The moon hung low, pale light spilling over the quiet courtyard of the Azure Cloud Sect. Li Tian sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of his small room, eyes half-closed, his breathing slow. The night was cold, but his mind was warm with thoughts he couldn't quite shake. Mei Lin's unexpected return had stirred something in him — not the flutters of romance, but a deep, unsettled curiosity. She had changed.
It wasn't just her refined movements or the quiet confidence in her voice. It was the way she scanned her surroundings, as if always expecting someone — or something — to appear. And her subtle hesitations, as if her words carried edges she couldn't reveal.
She's hiding something.
A faint knock came at his door. Not loud. Not rushed. Just deliberate.
"Li Tian? It's me," came her voice, muffled.
He rose, sliding the door open just enough for her to slip inside. Mei Lin stepped in, her long black hair catching the silver of the moonlight. She glanced around the small room before speaking, her tone low.
"I didn't want others to hear this," she began.
He raised a brow. "You're making it sound like you're about to tell me where you buried a body."
She gave him a sharp look, though the corners of her lips twitched. "This is serious."
Her gaze flicked toward the paper-thin walls before she leaned closer. "The Sect… isn't as quiet as it seems. There are people here — disciples — who aren't loyal to the Sect Master."
Li Tian tilted his head. "Isn't that normal? Politics. Factions. That kind of thing."
"This is different," she whispered. "They're working for someone outside… someone powerful. I don't know who yet, but I heard talk about a… movement. And—" She hesitated, her eyes locking with his. "They know about you."
Li Tian's expression barely shifted. Inside, a ripple of alertness passed through him, but he kept his tone lazy. "Know about me? I'm just a quiet disciple who minds his own business."
Mei Lin shook her head. "That's exactly why they're interested. People who make no noise… are harder to read."
For a moment, the room felt too small. Li Tian's thoughts turned sharp. He had kept his training — and the true depths of his strength — hidden for years. The idea that someone was watching him was not comforting.
"And you?" he asked finally. "Why tell me?"
"Because," she said softly, "you're one of the few people here I trust. But if they're watching you… you need to be careful."
A small silence followed. Outside, the wind rustled through the bamboo. Then Li Tian smiled faintly.
"Careful is my middle name."
She rolled her eyes, though her shoulders eased slightly. "I mean it."
"I know," he replied, leaning back against the wall. "And I appreciate the warning. But Mei Lin… if you're getting yourself involved in dangerous things, you should be the one careful."
Her eyes softened. For a second, the confident air she carried slipped away, revealing the same girl he'd known years ago — stubborn, loyal, and too brave for her own good.
"I'll manage," she said, though it sounded more like a promise to herself.
Before Li Tian could respond, a shadow moved past the window. Both of them froze. A faint crunch of footsteps followed, fading into the distance.
Mei Lin's hand went instinctively to the dagger at her waist. "That wasn't a random passerby."
Li Tian was already on his feet, silent as smoke. He stepped to the door and slid it open just enough to scan the courtyard. Empty. Still, the air felt… wrong.
"Go back to your quarters," he said quietly. "I'll handle it."
She shook her head. "If they're after you, then we—"
"I'll handle it," he repeated, his tone calm but final.
For a moment, she held his gaze, then gave a reluctant nod and slipped out into the night.
Li Tian stood there for a while, letting the cool air wash over him. Whoever had passed by wasn't careless. Their steps were measured, almost teasing, as if they wanted him to know they were there.
So it begins.
He closed the door and sat back down, but sleep was no longer an option. The next few hours passed in stillness, his mind weaving through possibilities, mapping out threads of suspicion.
At dawn, the Sect stirred to life. Disciples bustled about, preparing for morning drills. Li Tian stepped out, his expression as unreadable as ever, but his senses were sharper than the sword at his hip.
As he crossed the training grounds, a voice called out to him.
"Li Tian!"
He turned to see Master Zhao approaching, his hands clasped behind his back, his long beard swaying slightly in the breeze. The elder's eyes studied him for a long moment before he spoke.
"There will be a… special assessment in three days. All core disciples are to participate."
Li Tian arched a brow. "Special?"
"Yes," Master Zhao said. "And… certain eyes will be watching. Do not underestimate its importance."
With that, the elder walked away, leaving Li Tian standing alone in the early morning light.
The meaning was clear — whatever storm was coming, the Sect was bracing for it. And whether he wanted to or not, he was already in its path.