Blossoming Path

The crowd’s chatter swelled around us as the man leading the group stepped forward, his orange robes fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. The arrogance radiating from him was palpable, and it wasn’t hard to see why. With a cocky grin plastered on his face, he planted his foot callously on the corpse of the Iron Boar, his posture exuding the self-assurance of someone who had no doubt about his superiority.

“People of Qingmu!” he called out, his voice reverberating across the square. “I am Shan Huai, the Rumbling Thunder, second-class disciple of the Iron Claw Sect! This beast you see before you—a vicious Iron Boar—was stalking the outskirts of your village, threatening your very lives. But fear not, for I and my comrades have vanquished it, ensuring your safety!”

"Iron Claw sect?" I turned to Lan Sheng beside me. He shrugged, likely having never heard of the name himself.

The villagers gasped, murmuring among themselves as they regarded the massive beast’s corpse. Both of us stepped closer to get a better look at the Iron Boar.

As we approached, I could see the boar’s body in greater detail.

It was the genuine article, alright.

The Iron Boar was a formidable beast, known for its thick hide that was said to be as tough as metal—hence the name. But what caught my attention were the wounds that marred its side. Three deep gouges ran along its flank, the flesh torn clean through to the bone. The blood that had seeped from the wounds was dried now.

Lan Sheng leaned in slightly, his voice low. “Those gouges… they’re not from some wild, flailing attack. Those are precise strikes, deep and lethal."

The realization settled in, heavy and undeniable. Shan Huai wasn’t just blowing hot air. They had actually defeated this monster, a feat that shouldn't be underestimated. While not as notorious as Wind Serpents, these creatures were still formidable opponents.

Tianyi fluttered slightly on my shoulder, her wings giving off a faint, uneasy hum. I felt a prickle of unease myself. This guy wasn’t just some arrogant braggart.

The man, oblivious to—or perhaps reveling in—the attention he was receiving, continued his proclamation. “The Iron Boar is known for its resilience and power, but it was no match for the might of the Iron Claw Sect! We have saved your village from certain destruction. Remember this day, for it is the day the Rumbling Thunder of the Iron Claw Sect ensured your safety!”

Shan Huai’s voice boomed across the square as he continued, his tone shifting from boastful to derisive. “But where was the Silent Moon Sect, huh? The so-called protectors of Qingmu? Nowhere to be seen, of course. They’ve left you to fend for yourselves, only showing up when it’s time to collect their tribute. It’s clear they don’t value this village—don’t value you. But don't worry! The Iron Claw Sect will not stand for such neglect and injustice.”

The villagers exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in the air thickening as Shan Huai’s words settled over them.

“We, the Iron Claw Sect,” He continued, his voice rising with righteous indignation, “are willing to step in where the Silent Moon Sect has failed. We will take our rightful place as your protectors, and unlike them, we won’t demand exorbitant tributes. We ask for far less—only what is fair and just.”

Ah. This is where it always goes.

Lan Sheng and I exchanged a sharp look. It was clear now what Shan Huai was up to. This wasn’t just about showing off his skills or gaining the village’s admiration. This was a calculated move to undermine the Silent Moon Sect and seize control of Qingmu. The implications were dangerous—if the Silent Moon Sect discovered that the Iron Claw was encroaching on their territory...

Before I could voice my concerns, the village head, an older man with a weathered face and a humble demeanor, stepped forward. His hands trembled slightly as he clasped them in front of him, bowing deeply to Shan Huai. “We are grateful for your help, truly we are,” he began, his voice respectful yet tinged with anxiety. “But—”

Shan Huai’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he cut the village head off. “But what? Are you rejecting the favor of the Iron Claw Sect? Are you spitting in our faces after we saved you from certain death?”

The village head’s eyes widened, his face paling as he realized the gravity of the situation. He tried to backtrack, his words tumbling out in a rush. “No, no, of course not! We are thankful, it’s just that... we cannot so easily switch our allegiance. The Silent Moon Sect has protected us for years, and—”

“Protected?” The man sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “They’ve done nothing but take from you! And now, when another spirit beast comes—because make no mistake, it will come—what will you do? Beg the Silent Moon Sect to save you again? And if they don’t come? What then?”

His words hung in the air, heavy and oppressive. The villagers murmured anxiously, their fear palpable. I could almost see the doubt creeping into their minds, the seeds of mistrust being planted.

Lan Sheng shifted beside me, his expression hardening. “This isn’t good,” he muttered under his breath. “If they push this too far, the Silent Moon Sect will retaliate, and Qingmu will be caught in the crossfire.”

I nodded, my mind racing as I tried to think of a way to defuse the situation. Spirit beast sightings had been rising throughout the region, and Shan Huai’s threat wasn’t just an empty boast. The village was vulnerable, and the fear of being left unprotected was a powerful motivator.

My thoughts raced as I took in the scene. The villagers were being cornered, coerced into accepting protection they didn’t fully understand. The implications were dire—if they agreed, it could be seen as a betrayal by the Silent Moon Sect. If they refused, they risked angering the Iron Claw Sect. Either choice seemed to lead to ruin.

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Then something caught my eye. The deep gouges on the Iron Boar’s side… the younger disciples surrounding Shan Huai. Their clothes, demeanor, and cleanliness.

The pieces started to fit together, and I realized there was a way to turn this situation around.

But how?

'Wait... that's right!'

I glanced at Lan Sheng, wondering if I should involve him in my plan, but quickly decided against it. This needed to be my move.

Leaning slightly toward the second-class disciple, I whispered, “I have an idea. Trust me on this.”

Lan Sheng’s brow furrowed, clearly confused, but he gave a slight nod. “Alright, I’m with you.”

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, raising my hand in an extremely meek and timid manner. I even forced a slight stutter into my voice as I spoke. “E-excuse me… I, um, I have a suggestion.”

Shan Huai’s eyes snapped to me, a mixture of annoyance and curiosity flickering in them. He made a brief glance at Lan Sheng, but quickly turned his eyes back to me. “Who are you?”

“I’m just an alchemist, visiting family here,” I said, keeping my voice small and unthreatening. “But, uh, I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation, and I think there’s a way to resolve this… for both sides.”

Shan Huai raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but also skeptical. “Oh? And how do you propose we do that?”

I took another deep breath, forcing myself to maintain the timid act. “With a demonstration,” I said, my voice trembling just enough to make it sound like I was nervous. “A simple contest… between you and me.”

"A contest?" Shan Huai repeated, his tone dripping with incredulity as a smirk played at the corners of his lips. The crowd's murmurs grew louder, the villagers exchanging uneasy glances, unsure of what to make of my proposal.

"Y-yes," I stammered, playing up the meekness as much as I could. "A spar-"

"Sorry, could I speak with my friend here for a moment?"

Just as I got the word "spar" out of my mouth, Lan Sheng suddenly stepped forward, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me aside, a few steps out of the crowd of villagers. His grip was tight, and I could see the panic in his eyes.

"Are you out of your mind, Kai?!" he hissed, shaking me slightly. "Have you lost your brain somewhere along the way to Qingmu? Why in the world are you picking a fight with a second-class disciple? Did you forget everything I told you about how increased qi reserves don’t automatically mean you can fight against us?"

I swallowed hard, trying to stay calm despite the intensity of his reaction. "Trust me on this," I whispered, grabbing his arms to steady him. "Just look closer at them. Fighting a beast of the Iron Boar’s caliber should have left some visible signs of struggle—torn robes, bloodstains, or at least some dirt and grime. But they’re completely unscathed. Doesn’t that raise any red flags for you?"

Lan Sheng frowned, his eyes narrowing as he cast another glance at Shan Huai and his group. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, his expression shifting as he began to piece together what I was suggesting.

"Think about it," I continued urgently. "They’re not even carrying weapons that would be capable of piercing the Iron Boar’s hide. They’re claiming they took it down with their bare fists. Now, either they attacked the boar when it was already weakened, or they’re powerful enough to dispatch such a beast without breaking a sweat. Either way, something’s off."

Lan Sheng’s grip on my arms loosened slightly, his gaze growing more thoughtful as he processed my words. "So, what’s your plan, then? Why the sparring challenge? Why don't I spar in your stead? It's basically the reason why I'm here. So your ass doesn't get itself into trouble."

I took a deep breath, shaking my head as I tried to explain. "That’s exactly the problem, Lan Sheng. If you take up the challenge, he’ll be more on guard, knowing you’re a second-class disciple like him. He won’t let his guard down so easily. But me? I’m just an unassuming alchemist—no sect affiliation, no reputation to worry about. He’ll underestimate me, and that’s what we need right now."

Lan Sheng’s eyes searched mine, still full of doubt, but I could see that my reasoning was starting to get through to him. "Kai, this is risky. If they really did take down that Iron Boar with their bare fists, then we’re dealing with some seriously powerful people here."

"Exactly," I replied, my voice firm. "If they’re as strong as they claim, they would’ve already challenged the Silent Moon Sect directly. But they haven’t. Instead, they’re trying to exploit the death of the Iron Boar to gain leverage over the village. That’s a red flag. If I’m right, and this is all just a bluff, then I can expose them and drive them away without bloodshed. And if... If I’m wrong, then at least we’ll know the village is under the protection of someone who’s actually strong enough to stand against the Silent Moon Sect."

Lan Sheng let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as he finally relented. "Alright, Kai. I don’t like it, but I’ll trust you on this. Just be careful, okay?"

"I will," I promised, giving him a reassuring nod. "And if things start to go south, don’t hesitate to step in."

With that, I turned back to the crowd, trying to keep my nerves in check as I approached Shan Huai once more. The man was watching me with a curious, almost amused expression as if he were trying to figure out what my angle was.

"You're awfully close to the second-class disciple of the Verdant Lotus Sect," Shan Huai remarked casually, his tone laced with thinly veiled disdain. "But you should know that just because our titles are the same doesn’t mean our skills are. The Verdant Lotus is full of scholars and alchemists, not warriors."

I bit my tongue, forcing down the urge to snap back at him. Instead, I kept my expression meek and nodded in agreement. "You’re right, of course. The Verdant Lotus is known for its knowledge and alchemy, not for its martial prowess." I took a deep breath, then added, "That’s why a sparring demonstration would be so valuable. It would help us common folk better understand and appreciate your incredible skills. I mean, it’s almost hard to believe that you defeated such an incredible beast with just your bare hands."

I could see the hint of a smirk forming on the second-class disciple's lips, and I knew I had him. I decided to sweeten the deal. "And, to make it more interesting, if you win, I’ll offer you a selection of my finest potions as a reward. After all, I may not be much of a fighter, but I am an alchemist."

Shan Huai’s eyes gleamed with interest at the mention of potions, and I knew I had him hooked. "Alright, alchemist," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "I accept your terms. What are the rules?"

"Simple," I replied, keeping my tone deferential. "All I have to do is land one hit on you to win, but for you to win, you must make me yield. But, uh, I have a small request." I hesitated, as if unsure whether I should even be asking. "Since I’m no warrior, I was hoping I could have my spirit beast companions support me in the spar. It’s the very least I’d need to hold a candle to the mighty Rumbling Thunder."

His smirk widened, his ego clearly stroked by my words. "Spirit beasts, huh? Fine. Let’s see what your little pets can do. It won’t make a difference, but I’ll humor you."

I nodded gratefully, gesturing to Tianyi, who fluttered innocently on my shoulder. "This is Tianyi," I introduced her, watching as she gave a delicate flap of her wings, the very picture of harmlessness. "And as for the other... would you mind waking him up?"

'Of course.'

I hesitated, realizing I would have to call Windy out from where he was still curled up, sleeping in the inn. She fluttered slowly over to the closed window, glowing subtly as she did so. Not even a moment later, the window clicked open with a smooth move, and the hatchling slithered out with indifferent eyes.

"This is Windy," I said, gently patting the serpentine spirit beast’s head. "With them by my side, I might just be able to give you a challenge worthy of your title."

As Windy coiled around my shoulders, I couldn't help but notice the flicker of greed and desire that crossed Shan Huai’s eyes. He hid it well, but for a brief moment, it was there—an unmistakable glint of avarice as he took in the sight of my spirit beasts. However, the smug grin quickly returned to his face, and he seemed unconcerned, as if dismissing the idea that my two companions could pose any real threat.

“You know, the world is wide and vast, full of mysteries and hidden dangers,” Shan Huai said, his tone patronizing. “But if you think a couple of minor spirit beasts and an untrained alchemist will change anything, then you’re sorely mistaken.”

I met his condescending gaze, my heart pounding in my chest, though I kept my expression composed. His arrogance was a double-edged sword—dangerous, yes, but also something I could use to my advantage. He saw me as insignificant, someone barely worth his attention. And that was exactly what I needed him to believe.

Windy shifted slightly, his cold scales brushing against my neck, a silent reminder of the stakes. Tianyi hovered at my shoulder, her delicate wings shimmering in the light. We were ready, even if Shan Huai didn't think so.

"Perhaps," I replied quietly, letting just a hint of uncertainty creep into my voice.

Shan Huai smirked, clearly enjoying his perceived superiority. He glanced at his disciples, who chuckled at my words as if they were nothing more than the ramblings of a fool. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Prepare yourself, alchemist. I'll make sure this is over quickly."

I nodded, swallowing the nerves that threatened to bubble to the surface. The crowd was silent now, all eyes on us, waiting for the clash that could determine the future of their village.

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