The Sect Master's final declaration, "We will prepare for war," hung in the Elder's Council Hall with the heavy, unyielding finality of a mountain collapsing. The debate was over. The decision was made. The Green Mountain Sect, a quiet, reclusive power that had sought only peace for centuries, was now on a collision course with an empire.
Li Yu, who had remained a silent observer throughout the entire, tense affair, was inwardly stunned. He had returned to his home seeking a well-deserved rest, a chance to consolidate his power and explore the new, profound mysteries of his nascent soul. He had not expected to be immediately thrust into the heart of a conflict that threatened to engulf a significant region of the north. He was surprised by Su Ling's hidden identity, by the First Elder's fierce, paternal love, and by the Sect Master's unwavering decision to stand against such a powerful foe. The world, it seemed, was determined to deny him his peace.
As the council was dismissed, the elders filing out of the hall with grim, determined expressions on their faces, the Sect Master's voice stopped two of them.
"Han Jian. Li Yu. Remain."
The hall emptied, leaving only the Sect Master on his high seat, the two young men standing before him, and the heavy weight of an unspoken conversation in the air. The Sect Master's gaze, usually a calm, deep well of wisdom, was now sharp and intense as he looked at the two of them—the public heir and the hidden foundation, the sword and the shield of the sect's future.
"You have not been formally introduced," the Sect Master began, his voice a low rumble.
"We have not had the honor, Master," Han Jian said, turning to Li Yu and offering a formal, respectful bow. "Sect Heir, Han Jian. I have heard much of Junior Brother Li's deeds. It is a pleasure to finally meet the hero of the Beast Tide."
"Li Yu," Li Yu replied, returning the bow with equal respect. "The title of 'hero' is an exaggeration. I merely did my duty to the sect."
"A duty you performed with a power that legends are made of," Han Jian said, his gaze clear and without a hint of jealousy. "The sect is fortunate to have you."
The Sect Master watched their interaction, a faint, approving nod his only reaction. He knew the potential for rivalry between two such monstrously talented youths was immense. He had to cut that possibility off at the root.
"Han Jian," the Sect Master said, his voice direct and absolute. "You are this sect's heir. You have been trained since you were a child to lead, to manage, to be the public face of the Green Mountain Sect. That is your path, and you have walked it with honor and diligence."
He then turned his gaze to Li Yu, his expression softening slightly. "Li Yu. Your path is different. Your contributions to this sect are immeasurable, and your importance is second to none. However, your desire for a quiet life of cultivation is one we will continue to respect. You will always be the master of your own valley."
He looked back at his direct disciple. "I tell you this now, so there are no misunderstandings between you. There is no rivalry here. There is no competition for my seat. You are two different parts of the same whole. You are the right and left hands of the Green Mountain Sect. You should support each other, you should trust each other, and together, you will ensure the prosperity of our home for the next thousand years. Is that understood?"
The explanation was so direct, so utterly blunt, that any seeds of potential jealousy or misunderstandings were instantly uprooted. But it was all unnecessary.
Han Jian looked at his master, then at Li Yu, and a slow, genuine smile spread across his weary face. "Master, your worry is appreciated, but it is unfounded. I grew up in this sect. My only ambition has ever been to see it safe and prosperous. I have no desire for power for its own sake. If Junior Brother Li is best suited to lead, then he should lead. If my role is to serve under a more capable master for the good of the sect, then I will do so with all my heart. The life of the sect is more important than my own life, or my own pride."
He turned to Li Yu, his eyes full of a sincere, almost brotherly, respect. "Whatever your true role is, Junior Brother, know this: you have an ally in me. We both serve the same home."
Li Yu was genuinely moved. In a world of arrogant young masters and power-hungry prodigies, Han Jian was a rare and honorable soul. He was groomed to take on the sect leader position with his talent and skills he showed at a young age yet he remained grounded and humble. He was, Li Yu realized, the perfect choice to be the next Sect Master.
"And you have an ally in me, Senior Brother Han," Li Yu replied, his own smile full of a newfound, genuine respect.
With the matter of their relationship settled, the conversation returned to the storm on the horizon.
"The Sect Master's decision was honorable," Li Yu said, his expression turning serious. "But a war against an empire and its allied sects… it is not a battle that can be won with honor alone. We have some information, but it is surface-level at best. We know nothing of our enemy's true strength, their leaders' specific cultivation, their strategies. To fight in the dark is to court death."
"My own intelligence is limited," Han Jian admitted grimly. "I was on the periphery, gathering whispers. To get a true picture of the Third Prince's military strength and the cultivators at his command would require a deep and powerful intelligence network, something our sect has never possessed."
"Perhaps," Li Yu said, a thoughtful look in his eyes, "my own organization can be of some assistance in that regard." He looked at the Sect Master. "As you know, my business partners, the Golden Shell Guild, have been expanding their operations. Allow me to make a request. I will ask them to divert their resources to this matter, to gather all they can on the Boreal Frost Empire's succession war."
The Sect Master's eyes lit up with a flicker of hope. He had met Kui and Xylia. He had heard the reports from Coralspire. He knew exactly who Li Yu's 'business partners' were. "Your aid would be invaluable, Li Yu. The more we know, the better we can prepare our defenses."
With the meeting concluded, Li Yu returned to his pagoda. The first thing he did was send a high-grade communication talisman, not to Kui, but directly to the Whispering Wing Pavilion in Traveler's Rest.
He relayed the situation to Fengliu, his command simple and direct: drop everything. This was an immediate threat. He was to divert his entire, burgeoning network, including his own private informants, to a single task: gather any and all intelligence on the Boreal Frost Empire, the Third Prince's faction, and the cultivation sects allied with him.
He also asked Fengliu to keep an eye out for Su Ling's mother; she did her very best to keep Su Ling safe. That motherly figure resonated with his own and his own feelings. He ask Fengliu if she was still alive, to take her away with him. Few should be able to keep up with his speed and sneakiness. It would be a great kindness to both the first elder and Su Ling and at the same he would be helping someone with a good heart.
The response from the Roc King was instantaneous and absolute: "Understood, Master. I will go north myself. You will have your information."
With the wheels of his intelligence empire now turning, all Li Yu could do was wait. He felt a familiar pull, a longing for the simple, grounding work of his past. He left his pagoda and, for the first time in a long time, made his way down to the Deepwater Menagerie.
The place was thriving. Under the diligent management of his three friends and the expert guidance of Uncle Wei, the menagerie had become the true, beating heart of the sect's economy. The Azure-Jade Carp were breeding true, their numbers in the thousands, their quality higher than ever. The other species he had introduced were also flourishing, creating a vibrant, bustling ecosystem.
"Boss! You're back!" Uncle Wei's weathered face broke into a wide, happy grin. "The southern sea water you sent back has done wonders for the deep-water species! Their growth rate has nearly doubled!"
Brother Kai, Hu Jian, and Lin Tao soon joined them, their faces full of a simple, honest joy at seeing their friend. That night, they held a small, private feast in the main hall of Li Yu's pagoda. They ate freshly grilled spirit fish and drank strong, fragrant wine.
Cyra, in her serene, elegant form was seated with them enjoying the drinks and dishes. She had to be told several times not to move and take on tasks such as refilling their cups and ensuring the dishes were always hot, her presence a silent, beautiful mystery that his friends were too polite to question. Li Yu had said she was a body guard of sorts, one arranged by his business partners.
As they ate, Li Yu finally told them. He spoke of the Sect Heir's return, of Su Ling's secret identity, and of the sect's decision to prepare for war.
His three friends fell silent, the cheerful atmosphere of the feast instantly sobering. They were not high-level elders, but they were loyal disciples of the sect. They understood what such a war would mean.
"So… it's really coming, then," Brother Kai said, his voice a low, grim murmur.
"It is," Li Yu confirmed.
Uncle Wei, who had lived through more than one regional conflict in his long life, simply sighed. "War is bad for everyone," he said, a simple, profound truth.
Li Yu looked at the worried faces of his friends, at the peaceful, lantern-lit pagoda, at the quiet, thriving valley that was his only true home. He had wanted a peaceful rest. He had wanted to be left alone to cultivate. The world, it seemed, had other plans.
But as he looked at the faces of the people he cared about, he did not feel fear. He did not feel anger. He felt a deep, profound, and unshakeable sense of resolve. He was no longer the weak, helpless boy who had been swept away by the tide of the world. He was the leviathan in the deep, a being whose power even he did not fully comprehend. He had sought to build a quiet island of peace in a chaotic world.
And he would be damned if he let any northern storm wash it away. The empire of the north had no idea what kind of monster they were about to disturb.