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Chapter 61 - Shadows Behind the Blood Sect

The dawn that followed was quiet — too quiet.

The once-battered city of Emberfall now glowed beneath the early light. Smoke still rose from collapsed walls and burned-out siege towers, but the streets pulsed with renewed purpose. Fire Pavilion disciples and local soldiers worked side by side, repairing fortifications and clearing debris.

High above them, on the eastern wall, Lin Feng stood with his arms folded, watching. His robe fluttered in the wind, and his gaze scanned the distant ridges beyond the crimson horizon.

Something felt wrong.

"The Blood Sect retreated too easily," he murmured. "They don't fight like that unless they have a stronger backing."

Yang Busi approached, wearing her commander's armor once more, her hair tied up and her expression sharp. "You're right," she said. "They've been attacking this region for months. But yesterday… they suddenly withdrew after your arrival. Too clean. Too organized."

Her eyes met his. "You think someone's pulling their strings?"

"I don't think." Lin Feng's voice was calm but cold. "I know."

---

The two spent the next few days fortifying the city. Lin Feng drew sword arrays around the walls — invisible formations of pure sword qi that shimmered faintly when the sun hit them.

"This should block their next advance," he said, planting the final rune. "Anyone below late Legend Realm won't even approach without being sliced to dust."

Yang Busi crossed her arms. "You're overdoing it."

"Am I?" He smiled faintly. "You said this place can't afford another siege."

She sighed but said nothing. Deep down, she was grateful.

Every night, Lin Feng could be seen meditating atop the city tower, the aura of his four intents swirling subtly around him — sword, battle, slaughter, and dragon — harmonizing like a living storm. Soldiers who passed by swore they could hear faint dragon roars in the wind.

And yet, despite the peace on the surface, tension brewed.

Scouts began reporting odd movements in the nearby forests — dark-robed figures moving in silence, caravans arriving from the north under strange sigils, and mysterious emissaries visiting the Blood Sect camp.

Something was coming.

---

Late one night, Lin Feng sat in the strategy hall with Yang Busi and her captains. Maps covered the table, dotted with red and blue markers representing troop positions.

"We've reinforced the southern wall and repaired the formation cores," one of the captains reported. "But we lack resources to maintain the defensive arrays for long."

Yang Busi nodded grimly. "We'll have to ration spirit stones and—"

Suddenly, the door creaked open. A wounded scout stumbled in, armor cracked and blood staining his sleeve.

"Commander… we found a secret camp… half a day east from here," he gasped. "The Blood Sect… they're meeting with humans… not their own kind."

Lin Feng's eyes sharpened. "Humans?"

The scout nodded weakly. "They wore… silver masks… with the crest of twin serpents coiled around a sword."

Yang Busi's expression darkened. "The crest of twin serpents…"

Lin Feng's gaze turned cold as frost. "The Ouyang Family."

A heavy silence fell across the room.

Everyone in the Eastern Continent knew of them — one of the great noble clans, wealthy beyond measure, powerful enough to rival mid-tier sects. But their greed was as legendary as their influence.

"They've been dealing with the Blood Sect," Yang Busi said slowly, realization dawning in her eyes. "Selling them weapons, maybe resources. But why attack this city?"

"Because Emberfall stands between the Blood Sect and the inner Fire Pavilion region," Lin Feng replied. "If the Pavilion falls, the Ouyang Family gains control of the spiritual vein running beneath these lands."

His hand clenched into a fist. "They're using the Blood Sect to clear the path."

---

Without hesitation, Lin Feng stood. "I'll confirm it myself."

Yang Busi frowned. "You're going alone?"

He met her gaze calmly. "I move faster that way. And if they've brought someone above the Legend Realm, staying hidden is our best option."

"Then I'm going too."

He smiled faintly. "You'd slow me down."

She glared. "Says the man who nearly got himself killed fighting half the Blood Sect single-handed."

He sighed. "You really haven't changed."

"I'm coming, Lin Feng. End of discussion."

He didn't argue further.

An hour later, the two of them moved through the dense forest east of Emberfall, their presences concealed beneath cloaking talismans. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, painting pale silver across the ground.

After a long trek, faint voices drifted through the trees.

They crouched behind a cluster of rocks overlooking a clearing. Below, dozens of Blood Sect cultivators surrounded a black carriage emblazoned with twin serpents. Beside it stood a man in silver robes — tall, elegant, and smiling coldly.

"That's… Ouyang Shan," Yang Busi whispered. "One of the family's elders."

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. "Listen."

"…the shipment will reach your camp by tomorrow night," Ouyang Shan was saying. "Weapons infused with blood essence — strong enough to pierce even a sword cultivator's protective qi."

The Blood Sect leader bowed deeply. "In exchange, you'll receive the city's spiritual vein once it falls."

Ouyang Shan smiled thinly. "Of course. The Ouyang Family keeps its promises."

Lin Feng's killing intent flared silently, thick enough to make the air tremble. "So it's true."

Yang Busi placed a hand on his arm. "Lin Feng, wait—"

But it was too late.

---

In the next instant, azure light burst through the clearing like dawn breaking through night.

Shing!

The sword beam struck with divine speed, slicing through the Blood Sect leader before he could even blink.

Crimson mist filled the air.

"Who dares—?!"

Before anyone could react, Lin Feng stepped into the open, his figure wreathed in sword light.

Ouyang Shan's face froze in disbelief. "You—Lin Feng!"

"You've chosen to sell your own continent for greed," Lin Feng said coldly. "Unforgivable."

Ouyang Shan sneered. "You think the Ouyang Family fears you, boy? Do you even know who stands behind us?"

"I don't care."

His sword rose. Azure light flared, filled with the combined pressure of sword, slaughter, and dragon intent.

Ouyang Shan drew his own weapon, a curved saber radiating black light. "Then die here!"

Boom!

The clash split the forest apart. Trees shattered. Earth cracked. Lin Feng's sword aura and Ouyang Shan's saber qi collided midair, erupting in a shockwave that tore through the night.

Yang Busi joined the fray, hurling waves of fire to keep the Blood Sect followers at bay.

Lin Feng moved like lightning — each step followed by the faint echo of a dragon's roar. His sword carved arcs of blazing blue light through the smoke.

"Azure Sword Art — Fifth Stance: Falling Heavens!"

Ouyang Shan staggered backward, coughing blood. "Impossible—"

But before he could retreat, Lin Feng vanished — reappearing behind him like a phantom.

"Azure Sword Art — Sixth Stance: End of the Nine Paths!"

The blade fell.

BOOM!

The explosion of qi flattened the clearing. When the dust settled, Ouyang Shan lay sprawled on the ground, his saber shattered, his chest pierced clean through.

Lin Feng's robe fluttered lightly as he lowered his sword. "Tell your family," he said quietly, "if they want war, I'll bring it to their gates."

Then he turned and walked away.

---

Back in Emberfall, dawn rose once more — but this time, the air carried a different weight.

Yang Busi watched from the city wall as Lin Feng stood silently overlooking the horizon, his sword sheathed but humming faintly with suppressed power.

"You really intend to fight the Ouyang Family?" she asked softly.

"They've already chosen their side," he said. "Now I'll choose mine."

"Then so will I."

He looked at her, surprised — but she only smiled. "You saved my city. I'm not letting you fight this alone."

Lin Feng didn't reply. He simply turned back to the sunrise — his eyes calm, his aura sharp.

Far away, in the grand halls of the Ouyang Family, word of Ouyang Shan's death spread like wildfire.

And deep in the shadows of the Blood Sect's camp, a new, darker presence stirred.

The next storm had already begun.

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