Blood stained the once-pristine stone courtyard of Skyfire Peak. The scent of burnt flesh and charred robes lingered in the crisp night air, remnants of the battle that had shaken the foundations of the Wen Clan. The first test of the clan's resurgence had been met with both victory and revelation—but Wen Wuxing knew this was only the beginning.
He stood atop the Grand Pavilion, gazing down at the gathered disciples. Their expressions ranged from exhaustion to unyielding determination. Tonight, they had proven their worth, but battle was not just about swinging swords and unleashing qi techniques. It was about control, foresight, and deception.
And someone had tried to deceive him.
"Who tampered with the battle formations?"
Wuxing's voice was calm, yet the weight behind it was undeniable. The assembled elders and key disciples—some still bandaged from the fight—exchanged wary glances.
During the battle, a critical defensive array had failed at the worst possible moment, allowing the enemy to breach the inner sanctum. The error was not a mistake—it was sabotage.
Wen Qian, leader of the Veil of Shadows Pavilion, stepped forward and dropped to one knee. "Patriarch, my agents have traced the disruption to an inside force. The array markings were subtly altered days before the battle began."
A cold silence fell over the hall.
Wuxing's fingers drummed against his throne. He had accounted for external enemies, rival sects, even the Imperial Court, but an internal traitor meant someone had seen the clan's resurgence and sought to strangle it in its crib.
"Who?" His voice was softer now, but it carried an unmistakable edge.
A hooded figure stepped forward—one of the masked operatives of the Veil of Shadows. "The sabotage was done using a technique unique to the Zhao Clan's covert assassins. However..."
The operative hesitated.
"Speak."
"However, the markings were recreated by someone within our sect. A disciple, an elder, or... someone with direct access to Skyfire Peak."
Ding!
New Hidden Mission: Unmask the Serpent
Objective: Identify the traitor before the Imperial Tournament.
Reward: Veil of Shadows Pavilion Upgrade (Tier III), Unknown Technique Scroll (???).
Wuxing's gaze darkened.
"Lock down Skyfire Peak. No one enters or leaves without my command."
The traitor was still here. And before the Imperial Tournament, he would unmask them and remind the clan what happens to those who betray the Wen bloodline.
As the clan's elite dispersed, Wen Qian remained behind, her sharp eyes betraying a trace of unease. "There's something else, Patriarch. A message arrived from the Imperial Palace."
She produced a golden scroll, its edges lined with dragon-shaped sigils.
"A direct invitation from Crown Prince Zhao Ming. He has requested a private audience with you before the tournament begins."
Another ripple in the grand scheme.
The Zhao Clan had remained too quiet after their failed schemes, and now, the Crown Prince himself extended an olive branch? Unlikely. This was a game of power, of positioning.
And Wuxing never walked into a battlefield unprepared.
Ding!
Quest Triggered: The Prince's Gambit
Objective: Attend the meeting with Crown Prince Zhao Ming. Determine his true intentions.
Potential Rewards: Kingdom-Level Recognition, Hidden Access to the Imperial Archives, ???
"I accept the invitation," Wuxing said smoothly. "But under my terms."
"Shall I arrange an escort?" Wen Qian asked.
He shook his head. "No. If the Crown Prince wishes to see me, let him understand what it means to stand before the true heir of the Wen Clan."
Days later, Wuxing found himself walking the emerald-lit paths of the Imperial Gardens, the scent of blooming moonflowers thick in the air. The Crown Prince awaited him beneath a crimson pavilion, his golden robes flowing like liquid sunlight.
Zhao Ming smiled, but his eyes were sharp. "Wen Wuxing. The rumors of your return were not exaggerated."
Wuxing inclined his head slightly, never breaking eye contact. "Your Highness. I had not expected such royal attention toward my humble clan."
"A humble clan? Hardly," Zhao Ming said with a chuckle. "The Wen Clan was once among the greatest in the empire. And now, with your recent... advancements, you have become a matter of interest."
"Interest?" Wuxing echoed, tilting his head slightly. "Or concern?"
Zhao Ming tapped the armrest of his chair. "That depends on you, Patriarch Wen."
A servant stepped forward, offering Wuxing a jade teacup. He did not drink. Instead, he set it aside with a knowing smile.
Zhao Ming's smirk deepened. "Cautious. Good. I admire men who do not blindly accept what is given to them."
"One must always be mindful of what is offered freely," Wuxing replied.
For a moment, silence settled between them. Then, Zhao Ming leaned forward.
"The Imperial Court has eyes everywhere. We know the Wen Clan is rising. We know about your military movements, your expansion efforts, and—most interestingly—your new daily enhancements"
Wuxing remained impassive, but beneath the surface, a storm brewed.
No one outside the Wen Clan should have knowledge of the daily enhancements made by the system. The fact that Zhao Ming had mentioned it meant someone had spoken—or worse, the Wen clan has always been under surveillance.
"You have my attention," Wuxing said evenly.
Zhao Ming leaned back, satisfied. "The Imperial Tournament is more than just a competition, Patriarch Wen. It is a game of power. And I believe we may find common ground."
Ding!
New Hidden Quest: A Pact with the Serpent
Objective: Uncover the true intentions behind the Crown Prince's interest in the Wen Clan.
Reward: ???
Wuxing smiled. The Crown Prince was a man who played at games of deception.
But the difference between them was simple.
Zhao Ming played to win.
Wuxing played to control the board.
And in this game, there could be only one true ruler.