The afternoon sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the hall, its light slanting through the lattice windows like thin threads of gold. The room felt heavy with quiet anticipation, almost as if the air itself held its breath. The stillness was occasionally broken by the soft shuffle of robes against polished stone, a subtle reminder of the figures who lingered within.
The first elder stood near the window, his fingers lightly brushing the wood of the sill as he gazed out into the distance, his expression unreadable. But there was a tension in the way his eyes flickered toward the horizon, a silent contemplation of what was about to unfold. His voice, when it came, was low but heavy with thought.
"Is today the day she mentioned?" His words hung in the air, carrying a slight edge of uncertainty. His brow furrowed as he shifted his gaze to the second elder standing across the room. "This challenge… are we truly going through with it?"
The second elder, who had been standing with arms crossed, turned slowly. His face was a mask of cool composure, but his eyes betrayed the depth of his considerations. His jaw was tight, and there was an almost imperceptible glimmer of calculation in his gaze as he met the first elder's questioning stare.
"That's right," the second elder confirmed, his voice steady, yet tinged with a sharp edge. "She said we're going to challenge him in the life and death ring today. We've been waiting for this. It's time to act."
A moment of silence passed, the first elder still staring at the second with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. His eyes narrowed, and his lips pressed together, a subtle sign of his growing unease. "Are we sure this is wise?" he asked, his voice quiet but laced with doubt. "We're talking about a one-on-two fight at the same rank. If this goes wrong, it'll be a stain on our reputation."
The second elder's lips curled into a faint smirk, a flash of cold amusement flickering across his features. His stance shifted, and he stepped closer, the weight of his words heavier than before. "Who cares about reputation?" he said, his tone almost dismissive. "The benefits are far greater than any minor tarnish. Analyzing her… her background is clearly significant, and the power she holds is something we can use. She's a dangerous asset to align with." He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he considered the implications. "And besides, there's already tension between us and Elder Han. Everyone knows it."
The first elder's expression softened slightly at that, but his brow remained furrowed, still skeptical. He turned fully to face the second elder now, his eyes searching, trying to piece together the reasoning behind the plan. His voice was calm, but there was a subtle edge to it, as if he were trying to anticipate the second elder's next move.
"Yes, I can see the logic," he admitted, his tone reluctantly approving. "But…" He hesitated, clearly bothered by one detail. "Why didn't she just order someone to deal with Elder Han directly? If her background really is as powerful as we think, she could have handled this in a far more straightforward way. But instead, she wants us to fight him. Why half-death? What's her angle?"
The second elder's eyes flickered for a moment, a brief hesitation in his gaze as the question sunk in. His expression hardened, though a small trace of skepticism remained. "She's hiding something," he muttered, almost to himself. "There's more to this than we can see. But in the end… who cares? The most important thing is the benefits. That's what we should focus on."
The first elder let out a low chuckle, one that was more of a growl than a laugh. The sound was dark, almost predatory. His eyes gleamed with a cruel amusement as he leaned back slightly, his hands folding together with a casual, almost disdainful air. "That's true," he said with a sinister smile. "Elder Han… how unlucky can he get? He's walking into this without even realizing the trap that's been set for him."
A shiver of satisfaction passed through the second elder at that, his lips curling into a tight grin. His hands clenched subtly at his sides, fingers curling into the fabric of his robes as if preparing for what was to come. "He won't know what hit him," he muttered, more to himself than to the first elder.
The first elder's laughter rang out again, this time louder, richer with the kind of malicious delight that one would expect from a schemer. "Indeed," he said, voice thick with mockery. "Elder Han doesn't even realize how unlucky he truly is."
The tension in the room grew thick, the weight of their words hanging in the air like a thick fog. As their voices faded, there was a strange, almost palpable shift. The quiet that followed felt like the calm before a storm. The second elder's eyes hardened, his mind already calculating the next step. The first elder's smirk never left his face, his thoughts turning darker by the second.
But it was at that moment, just as the tension was about to snap, that the door creaked open, drawing both of their gazes.
A figure stood in the doorway—cloaked in silence, but radiating an aura of authority. His presence seemed to consume the space, and for a brief moment, it felt as though the very air in the room grew heavier.
But the elders did not speak. They simply watched, their eyes narrowing with a mixture of anticipation and suspicion.
And in that fleeting moment, the world outside—still and silent—seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next move in this deadly game.
….
The sun hung high but weary, casting a soft golden hue over the sect market.
The usual bustle had not faded, but there was something different today—a crackle of energy in the air, as if everyone felt a storm building behind the horizon.
Wooden stalls lined the paths, filled with talismans, herbs, low-grade spirit stones, and handmade trinkets. Disciples wandered through in pairs and groups, most in simple robes with the copper emblems of Rank 1 sewn onto their chests. Some haggled loudly. Others gossiped louder.
Near a stall selling grilled spirit-beast meat skewers, two young disciples leaned against a post, their faces flushed with excitement.
"Did you hear that?" one of them whispered, voice just loud enough to be heard by anyone pretending not to eavesdrop. His eyes gleamed, and a smirk tugged at his lips. "They're saying there's gonna be a fight. Between three elders!"
A woman beside him—slender and sharp-eyed—arched a brow. Her lips parted in surprise, but her expression carried a playful disbelief. A breeze lifted her dark hair, revealing the faint pink of lip balm and the slight curve of interest in her gaze.
"Really?" she said, folding her arms with a slight tilt of her hip. Her tone was skeptical, but there was curiosity dancing in her eyes. "A three-way duel? One versus one versus one? That sounds like total nonsense. And how did you even find out?"
The guy leaned in dramatically, lowering his voice like he was about to reveal some forbidden technique.
"Well…" he began, grinning, "I heard it from my brother's boss, who's my long cousin's maid, who has a connection to a woman that's a slave of a Rank 2."
The woman blinked, then burst out laughing, covering her mouth with the sleeve of her robe. "So you basically heard it from no one."
"Hey!" he said, feigning a wounded look. "It's a legit source!"
Before she could retort, another voice chimed in, cutting across their banter.
"That's right! I heard it too!" a tall disciple said as he strode over, puffing out his chest with a wide, smug grin. His robes were a bit neater than the others', and he walked like someone who believed connections were half the path to ascension.
"My senior brother told me!" he declared, placing a hand proudly on his chest. "And he said there's going to be betting. Real stakes!"
A small circle began to form. More Rank 1 disciples gathered, drawn by the scent of gossip and drama.
"No way," someone murmured, eyes wide. "You're telling me we can bet on an elder fight?"
"You must be really cool to have a senior brother that close to the inner circle," another disciple said, nodding solemnly as if this was a sacred truth.
"That's right," came the jealous voice of a girl in the back, arms crossed tightly and a pout on her lips. "Having someone above your rank to feed you info… That's real influence."
The tall guy beamed, practically glowing with pride. "Well, I do have connections," he said, clearly enjoying every second of the attention.
The girl from earlier rolled her eyes with a faint smirk. "Next thing you'll say is that you can bribe your way to Rank 3."
The crowd laughed, but the excitement in the air didn't fade. If anything, it grew sharper, more electric.
Somewhere beyond the market, bells would toll soon. And when they did, the life and death ring would not be empty.