Flying on wings made of light-essence, a figure streaked through the sky above a certain corner of the Hartan continent. He was pursued by a swarm of ten or twenty other figures that pursued him. Chasing him up the coastline to a small port town where one of the pursues were finally able to strike the white-winged figure down.

Using an essence technique to smash him down with enough force to create a crater where he landed.

The wings of white melted away, returning to being essence as the figure stood, glaring at his surroundings as he

“Zuzen boyo, it seems you really are an ingrate turning your back on the sect like this.” said the Captain of the Radiant Orrichalcum Garden’s Disciplinary Enforcers.

“Ingrate?...What exactly is it are you suggesting I should be grateful for.” sneered Zuzen.

He squared off against the enforcement team and summoned a blade of light, his aura rising as a turbulent bubble of red and white light that exploded outwards blowing away those members of the sect’s enforcement that drawn too near.

“Little bastard! Who raised you?! Who groomed you and brought you up to this height that you’ve climbed to?! Now here you are turning your back on the sect!” said the enforcement team Captain.

“Hmph...sophistry. My master is the one who took care of me. And if the sect groomed me, it was out of its own self interest and a desire to have me serve the sect, which I’ve done for decades. Paying what I’ve owed for those few years care. And hear you are chasing me….Don’t you think you people are a bit too greedy? Should I work for you for the rest of my life? Am I a warrior or a slave? This lord refused to be like you lot of dogs and monkeys fetching this and that for the sect, for the rest of my life” said Zuzen.

The captain of the Enforcement team’s face darkened, he turned his men roaring.

“Capture him!”

A fight ensued with fists and blades flying, the explosions of aura and force scaring away much of the nearby populace. By the time things had settled down, Zuzen would have escaped a free man. A rogue cultivator. Three of the enforcement team would be dead, their bodies neatly sundered.

One uninvolved member of the sect who’d “coincidentally” happened to be nearby would bear witness of this. In this case it would be a certain Leon Skinner. Who would return to his quarters to make a call to his sect making use of the sect’s new communication artifacts.

Reporting the incident to one of the sect’s administrative members who would in turn report the matter to sect head Suresh.

Radha Suresh took the report looked it over and then smiled thinly as he saw more proof that the little plan that he and his council of advisors had come up with to counter the actions of invading sects was working.

Three months ago, their attempts at pushing back the advances of the Sagacious-Night Sect and their newcomer allies were floundering. One month ago things still weren’t looking good, but now there was a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

Now they had a plan, a plan that was all but guaranteed to help the sect survive what was coming, and all they had to do was make it look like they were chasing away their brightest young talents and let loose a few rumors about a few of the older talents dying or retreating from society.

“Have this sent to Elder Oedheim.” said Suresh. Speaking to his personal secretary.

The man took the folder and bowed, but then instead of retreating towards the door he said.

“Apologies, Sect Head. Elder Oedheim is currently on leave.”

Suresh startled frowning slightly, wondering whether or not the young man should be required to make leave requests with him directly. The youth’s status and import had grown to a point that was slightly troubling, even this particular eleventh hour play by the sect had been at least partially his idea.

“Then have it sent to his office then.” said Suresh. Sighing.

“Yes, Sect Head.” said the Secretary, bowing again and retreating towards the door.