On this ominous night, the 'Medicinal Herb Shop' was a sanctuary of scents. The air was thick with an intoxicating blend of earthy aromas from dried roots and barks, mingling with the sweet floral notes of fragrant petals and the sharp, exotic spices that perfumed the very breath one took.

Underpinning it all was the unmistakable tang of potent medicinal concoctions, their pungent odors whispering promises of cures and remedies.

Ji Wuye, clad in a loose black hanfu, sat cross-legged upon a rectangular cushion on the hardwood floor. His veil had been removed, exposing a face etched with contemplation, eyes closed as he surrendered himself to a meditative trance.

The lanky shopkeeper's assistant observed Ji Wuye with a furrowed brow, concern creasing his features. For over a quarter of an hour, Ji Wuye had remained utterly still, betraying no outward sign of awareness even after a steaming cup of mixed herbal green tea was reverently placed before him.

The handcrafted brew exuded an aroma so soothing, so delicately balanced, that it seemed to diffuse a calming aura throughout the room's very atmosphere.

At last, Ji Wuye's eyes fluttered open, revealing irises that dense like blood. His crimson gaze swept over the room, assessing and cataloging every detail before settling on the teacup before him.

With an appreciative nod, he brought the ceramic vessel to his lips, savoring the soothing warmth and allowing the herbal infusion to further quiet his mind.

After a contemplative pause, Ji Wuye's eyes found the shopkeeper's assistant once more, pinning the man with an inscrutable look.

"Is everything prepared?" The words were softly spoken, yet they seemed to reverberate through the very air. Ji Wuye reached into the folds of his robe, retrieving a leather pouch that clinked with the unmistakable sound of coin.

The assistant's eyes widened fractionally at the sight of the pouch.

"This..." His brows arched in apparent surprise, but Ji Wuye did not miss the fleeting glint of avarice that danced across the man's features. "There is no need for additional payment, Master. Everything is ready and prepared."

Despite the placating words, the assistant's smile did not reach his eyes. It was a stretched, artificial thing, a thin veneer barely containing the greed that simmered beneath.

Ji Wuye remained unruffled, exuding an aura of elegant tranquility as he sipped his tea. Those smoldering crimson orbs studied the assistant's expression, his gaze seeming to bore into the man's very soul. He said nothing, yet the weight of that silent scrutiny was palpable.

The assistant's twitching smile gradually froze, his lips straining as Ji Wuye's piercing stare seemed to leech all mirth from the rictus grin. A bead of sweat formed on his brow, his eyes shifty and unsure under the unspoken pressure of that crimson scrutiny.

And yet, Ji Wuye's mind dwelled not on the assistant's blatant greed, but rather on the information he had so recently attained. A weary sigh escaped his lips, the exhalation seeming to startle the already unnerved assistant.

Ji Wuye paid the man's growing trepidation no mind, rising fluidly from his meditative position on the hardwood floor. 'What a pity,' he murmured inwardly.

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"A change of plans," Ji Wuye announced. With a decisive motion, he placed the leather pouch atop the wooden counter, coins clinking melodiously within its confines.

Without further preamble, Ji Wuye retrieved a nearby quill and sheaf of parchment, dipping the nib into a well of jet-black ink. His hand flew across the vellum in a flurry of strokes, transcribing a lengthy and meticulous list.

The scratching of the quill was the only sound to perforate the weighted silence, the shopkeeper's assistant observing the proceedings with bated breath, uncertainty writ large upon his features.

...

A few moment later, the icy tendrils of the midnight wind howled like the cries of wolves, whipping through the deserted streets of Kunlun Qiuxiu village.

Ji Wuye stepped forth from the 'Medicinal Herb Shop,' the frigid gusts tugging insistently at the folds of his new white martial robe.

His gaze traveled upward, drawn inexorably toward the stone stairs that ascended in the direction of the Kunlun Sect's grounds.

Yet his thoughts remained tethered to the battles before, a crease marring his brow as shreds of regret clung to the recesses of his mind.

'A pity that all of these moves require Sword Aura to execute,' he mused, ruminating upon the martial techniques he had so recently copied.

Lost in these pensive contemplations, Ji Wuye's feet began moving of their own volition, carrying him up the path as the first faint fingers of dawn's light began to bleed across the eastern horizon.

...

A new day had dawned, and with it came the commencement of the orthodox factions' eagerly anticipated gathering. The sun had long since crested the horizon, its radiant warmth infusing the very air with life and vitality.

The mellifluous calls of songbirds and the gentle susurrus of rustling leaves embraced the grounds of the Kunlun Sect, forming nature's euphonious overture.

Every corner of the sect's domains, from the bustling Lower Levels to the sprawling Central and Inner Courtyards, was a hive of frenzied activity. Wooden tables and chairs had been arranged with meticulous precision, forming orderly rows and avenues in anticipation of the imminent arrivals.

Disciples and esteemed guests from far and wide had already begun to congregate in these designated areas, their excited murmurs mingling with the aromas of succulent dishes that had been laid out in sumptuous arrays upon the tables.

Yet all eyes were inexorably drawn toward the Inner Courtyard, where the venerable elders of Kunlun and the representatives of the other sects gathered.

A hush fell over the assembled throngs as a powerful voice rang out, slicing through the cacophony like a blade through silk. "To all disciples and honored guests, welcome to this gathering of our esteemed orthodox factions."

The speaker was garbed in flowing white robes adorned with dark yellow stripes, his words carrying the weight of authority befitting one of such evident stature. Beneath a severe brow and thick beard, a jagged scar carved its way from the corner of his mouth to his hairline.

This was none other than Elder Tan.

Elder Tan's stern countenance melted into a warm, beatific smile as he flung his arms wide in a welcoming embrace. "Today, we stand united, bound by the sacred threads of martial excellence, to face the challenges that threaten the Jianghu together!"

A poignant pause hung in the air as he allowed his words to resonate, his piercing gaze sweeping across the assembled ranks of disciples. Their expressions were taut with focus, eyes burning with determination as they hung on his every utterance.

"Strange beasts wander our lands, and the lives of common people are in danger, but..." Elder Tan's voice trailed off, his brow furrowing as he noticed a few disciples' attentions beginning to drift toward the tantalizing arrays of food that had been laid before them.

A fleeting frown creased his weathered features before he mastered his expression once more. "The purpose of this gathering is to familiarize yourselves with your future Brothers and Sisters! To solve the crisis spreading across the Jianghu, we must be united!"

The weight of his exhortation seemed to resonate within the very air itself. Disciples exchanged sidelong glances, their momentary distractions dispelled by the gravitas of Elder Tan's words. Even the guests and Kunlun's own disciples felt the burden of significance settle upon their shoulders like a mantle.

Sensing he had regained their undivided focus, Elder Tan's stern mien softened once more. "Now, to start the day with a blessing and a good omen, let us feast on the dishes prepared before us!"

...

With Elder Tan's peculiar benediction, a palpable shift rippled through the crowd. Disciples and guests alike began to partake of the sumptuous fare, laughter and lively conversation filling the air as they mingled and broke bread together.

Meanwhile, on the lower level near the sect's entrance, Ji Wuye sat in quiet repose at one of the long tables that had been arranged to foster a sense of harmony and camaraderie.

Like the others, his table was intended to accommodate six individuals, three seated on either side so that they faced one another.

Yet for some inexplicable reason, Ji Wuye's table stood in defiant contrast to this ideal. Rather than the intended atmosphere of mutually respectful discourse, an air of unmistakable...intimacy permeated his immediate surroundings.

"Junior, try these chicken tenders. The flavor and tenderness are perfect right now," a soft, almost coquettish yet kind voice purred. A steel fork laden with succulent morsels was slowly, deliberately guided toward Ji Wuye's lips in an overt gesture of solicitousness.

"Hehe...Senior Sister, you're so bold! Why don't you just marry him if you like him that much?" Another voice chimed in, this one lilting with playful teasing.

Yes, curiously enough, Ji Wuye's table was crowded...crowded with well-known beauties.