Chapter 16: Shadows Between the Stars
The next morning, Jason Wu woke up earlier than usual. The training grounds of the Star Sword Sect were still covered in thin morning mist, the kind that lingered between the mountains like drifting clouds. He took a long breath. Today felt different. Dangerous. Heavy. A bit… suspiciously dramatic.
"Did Elder Mo curse me in my sleep or something?" Jason muttered, rubbing his temple.
*"No, brat,"* a dry voice echoed from the sword at his waist. *"But someone out there definitely wants to ruin your day. I can smell murderous incompetence from miles away."*
Jason blinked. "Morning to you too, Longwu. Why do you wake up only to insult me?"
*"If I lie to you, you die. If I tell you the truth, you complain. Typical humans."*
Jason sighed. "It's too early for philosophical bullying."
Pedang Longwu hummed with smug satisfaction.
Before Jason could argue back, he sensed footsteps—light, graceful, but with a calm authority. Ayla Xueyin appeared, holding a small spatial pouch and smiling softly, her long silver hair fluttering in the breeze.
"Jason Wu, I brought the documents we discussed last night. This includes market records, suspicious account logs, and the items my Pavilion secretly tracked."
Jason held a fist over his chest in greeting. "Perfect. With this, we can corner the entire corrupt faction. Elder Mo won't expect us to move this quickly."
Ayla giggled lightly. "With how reckless you are, I doubt even the heavens expect you to be this fast."
Jason froze. "Wait—was that an insult or a compliment?"
"Both," she answered sweetly.
As they walked toward the inner sect's Hall of Records, Levi and Branja joined them. Levi carried three meat buns like a starving bandit, while Branja wore a grin that meant trouble.
"Boss Jason!" Levi called, waving one bun like a weapon. "Rumor says Elder Mo is furious this morning."
Branja snorted. "Rumor? It wasn't a rumor. I saw him kick a disciple into a pond because the kid sneezed too loudly."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "And nobody questioned that?"
Levi shrugged. "It's Elder Mo. He could drop-kick the Sect Master's rooster and no one would dare complain."
Jason rubbed his forehead. "Great. Just great."
Ayla glanced at Jason with a worried expression. "Elder Mo is becoming more reckless. That means he suspects something."
Jason nodded. "I know. That's why we need to hit fast before he destroys evidence."
When they reached the Hall of Records, Jason sensed something unusual—faint Qi fluctuations, mismatched footprints on the ground, and a trace of energy that felt… invasive.
"A break-in," Jason whispered.
Ayla's eyes sharpened. "But only elders have access here. Who—"
"Elder Mo," Jason answered immediately.
Pedang Longwu vibrated. *"Finally using your brain, brat. Good job."*
"Not helping," Jason hissed under his breath.
The four of them entered cautiously. Scroll shelves were overturned. Jade slips shattered. Dust-covered floors revealed deep scratches as if someone had dragged heavy objects away in a hurry.
"Evidence," Jason muttered. "He took something."
Ayla knelt beside a shattered jade slip and examined it. "This was the Pavilion ledger from last year. Elder Mo is destroying financial records."
Branja clenched his fists. "Damn rat."
Levi added, "A smart rat… which is even more annoying."
Jason's gaze sharpened. "It means he's preparing his next move. And if he's desperate enough to break into the Hall of Records, then he's planning something big."
Before anyone could answer, a sudden explosion shook the eastern side of the sect.
BOOOOM!
Dust flew. Birds scattered. Disciples screamed in the distance.
Jason immediately activated his Qi. "That came from the arena!"
Ayla's face turned pale. "Jason, that's the arena where inner sect disciples are tested. If Elder Mo wants to silence witnesses—"
Jason didn't wait. He sprinted.
Levi and Branja followed instantly.
Ayla hesitated only for a second before chasing them, lifting her skirt slightly for freedom of movement.
As Jason raced up the stone steps leading to the arena, Pedang Longwu pulsed with warning.
*"Be careful, Jason Wu. Someone powerful is inside. Someone on the level of High Qi Ascension or above."*
Jason narrowed his eyes. "So… a fun morning after all."
*"Idiot."*
When he reached the top, he finally saw the chaos.
The arena was cracked open. Flames danced on shattered tiles. Disciples of various ranks huddled in fear. A single figure stood in the center, emitting overwhelming killing intent.
Elder Mo.
But next to him stood another man—a muscular, scarred cultivator with cold eyes and a mercenary's gait. A stranger.
Jason muttered, "Who the hell is that?"
Ayla whispered behind him, "He's not from our sect. That insignia… it belongs to the Black Fang Mercenary Hall."
Jason's expression darkened. "A mercenary group? Elder Mo hired outsiders?"
Before they could react, Elder Mo's sharp voice echoed:
"Bring out that brat Jason Wu! Today is the day he dies!"
Levi gulped. "Oh. He's really going for your throat, boss."
Branja added, "Well, at least he remembers your name?"
Jason sighed. "Great. I should have stayed in bed."
Ayla stepped closer to him, voice trembling slightly but determined. "Jason Wu… be careful."
He smiled. "I always am."
Pedang Longwu coughed dramatically.
*"Lies."*