It was morning when Wei Shen took up his position observing his enemy's den, studying their habits, and searching for the perfect opening to strike. His dark cave had witnessed the refinement of his power to the peak of the sixth level of Qi Condensation, and the tainted "Blood Qi" now circulated through his pathways.
He hadn't headed directly towards the dilapidated wooden buildings of the "Fallen Leaf Sect." That would have been pure folly, even with his current strength. Instead, he had spent the past two days cautiously roaming the outer hills of "Bleakwind Mountain," exploring the paths he had known previously as an outer disciple—those paths often used by lower-level disciples to go out and gather herbs, firewood, or perform routine tasks.
"A system, any system, no matter how seemingly tight, has exploitable weaknesses," Wei Shen thought, observing from between the dense branches of a pine tree. "And routine is caution's greatest enemy."
On the third morning of his observation, the opportunity he had been waiting for appeared. He saw a group of sect disciples exiting from one of the less guarded side passages. There were ten of them: three wore the light blue robes of inner disciples, their Qi auras appearing to range between the third and fourth levels, and they were leading seven outer disciples in ragged gray robes, from whom barely any "Qi" could be sensed, likely at the first or second level. They carried empty baskets and crude digging tools.
"An herb-gathering mission, most likely," Wei Shen concluded coldly. "Inner disciples for protection, outer ones for hard labor. A pathetic class system."
Wei Shen remained in his hiding place, watching them move away, and didn't stir. This wasn't the ideal prey he was looking for. Their numbers were relatively large, and even if he could eliminate the inner disciples, dealing with seven panicked outer disciples might create unnecessary commotion.
But about half an hour later, just as he was about to change his position, he saw two more disciples exit from the same passage, apparently lagging behind the main group and hurrying to catch up. They were outer disciples, or perhaps the newest recruits among the inner disciples, as their Qi level did not exceed the third. They were panting and talking in low, nervous voices.
Thanks to his senses, sharpened by the sixth level, Wei Shen managed to catch parts of their conversation despite the distance.
"...Damn this delay! Elder Liu will be furious if we don't arrive on time to help them search for the 'Frozen Moon Flower'!" one of them said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
The other replied in a more anxious voice, "I heard the elders believe a greater natural treasure is about to appear in the 'Serpentine Mist Valley' this week! They say it's the 'Spirit Dragon Fruit' that ripens once every hundred years! That's why they sent all these teams to search the area. I even heard other sects have started sending their scouts!"
Wei Shen froze in place, his eyes narrowing. "A precious natural treasure… Spirit Dragon Fruit… and other sects?" This information was far more valuable than merely hunting a few disciples. "This changes the equation. A far greater opportunity than I imagined."
He didn't hesitate. These two lagging disciples had now become his prey, not just for their blood, but for the information they carried.
He waited until they were a little further away from any potential help from their main group, then launched himself from his hiding place like a phantom. With a speed they couldn't even comprehend, he was standing before them, blocking their path, his ivory daggers gleaming with a cold light in his hands.
The two disciples froze in place, their eyes widening with terror and surprise. "Who… who are you?!" one of them cried out, taking a step back, his hand fumbling for the rusty sword hanging at his waist.
"I have some questions," Wei Shen said in a calm and terrifying voice, like the hiss of a serpent preparing to strike. "And I advise you to answer honestly and quickly."
The two disciples looked at each other, then at Wei Shen, who radiated an aura of cold, lethal power they had never encountered before. "The treasure you just spoke of," Wei Shen continued, his eyes staring at them mercilessly. "'Spirit Dragon Fruit.' What exactly is it? And where is this 'Serpentine Mist Valley' located?"
The first disciple, who seemed braver (or more foolish), tried to show some resistance. "And who do you think you are to ask us? We are disciples of the Fallen Leaf Sect! If you don't get out of the way immediately…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Wei Shen had moved. In a single, illusion-like movement, he grabbed the disciple's arm reaching for his sword, twisted it forcefully behind his back, then slammed him against a nearby tree trunk. The disciple screamed in pain, and his sword fell to the ground.
"Stupidity… has no place in this world," Wei Shen said, pressing his knee into the disciple's back and placing the edge of his ivory dagger against his neck. "I will ask my question again. And I expect an answer this time."
The second disciple was trembling with fear, his face as pale as death. "Please… please don't kill him!" he cried in a broken voice. "We'll tell you everything!"
Wei Shen nodded towards the first disciple, who was groaning in pain. "Speak."
The first disciple, his voice trembling, began to recount everything he knew about the "Spirit Dragon Fruit": how it was a legendary fruit said to immensely increase a cultivator's strength and help break through realms, and about the location of the "Serpentine Mist Valley" in the heart of the "Forest of Lost Souls," a very dangerous place ordinary sect disciples dared not approach. He confirmed that several teams from the sect, including some elders, had already headed there, and that there were strong rumors of teams from the "Thunder Blade Sect" and the "Jade Cloud School" also arriving in the area.
Wei Shen listened to every word intently, his mind recording and analyzing. "A treasure that attracts multiple sects… This means its value is very great. And it also means… more potential blood."
When the disciple finished speaking, Wei Shen looked at him coldly. "Useful information." Then, with a swift, harsh movement, he drew his dagger across the disciple's throat, ending his life instantly.
The second disciple screamed in terror and tried to flee, but Wei Shen was faster. He grabbed him by the hair and dragged him to his knees on the ground.
"Please… I told you everything! Please let me live!" the disciple begged, tears and snot mixing on his face.
"You have indeed provided me with valuable information," Wei Shen said, looking down at him. "But… I cannot leave any witnesses." Then, with a single powerful blow, he broke the disciple's leg.
The disciple let out a horrific scream of pain and collapsed to the ground, writhing.
"Tell me now," Wei Shen said, squatting before him, "are there any other details that might be useful? Any secret ways to reach the valley? Any information about the strength of the other teams?"
Under the duress of pain and terror, the broken disciple began to confess everything he knew, or thought he knew, about the other teams, about some of the elders leading his sect's teams, and about the weakest and (relatively) safest routes to reach the "Serpentine Mist Valley."
When he finished, panting and groaning in pain, Wei Shen looked at him for a moment, then said calmly, "Alright. You may go now. Consider this a lesson: never speak of your sect's secrets in front of strangers."
The disciple looked at him with eyes full of terror and disbelief. Was… was he really going to let him go?
Wei Shen nodded, gesturing with his hand towards the forest. "Go. Before I change my mind."
With extreme difficulty, and in unimaginable pain, the disciple began to crawl away, dragging his broken leg behind him, not daring to look back.
Wei Shen waited until the disciple had moved about a meter away. Then, with a smooth, swift motion, he picked up one of his ivory daggers and, with lethal precision, threw it towards the crawling disciple's back.
The dagger pierced the disciple's back and exited through his chest, pinning him to the ground. The disciple let out a final gasp, and then his body stilled completely.
Wei Shen walked over calmly, pulled out his bloodstained dagger, and wiped it on the dead disciple's clothes. "Witnesses… are just additional liabilities I don't need."
He collected the blood of the two disciples in his leather waterskin and searched their pockets for anything of value, though he found only a few copper coins and some ordinary herbs.
Now, he had a new goal, a goal far more exciting than mere revenge against the "Fallen Leaf Sect." The "Spirit Dragon Fruit"… a natural treasure attracting the powerful from all directions.
"What a rich feast awaits me," Wei Shen thought, a cold, savage smile stretching across his lips. "A feast of treasures… and of souls."
He began his journey towards the "Serpentine Mist Valley," towards the heart of the "Forest of Lost Souls."