NOVEL NEXT The Sect Master
The faces of the two Division Masters paled as they turned to face the individual striding towards them. It was a woman, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her the most beautiful woman in the world. Her presence was commanding, her beauty ethereal. Her long, flowing hair moved gracefully with each step, catching the golden rays of the setting sun and reflecting them like a cascade of light.
Her skin seemed to glow with an inner radiance, a soft luminescence that only enhanced her striking features. Her eyes, sharp and piercing, held an unmistakable authority that silenced any dissent. She moved with the elegance of a celestial being, her steps light and measured, yet each one resonated with power.
The field around them, which had been a scene of utter chaos moments before, now seemed to hold its breath in her presence. The members of the White Blade Sect, who had been watching the battle from a distance, immediately bowed their heads in reverence.
“Sect Master Lianhua,” Zhou Qianfeng murmured, his voice filled with a mix of respect and fear. Ren Tai’s reaction was similar, his earlier anger and determination now tempered with deference.
Sect Master Lianhua’s gaze swept over the battlefield, taking in the destruction and the wounded figures of the two Division Masters. Her expression was unreadable, but the disappointment in her eyes was clear.
“This is how you honour the White Blade Sect?” she asked, her voice cool and composed. “By tearing each other apart in a senseless battle?”
Ren Tai and Zhou Qianfeng remained silent, their heads bowed. They knew better than to speak out of turn in her presence.
“You morons were so engaged in this useless battle that not even for a single moment did you bother to look around you!” Master Lianhua's voice cut through the silence like a blade. Her words were sharp, filled with an intensity that made the two Division Masters wince. “If I wasn’t present in the Sect, you two would have torn it apart by now!”
She turned her fierce gaze first to Ren Tai, her eyes narrowing with disappointment and anger. “You, Ren Tai! I know your son was murdered, and I understand your pain. But that is not an excuse to lead our Sect’s experts to their deaths. Your actions have been reckless and driven by personal vengeance. Aside from being a father to Ren Shi, within the Justice House, you were a father figure to all the members. You held a position of great responsibility and respect. Don’t forget that!”
Ren Tai lowered his head, unable to meet her piercing gaze. Her words struck deep, bringing a flood of guilt and shame. He had let his personal grief overshadow his duties and responsibilities to the sect.
Sect Master Lianhua then turned her attention to Zhou Qianfeng, her expression no less severe. “And you! Zhou Qianfeng! Don’t think I don’t know the real reason you began this battle. It was not out of concern for the sect’s resources or its unity. It was because you wanted to release your bloodlust! You’ve allowed your darker impulses to control you, endangering not just yourself but the entire sect.”
Zhou Qianfeng swallowed hard, the weight of her words pressing down on him. He felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. He had always prided himself on his strength and discipline, but now he stood exposed, his true motivations laid bare.
“Be responsible,” Sect Master Lianhua continued, her voice a mix of sternness and warning. “Or the next time I see you acting on such impulses, you will face my bloodlust!” Her words were not a mere threat but a promise, and Zhou Qianfeng felt a shiver of fear run through him. The mere thought of facing The Sect Master’s wrath was enough to make him rethink his actions.
“If I hear or see anything like this again,” Master Lianhua said, her voice dropping to a chilling tone, “death would be your saviour.” The finality of her words left no room for argument or defiance. Both Ren Tai and Zhou Qianfeng knew she was serious.
With that, Master Lianhua turned and began to walk away, her presence leaving a lingering sense of authority and fear. The air seemed to grow colder in her absence, the silence heavier.
Zhou Qianfeng and Ren Tai stood in heavy silence, their eyes meeting with an unspoken understanding. No words were needed; the gravity of their actions and the reprimand from Master Lianhua had already conveyed everything that needed to be said.
Meanwhile, as Sect Master Linhua entered her chambers, her demeanour remained composed, even as the weight of her responsibilities pressed heavily upon her. The tranquillity of her private space was a stark contrast to the turmoil she had just quelled.
“Took you long enough, Sect Master,” a deep voice called out from the shadows. Despite the casual tone, there was an unmistakable edge to it. Linhua’s expression, however, remained unchanged, her face a mask of calm professionalism.
“Yea, I know,” Linhua replied evenly. “But I know very well you don’t care. Xia Longwei, or should I call you Yimo Ji now?”
“Hahaha, whichever you prefer, my child,” Xia Longwei responded with a wide grin. His voice carried a hint of amusement, though his tone was also tinged with an underlying seriousness. “It’s been a while. I didn’t expect you to handle things so... dramatically.”
Linhua’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her demeanour remained unfazed. “I’m not here to indulge in nostalgia or pleasantries. The situation with the White Blade Sect was dire. I needed to ensure that the internal conflict didn’t escalate further.”
Xia Longwei stepped out of the shadows, revealing a tall, imposing figure with an aura of both danger and charm. His eyes, sharp and calculating, were fixed on Linhua. “And you did well. It’s not every day one gets to see the division Masters brought to their knees. But you know that I’m not merely here to discuss such………… mortal affairs.”
“Then tell me what you’ve come here for,” Linhua said, her tone cool and precise. “I thought our meeting was concluded when we last spoke at your castle.”
“Oh, this is different,” Xia Longwei replied, his demeanour shifting subtly. “I’ve heard your Sect has encountered someone capable of draining Qi from others. Is that true?”
Linhua’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, that’s correct. They’ve killed Ren Tai’s son, the Justice House’s Master, along with dozens of experts. Now that I think about it, the technique they used bears a striking resemblance to what you demonstrated back with Shen Mingy—”
Before Linhua could finish, Xia Longwei raised a hand, signalling for silence. “Indeed, you’re quite correct,” he said, a grin spreading across his face. “It’s one of my—how should I put this—‘juniors.’”
—-------------------------------------------------------
“So this is Dragon Tail eh?” Ling Xuan grinned as he saw the Sea in front of him.
“Time for powerups, I guess.”