The moonlight filtered through the curtains, painting the quiet room in silver and shadow. The wind outside had calmed, replaced by the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of a spirit owl. Inside the secluded mountain chamber, silence reigned—until a firm but gentle thud broke it.
"Ow…" Xiao Feng flinched slightly, rubbing the top of his head.
Shuye stood before him, her arms crossed but her cheeks tinted red. "You reckless fool," she whispered, her voice soft despite the scolding. "You almost got yourself killed out there."
Before he could respond, she stepped forward and pulled him into a tight hug, burying her face into his chest. Her fingers clutched his robe as if afraid he would vanish if she let go.
Xiao Feng blinked. His arms moved slowly, wrapping around her slender back. "Shuye…"
She didn't say a word, only held him tighter. Her heartbeat fluttered against him, fast and vulnerable.
Gently, he placed a hand on her cheek, guiding her to look up. Her eyes shimmered—an ocean of worry and longing. Without rushing, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.
She stiffened for a breath… then melted into it.
This time, she didn't resist.
Their kiss deepened—slow, searching, full of unspoken promises. The wind around them curled protectively, as if nature itself wished to cradle this fragile moment.
When they finally parted, Shuye rested her forehead against his, her voice a whisper. "Why… why do I feel so afraid?"
"Because you care," Xiao Feng replied, brushing away a strand of her hair. "And so do I."
A long silence followed, filled only by the rhythm of their breathing.
But even as they clung to each other, a darker wind stirred elsewhere in the sect.
---
At the secluded courtyard of the Elder Hall, shadows moved beneath lantern light.
Elder Shan, brother of the Sect Master and one of the highest-ranking elders, stood before a jade table. On its surface, a projection hovered—showing Xiao Feng walking alongside Shuye earlier that evening.
A disciple knelt before him, trembling. "The assassins failed, Elder. Worse—Elder Shuye personally intervened. It raised suspicions."
Elder Shan's face twisted in irritation. "Foolish girl. She was supposed to see the boy fall and accept Bai's hand out of duty." His fingers tapped against the jade. "This Xiao Feng… he ruins everything."
The disciple hesitated. "Shall… shall we arrange another trial, Elder? Perhaps something within the sect's internal politics?"
"No," Shan said sharply. "It must be clean. Silent. The Sect Master is too soft, but if he learns I'm behind this, even he will act."
He turned, his eyes gleaming with ambition and malice.
"Bai has already earned favor among the external clans. If he marries into the Wind Bloodline, I will have control over both the inner and outer sect forces."
"But what about Xiao Feng? He's grown too fast. The Wind Ancestor has taken interest in him."
Shan's lips curled. "Even the wind can be strangled. Tell Bai… to prepare the puppet array."
---
Back on the Wind Peak, the peaceful moment between Xiao Feng and Shuye was soon interrupted by a subtle knock at the door.
A messenger disciple bowed deeply. "Forgive me, Elder Shuye. This message is from the Grand Elder Council. You are both summoned to attend a closed meeting tomorrow morning."
Shuye frowned, taking the scroll. "What's the reason?"
"The trial aftermath," the disciple answered. "And… internal investigation regarding the assassins."
After he left, Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes. "It's not over."
"No," Shuye agreed. "But I'll stand by you. No matter what storm comes."
---
The next morning, the two stood before a council of elders, seated in a circular jade hall. Shuye's father, the Sect Master, sat at the highest seat. He looked weary but calm. His eyes met Xiao Feng's with a complicated expression—like a father unsure whether to be angry or impressed.
The other elders whispered among themselves, including Elder Shan, who wore a mask of concern.
"Disciple Xiao Feng," the Sect Master began, "your performance during the trial was… impressive. However, we must address the matter of the assassins."
Xiao Feng stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "I'm willing to be questioned."
Before the Sect Master could continue, Elder Shan raised a hand. "Sect Master, perhaps it would be more efficient if we conducted a spiritual memory scan. Just to be sure no foreign influence or possession occurred. After all, the assassins could've been targeting him for more than just love and politics."
Shuye's face darkened. "That's not necessary. He's clean."
Elder Shan smiled coldly. "With respect, Elder Shuye, love can cloud judgment."
"Then you're the most blinded of us all," she snapped back.
The Sect Master sighed. "Enough. Elder Shan, your concern is noted, but unless we have more solid reason, there will be no forced memory scan."
Another elder chimed in. "The assassins used a forbidden Wind Corruption Technique—traced back to one of the outer regions under Elder Shan's control. That's… suspicious."
All eyes turned to Shan.
He chuckled. "A coincidence. My territories are vast. I will fully cooperate with any investigation."
But Xiao Feng stepped forward, eyes locked on Shan's. "Let me make this simple, Elder."
The wind around him stirred.
"I won't back down. I won't run. Try as you like—you'll never break me."
Shan's smile didn't falter, but his eyes narrowed.
The trial ended with no punishment, but tension crackled in the air.
---
That evening, back at their peak, Shuye sat beside Xiao Feng, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Do you think… my father suspects his brother?" she asked.
"He's not a fool," Xiao Feng replied. "But blood is a hard bond to cut."
She sighed. "We might have to leave the sect one day."
"We'll fly when the time comes," Xiao Feng said. "But first, I want to know what they're planning next."
He pulled out a scroll—one he'd found in the hand of one of the assassins.
The seal was marked with a single character: "Puppet."
And in the lower corner: Bai's personal sigil.
Shuye's eyes widened. "They're going to use the Puppet Array…"
Xiao Feng nodded. "And they plan to control me during the next sect challenge. Turn me into a monster... and destroy me before everyone."
Shuye gritted her teeth. "Then we'll turn their scheme against them."
Their eyes met.
Two winds, now one storm.
---
Far in a secret chamber, Elder Shan poured dark Qi into a puppet array, while Bai looked on.
"Next time," Shan said darkly, "the hero will become the villain. And the girl… will have no one left to love."
---[To Be Continued]---