The meeting between the Elders had dragged on until dusk, when the silvery full moon hung brilliantly in the inky night sky, its luminous glow casting an ethereal light over the Kunlun grounds. The hoot of a solitary owl pierced the tranquil silence, echoing hauntingly through the maze of pavilions and courtyards.

However, the tense gathering had concluded a couple of hours prior.

Now, on one of the Elder's cliff overlooking the vast Kunlun ground below, a powerful figure clad in a crisp white martial robe emblazoned with dark yellow stripes stood shrouded in the inky shadows cast by the looming peaks.

The fabric shimmered faintly as it caught the moonlight, rippling subtly with each controlled breath.

This muscular Elder looked down at two half-kneeling disciples before him, both adorned in the traditional white martial robes denoting their rank as Inner Disciples, with dark red stripes running along the sleeves and hems. Their heads were bowed deferentially, wisps of their long hair stirring in the gentle mountain breeze.

"Report," the Elder commanded gruffly, his face obscured by the deep shadows enveloping him, rendering his expression unreadable.

The two Inner Disciples rose in unison, cupping their hands formally in a sign of utmost respect. One of them were eager glint in his eye, spoke first, his voice tinged with barely contained excitement. "Captain, you won't believe what transpired. The Master—"

"Out with it," the muscular Elder interrupted casually with an impatient wave of his calloused hand.

The disciple cleared his throat audibly, regaining his composure. "Right. Thanks to the valuable information you provided, Captain, the Master has postponed the long-awaited invasion of Kunlun."

The second disciple, chimed in swiftly, unable to conceal the hint of a smirk playing across his lips.

"He stated, and I quote verbatim, 'Let those lambs enjoy their short and happy lives for a little while longer.'" He mimicked their Master's deep, gravelly tone with an exaggerated sneer, the contempt evident in his expression.

"Interesting," the Elder mused, the timbre of his voice sending subtle vibrations through the still night air as he stroked his thick, roughly-trimmed beard in a contemplative manner.

"And what of the Kunlun operation force, Captain?" The first disciple inquired plainly, his gaze remaining indifferent and unblinking, awaiting orders. "Should we warn them of this development?"

The Elder scoffed derisively, the sound rumbling from deep within his broad chest like a growl. "Warn them? Don't be so naive. Our alliance with them is as fragile and precarious as spring ice over a frozen lake."

He paused, furrowing his brow as he mulled over the possibilities. "No, I have a far better idea in mind. The two of you will find an opportune moment to... relieve them of that wine."

"That could prove problematic, Captain," the second disciple protested with a slight frown. "This is a full force of Kunlun we're speaking of—"

"Heh," the muscular Elder scoffed again, louder this time as he stepped forth from the enshrouding shadows, finally revealing his familiar and imposing figure - the stern muscular Elder who led the disciples through their morning training exercises. A thick, roughly-trimmed beard framed his chiseled jawline, and his sharp eyes glinted with a mixture of cunning and menace.

His lips curled into a cruel smile. "Are you doubting your abilities? Or perhaps you question my judgment and leadership?"

Both disciples bowed their heads indifferently, their expressions betraying no hint of doubt or hesitation. "No, Captain. We are confident we can handle this task," they replied in unison.

"Good," the Elder growled in a low, menacing tone that reverberated through the still night air. "Because I expect results from you both. Procuring that wineis your top priority, am I understood?"

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"Understood," they responded automatically, their indifferent masks firmly in place.

The Elder's harsh countenance softened slightly as he shifted the subject. "Now, on to the matter of the list of prospective furnace candidates. That little Song girl... she's showing great promise in her training."

One of the disciples spoke up, recognizing the name. "Song Jia, the one who executed that fierce move to clear away the thick, noxious poisonous smoke during this morning?"

"Precisely," the Elder nodded curtly, his steely eyes glinting with a predatory light. "The Master would be most pleased to... meet her in person and..."

As they were discussing this, the other disciple hesitantly interjected, a crease forming between his brows. "Captain, if I may...are we truly certain about targeting Lian Rougang? The Lian family wouldn't stand for such—"

The Elder cut him off with a harsh bark of laughter that echoed eerily across the craggy cliffs. "The mighty Lian family? Don't make me laugh. They're nothing but a paper tiger these days, all hollow posturing and no real bite."

He paused, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as he leaned in closer, the whites of his eyes seeming to glow faintly in the moonlight. "The evil factions have laid dormant in Western Xia for far too long. By the time those decrepit fools realize what's transpired, it will be far too late for them to mount any meaningful resistance."

...

Meanwhile, within the serene confines of Ji Wuye's private courtyard, nestled amidst the living quarters of the main residence, the enigmatic figure sat cross-legged in a meditative pose.

His long, snowy white hair flowed like ethereal ribbons around him as his eyes remained shut, his expression one of perfect tranquility and focus. A faint, shimmering aura of bluish Qi swirled around his form as he drew the surrounding Qi inward with each steady, controlled breath.

Ji Wuye remained motionless, waiting patiently until finally, his ears twitched almost imperceptibly, causing his eyes to snap open in an instant, revealing the crimson glow burning within their depths.

The night was utterly still, save for the gentle rustling of leaves stirred by the mountain breeze. Yet, Ji Wuye's preternatural senses detected something amiss - the distinct sound of hushed murmurs and stealthy footfalls rapidly approaching, masked by the shadows.

'It's time for their attack,' Ji Wuye concluded inwardly, smoothly rising from his meditative position in one fluid motion. He slid the wooden door aside without a sound, only to be met by a hauntingly familiar figure just as she was about to announce her presence.

"Good evening, Young Master Ji," the woman greeted him respectfully. Her hair shone like lustrous strands of pure white snow, mirroring Ji Wuye's own ethereal tresses.

An ornate veil obscured the lower half of her elegant features, yet her refined grace and bearing were unmistakable. Resplendent in an exquisite white hanfu embroidered with intricate golden dragon patterns, Ye Yujin regarded Ji Wuye with a conflicted expression, guilt flickering behind her eyes.

"Good evening, Young Lady Ye," Ji Wuye greeted her with a smile, though his sharp eyes briefly scanned their surroundings, keenly aware of the many watchful gazes observing their encounter.

As if on cue, shadows emerged from the nearby shrubbery and alcoves, silent figures taking up protective positions behind Ye Yujin, their heads lowered deferentially with hands cupped before them.

"We would like to apologize for our earlier rudeness, I—" Ye Yujin began, but her words faltered as her unique blend of azure and amber irises widened. Ji Wuye had raised his hand in a placating gesture, politely cutting her off.

"Not now, Young Lady Ye, and I apologize as well for the perceived rudeness," he interjected smoothly, his gaze sweeping over her and the assembled bodyguards with an indifferent, appraising look before striding past them unhurriedly.

"But I'm sure you're already aware of this morning's disturbance, as well as the sudden flurry of movement tonight."

They nodded almost imperceptibly at his words, for this unexpected situation was indeed another motivating factor, beyond a mere apology, that had prompted the group to step forward from the shadows to seek out Ji Wuye in Ye Yujin's company.

"Unfortunately, I have been assigned to handle this particular task tonight. We can speak further later, when we have more free time," Ji Wuye's parting words echoed faintly as Ye Yujin and her bodyguards turned, only to find that his figure had already vanished without a trace into the night.

Ye Yujin's delicate brows furrowed as she bit her lower lip pensively, her striking eyes narrowing as she glanced upward at the glittering tapestry of stars before turning to face her watchful guardians once more.

"Find out what covert operation he was referring to. But be certain you remain undetected and concealed," she commanded.

...

Meanwhile, at the main entrance to the Kunlun sect, Ji Wuye's figure materialized before the two disciple sentries guarding the gate. He retrieved the jade token and presenting it respectfully.

"Thank you, Fellow Martial Brothers," Ji Wuye said with a cupped fist salute. Then, his form blurred with incredible speed as he descended the winding stone stairs leading down the mountain path.

His crimson eyes remained calm and focused as he ran at an unhurried yet rapid pace, passing through the empty market stalls and two-story buildings of the deserted Kunlun Qiuxiu village on this late evening hour.

The voluminous white sleeves of his robe, emblazoned with aqua stripes, billowed out behind him as the mountain breeze rushed past, quickly carrying him toward the outskirts of the village.

SWOOSH!

Just as Ji Wuye arrived at the outskirts of the village, the night air erupted with movement as countless shadowy figures materialized, seeming to coalesce from the darkness itself.

He swiftly shifted his crimson gaze skyward to find a vast number of martial artists garbed in white martial robes with dark red stripes hovering aloft, or looked like floating.

At that very moment, Ji Wuye's sharp eyes caught the unmistakable glare of a blazing red light on the horizon, its ominous illumination spilling forth from the direction of the nearby Tianji Village below.

Upon witnessing these twin harbingers, Ji Wuye barely had a chance to turn before a deluge of shadows rushed past him in a torrent, their indistinct forms wisping by with such speed that they seemed to bend and distort the very air around them.

Yet not a single one even seemed to register his presence as the unending stream of figures charged forth, all headed with grim purpose toward the blazing crimson beacon enveloping Tianji.

'I'm not that late, it seems,' Ji Wuye thought to himself with an enigmatic smile tugging at the corners of his lips. In a blur of motion, he enveloped his entire body in a faint blusih Qi, propelling himself forward to join the inexorable tide.

The massive unified group resembled a relentless, undulating swarm of ants as they flowed in a steady stream across the grassy mountain plains, descending rapidly from the higher vantage of Kunlun Qiuxiu village down toward the grassland below.

Martial artists of all shapes and sizes, all garbed in the unmistakable white martial robes, converged as one toward their intended destination - the now-blazing inferno, Tianji Village.