## Chapter Thirty-Three: Whispers of the Unseen Blade
The dust from Yan Zhen's dramatic challenge and subsequent defeat had barely settled, but the reverberations within the Cloud Soaring Sect were profound. While most disciples were still reeling from the unexpected display of power from the "pariah" and Ling Xia's hard-won victory, the sect's inner circle was already moving with ruthless precision.
Ling Xia, still bristling with indignation from the duel, immediately sought out her father, the Sect Leader. She found him in his austere study, a room steeped in ancient spiritual formations that warded against intrusion. She bypassed the usual pleasantries, her voice sharp with residual anger and a new, chilling apprehension.
"Father," she began, her breath still a little ragged from the fight, "Yan Zhen. He is not what we thought. He was hiding his cultivation! He's at Foundation Establishment, Stage 3, at least! His qi is wild, untamed, but undeniably powerful. He nearly... he actually *scratched* me!" The last admission was a personal affront, a stain on her perfect record.
The Sect Leader, a man whose presence was as profound and unyielding as a mountain, listened, his eyes unreadable. He had observed the duel, his gaze dissecting every erratic burst of Yan Zhen's qi. "Indeed, Ling Xia," he rumbled, his voice deep and measured. "His qi is unique, a raw, almost primordial force. And his resilience... astounding. To withstand your Azure Cloud Cascade, even partially, at his stage... it is concerning."
Ling Xia pressed her point, her fear for the sect's stability outweighing her personal pique. "He holds a grudge, Father. Against me, for sure, but who knows what bitterness has festered within him during his years of torment. If he is allowed to cultivate unchecked, to grow in power outside the sect's influence... he will become a rampant threat. An uncontrollable entity with a volatile spiritual core and a deep-seated grievance. He could challenge the very foundations of our peace, perhaps even Lin Feng's future standing!"
The Sect Leader's eyes, usually calm pools of ancient wisdom, narrowed. The prospect of an uncontrolled, powerful rogue cultivator with a deep grudge against the Cloud Soaring Sect was unacceptable. Such a threat, if allowed to mature, could draw unwanted attention, disrupt their alliances, or even lead to internal rebellion if disaffected disciples found a rallying point. Pragmatism trumped all else.
"You are right, Ling Xia," the Sect Leader finally declared, his voice cold and decisive. "A problem must be dealt with before it blossoms into disaster. We cannot allow such a volatile talent to fester outside our control. Especially not one with his unique, chaotic qi. Its nature is antithetical to our sect's harmonious cultivation principles." He paused, his gaze fixed on a distant point. "Send for Elder Tai, Elder Jin, and Elder Hua. Instruct them to rendezvous at the Crimsonwood Forest's eastern clearing, approximately five li from the sect's boundary. They are to await Disciple Yan Zhen's departure. Once he has left sect grounds, they are to... neutralize the threat. Permanently. Leave no trace."
Ling Xia felt a chill even in the warmth of the office. Three Golden Core Elders. It was an overwhelming force, a testament to the magnitude of the threat they perceived Yan Zhen to be. Her own personal triumph in the duel felt hollow now, overshadowed by the sect's ruthless verdict. "As you command, Father," she replied, her voice subdued.
Just as she turned to leave the office, her mind already racing with the implications of the order, a flicker of movement caught her eye through the large, arched window overlooking the sect grounds. A figure, undeniably Lin Feng, was moving with a desperate, urgent speed towards the outer sect gates, his form a blur as he headed directly towards the Crimsonwood Forest.
Ling Xia's blood ran cold. A wave of profound unease, sharp and agonizing, crashed over her. *Lin Feng! What is he doing? He's going after Yan Zhen! He must have seen... or heard...* A horrifying realization dawned upon her: Lin Feng, her beloved Lin Feng, was heading into a death trap, intending to help that ungrateful brute. Her carefully constructed world, where Lin Feng was hers and Yan Zhen was a nuisance easily discarded, began to crack.
Her most unbearable thought, however, was not of Lin Feng being injured or traumatized. It wasn't even of him rebelling against the sect, though that possibility clawed at her heart. Her greatest fear was that **he would hate her for eternity**. For orchestrating Yan Zhen's misery, for sealing his expulsion, and now, for sending a death squad after the very friend Lin Feng was rushing to save. The thought paralyzed her for a fleeting second. She couldn't allow him to believe that. She couldn't allow him to be alone against three Golden Core Elders!
"Lin Feng!" she screamed, a desperate cry that tore through her throat. She didn't wait for her father's reaction. With a frantic burst of qi, she too dashed out of the office, hurtling towards the sect gates, determined to intercept Lin Feng, to explain, to protect him, to prevent his eternal hatred.
Meanwhile, Lin Feng, whose outward speed was impressive, was internally a whirlwind of triumphant calculation. He had anticipated Ling Xia's move, not just her desire to eliminate Yan Zhen, but her predictable route to her father's office. He had chosen the exact moment to secretly follow her, cloaked by a subtle concealment technique known only to him. He'd slipped into a shadowed alcove just outside the Sect Leader's study, close enough to hear every damning word.
*Three Golden Core Elders. Perfect.* A cold, brilliant plan had ignited in his mind the moment he heard the assassination order. This was the ultimate opportunity. He had cultivated his **Golden Core, Stage 1** in secret, using it to precisely manage the qi drain from Yan Zhen's ring, ensuring the ancient soul ripened exactly as he intended. Now, it was time to reveal a carefully controlled portion of that power, not for dominance, but for a magnificent performance.
His scheme was simple yet audacious: he would create a situation where he would appear to have just "gotten news" of Yan Zhen's imminent death. He would rush to save him, publicly declaring his abandonment of the sect for his friend. This act, of sacrificing everything to save Yan Zhen from sect elders, would cement his position as an eternally trustworthy ally in both Yan Zhen's and, crucially, Elder Xuan's eyes. It would be the ultimate manipulation, binding them to him with unbreakable ties of gratitude and perceived loyalty, while moving Yan Zhen (and the ripening soul) into the outside world, where Lin Feng could guide his progress with fewer prying eyes.
He maintained his frantic pace towards the forest, knowing Ling Xia would be hot on his heels. Her desperation was a key element. He just needed her to arrive at the perfect moment to witness his "heroic" declaration. His internal smile was chillingly devoid of warmth. *Yan Zhen, my dear friend. Soon, you will be truly mine. And Elder Xuan… you will be too.*
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