Chapter 4: The Dungeon Interrogation and a Fragment of Truth
Three days after the tournament, the Azure Cloud Sect’s dungeon reeked of damp stone and iron. Lin Yue stood outside Elder Zhang’s cell, his fists clenched. The former elder sat on a straw mat, his once-imposing posture hunched, his robes stained with dirt. Guards flanked the cell door, their hands resting on their sword hilts—Elder Mu had granted Lin Yue one hour to question him, but warned that Elder Zhang was “uncooperative, even under pressure.”
Lin Yue signaled the guards to open the door. The iron bars creaked as they slid aside, and he stepped inside, the door clanging shut behind him. Elder Zhang didn’t look up, his gaze fixed on the stone floor.
“Where is my father?” Lin Yue asked, his voice sharp. “And don’t lie—your son already admitted you poisoned me. You stole the Azure Dragon Pearl. Tell me what you did with it.”
Elder Zhang finally lifted his head, a bitter smile twisting his lips. “You think I’d tell you anything, boy? Even if I did, you’d never reach him. The Shadow Sect doesn’t let prisoners escape—not even former elders of the Azure Cloud Sect.”
“Shadow Sect?” Lin Yue’s breath caught. He’d heard the name in passing—rumors of a secret organization of dark cultivators, known for kidnapping and experimenting on talented monks. “You’re working with them?”
Elder Zhang laughed, a harsh, hollow sound. “Working with them? No. I was forced. They took my wife—my only family besides Hao. They said if I didn’t steal the pearl and frame your father, they’d kill her. What would you have done, Lin Yue? Let the woman you love die?”
Lin Yue froze. He’d never considered that Elder Zhang might have a motive beyond greed or power. But even so—his father’s name was ruined, his own life shattered. “That doesn’t excuse what you did,” he said, though his voice softened slightly.
“I know,” Elder Zhang whispered. He reached into his robe, pulling out a small, crumpled piece of paper, and slid it through the bars of the cell. “This is a map. It leads to the Misty Forest, west of the sect. There’s a cave there—hidden by illusion magic. Inside, you’ll find a journal. Your father wrote it, before he was taken. It has clues about the Shadow Sect, about the Azure Dragon Pearl… and about why they want you.”
Lin Yue grabbed the map, his fingers trembling. “Why me?”
Elder Zhang’s eyes darkened. “Because of the jade pendant. The one around your neck. It’s not just a trinket—it’s a key. A key to the Azure Dragon Codex. The Shadow Sect’s leader, Lord Xiao, has been searching for it for decades. He thinks merging the codex with the pearl will give him godlike power. And he thinks you’re the only one who can unlock it.”
Before Lin Yue could ask more, the guard’s voice called from outside: “Time’s up, disciple Lin Yue.”
Elder Zhang looked at him, his gaze earnest. “Be careful in the Misty Forest. It’s not just illusion magic—there are spirit beasts, ones that feed on qi. And the Shadow Sect has scouts there. If they find you… you’ll end up like your father.”
Lin Yue nodded, folding the map and tucking it into his robe. He turned to leave, then paused. “What about your wife?” he asked. “Do you know where she is?”
Elder Zhang’s shoulders sagged. “The Shadow Palace. Lord Xiao’s fortress. But you can’t save her. No one can.”
The door clanged shut, cutting off their conversation. Lin Yue walked out of the dungeon, his mind racing. The Misty Forest. His father’s journal. The Shadow Sect’s obsession with the codex. It was a lot to process—but for the first time since his father vanished, he had a real lead.