Chapter 16

“Who is that?” I try to keep my voice steady from the fear creeping up my spine.

“That man is the head of the [Lower Cloud Hall] of the [Orange Cloud Sect], Fu Ju. He is also called the ‘Swordsman Of Five Pines’ for his use of the [Billowing Pines Art].” The man looks to be around sixty years old with grey hair wearing an orange outfit with cloud regalia adorning him. Based on how gawky his outfit is, he must have a pretty high position in the sect. He speaks to the group before turning and having them follow after him to the eastern side of camp. Sticking to the shadows, I try to follow after only to have Coachman Cai catch my arm.

“Why are you stopping me?”

“Don’t go off on your own, besides it would be impossible for someone like you to get close enough to spy on someone like him.” While I think it would be best to follow the head of one of their halls, I also don't know how powerful he really is.

“Okay, so what do you suggest we do?” I hold in my annoyance for now.

“It’s too dangerous to go after the head of the [Lower Cloud Hall] right now, so instead we will follow the disciples sneaking out at night.” As he says it, he points out three disciples of the [Orange Cloud Sect] sneaking off out of the camp. Coachman Cai rushes off to follow, leaving me to catch up. Though I’ve gotten faster, I still can’t keep up with him. The trio comes up to a grassy patch away from the [Secret Realm] with rocks scattered everywhere. They slow to a stroll, winding through the maze of rocks. Based on their familiarity with where they are going, they must have come here quite a bit before now. We follow after, keeping behind the natural cover while we watch where they go. It’s hard to believe that Coachman Cai has only been a coachman. So far, his behavior and skill make me believe that he’s done what we are doing now plenty of times already. I can’t hold any mistrust in this moment as it could be my life if I do.

After following them for another good ten minutes, we arrive at some kind of gathering place. At least fifty disciples of the [Orange Cloud sect] have gathered here including the three that just arrived. They all wear the same orange uniform with clouds somewhere on it. The strange thing is that the clouds are all in different positions with some even being different colors than the typical white most have. They all carry various types of weapons from swords to whips to hammers and a bow and arrow. I use my [Psychic Detection] across the area, every single person has the same type of energy within them. It feels sticky and black, clinging to my senses when I try to pull away. The feeling it leaves in me is disgusting like a thousand insects crawling in my veins. I shudder as I peer out from my hiding place, the way they laugh and chatter as if they’re humans.

“What is that black sticky energy they have inside them?” Coachman Cai startles out of the shadows.

“You can sense that energy?!”

“Yeah, what is it?” His eyes light up in hope and awe.

“It is [Demonic Qi], the telltale sign of demonic cultivator. If you feel that Qi from everyone here, that means we have found a cell of demonic cultivators inside the [Orange Cloud Sect].” His gaze turns grave as he speaks in a serious tone. All the hope and awe that was once there has vanished to cold indifference as he begins writing on a small piece of paper. He rolls it up once he’s finished and then begins making his way back the way we came. Once we are out of the rocky maze, he whistles a distinct call. In response, a loud screech followed by a massive bird comes from above. The bird’s brown feathers glisten in the moonlight with brilliant golden eyes that gleam with intelligence. A pair of long feathers attached to the top of its head are an orange color with brown centers. It perches on Coachman Cai’s shoulder as he slips the paper into a small pouch on its foot. Once secured, the bird takes off once again.

“So where is that bird going?”

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“Back to the sect, the higher-ups will decide what to do next. In the meantime, we have to gather as much information as possible. Come on, we’re going back to the gathering. Hopefully, there will be something useful.” We make our way back silently. The gathering is almost completely silent with all the disciples and sect members lined up in five rows of ten. At the front is the same man that we saw earlier. The menacing aura around him has gotten stronger. He lifts his hands like a preacher, his voice booming and suffocating as addresses the crowd.

“Tomorrow, the [Great Cleansing] shall begin here! The blood of sinners shall fill the rivers and seas to clean the world of the filth that festers on its surface! The world must be turned to ash, for it to be reborn! For the glory of the [Blood Demon]!” In response, the crowd shouts along with him. Then I see something that chills my blood, a pair of cultists dragging a young woman in chains to the front. She looks to be wearing a thin dress that floats, though it's stained with blood and dirt. A cultist holding a tray beside Fu Ju presents it to him with a deep bow. He lifts a large ceremonial knife, turning to the woman. My stomach clenches as I remain hidden, watching the scene unfold before me. She struggles to free herself as he raises the knife, chanting something under his breath. I know that even if I save her now, it would risk so much more in return. I don’t turn away, even as the sickening bile in my throat threatens to come up.

I watch as he brings the knife down, but instead of stabbing her, he slits her throat. Blood pours from her neck as the life drains out of her. Right where her body sits, is a groove in the stone leading to a rock bowl below it. The inside is stained with blood from previous people killed here. One of the cultists kicks her body down further to the bowl. The crowd continues chanting, louder and louder as Fu Ju takes a cup of the blood collected so far. He raises it into the sky with a deranged smile. He tosses the cup back like a shot of alcohol. He turns back to the chanting crowd again.

“Let this sinner’s blood empower and cleanse our bodies! So that we may carry out our great work!” The crowd cheers in response, clamoring to try and fill their own cups with the blood. The scene is something I could only see in my nightmares.

“We need to retreat, now!” Coachman Cai’s voice pulls me from the scene. Before I can respond, a shadow appears right where we are hidden. The rocks at my head explode as I’m pulled off my feet, tumbling a couple of feet away.

“A couple of rats sneaking around, you will not interfere with our great plan!” Fu Ju is right in front of us, crushing the remaining stone in his hands into powder. Coachman Cai appears out of the shadows, brandishing his short sword as he attacks from Fu Ju’s right. With a flick of his hand, Coachman Cai is flung back into the crowd of cultists with their weapons drawn. Before he can get up, they impale him with their weapons all at once, his screams coming loudly and ending quickly. I scramble to my feet, making a break for another camp. I don’t miss a beat as I charge my body with my [Elektrokinesis]. Everything slows around, with the only thing keeping up being Fu Ju. The ground beneath my feet ripples with every step as my speed increases. Fu Ju keeps my pace, drawing a sword from his belt with a scowl.

He leaps at me, swinging for my legs. I jump across, the electricity coming off me arcing across the blade. My speed is already more than it ever has been but even now I’m barely staying ahead of him. I search for any escape route or crowded area. Only Fu Ju is keeping me in check from getting anywhere close to another camp. He swings at my chest this time as he manages to overtake me a bit. Using my [Telekinesis] to create a shield, the sword bounces off. Fu Ju looks confused for a moment before anger takes his eyes, reling back for another vicious blow. Switching quickly, I knock him back with a blast of psychic energy. Taking the brief second he is still disoriented, I manage to get back to the closest cluster of camps near the entrance to the [Secret Realm]. I lock eyes with him as he begins to stalk towards me, looking completely unharmed. I eye the camps but find them empty and silent. I rush into the camp closest to me searching for anyone around. If I find someone in the middle of camp, he won’t be able to act recklessly. A chuckle comes through the camp as the sound of a sword scrapes across the ground.

“You were quite the interesting rat, tricks I’ve never seen before. But now the chase is over.” Fu Ju rounds the corner with that same demented smile he had before. My eyes flick around the camp for anything to help. [Demonic Qi] explodes out of him, causing my entire body to start shaking. I fall to my knees as I struggle to breathe, fear gripping my throat. I look up into his eyes, glowing red with black where the whites should be. I struggle to move, to speak, to do anything. But all I am able to manage is open my mouth as it dries looking into the face of death. His bony hand wraps around my face as his long sharp nails dig into my flesh. He's too strong for me to fight, Coachman Cai was killed in an instant. So why did I think I could escape? I'm just beginning to resign to my fate as he draws his sword back, ready to plunge it into my throat. When another sword clangs against it right before it strikes. Fu Ju leaps back as the person who saved me looks down.

"You look like shit." To my surprise, it's Zemin.