Chapter 27: Shadows of Deceit

She wiped sweat from her brow and gave me a tired smile. "Thanks, Feng. But honestly, I couldn't have done it without your mist formation. It really slowed that thing down."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her admission. "Really? I thought you were doing all the heavy lifting."

She laughed, shaking her head. "No, your formation was a huge help. It’s amazing how you can make your allies immune to it while it confuses the enemy."

I grinned, feeling a bit of pride swell in my chest. "Well, there's a trick to it. I modified it to disperse on making contact with a certain type of qi. I injected some of that qi into you while we were hiding together."

Her eyes widened in realization. "So that’s why you asked me to give you my hand earlier?"

I nodded. "Exactly. It was a precaution, in case we got separated or had to fight in the mist."

She looked at me with a mix of admiration and gratitude. "You really think of everything, don’t you? you can even track me with this qi , how far can you track me ?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just trying to keep us safe. As for the qi I injected I can use runes that I created myself to track this qi signature in radius of 3 KM using a low level grade 2 rune but it has a disadvantage as well which is it can only last for 1 hour. "

Ning Rong shook her head. "You’re too modest, Feng. You’ve got a knack for team play and I think we make the best team." she was beaming like a fool.

Her compliment warmed me more than I cared to admit. I have felt lonely ever since I came to this world , I try not to remember my past as much as I could and the one person who kept me sane all this while was this little girl who has grown up to be a crazy powerful character.

All my memories in this world involves her one way or the other. she was first person I saw when I was able to properly see , she was looking at me like I was the most wonderful toy in the world. I start chuckling whenever I think of that.

As we stood there, catching our breath, I glanced around at the carnage. Three flaming apes lay defeated, their bodies already cooling. The forest was silent again, the danger momentarily passed

We went on as we have to complete our mission , as we went on we killed a few other beasts although we tried to avoid bigger groups . We collected as much information as possible.

"We should get back to the others," I said, sheathing my sword. "No telling what else might be out here."

Ning Rong nodded, and we began making our way back to the camp. As we walked, I couldn’t help but think about the Lin clan members we had seen struggling earlier. Ning Rong had wanted to help them, but I had advised against it.

"By the way," she said, breaking the silence, "you were right about not helping the Lin clan members earlier. They’re our competition, after all."

I glanced at her, surprised. "Really? I thought you’d be mad at me for that."

She shook her head. "No, I get it now. We have to be strategic. Morals are important, but so is winning. We can’t afford to be too soft."

I smiled, relieved she understood. "I’m glad you see it that way. It’s not always easy to balance, but we have to look out for ourselves first."

As we approached the camp, we saw the others had already returned and were gathered around the fire. Wang Mie looked up and waved us over.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"We took down three flaming apes," Ning Rong said proudly.

Wang Mie raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Nice work. We’ve been keeping watch and haven’t seen any sign of trouble."

I nodded, glad to hear it. "Good. Let’s keep it that way. We’ll need all our strength ."

We settled in around the fire, sharing our experiences and making plans for the next phase of our training.

"Looks like Wang Mie is already comfortable with those two new kids otherwise she wouldn't have taken the initiative to speak she is actually rather shy." I thought while reminiscing about my past in my past life I was very similar to her.

"Everyone I saw no one from lin clan in southern direction but I found that south has a beast king in high stage of body tempering realm , I saw it from afar , I think it's a shadow leopard, I fought one in mid level body tempering stage , it..... " Lu jing continued his story as he explained it's capabilities.

I feel like Lu Jing was excited about something and wanted show off in front of Rong but didn't probably because of those two kids .

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"I found out ....." Ning Po disclosed his findings.

Next was Li Liang who explained his findings " Lin clan members aside from two people were all here in eastern part of the forest , they were fighting a middle level beast and holding their own mainly because of Lin Ji but it seemed like they were doing something with a device which I couldn't see properly but it had a pole.

As for beasts , there is probably a beast king in this part of forest at the peak level body tempering realm." he finished with a smirk.

"What how are we supposed to deal with something like that" Ning Po asked .

"I think it's the only Peak level beast in the entire forest and considering how troublesome these beasts are to find and kill , defeating it would basically ensure our victory." Lu jing said .

Lu Jing has gained three points on his tablets while Rong's and mine had a combined value of seven points and that's only because both of us were lucky enough to encounter mid level beasts on the first day and we have two more days before all of this is over.

"You are joking right " Ning Po asked already knowing the answer.

"Not really , I can handle it along with three of them ." Lu jing said in his usual serious manner as pointed Rong, sister mie and .Li Liang.

Basically every part had a of the forest had a beast king with east being the most dangerous and with that our planning for tomorrow started.

As the night wore on and all of us retired to our quarters , I couldn’t help but think about the Lin clan and their true objective. There is no way a weird person present in a group , a xianxia world and people probably chosen by heavens .

Hmmm.... doesn't look like a great situation to me to me.

They were all here to prove themselves and to gain 'face' , but there was more at stake than just points and victories. There were deeper currents at play, and I had to be ready for anything.

.....

Outside the dome, on a different island, a foreboding silence hung in the air. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the dense forest below. Two figures stood atop a flying sword, suspended in the twilight sky.

One was a young man, no older than fifteen, with a sharp, calculating gaze that belied his age. The other was an old man with a long, silver beard, his eyes cold and piercing. They seemed out of place in the serene setting, their presence a stark contrast to the peaceful scenery.

"Jian Wuji," the old man spoke, his voice a low rumble that cut through the silence, "is the plan proceeding as expected?"

Jian Wuji nodded, his expression unchanging. "Yes, Elder Zhao. Everything is going smoothly. The island near the immortal's abode, under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Dao sect, has been successfully infiltrated by the Lin clan."

Elder Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of satisfaction flickering in their depths. "Good. And the formation flag? Have they received it and do they understand how to and where to plant it?"

"Yes," Jian Wuji replied with a calm assurance. "The Lin clan has been provided with the formation flag. They have been thoroughly instructed on its usage and the exact location where it needs to be placed."

Elder Zhao stroked his beard thoughtfully, the wheels of his mind turning. "And the additional materials? The runic scrolls?"

"They have received everything necessary," Jian Wuji confirmed. "Along with the formation flag, they were given grade 2 runic scrolls to deal with any beasts that might interfere with their task."

A grim smile spread across Elder Zhao's face. "Excellent. The Lin clan is ambitious, but they lack the necessary resources to challenge the Ning clan directly. With our help, they will be able to weaken the Ning clan's position significantly."

Jian Wuji remained silent, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The sun had almost disappeared, leaving the sky painted with hues of red and orange, as if foreshadowing the bloodshed to come.

"The Heaven Dao sect will not take kindly to this," Elder Zhao continued, his tone contemplative. "But by the time they realize what has happened, it will be too late."

"The Lin clan knows what is at stake," Jian Wuji replied. "They understand the risks, but they also see the potential rewards. Their alliance with us is born out of necessity and a desire for power."

Elder Zhao nodded slowly. "Desperation can be a powerful motivator. Make sure the Lin clan is aware of the consequences should they fail us."

"They are well aware," Jian Wuji assured him. "They know that failure is not an option."

The old man glanced at the young prodigy beside him, a look of approval in his eyes. "You have done well, Jian Wuji. Your talents are being put to good use. Continue to oversee this operation closely. The success of this mission is crucial to our plans."

Jian Wuji bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. "I will ensure everything proceeds as planned, Elder Zhao."

As the last rays of sunlight disappeared, plunging the island into darkness, the two figures remained on their flying sword, hovering silently. The night was still, the only sound the gentle rustle of leaves below.

"Elder Zhao," Jian Wuji spoke again, breaking the silence, "what of the Heaven Dao sect's response? They will not remain idle once they discover our involvement."

Elder Zhao's eyes flashed with a dangerous light. "Let them come. By the time they react, our objectives will have been achieved. We will be ready for them."

Jian Wuji nodded, his mind already calculating the next steps. "The Ning clan's defenses are formidable, but with this infiltration, they will be vulnerable. We must strike swiftly and decisively."

"Precisely," Elder Zhao agreed. "Timing is everything. The Lin clan's task is just the beginning. We have other plans in motion, plans that will ensure our dominance."

The two figures remained in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. The weight of their plans hung heavy in the air, a sense of impending doom that seemed to seep into the very fabric of the night.

"Elder Zhao," Jian Wuji said finally, "I will return to oversee the final preparations. The Lin clan's success is crucial, but we must also be prepared for any unforeseen complications."

"Go," Elder Zhao commanded, his voice firm. "Ensure everything is in place. We cannot afford any mistakes."

Jian Wuji bowed once more before stepping off the flying sword. With a swift motion, he descended towards the island, disappearing into the darkness below. Elder Zhao watched him go, his expression inscrutable.

The night was quiet again, but the silence was deceptive. Beneath the calm exterior, forces were at work, setting the stage for a conflict that would shake the entire continent.

As Elder Zhao stood alone on the flying sword, he could almost hear the echoes of the future battles, the clash of steel and the cries of the fallen. It was a sound he welcomed, a sound that heralded the rise of his faction and the fall of their enemies.

"Let the games begin," he murmured to himself, a sinister smile playing on his lips. The darkness of the night seemed to close in around him, a cloak of shadows that matched the depths of his ambitions.

The stage was set, and the players were in position. Now, all that remained was to see the plan unfold. And Elder Zhao had no doubt that it would be a spectacle to behold.