Dark Currents Surge, and a Complete Enmity with Xiao Wuji

On the bed, the faint scent of medicinal herbs filled the entire room.

Wang Dong carefully cleaned each of the dozens of sword wounds, varying in depth, across Shen Yuan's body. He applied healing ointment, then meticulously wrapped them in strips of cloth. Many wounds were deep enough to expose flesh, and Shen Yuan's body trembled slightly with every touch.

"You really took a trip through the gates of hell this time." Wang Dong sighed heavily as he dressed the wounds. "If you hadn't found the weak point of the formation core in time, you would have fallen directly within the Azure Cloud Sword Formation today. Xiao Wuji's mind is vicious, but because of his influence, there's nothing we can do to him."

Shen Yuan lay on the bed, his face still pale. The medicinal power of the pill he had just taken was slowly repairing his damaged body. Yet the weakness caused by burning his blood and exhausting his foundation still shrouded his entire body. For a short time, it would be difficult for him to use his true qi at full strength.

"Xiao Wuji was punished with three months of confinement for reflection, but those three months only restrict him from freely leaving his residence. They do not strip him of all his connections and methods." Shen Yuan spoke slowly. "He has operated in the inner sect for a long time. His confidants and old subordinates are everywhere. Even if he does not leave his door, he can still use others' hands to cause me trouble."

Shen Yuan saw this point clearly. The punishment was merely for show; it could not eradicate the hidden threat at all.

"What do we do next?" Wang Dong stopped what he was doing and asked worriedly. "You've only just entered the inner sect. You're unfamiliar with everything here, and unknown dangers are everywhere."

"The most urgent matter is healing my wounds and restoring my depleted blood essence." Shen Yuan closed his eyes and sensed the Meridian Opening true qi flowing slowly within him. "Once my injuries have healed, I'll go to the Scripture Pavilion and look through the inner sect's martial arts. At the same time, I need you to continue gathering intelligence for me."

At this point, Shen Yuan looked at Wang Dong.

Wang Dong was still an outer sect disciple and could not remain in the inner sect compound for long.

"Me?" Wang Dong pointed at himself. "My information channels in the outer sect are no problem, but it'll be hard for me to learn what happens inside the inner sect. Most inner sect disciples hold their heads high and look down on people from the outer sect."

"There's no need to force your way into gathering information from within the inner sect." Shen Yuan thought for a moment. "Stay in the outer sect and keep an eye on two groups for me. First, the movements of those confidant disciples under Xiao Wuji. Second, Zhao Kun, who is still at Wall-Facing Cliff. Zhao Kun exchanges letters with Xiao Wuji. Even though he has been sent to face the wall, he may still be passing messages in secret."

"Understood." Wang Dong nodded. "I'll pay close attention. If there's the slightest stir in the wind or rustle in the grass, I'll find a way to send word to the inner sect. But the inner sect strictly controls outer sect personnel, so I can't come up often. I'll find inner sect servants to pass messages as intermediaries."

After arranging the intelligence matter, Wang Dong looked around the small inner sect courtyard again. The environment was peaceful, and the spiritual qi was abundant—far superior to the little courtyard they had in the outer sect.

"The treatment has improved, but the danger has risen with it." Wang Dong gave a bitter smile. "The inner sect is not like the outer sect. Every disciple here has a complicated background—children of great clans, relatives of sect elders. The waters run too deep. Since you've only just arrived, try not to make enemies and do not casually involve yourself in factional disputes."

"I know." Shen Yuan nodded slowly.

The inner sect was not a solid block of iron. In the future, he would certainly encounter all manner of factional struggles and recruitment attempts. Born as a lowly servant with no background or patron, if he rashly chose a side, he would only become a chess piece in someone else's game.

After offering a few more reminders, the sky gradually darkened. Wang Dong could not linger in the inner sect, so he stood to take his leave and returned to the outer sect along the mountain path.

Only Shen Yuan remained in the house.

Lying on the bed, he circulated the Optimized Azure Cloud Inner Breath Art and slowly breathed in the dense spiritual qi of heaven and earth within the courtyard. His true qi circulated through his body again and again, nourishing his damaged flesh and restoring the blood essence he had overdrawn.

Within his sea of consciousness, the Martial Arts Heavenly Stele floated quietly.

During the sword formation trial, he had consumed a great deal throughout the entire process, and his Martial Dao Points had already fallen to zero. To deduce new martial arts or deduction clues, he would need to accumulate Martial Dao Points again. And Martial Dao Points could only be obtained through actual combat and slaughter, as well as comprehending the martial path.

Once my injuries recover, I need to find opportunities for actual combat and accumulate Martial Dao Points. Shen Yuan thought to himself.

The night passed slowly.

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice and fell before the bed.

After a night of nourishment from pills and true qi, the pain from the sword wounds in Shen Yuan's flesh had eased considerably. But the depletion of his blood essence was not something that could be restored overnight.

Just as Shen Yuan was preparing to close his eyes and continue recuperating, a knock sounded outside the courtyard gate.

"Junior Brother Shen Yuan, are you in the courtyard?"

It was an unfamiliar male voice, its tone giving no hint of good or ill intent.

Shen Yuan frowned slightly. "Come in. The gate isn't bolted."

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and two young men dressed in fitted blue inner sect attire stepped inside. Their gazes swept over Shen Yuan, who was still wrapped in bandages on the bed, carrying a measure of scrutiny.

"We are from the inner sect's Longwind Society. Senior Brother Gu Changfeng heard that Junior Brother caused a sensation when breaking through the sword formation yesterday, and specially ordered us to pay you a visit." The leading youth spoke indifferently. "Senior Brother values talent and intends to recruit you into the Longwind Society. After joining, you will receive sect resources, and the Longwind Society will provide you protection in the inner sect."

Longwind Society.

Shen Yuan committed the name to memory. Before Wang Dong left the previous night, he had briefly mentioned several major forces within the inner sect. The Longwind Society was the largest disciple faction in the inner sect, led by the inner sect's senior brother, Gu Changfeng, and it had gathered a large number of inner sect disciples under its banner.

They had come to recruit him.

Gu Changfeng had taken notice of the potential Shen Yuan displayed while breaking through the sword formation and wanted to bring him under his command. Joining a faction could indeed bring protection and resources. But at the same time, he would be tied to the Longwind Society's war chariot and dragged into factional struggles.

Shen Yuan instantly weighed the pros and cons in his heart.

"Many thanks to Senior Brother Gu for thinking highly of me." Shen Yuan lay on the bed, neither servile nor overbearing in tone. "But I have only just entered the inner sect, and my serious injuries have yet to heal. At this stage, I only wish to recover in peace and devote myself to cultivation. As for factional matters, please allow me to consider them at a later date."

He politely declined the recruitment.

The expressions of the two Longwind Society disciples darkened slightly. They clearly had not expected Shen Yuan to refuse so directly.

"Junior Brother should think carefully." The other youth's tone carried a hint of pressure. "You have only just entered the inner sect, all alone, with danger at every turn. Without a faction to support you, many matters will be impossible to handle. You have formed an enmity with Xiao Wuji. Without protection, you will inevitably suffer harassment in the future."

On the surface, these words were advice, but they carried a faint threat. The implication was clear: if he did not join the Longwind Society, no one would shield him from Xiao Wuji's retaliation.

Shen Yuan's expression did not change. "I appreciate the goodwill of you both. But in cultivation, I wish to focus on myself first. Let us not speak of factions for now."

Seeing Shen Yuan's firm attitude, the two Longwind Society disciples knew further persuasion would be useless.

"Since that is the case, we will return and report to Senior Brother. We hope Junior Brother will not regret today's decision."

With that, the two did not linger. They turned and left the courtyard.

The courtyard gate closed.

Shen Yuan lay on the bed, his brow furrowing slightly.

He had only just become an inner sect disciple, yet factional recruitment had already arrived. The undercurrents of the inner sect had come faster than he imagined.

But this was only the beginning.

More forces would come knocking in the future. Refusing the Longwind Society meant directly offending Senior Brother Gu Changfeng. Another hidden trouble had been added to his future.

The courtyard was silent.

After sending away the two disciples who had come to recruit him for the Longwind Society, Shen Yuan leaned against the headboard, countless thoughts churning in his mind.

The inner sect truly was thorny at every step. Yesterday, he had only just passed the test and received his inner sect jade token; today, people from the Longwind Society had come to recruit him. His tactful refusal had already planted a hidden danger. As the inner sect's senior brother, Gu Changfeng wielded enormous influence. Having been rejected face-to-face, he would most likely harbor some resentment.

"Since I have already refused, there is no need to dwell on it." Shen Yuan slowly took a deep breath.

Relying on a faction could indeed earn him protection, but there was no free lunch under heaven. Once he joined the Longwind Society, he would have to obey Gu Changfeng's orders, take part in struggles between factions, and be swept into countless disputes. He bore the obsession of uncovering why the original owner of this body had his spiritual roots destroyed, and he still had to pursue the secrets of the Martial Arts Heavenly Stele. He could not place his fate in another's hands.

He would rather face the risks alone than become a chess piece in factional games.

Over the next several days, Shen Yuan remained in the courtyard and focused on recuperating in seclusion.

Every day, he relied on the healing pills distributed by the sect, supplementing them with the circulation of Meridian Opening Realm true qi to nourish his body. The superficial sword wounds on his body gradually scabbed over and healed, but the foundational damage caused by burning his blood recovered slowly. He was still unable to fight at full strength.

This period was not entirely peaceful.

From time to time, all sorts of people came calling. Some were from other inner sect factions, testing the waters and seeking to recruit him. Some were inner sect disciples who were simply curious and had come to visit after hearing of his reputation. There were also a few of Xiao Wuji's confidants, pretending to be ordinary fellow disciples and feigning concern for his injuries while actually probing his true condition.

Shen Yuan used his severe injuries and need for recuperation as an excuse in every case, politely declining to meet most of them. For the few he could not turn away, he exchanged only a few pleasantries, never speaking deeply or revealing his true state.

During this time, Wang Dong sent two messages through an inner sect servant.

The first message: although Xiao Wuji was supposedly confined for reflection, he was still receiving trusted subordinates at his residence and secretly arranging many matters.

The second message: Zhao Kun at Wall-Facing Cliff could still pass notes through confidants and remain in contact with Xiao Wuji. Neither had abandoned the intention of dealing with Shen Yuan.

These two messages further confirmed Shen Yuan's judgment. Xiao Wuji's confinement for reflection was merely an ornament, and the threat had not disappeared.

One afternoon.

Footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate.

This time, there was no knock. A figure in moon-white fitted attire directly pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in.

It was none other than Xiao Wuji, who was supposedly still in his confinement period.

He still wore the marked jade token for confinement. By rights, he was not allowed to leave his residence freely, yet he had come anyway.

In the courtyard, Shen Yuan was seated on a stone stool, regulating his breath. The surface wounds had already scabbed over, though his complexion remained somewhat pale.

Seeing Xiao Wuji arrive uninvited, Shen Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

"Senior Brother Xiao, you are still in your period of confinement for reflection. Rather than reflecting at your residence, what brings you to my humble courtyard?" Shen Yuan asked calmly, meeting the other man's gaze directly.

Xiao Wuji slowly walked to the opposite side of the stone table and sat down. The false smile he usually wore was gone, leaving only a cold expression.

"Confinement for reflection only restricts me from participating in public sect ceremonies. It is not a complete ban on leaving my residence. Coming out for a short walk does not violate any rules." Xiao Wuji spoke indifferently. "I will not beat around the bush today. You and I both know exactly what happened with the Azure Cloud Sword Formation. Though there is no evidence to convict me, you have already decided in your heart that I wanted you dead within the formation."

Shen Yuan neither denied it nor admitted it outright. He merely said calmly, "Since Senior Brother knows, why ask?"

"Heh heh." Xiao Wuji gave a low laugh. "Shen Yuan, to be honest, I admire your talent. A servant who grasped a strange opportunity and rose step by step, breaking through layer upon layer of deadly traps. If you are willing to submit to me and put aside our past grievances, I can let bygones be bygones. I can even provide you with considerable resources."

Even now, Xiao Wuji still wanted to recruit him. Subduing Shen Yuan was far more worthwhile than killing him.

Shen Yuan gently shook his head. "Senior Brother has repeatedly tried to put me to death, and now you speak of submission. Isn't that rather laughable? Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together."

A direct rejection.

Xiao Wuji's gaze gradually turned cold.

"It seems there is no room for reconciliation." Xiao Wuji leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "You must understand. The methods of the outer sect do not work in the inner sect. In the outer sect, you could rely on arena matches and expose schemes to prevail. In the inner sect, there are countless methods. I came today to formally inform you. From now on, look after yourself."

These words were a formal tearing away of all pretenses. He would no longer maintain any superficial disguise.

"I will." Shen Yuan's expression remained unchanged.

Xiao Wuji gave Shen Yuan a long, deep look. Without another word, he rose to his feet, turned, and walked out of the courtyard.

The courtyard gate slammed shut.

Shen Yuan was left alone in the courtyard.

At this point, he and Xiao Wuji had completely torn off all pretense and forged an enmity that would not end until one of them died.

Seated on the stone stool, Shen Yuan looked toward the forest mountain path beyond the courtyard gate.

The curtain of the inner sect had already risen.

Xiao Wuji's threat, the potential resentment from refusing the Longwind Society, and the unresolved old case of the original owner's destroyed spiritual roots all weighed upon his shoulders.

He raised his hand and looked at his palm.

His injuries had not fully recovered, his Martial Dao Points remained at zero, and he lacked high-grade martial arts.

If he wanted to gain a foothold in the inner sect and contend against these powerful enemies, the most urgent task was to visit the inner sect's Scripture Pavilion, seek high-grade cultivation techniques and martial skills, and find opportunities to accumulate Martial Dao Points.

The first target of the next volume would be that incomplete sword art within the Scripture Pavilion—the Azure Cloud Thirteen Swords.