Xin Ma sat in the library behind the reception desk, his usual spot. The scent of ancient paper and the soft rustling of pages created a calm, familiar ambiance. A handful of disciples wandered through the towering shelves, their eyes scanning the spines of countless volumes. Most were searching for techniques to advance their training, their hopes secretly pinned on stumbling upon a coveted Earth Grade Technique hidden within the stacks.

However, not all were diligent. Some, after reading, carelessly left books strewn across tables or discarded on the floor, too lazy or preoccupied to return them to their proper places. It was supposed to be Shan Sha's job to organize the mess, but the old man was far from his prime, and his energy dwindled with each passing year. Knowing this, Xin Ma took it upon himself to maintain order. He would reprimand the thoughtless disciples, his stern gaze enough to make them squirm as they sheepishly gathered the books they'd left behind and returned them to their rightful shelves.

The library was relatively quiet, with only the soft murmur of students whispering to each other. The subtle scent of incense, burning at the corner of Xin Ma's reception desk, gently filled the air.

It had all become routine for Xin Ma; even the once-soothing scent of incense had faded into something ordinary, barely noticed anymore. The job had long since settled into a familiar rhythm in which Xin Ma's body moved through the motions almost automatically, shelving new books, organizing scrolls, and monitoring the disciples without much conscious thought. His mind often wandered to distant places or old memories while his hands performed the tasks that had become second nature.

Lately, Xin Ma's mind wandered more often, especially since Liu Feng had left. They hadn't seen each other frequently since Liu Feng joined the inner sect. But now, with him truly gone, even the occasional, unexpected visits had ceased.

He still didn't know why Liu Feng seemed so rushed when they last met. The only clue was that he mentioned a looming disaster, though Xin Ma could only guess the details.

The librarian trusted Liu Feng. This wasn't the kind of thing the young man would lie about. Xin Ma glanced around for the old librarian, but the man was nowhere to be found. It was typical—the old goat often disappeared at the most inconvenient times.

As Xin Ma relaxed, he sensed a powerful presence approaching the library. A black-robed man entered—his hair dark as ink, with a silvery sheen cascading over his shoulders. His cold, coal-black eyes scanned the room before locking onto Xin Ma.

The man's dark uniform marked him as an inner elder. He walked forward with silent steps, his expression as icy as his demeanor. He didn't even bother with the customary smile of polite authority, clearly indicating his disdain.

Xin Ma couldn't tell whether this was an act or whether the man truly disliked him.

"You must be Xin Ma. I'm here to deliver a message and conduct some investigations," the man said. Though he looked in his twenties, Xin Ma guessed he was in his mid-forties—the cultivator's youthful appearance would likely last for decades more.

"That's me," Xin Ma replied. "What news do you bring?"

"First, you need to answer a few questions," the man said bluntly, stepping in front of the counter without a hint of respect. He was not giving him face even when disciples were around. "Song Song and her entire faction have disappeared. Do you know anything about that?"

"No, I don't get involved in inner sect politics. Sadly, I've not been promoted to inner elder yet," Xin Ma answered.

"But reports suggest you're close to Song Song's second-in-command," the man pressed.

Xin Ma didn't respond immediately. Instead, he studied the man closely, memorizing key details before speaking. "You must be from the Song Clan. You sure look like it. Shouldn't you be addressing Song Song more appropriately, considering your position? Perhaps as 'Lady Song'?"

The man frowned, his disdain palpable. "I'd rather cut out my tongue than call that bitch my lady."

Despite the man's aggression, Xin Ma remained calm. No matter how strong the intruder might be, the ancient arrays in the library would make quick work of most Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Did the Sect Leader order this?" Xin Ma asked, his tone casual. "I know the Song Clan can get... excitable. But falsifying an order from the Sect Leader about my promotion? That's a serious crime. The Sect Leader wouldn't take such a thing lightly. If anyone could claim to act under his orders, it would cause chaos within the sect."

Xin Ma had taught Liu Feng much—about arrays, techniques, combat, and dealing with people. But he'd also learned from his disciple, observing Liu Feng's clever maneuvers over the years. One lesson stood out: in confrontations against someone looking for trouble, always escalate the stakes, and, if possible, shift focus onto a higher authority. If this man continued, he would no longer be dealing with a mere librarian but defying the Sect Leader's authority.

It was a rather shameless tactic.

The man's coal-black eyes blazed with anger for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure, a cold mask falling back into place. "I'm here to inform you that you have been officially promoted to inner elder. Your request to remain here until a suitable successor has been approved. That is the truth."

"Good," Xin Ma nodded. "Please report to the Sect Leader that I am deeply grateful for his kindness and consideration. I am, as always, at his service."

Xin Ma added the message about reporting to the Sect Leader to ensure the troublesome man left his library. After all, who would dare delay delivering a message to the Sect Leader?

The Song Clan cultivators were known for their recklessness and were often called cruel and ruthless. But cruelty and insanity were two different things. Even the cruel had to listen to the strong.

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“You know… Song Song and your disciple killed someone very dear to me,” the man said, and as the words left his lips, whatever fear he had seemed to dissipate.

Ah, Xin Ma realized. This man wasn’t afraid of death. It seemed someone close to him had died in whatever incident involved Song Song and Liu Feng. But truthfully, Xin Ma didn’t care. He had lived a long life, and nearly everyone he knew had lost people important to them at some point.

Despite the man’s attempts to act brave, Xin Ma could see through it. If he were fearless, he wouldn’t bring up vengeance now, only after Song Song and her allies had disappeared. Had she still been around, even mentioning these grievances would have sealed his fate before the next sunrise.

“Whatever grievances you have, we can discuss after dinner when I finish my work,” Xin Ma said, his tone polite but firm, making it clear he didn’t have time for this. “And I’ve heard the Sect Leader likes his messages delivered swiftly.”

That final remark sealed the matter, and the man turned and left without another word.

It seemed that, with Song Song gone, those who held grudges against her were starting to stir.

But just as the man reached the exit, he stopped. His coal-black eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. Xin Ma frowned, wondering what could scare someone so reckless. He got his answer a moment later when a tanned hand slid through the doorway, touched the man’s face, and before he could react, the man vanished.

No sound. No scream. No technique. One moment he was there; the next, he was gone. There was no doubt in Xin Ma’s mind that the man was dead.

A figure entered the library, a man in a red robe with intricate golden engravings. His tan skin and unremarkable face would have made him easily lost in a crowd if not for the extravagance of his attire.

“When the shepherd is away, the sheep think themselves free, only to find the jaws of the wolf,” the Sect Leader said, his voice smooth, almost playful.

Xin Ma’s usual calm shattered. Why was the Sect Leader here? His thoughts scrambled to make sense of it, but nothing came. His mind, usually so sharp, could barely process the situation.

The Sect Leader’s brown eyes scanned the room, landing on Xin Ma. The disciples in the library watched curiously, most not recognizing the man in front of them. Those who did immediately dropped to their knees. Soon, the others followed suit, realizing they were in the presence of someone far above them.

“Apologies for the disturbance,” the Sect Leader said almost casually. “I was curious to see what this one would do now that his clan leader is absent. I rarely get the opportunity to toy with the Song Clan. They’re an amusing lot.”

Xin Ma bowed his head. Despite his racing thoughts, his body fell into perfect form, the decorum drilled into him decades ago resurfacing as instinct.

“How may I serve you, Sect Leader?” he asked, his voice steady, though his mind reeled.

The Sect Leader’s appearance here was nothing short of terrifying. There was no way this was a casual visit. Something was happening, and Xin Ma had no idea what it was. That meant he could easily walk into a trap without realizing it. In such situations, it was best to speak as little as possible.

“Well, I have a few mysteries I hoped you might clarify,” the Sect Leader said with a friendly smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “For instance, why have you remained here in the outer sect rather than joining the inner sect? And why has your disciple and those close to him also left? There are some... concerns from some people. After all, your disciple gained his reputation when he poisoned an entire city to kill the invading monstrous beasts. It seems many are still rather fearful of him. They wonder, what else could someone who came up with that kind of plan have in his mind?”

What did the Sect Leader mean by "some people"? Was he worried that Liu Feng had planted something in the inner sect that might cause a poison explosion at a critical moment like this? Someone like Song San would surely be an easy scapegoat if such a thing happened. But Xin Ma knew Liu Feng—he would never do something so foolhardy. He was too soft-hearted for such deeds.

Suddenly, there was movement behind the Sect Leader. The old man, Shan Sha, entered, holding a new sleek broom—the replacement for the old one he'd given to Liu Feng.

The Sect Leader glanced at the old man briefly, an unspoken exchange passing between them. But neither said a word.

"Apologies, honorable Sect Leader," Shan Sha said without breaking his gaze, "but my friend Xin Ma has decided to stay here a bit longer. Even as an inner elder, he's chosen to keep me company in the outer sect until I kick the bucket. That's what friendship is all about."

Xin Ma exhaled quietly, relieved. With Shan Sha present, the chances of the Sect Leader killing him on a whim, as he'd done with the other man, had dropped significantly. After all, Shan Sha and the Sect Leader were connected.

"Huh, so the reports were accurate. They weren't lying after all," the Sect Leader said, his eyes still on Shan Sha. "Well, I wouldn't want to interfere with such a noble friendship."

With that, he turned to leave, adding, "It's a shame the little birdie is no longer around. I enjoyed our games of hide-and-seek. But soon enough, we'll all have more fun than we can handle."

The Sect Leader walked away, leaving Xin Ma even more bewildered than before.

Why had he come here at all? It wasn't like the Sect Leader had time to waste on such frivolities.

Several minutes passed before the disciples finally dared to stand up. Shan Sha dragged a chair over to the counter and sat down. Xin Ma quickly activated a silencing array around them, just in case the old man said something that could be misinterpreted.

"Something big is coming," Shan Sha said, glancing regretfully at his empty hand, muttering a curse under his breath. He must have forgotten his tea. "The whole sect feels like it's holding its breath. Some inner sect servants gossip that with Song Song's faction gone, many of the old hawks are looking to eliminate anyone connected to her."

"But with the Sect Leader showing up here, I have nothing to worry about," Xin Ma said.

No matter what skirmishes the core or inner elders engaged in, to the Sect Leader, it was all child's play. He could eliminate one side and crown whichever victor he pleased.

Everyone knew better than to get involved in matters touched by the Sect Leader. Sure, some elders might argue against his policies, but it was common knowledge that their decisions only mattered because the Sect Leader allowed them to.

Whatever the reason for the Sect Leader's brief visit, Xin Ma felt confident that no one would come looking for him, even with his indirect connection to Song Song through Liu Feng.

It was all rather convenient. The Sect Leader's visit had been so short, almost as if someone had merely asked him to show his face, and he had done just that.

Xin Ma glanced at Shan Sha from the corner of his eye, deciding to follow a lesson from Liu Feng: act as if he knew nothing. He had been in the library so long that his awareness had dulled, and he had simply missed certain clues.

Yes, that sounded like a convenient excuse.

"Not to mention that girl Ye An vanishing into thin air. And that red-haired kid too—the one everyone thinks must be Zun Gon's illegitimate son or something. He's gone missing as well," Shan Sha continued, sharing the gossip he'd picked up from the inner sect servants. "These are dire times."