Winter Palace — War Room
A map lay spread across the table: red markings, borders, mines, routes. Lin Yao pointed to the parchment. — Here and here. The Flaming Battle Sect is moving.
Mu Jian slammed his fist on the table. — Then we hit them back!
Guo Fan shook his head. — We don't have enough cultivators. We lost Lin Yu. And half of the Elders are still recovering from the... — he glanced around — incident.
Zhou Rui took a deep breath. — We need reconnaissance missions, not open war. Not yet.
Lin Yao nodded. — Then we send small, discreet groups. Evaluate enemy positions.
— Who? — Mu Jian asked.
Guo Fan opened a scroll: a list of names. He ran his finger down and stopped at three. — Wang Tao, Yan Li, Wei Lian. Disciples of Guest Elder Sai.
Silence. Then, Mu Jian EXPLODED.
— ARE YOU CRAZY?! — Everyone stared. — They are BODY REFINERS! They started months ago! We're going to send them against ABSORPTION cultivators?! — A heavy pause. — This isn't a mission! It's an EXECUTION!
Guo Fan didn't flinch, speaking coldly: — In our last discussion, Elder Sai guaranteed they would surprise us.
— And what does that have to do with the war?! — Mu Jian cut him off. — We're going to send children because another child said so? Besides, if they're so good, better to send you! You old relic.
Guo Fan's face darkened. — Don't start, Mu Jian! — He looked at Lin Yao. — Leader, this is the best choice. With this, we can discover how to best use them in future battles.
Lin Yao remained quiet for a long time, then: — I agree that Elder Sai guaranteed they would be surprising.
Mu Jian snorted. — "Surprising" doesn't stop death!
— Perhaps — Lin Yao admitted. — But he wouldn't say it if he didn't believe it. — He looked at the map. — And frankly, I agree with Guo Fan: we need to know if we can trust them—or Elder Sai.
Mu Jian's eyes widened. — You're testing them?
Lin Yao didn't deny it. — We'll send them on a RECONNAISSANCE mission, low risk. If they succeed, they prove their value. If not... — A cold pause. — We will know Elder Sai overestimated his disciples.
Mu Jian clenched his fists. — And if they die?
— Then — Lin Yao looked him in the eye — they weren't strong enough. Especially being Body Refiners. If Elder Sai thinks they can do it, he is either right or mistaken. Either way, we find out.
---
Four Tributaries Plateau — Dawn
Wang Tao stood at the front: his gaze was tense and severe, no longer the kind, empathetic older brother. His two siblings stood ready.
He skipped the greetings. — Our training will be in stages. First: terrain recognition, traps, and escorting. We will use the grove below. In the morning, I will teach you to observe and use the terrain. In the afternoon, non-stop combat. At night: ambushes. I will attack you without mercy. This won't be training. It will be experience.
His voice was cold and dry. The two swallowed hard, in silence.
Footsteps echoed up the mountain. An External Elder, Chen Ming, arrived with a summons. Lin Yao was calling for them at the Winter Palace.
Wang Tao clenched his fists. Now? But the training... He looked at his siblings: still unprepared. Damn it.
— Understood, Elder. Give us five minutes to prepare.
---
Winter Palace — War Hall
Inside, the atmosphere was thick with the presence of Elders. Lin Yao sat at the center.
— Elder Sai guaranteed your skills — Lin Yao began. — Therefore, we believe you are best suited for an important mission.
Wang Tao clenched his fists. The worst had happened.
— Leader Lin, what must we do? — Tao asked composedly.
Lin Yao explained the mission: observe a strategic post of the Flaming Battle Sect near the Spirit Stone Mines. Discover their attack details. And, if confident... create chaos.
Wang Tao didn't even look at his siblings. He stepped forward. — Leader Lin — he began respectfully — may we have one week to prepare?
Before Lin Yao could answer, Wang Tao continued: — My sincere apologies to the Elders. But I must show you something.
He placed his hands on his shoulders and slowly lowered his tunic.
First, his shoulders: burned, red skin, blisters. Then his chest: deep gashes, some still bleeding through the bandages. His whole body was wrapped in cloth stained with dried blood.
The silence in the hall WEIGHED heavily.
— That is enough, Disciple Wang — Lin Yao said, his voice neutral.
Wang Tao pulled his tunic back up.
— You will have one week to recover and prepare — Lin Yao decreed. — You leave on the seventh day. As for the reward, it will be proportional to the result. The Sect will not make you suffer for nothing.
---
Outside the Palace
Wang Tao began to walk. — Rest this morning. Eat well. In the afternoon, we begin. — He turned, his eyes gleaming with cold resolve. — Get ready because... hell starts today.
---
Wang Tao's Cave
In his cave, Wang Tao didn't rest. He planned every second of the next seven days. I need to get them ready. Strong enough.
He looked at his bandaged hands, trembling with PAIN. He squeezed his fists until they stopped. I can handle pain. I always have.
He looked out at the plateau. — I won't fail — he whispered to the wind. — I will not allow it.
He would carry the burden alone, so they wouldn't have to.