Chapter 4: A Glimpse of the Shadow Clan
\[The Ruins of the Blade Clan\]
Lian Yu clutched a leaf of 'Spring Blade Grass' in his fist. This leaf was nothing short of a treasure to him. His powerful spirit had recognized its true potential. It was a humble thing, yet if used correctly, it could work wonders.
He sought out a quiet place, hidden from prying eyes. He closed them and began his 'Shadow Blade' cultivation method.
\[A slow, yet powerful surge of energy in the air.\]
He began to draw all the energy from the leaf. The energy of 'Spring Blade Grass' typically diffused slowly through the body, but Lian Yu's method channeled it directly into the body's weakest cells, strengthening them instantly. The pain was sharp, but he could now endure it.
As the energy permeated his body, his eyes filled with a strange, golden glow. The veins in his body, once fragile, slowly began to solidify.
\[A blue aura around Lian Yu's body intensified, and a subtle chakra began to spin around him.\]
It was a very gradual process, but in just a few days, he pushed his body to a new level. He was no longer just a beginner cultivator, but had advanced to a mid-level warrior. His spirit, relishing its newfound strength, knew this was only the beginning.
One morning, Lian Yu summoned Hu.
"Uncle Hu, have you found any more information about the Shadow Clan?" Lian Yu asked calmly.
Hu nodded. "Yes, Master. After the Shadow Clan attacked our tribe, they plundered all our treasures. They are now occupying a small mine located in our old territory."
Lian Yu's eyes glinted. "A mine..."
\[Internal thought: "A mine isn't just a mine. It's a source of power. If I seize that mine, the Shadow Clan will weaken, and I will gain resources."\]
Lian Yu formulated his plan. He knew fighting head-on would be foolish. He was alone and had no army. His strategy, like that of Zhuo Fan, relied on psychological warfare.
"Uncle Hu, can we somehow send a message to the Shadow Clan's soldiers?"
Hu pondered. "Yes, Master. There's a village near our border where some Shadow Clan soldiers frequently pass through. We could do something there to catch their attention."
"No," Lian Yu said. "We don't want to draw their attention to us. We need to throw dust in their eyes."
Lian Yu explained his entire plan to Hu.
"Uncle Hu, we need to spread rumors."
Hu was taken aback. "Rumors? What kind?"
"That the Blade Clan had a 'secret treasure' that no one knew about. And that treasure is hidden in the very place the Shadow Clan attacked. We need to spread this rumor so cleverly that the Shadow Clan leaders begin to suspect each other."
Lian Yu knew that greed was a powerful weapon. He wanted the Shadow Clan leaders to turn on each other, believing that one of their own had hidden the treasure from them.
Hu nodded. He liked his master's ploy. He left to put the plan into motion.
Lian Yu was left alone. He held his broken sword and fixed his gaze on the distant hills, where the Shadow Clan's territory began.
\[Internal thought: "You people destroyed my clan. You killed my father. Now I will play the same game with you that you wished to play with me. And this game... I will win."\]
He knew there might be a larger player behind the Shadow Clan, but for now, his focus was solely on his first objective.
Lian Yu's eyes held a cold, calculating gleam. It was not the gleam of a powerful warrior, but of a cunning mastermind who had already anticipated his next move.
This was just the beginning of a much larger game.
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