!?”

Duck.

“How are you looking at me!?”

Roll.

“How?!”

Strike.

“Don’t look at me! Don’t look at me! Don’t look at me!”

He’s not.

But there’s no need to let him know that.

“Perhaps you’re just not that good?”

Another roar. Another mindless attack. A head-on charge this time. Liu Jin waits until the last moment to trip the giant as he moves out of the way, sending him crashing into one tree, then another, and another. Various birds flee into the sky as their homes are suddenly destroyed.

“Have you considered trying to find a foe more on your level?” Liu Jin points to the side. “One of those pebbles, perhaps?”

The giant roars in anger and once more falls into Liu Jin’s trap.

His enemy is huge and strong. His body is amazingly durable. Furthermore, whatever technique this thing is using to cloak himself is one Liu Jin can’t pierce just yet. It not only hides him from sight but also makes sensing his Qi difficult.

Yet, Liu Jin has had no trouble finding his foe since the fight began.

When he hit the tree, the falling leaves revealed the giant’s position to him atop one of the branches. After that, it had been a matter of keeping the shade talking and shouting. That was why Liu Jin taunted him. Now, they have had enough exchanges for Liu Jin to discern his foe’s height, speed, general body shape, and more.

This time, when the giant charges at him, a needle flashes in the darkness.

There is no roar or pained cry this time. Just a sound of pure confusion followed by a small tremor as the giant crashes down.

“What?”

Liu Jin knows the giant’s body. That means he has a rough idea of where all its acupoints are. For a foe like this, that is all he needs to take it down. As Liu Jin advances on his fallen foe, more needles appear on his hand. Even though the giant is incredibly durable, he’ll be able to render it completely immobile in a few more hits.

At least, that is what Liu Jin would have done if the needle he placed inside the giant didn’t suddenly drop to the ground.

Liu Jin is left blinking. It is not that the giant removed it from his body. Even if he had done that, he wouldn’t have been able to regain use of his leg so quickly. Rather, it seems more like the giant just suddenly wasn’t there anymore. Liu Jin can no longer feel any shred of his presence.

It is not that the giant ran away.

He ceased to exist entirely.

“Lord Qing!” Wong Shou runs at him, almost gasping for air. “The shades disappeared all of a sudden. Are you alright?”

“Yes,” he says, slowly, taking a moment to verify Wong Shou’s words. Sure enough, he cannot sense any shades nearby. “The treasures are safe as well.”

“I see. Good. Good.” Wong Shou manages a smile. “It seems we scared them off.”

The smile drops.

“Although… I guess this means there is no denying it now. Uncle is connected to this.”

“No.”

Wong Shou is left blinking as Liu Jin goes over to pull his spear out of a tree. He gives it a few swings and nods to himself.

“What do you mean, Lord Qing? I thought the point of this trap was to ascertain whether the attacks were connected to us. This was the route Uncle knew we would take. That we were attacked means he is connected to this.”

“You are half-right.”

“Lord Qing.” Wong Shou starts sounding irritated. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. “We do not have time for games. What exactly are you getting at?”

“Your uncle never knew we would take this route.”

“What?”

“We told you we would tell your uncle the treasures would take a different route. However, we never did. The route he was informed of was the same one as the other Elders. The only two people in the Bright Phantasm Sect who knew we would pass through this place…”

Liu Jin points his spear at Wong Shou.

“That would be you and your father.”

~~~

“Are you sure, Young Master?”

“Yes, there is no need to tell Elder Wong a different story. It is enough for me to remain here. You may be his inferiors in cultivation, but I am his superior. If he does anything to create one of those shades, I will be able to tell.”

“I don’t doubt your skills, but to doubt Wong Shou?”

“There is no need for you to understand my thoughts. You just need to enact my commands.”

“As you command, Young Master.”

~~~

Wong Shou takes a step back. His face goes through a myriad of emotions, confusion being the dominant one. “Lord Qing, I do not understand…”

“That makes two of us. It is doubtful your father is behind this. That leaves you as the most likely suspect, but why? Why would you jeopardize your own Sect in this way?” Liu Jin wonders as he slowly circles Wong Shou. “Furthermore, why would you frame your Uncle, then fight so fiercely for his innocence? Was that an act to try to make yourself look better?”

“Lord Qing!” Wong Shou lets out a hysterical laugh. “Listen to yourself! You’re speaking nonsense!”

“I thought so too, at first.” To think Feng Zhi’s hunch ended up being right. How annoying. “Yet, there were details. When we first met, I failed to sense your Qi. In the same way, I have had trouble sensing some of the shades.”

“My lord, that only means you were distracted that night!”

“You were in the compound during the attack on the storehouse. By stopping it, your standing in the eyes of the Bright Phantasm Sect has increased. I’d wager you have successfully quelled many of the murmurs your uncle created with that act. However, that is not what truly convinced me of your guilt.”

“What is then? Tell it to me so that I may dissuade you!”

“Your voice, Lord Wong,” Liu Jin replies. “The shades just now spoke with your voice. Are you going to pretend you never noticed?”

The entire time. Whether it is the black-cloaked shades or the invisible one, they had all spoken with Wong Shou’s voice.

“Furthermore, the invisible one just now fought with your Qi. I even clearly felt your Qi act when the shades appeared all around you. Or rather, when you created all those shades to fake an attack on your person.”

“That’s not… that can’t be…”

“Why did you do it? Do you hate your father, who forced the position of heir onto you? Is that it?”

“What? NO! I am… I am the one who will one day inherit the Bright Phantasm Sect!” Wong Shou yells. His eyes are wide and unfocused. “I am the one who’ll inherit, so I cannot do something to harm the Sect. How can you even suspect me? I can only do what is best for the Sect! That’s why I have to be strong. Have to be... I can’t fail. Can’t show weakness. I would never—I can’t! I have to inherit. Have to! Have...”

He is breaking.

Wong Shou’s wide, panic-filled eyes. The way he grabs and pulls at his hair as he falls to his knees. How all blood flees from his face and his chest heaves as he starts hyperventilating, his eyes looking at Liu Jin. Begging. Pleading.

This is not an act.

Liu Jin takes a step towards Wong Shou.

The shades surge.

Their previous numbers seem paltry in comparison. They emerge from Wong Shou’s body by the dozen. A wave of black that floods the forest. It happens too quickly. Too suddenly. Wong Shou’s breakdown leaves Liu Jin unprepared, vulnerable. By the time he starts moving, dozens of arms already have hold of him.

Weak

Liu Jin screams.

ProtectWaitattackcoverfleecannotwaitperfecthavedonotpretendpretendpretendpretendpretendhavetobecantSTOP!!

The words come one after another. Liu Jin wrenches himself free from the shades’ grasp with a burst of strength, yet the pollution keeps eating away at his mind. He can’t think. He can barely see. He has to get away. Has to get away.

“Easy.”

Two strong arms catch him in time. That voice. Bei Hong. That’s right. He had been following them in secret just in case. He can’t handle this on his own. The shades. Liu Jin still hears them. Growing, howling, and moaning.

“We’re leaving.”

Liu Jin cannot agree more.

~~~