Outwardly, Mei Shen remained calm.
Cold.
Analytical.
—
But deep within—
his thoughts were far darker.
—
Iron-Skull Kuang…
—
That old monster is many things—violent, arrogant, ruthless…
—
But not a fool.
—
His fingers tightened slightly behind his back.
—
To strike so cleanly…
To leave no survivor…
To allow no signal…
—
That is not the work of brute strength alone.
—
A shadow passed through his eyes.
—
That requires control.
—
Precision.
—
Mastery.
—
And then—
the thought he did not dare voice aloud—
—
Or worse…
—
A genius.
—
Someone who had stepped beyond crude force.
—
Someone who could sever not just flesh—
but soul.
—
If such a person exists…
—
Mei Shen's gaze darkened imperceptibly.
—
Then the balance of this region… has already shifted.
"Enough!"
—
Patriarch Mei Yu's voice exploded through the tension.
—
The elders flinched.
—
His composure—
already fractured—
finally cracked under the weight of fear, grief, and urgency.
—
"Go!" he roared.
—
His aura surged uncontrollably.
The broken tea set on the floor trembled.
Fragments lifted slightly before shattering further into dust.
—
"Investigate!"
"Search every inch of that forest!"
—
"Before the Grand Elder awakens!"
—
His breathing was uneven now.
—
"If he smells blood…"
"…before we give him a direction…"
—
His voice dropped—
raw.
—
"…then we are all dead."
—
The words struck deeper than any command.
—
Because they were true.
The elders moved—
but not as one.
—
Each carried a different thought.
A different fear.
—
Elder Ge
His mind raced.
If it is not the Iron Saber Sect… then who?
If we cannot provide an answer…
Will I be the first scapegoat?
—
His steps quickened.
Driven by survival.
—
Elder Huyan
His jaw clenched.
Ghost or not… there must be a trace.
No one kills without leaving something behind.
—
But beneath that confidence—
fear gnawed.
—
What if there isn't?
—
Elder Feng (the surviving namesake elder in hall)
His thoughts were darker.
If a hidden expert is involved…
Then this is not just revenge…
—
It is strategy.
—
And that—
terrified him most.
—
Because strategy meant—
more was coming.
—
"Move!" someone shouted.
—
The tension snapped.
—
The elders bolted.
—
Robes fluttered.
Footsteps echoed.
Orders were barked as they exited into the courtyard.
—
"Gather tracking teams!"
"Prepare detection arrays!"
"Bring spirit-sensing artifacts!"
—
The clan, moments ago orderly—
descended into controlled chaos.
—
Within seconds—
the hall emptied.
—
Leaving behind—
—
Two figures.
—
Patriarch Mei Yu.
—
And Grand Elder Mei Shen.
—
For a long moment—
neither spoke.
—
The scent of spilled tea lingered.
Bitter.
Faintly sweet.
—
A symbol—
of calm—
destroyed.
—
Mei Yu exhaled slowly.
His shoulders sagged ever so slightly.
—
"…Do you truly believe," he asked quietly,
"…that this was not the Iron Saber Sect?"
—
Mei Shen did not answer immediately.
—
Instead—
he looked toward the doorway.
Where the elders had disappeared.
—
"Belief is irrelevant," he said at last.
—
"What matters…"
—
"…is what we can prove."
—
Mei Yu clenched his fists.
—
"And if we cannot prove anything?"
—
Mei Shen's eyes darkened.
—
"Then we do not lie."
—
A pause.
—
"Because if we lie…"
—
"…and Yuze discovers it…"
—
He turned his head slightly.
—
"…we will not have an enemy outside the clan."
—
"We will have one…"
—
"…inside it."
—
The implication hung heavy.
—
Mei Yu closed his eyes briefly.
—
Then opened them again.
—
Resolved.
—
"…I will go to the Seclusion Grotto."
—
Mei Shen said nothing.
—
But his silence—
was approval.
—
Outside—
the sky had darkened.
—
Clouds gathered slowly.
—
Wind stirred the banners of the Mei Clan.
—
Somewhere in the distance—
Thunder rumbled faintly.
—
The elders raced toward the forest.
—
The Patriarch prepared to awaken a monster.
—
And deep within his seclusion—
—
Grand Elder Mei Yuze
—
remained unaware—
—
that his world—
—
had already been shattered.
LU CLAN
Lu Chanki stood in the courtyard outside Grand Elder Lu Maxi's residence long after their discussion had ended.
The wind moved gently through the trees, carrying the faint scent of earth and spirit herbs—but he felt none of it.
His hands were clenched tightly behind his back.
His thoughts… were a mess.
—
I acted too quickly…
No… I had no choice…
But still…
—
His breathing grew uneven.
—
"They were from the Mei Clan…" he muttered under his breath.
"The Young Master… two Foundation Establishment elders…"
—
His eyes darkened.
—
"If this turns into a war…"
"…how many will die because of my decision?"
—
For the first time since the battle—
fear truly took root.
—
Not fear of death.
—
But fear of consequence.
—
Behind him—
a faint sigh echoed.
—
"You're thinking too much."
—
Lu Chanki stiffened and turned immediately.
"Grand Elder!"
—
Lu Maxi stood there, hands behind his back, his expression calm yet slightly disappointed.
—
"You are a clan elder," Lu Maxi said as he walked forward slowly.
"Yet you stand here trembling like a disciple who made a mistake during training."
—
Lu Chanki lowered his head.
"I… have brought disaster to the clan."
—
Lu Maxi stopped a few steps away from him.
"Disaster?" he repeated.
—
Then he shook his head faintly.
—
"You truly have forgotten who we are."
—
Lu Chanki frowned slightly, confused.
—
Lu Maxi's gaze shifted toward the distant mountains behind the clan.
—
"We are not a sword clan."
"We are not a talisman clan."
—
"We…"
—
"…are a Beast Taming Clan."
—
The words carried weight.
—
Lu Chanki's eyes widened slightly.
—
Lu Maxi continued:
"For generations, our strength has never been in direct confrontation."
"It lies in control."
"In accumulation."
"In patience."
—
He turned back, his gaze sharp.
—
"And in the things we leave behind."
—
Lu Chanki froze.
—
Lu Maxi's voice lowered.
—
"How many Foundation Establishment realm beasts do you think currently exist within our clan grounds?"
—
Lu Chanki hesitated.
"…More than ten?"
—
Lu Maxi gave a faint smile.
—
"More."
—
Lu Chanki's pupils shrank.
—
"Those beasts…" Lu Maxi said slowly,
"…belonged to elders who have already passed away."
—
The air grew heavy.
—
"When a beast tamer dies," he continued,
"their contract does not always vanish."
"Some beasts remain."
"Some choose to stay."
"Some… cannot leave."
—
His gaze turned distant for a moment.
—
"They are no longer bound."
"But they remember."
—
Lu Chanki felt a chill.
—
"They remember who raised them."
"They remember who fed them."
"They remember who they protected."
—
Lu Maxi's eyes sharpened again.
—
"And they remember this clan."
—
Silence.
—
"Individually," Lu Maxi continued,
"we cannot command them like before."
"They are not slaves."
—
"But…"
—
"If the clan faces destruction—"
—
"They will act."
—
Lu Chanki's breathing slowed.
—
Understanding dawned.
—
Lu Maxi stepped closer.
—
"If the Mei Clan dares to attack us…"
—
A faint, dangerous smile appeared.
—
"…they will not be facing just us."
—
"They will be walking into a graveyard…"
—
"…guarded by beasts that have lived longer than they can imagine."
—
The wind picked up slightly.
—
Lu Chanki's fear began to fade.
—
Replaced by something else.
—
Confidence.
—
"…Even if they bring allies?" he asked.
—
Lu Maxi scoffed lightly.
—
"Let them."
—
His tone turned cold.
—
"The more they bring…"
—
"…the more will die."
—
He turned away, looking toward the deeper parts of the mountain.
—
"Those old beasts…"
"…have not tasted battle in a long time."
—
A faint killing intent seeped into the air.
—
"They might even welcome it."
—
Lu Chanki felt his heart steady completely now.
—
The weight on his chest lifted.
—
"I understand now, Grand Elder."
—
Lu Maxi nodded slightly.
—
"Good."
—
Then he added calmly:
"Stop blaming yourself."
—
"You did what a clan elder should do."
—
"You protected your people."
—
"And more importantly…"
—
His gaze sharpened once more.
—
"You eliminated a future threat."
—
Lu Chanki's eyes flickered.
—
Young Master Mei.
—
Lu Maxi continued:
"A reckless heir backed by overwhelming protection…"
"…is far more dangerous than a thousand enemies."
—
A pause.
—
"His death…"
—
"…may have saved us more trouble than you realize."
—
Silence followed.
—
But this time—
it was no longer heavy.
—
Lu Chanki straightened his back.
—
The hesitation in his eyes—
gone.
—
Replaced by resolve.
—
"Then… what should we do next?" he asked.
—
Lu Maxi looked toward the horizon.
—
"Prepare."
—
"For either peace…"
—
"…or war."
—
The clouds above shifted slowly.
—
And deep within Lu Clan Mountain—
—
something ancient…
—
stirred.