The two weeks of observation had been for strategy; the night before the mission was for preparation.
In the solitude of his room, Gu Xuan laid out his tools not as a disciple, but as a general preparing for a campaign.
Publicly, he packed the standard sect-issued supplies: a slightly worn sword, a dented mining pickaxe, and a small pouch containing three low-grade Qi Replenishing Pills.
It was the pitiful loadout of a poor Outer Sect disciple, perfectly in line with his cover.
His true preparations were hidden. From a loose floorboard beneath his bed, he retrieved a small, oilskin-wrapped package.
Inside were three fiery-red pills he had painstakingly concocted in secret, using knowledge from the scripture and herbs he'd acquired on dangerous solo trips.
These were Pure Yang Pills, potent enough to counteract the severe Yin frost of the caverns.
Alongside them were several talismans: a Light Talisman, a Sound Dampening Talisman, and a single, intricately drawn Tremor Talisman—a low-grade tool used for mining that, if placed correctly, could trigger a very convenient, very controlled tunnel collapse.
He hid these items in concealed pockets within his robes. To any observer, he was an unprepared weakling.
In reality, he was the most equipped member of the team, ready not just to survive the mission, but to control it.
The next morning, the four disciples met at the northern gate. The air was crisp, and the mood was grim.
Two other boys were already there. One, a tall, brawny disciple named Li Wei, was loudly complaining. "Fifty points for a trip to the Blackwind Caverns? It's a death sentence! My cousin in the Inner Sect gets more than that for a week of guarding some stupid gate!"
His companion, a nervous-looking boy named Zhao Feng, nodded along weakly. "He's right... I heard the last team that went in came back with one man missing and another with frostbite in his meridians."
Their chatter died the moment Su Linyue arrived. She moved with a chilling grace, her face an unreadable mask of ice.
She didn't acknowledge their presence, her gaze fixed on the winding path leading up the mountain.
Her silence was more intimidating than any of Li Wei's boasts.
Gu Xuan arrived last, offering a simple, placid nod to the group. Li Wei sized him up with a disdainful sneer. "Great. Another weakling. Just try not to get in the way, archivist."
Gu Xuan simply nodded again, his expression unchanging, a perfect portrait of harmless mediocrity.
Without a word, Su Linyue started walking. The others had no choice but to follow.
The journey took several hours. The neat stone paths of the sect gave way to a rugged dirt trail.
The lush green trees were replaced by gnarled, twisted pines, and a mournful wind began to whistle through the rocks, carrying a distinct chill.
This was the infamous "black wind" that gave the caverns their name.
Gu Xuan noticed Su Linyue subtly pull her robes tighter, her pace faltering for just a second. The ambient Yin energy was already affecting her.
They were halfway up the mountain trail when a blur of black shot out from the dense woods.
"Ambush!" Li Wei bellowed, drawing his sword with a flourish.
It was a Shadow Cat, a Qi condensation 3rd level magical beast known for its speed and razor-sharp claws. It was a standard threat for an Outer Sect team, but a deadly one if they were careless.
The beast ignored the boisterous Li Wei and lunged straight for the weakest-looking member, Zhao Feng. He yelped in terror, stumbling backward.
Before the claws could connect, a flash of silver intercepted the beast.
Su Linyue had moved. Her swordsmanship was a thing of beauty—economical, precise, and deadly.
Even with her cultivation crippled, her skill was undeniable. She engaged the Shadow Cat, her blade a blur.
Li Wei, his thunder stolen, charged in from the side. "I'll handle this, Junior Sister Su!" he yelled, swinging his sword wildly.
His clumsy attack did nothing but get in her way, forcing her to adjust.
Gu Xuan, meanwhile, played his part perfectly. He drew his sword and "stumbled" forward, his movement clumsy.
Yet, his stumble put him in a perfect position to block a flanking attack aimed at Su Linyue.
He "panicked" and threw a rock, which "accidentally" hit a branch above the Shadow Cat, causing it to flinch at the exact moment Su Linyue thrust forward.
Her sword pierced the beast's neck. It let out a final hiss and collapsed.
The fight was over in less than a minute. Li Wei stood panting, trying to look heroic. Zhao Feng was still pale with fright.
Su Linyue, however, stood over the beast's corpse, her chest heaving slightly.
A faint layer of frost was visible on her eyebrows, and her hand on the sword hilt trembled almost imperceptibly.
The short, intense burst of Qi had agitated the Frigid Yin in her meridians.
Gu Xuan, the ever-observant schemer, saw it all. He walked over, his face showing mild concern. "Senior Sister Su, that was amazing," he said in his quiet voice. "But you look pale. Please, take this."
He offered her a common Warming Pill from his visible pouch. It was a weak, low-grade medicine, but it was the gesture that mattered.
Su Linyue looked from the pill to his plain face. Her cold eyes held a flicker of surprise before she quickly masked it. "I don't need your pity," she said, her voice sharp as ice. She turned and continued up the path without another word.
Gu Xuan simply retracted his hand and put the pill away, his expression unchanged. But inwardly, he smiled. The first crack in the ice had appeared.
Ahead of them, a dark, gaping maw in the mountainside came into view, a chilling wind exhaling from its depths. It was the entrance to the Blackwind Caverns.
The real stage was now set.