### Chapter 61: A Storm Brews
The moon hung low over the Yunmeng Marsh, its silver light painting the murky waters. A black-cloaked figure stood at the edge, his back to a hunchbacked man—Luo, the Foundation Establishment cultivator who'd aided Mu Rongfeng.
"One month," the black-cloaked man repeated, his voice cold as the marsh's mist. "Not a day more. The Black Veil Forest distractions must align with our plans, not hinder them."
Luo bowed deeply. "It will be done, my lord. The demons are stirring, just enough to draw the sects' attention. No more."
"Good," the man said. "And this 阴月山 (Yin Moon Mountain) rumor—what of it?"
"Rumors of an ancient cultivator's cave," Luo said, his voice sharpening with greed. "If it's real, the treasures inside could—"
"Focus," the man snapped. "The cave is a sideshow. Our goal is the 玄荫山脉 (Xuanyin Mountain Range). But…" He paused, his silhouette tense. "Send a scout. If the cave is unguarded, seize whatever's useful. Waste no more than a day."
"Yes, my lord."
As Luo slunk away, the black-cloaked man stared into the marsh, his lips moving in a silent incantation. The water rippled, and for a heartbeat, a 狰狞 (ferocious) face—scales, fangs, eyes like embers—broke the surface before vanishing.
…
A thousand miles away, atop a windswept peak, Yu Xianzi opened her eyes. The three cultivators who'd interrupted her meditation—Burly Wu, Scarred Chen, and Seductress Hu—loomed nearby, their smirks sharp.
"Yin Moon Mountain," she repeated, her voice tight. "You expect me to march into a den of demons for a 玉简 (jade slip)?"
Scarred Chen laughed, the gash on his face twisting. "Cowardice doesn't suit you, Fairy Yu. It's just *near* the Black Veil Forest, not in it. Besides—wouldn't you love to outshine that 楚天狐 (Chu Tianhu) who chased you? This jade slip could make you stronger than him."
Yu Xianzi's grip tightened. She'd spent months recovering from her narrow escape, her pride still stinging. The chance to gain power—*real* power—was too tempting to ignore.
"Fine," she said, rising. "But if this is a trap…"
Seductress Hu giggled, twirling a lock of hair. "Darling, where's the fun without a little risk?"
…
Beneath a gloomy mountain, five men sat around a stone table, their faces lit only by a flickering oil lamp. The air reeked of tension.
"Han Family Head," said a man in white robes—Qin, the strategist. "The cave's 禁制 (barrier) is too strong. We'll never break it alone."
Han, the leader, slammed his fist down. "Then we do as Qin suggests. Spread the word—*everywhere*. Let the 修士 (cultivators) flood Yin Moon Mountain. Let them waste their strength on the barrier. We'll slip in when the chaos peaks."
A burly man—Dantai—snarled. "And what if 筑基期 (Foundation Establishment) masters come? We'll be crushed!"
"Better crushed than empty-handed," Qin said. "The rumors already spread. By week's end, Yin Moon Mountain will be swarming. We have no choice."
Han closed his eyes, then nodded. "Send the messengers. Tell every sect, every rogue cultivator—there's treasure for the taking. Let the storm come."
…
Ten days later, Yin Moon Mountain hummed with 贪婪 (greed).
Cultivators poured in by the dozens—sect disciples, rogues, even 散修 (loners) from distant lands. Tents sprouted like mushrooms, and arguments flared over camp boundaries, 资源 (resources), and who had "dibs" on the cave.
At the mountain's base, a group of 点玄派 (Dianxuan Sect) disciples paused, their robes marked with the sect's symbol.
"Elder Zhao, this is madness," Lin Yi said, staring at the chaos. "What are we doing here? We're supposed to investigate the Black Veil Forest."
Zhao scowled. "The other sects insisted on stopping. Said we 'might as well check out the cave' while we're nearby. Idiots. But we wait for their 长老 (elders) to finish gossiping, then we leave. No detours."
Lin Yi nodded, but his gaze lingered on the mountain. Something about it felt… off. The air thrummed with 禁制 (restriction) energy, but not the kind he'd felt in the sect's barriers. This was older, wilder—*angrier*.
Nearby, Fang Yue nudged him. "Heard the rumors? Ancient treasures, 丹药 (pills), maybe even a 功法 (cultivation method). Tempting, huh?"
"More trouble than it's worth," Lin Yi said. But as he spoke, his hand drifted to his wrist, where the bracelet hid.
*What if the cave holds answers?* he wondered. *About the bracelet, about my 五灵淬体九变诀 (Five Spirits Body Tempering Technique)*…
A sudden shout cut through his thoughts.
"Fight! They're fighting!"
A brawl had erupted near the cave's entrance—two sects clashing over who got to 研究 (study) the barrier first. Swords clashed, 符箓 (talismans) exploded, and the air filled with 诅咒 (curses).
"See?" Zhao said, grabbing Lin Yi's arm. "Chaos. Let's go. The Black Veil Forest awaits."
Lin Yi glanced back at Yin Moon Mountain, its peak wreathed in dark clouds. Rain was coming—literal and metaphorical.
*Something's wrong here*, he thought. But he followed Zhao, leaving the mountain and its secrets behind.
For now.
But deep in his gut, a 预感 (premonition) gnawed at him. Yin Moon Mountain wouldn't stay quiet. And sooner or later, he'd have to return.
The storm was coming. And everyone in its path would soon learn—some treasures were better left buried.