Chapter 9: Defenses and Doubts at Dawn
Elder Mu’s hall was lit by torches when Lin Yue and Xiao Yu arrived. The sect leader listened silently as Lin Yue read the decoded message, his face growing darker with each word. When Lin Yue finished, Elder Mu slammed his fist on the desk, making the scrolls jump. “The Black Robe Enforcers. They dare to attack the Azure Cloud Sect directly?”
He stood, pacing back and forth. “I’ll send messengers to the other sects tonight. Tell them the Shadow Sect is moving. We need their help—now. And Lin Yue—you can’t stay in your room. It’s too exposed. You’ll move to the Inner Sect’s training grounds, where the guards are thickest. You’ll train there, under protection.”
Lin Yue nodded. “Thank you, Elder Mu. But I don’t want the guards to distract me. I need to focus on my cultivation. The faster I strengthen my dragon qi, the better chance I have of stopping the Enforcers.”
Elder Mu sighed. “I know. But you’re not just fighting for yourself anymore. You’re fighting for the sect. For the realm. We can’t risk losing you.”
Xiao Yu stepped forward. “I’ll stay with him. I’ll be his guard. I’m not the strongest, but I can sense dark qi—I’ll warn him if the Enforcers come. And I can help with his training, so he doesn’t have to worry about distractions.”
Elder Mu hesitated, then nodded. “Very well. But be careful. The Black Robe Enforcers are ruthless. They won’t hesitate to kill anyone who gets in their way.”
The next morning, Lin Yue moved his things to a small cabin near the Inner Sect’s training grounds. The cabin was simple—just a bed, a desk, and a small stove—but it was quiet, and it had a clear view of the surrounding area. Xiao Yu helped him unpack, then sat on the bed, watching as he prepared to head to the Spirit Spring.
“Be back before dusk,” she said. “I’ll make soup—something to help with your cultivation.”
Lin Yue smiled. “I will. And Xiao Yu—thank you. For everything. For standing with me.”
Xiao Yu’s cheeks turned pink. She looked away, picking at the edge of her sleeve. “You don’t have to thank me. We’re friends. Friends help each other.”
Lin Yue nodded, then turned and walked toward the Spirit Spring. The morning air was crisp, and the training grounds were already busy—disciples practicing swordsmanship, meditating, refining qi. He ignored them, focusing on his path. He needed to get stronger. Fast.
When he reached the spring, he sat cross-legged by the water, closing his eyes. He took a deep breath, then began to absorb the spring’s qi. This time, he pushed himself a little harder—not enough to hurt, but enough to feel the strain. The qi flowed into his dantian, mixing with his dragon qi, and he felt a faint warmth spread through his body.
Long Xuan’s voice echoed in his mind: “Good. Your meridians are adapting. Slow and steady—this is how you build real strength. Not with quick pills or risky techniques, but with patience.”
Lin Yue nodded, keeping his focus. He stayed at the spring until noon, then walked back to the cabin. Xiao Yu was there, stirring a pot of soup over the stove. The smell of herbs filled the air—qingxin grass, frost flowers, and a few other ingredients Lin Yue didn’t recognize.
“Dragon-Boosting Soup,” Xiao Yu said, smiling. “I asked Master Liu for the recipe. It’s not as strong as the pills, but it’s gentler. It’ll help your qi recover faster after training.”
Lin Yue sat at the desk, sipping the soup. It was warm, and it tasted of mint and honey. He felt his qi stir, growing a little stronger. “This is amazing. Thank you.”
Xiao Yu sat across from him, her bowl in her hands. “I heard the other disciples talking this morning. They’re scared. The Shadow Sect, the Dark Dragon—they don’t know what to think. Some of them even think you’re a danger. That the codex will bring trouble to the sect.”
Lin Yue’s heart sank. He’d known there would be doubt, but hearing it out loud hurt. “I know. But I’ll prove to them that I’m not a danger. That the codex can be used to protect them. To protect everyone.”
Xiao Yu nodded, reaching across the table to touch his hand. “You will. I know you will. And until then, I’ll be right here. With you.”
Lin Yue looked at her, at the faith in her eyes, and felt his doubt fade. He still had a long way to go. The Black Robe Enforcers were coming. The Dark Dragon’s soul waited in the pearl. But he wasn’t alone. And that, he realized, was his greatest strength. Not the codex, not the dragon qi—but the people who stood with him.
He finished his soup, then stood. “Back to the Spirit Spring. I’ve got a lot of training to do.”
Xiao Yu smiled, standing with him. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Together, they walked back to the spring, the sun shining bright overhead. The road ahead was long and dangerous. But for the first time in a long time, Lin Yue didn’t feel afraid. He felt ready.