The group moved steadily forward, the sound of their footsteps echoing against the rugged mountain path. Aaryan’s team trailed behind by two groups, the leader of their team at the forefront, his eyes sharp and calculating. Aaryan, despite his youth, kept pace with the older men, his keen senses alert to every change in the air.
As he walked, Aaryan couldn’t help but reflect on the power dynamics within the group. He’d long realized that despite their outward disdain for sycophants, most people secretly craved flattery and the validation it brought. The leader of his team was no exception. He was the same man who had singled Aaryan out in front of Nayan earlier—calculating and manipulative. Aaryan’s lips curled into a faint smile as he observed the subtle manoeuvres, each one as manipulative as cultivation itself.
The path wound upward, hugging the side of the mountain. Dense jungles thickened as they ascended, the air growing heavier with the scent of damp earth. The trail was narrow and treacherous, with the mountain towering on one side and a steep valley dropping away on the other. About a third of the way up, the main trail forked, splitting into smaller paths leading to other peaks. Some teams, including Aaryan’s, were assigned to continue toward the central peak, while others took the diverging trails.
After several hours of trekking, the group finally halted, setting up camp to rest. The three silver-armoured leaders had already split off—one heading toward a smaller mountain, while two remained behind, continuing toward the main peak. With them were three junior chiefs. Aaryan’s group, now reduced to seven teams, prepared to rest and resupply.
As the group settled in, the leader of Aaryan’s team motioned for the men to scatter. He ordered them to search for herbs, valuable resources, or anything that might aid in their mission. As the others began to disperse, the leader’s cold gaze fixed on Aaryan and his companion.
“Aaryan,” he called with a cruel, calculating smile. “Time is of the essence. We’ll split up into smaller groups to make the most of this opportunity. You, go that way,” he pointed toward a small valley some distance off the main path, “and see if you can find anything useful.”
Aaryan immediately understood the implication—his leader wanted to isolate him. But Aaryan wasn’t fazed. Instead of resentment, he offered a polite smile and nodded. “Of course, elder brother.”
The leader's smile faltered as Aaryan walked away without protest. He had expected the child to resist, to feel dejected at being sent away alone, but Aaryan remained unfazed. This response, this composure, grated at the leader's pride. His eyes narrowed, and he turned to lead the rest of the group to a safer, more controlled area.
Aaryan, meanwhile, made his way toward the valley. As he approached, he realized it wasn’t a valley at all, but rather a shallow cave hidden among the rocks. The entrance was small, but the daylight allowed him to see the inner walls clearly. He cautiously entered, the damp soil beneath his feet leaving faint footprints behind.
Inside the cave, there was little of interest—just scattered rocks and an eerie quiet. Aaryan moved through it, examining every inch for anything useful. But it was only when he reached the back of the cave that something caught his eye—a small plant growing out of the damp earth. It was a delicate flower, swaying gently in the breeze that passed through a crack in the wall. Aaryan crouched down, studying it carefully.
Feeling excited, he studies the flower for sometime. He murmured "this really looks like 12 Petal Earthly Lilly. if I sell it...no I can't. I will have to present it to junior chief , maybe he will reward me handsomely and I will have enough to roam the world on …" , before hi could finish his chain of thoughts, He looked at a particular petal for quite some time, examining it carefully. His brow furrowed and all of the earlier excitement vanished as he recognized the flower. While in first glance, it resembled an earthly treasure known as 12 Petal Earthly Lilly, it wasn't. the 12 Petal Earthly Lilly was a flower known for its immense value in the cultivation world. After a few moments of careful consideration, he sighed in his heart stood up and decided that the flower was not of much value to him or the group. There was nothing special here. He turned and began to head back toward the group.
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However, unbeknownst to Aaryan, the leader of his team was growing increasingly agitated. He had sent Aaryan off in the hopes that the boy would fail, that he would come back empty-handed, or better yet, find something dangerous. If Aaryan did find something valuable, it could boost his standing in the group—something the leader wasn’t willing to tolerate. So, he sent one of his most trusted men to keep an eye on the boy, just in case.
The man crept toward the valley, moving cautiously as he observed Aaryan from a distance. As he drew closer, he saw Aaryan bent over something, his head down, engrossed in whatever he was looking at. Suspicion flared in the man’s chest. He was about to turn away when he saw the flower—Aaryan had been examining it just moments ago, and now the man was certain. This was no ordinary flower. It looked unmistakably like the rare 12 Petal Earthly Lilly, a treasure worth a fortune.
His pulse quickened. Without a second thought, the man rushed forward, plucking the flower from its place. He tucked it carefully into his robes and made his way back toward the camp, eager to present his find. As he passed Aaryan, now walking back toward the group, the man couldn't resist a smug, triumphant look.
Aaryan frowned, sensing something wasn’t right. Before he could make sense of the situation, the man raised his voice toward the group. “Look what I’ve found!” He held the flower high for all to see.
The entire group froze. The leader’s eyes widened with shock, and he immediately gestured for the others to gather around. “It’s a 12 Petal Earthly Lilly,” he exclaimed, awe lacing his voice. “A treasure of immeasurable worth!”
Aaryan’s heart sank. His initial disbelief gave way to panic. He knew that the flower wasn’t the 12 Petal Earthly Lilly, but now it was too late to explain. The situation was spiralling out of control, and there was no way to stop it.
Nayan, the junior chief, arrived at the scene, his eyes gleaming with desire. The two silver-armoured leaders glanced at each other with envy, but they knew they couldn’t take the flower from the chief’s hands now. They turned their attention elsewhere, continuing preparations for the journey ahead, though their eyes lingered on the flower with clear interest.
The leader of Aaryan’s group, looking almost sick with regret, bowed deeply as Nayan approached. “Junior Chief,” he said, his voice tinged with complaint, “this treasure was found by Aaryan. He was returning empty-handed, no doubt hoping that no one else would find it and that he could take it for himself later. Thankfully, we had someone watching him, or he would have stolen this treasure.”
Nayan’s eyes narrowed, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The three junior chiefs exchanged dark looks, their minds calculating the potential benefits of such a rare flower. This flower could tip the scales in their favor, possibly even change the course of their entire mission.
Fury burned in Nayan’s chest. “Take him away. Bind him to the tree. We’ll decide his punishment later,” he ordered coldly.
As the men began to drag Aaryan toward the tree, he felt his chest tighten with dread. His heart raced as he knew that no explanation would save him. He took a deep breath and, in a calm but loud voice, called out, “Junior Chief, please listen to me! If you’re not satisfied with my explanation, then fine. But if I’m right, and this is not the 12 Petal Earthly Lilly, it will affect your health.”
The men stopped, stunned by his words. Nayan hesitated, his fury warring with curiosity. His elder brother Sharan, always more methodical, turned to Aaryan. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Aaryan seized the opportunity, bowing deeply. “I didn’t pick the flower because I knew it wasn’t the 12 Petal Earthly Lilly,” he said, speaking quickly. “It’s dangerous to use without proper knowledge. If you’re not careful, it could harm you.”
The tension in the air was palpable. Sharan exchanged a glance with his younger brother, Aman. After a long pause, Sharan nodded subtly. “Release him,” he ordered, his tone unreadable.
Aaryan felt a brief flicker of hope. He had only moments to prove himself, to convince them that the flower was not what they thought. “You have twenty breaths of time,” Aman said coldly, his voice sharp. “Prove to us that this is not the 12 Petal Earthly Lilly.”
Aaryan’s pulse quickened. This was his last chance. Failure would bring worse consequences than he could imagine. He stepped forward, his mind racing, ready to defend his claim.