“No, wait. Send it straight to Mountain-Edge City. I’ll head there directly as well,” Lu Sheng said, abruptly changing his mind.
“Understood.”
“See to the other arrangements. I’m heading to the headquarters first.” With that, Lu Sheng spurred his horse forward, racing toward the Crimson Whale.
He did not pause once along the road. Even so, by the time he reached the harbor, numerous high-ranking External Heads and Internal Affairs Emissaries had already gathered. The waterfront was bustling—crowds shifting restlessly, with even members of nearby sects and clans mingling among them.
Lu Sheng had barely dismounted when several disciples in red hurried over to greet him and take his horse.
“Why are there so many people today?” he asked with a frown, gazing toward the crowded pier.
Ahead, a newly arrived entourage marched under the banner of the Eastern Mountain Society. A white-bearded elder led them, quietly speaking to the disciples guiding their way.
“Old Sect Master has issued an order for a grand assembly. All distinguished persons in the region were summoned to the Crimson Whale today,” the disciple whispered.
Lu Sheng swung off his horse and moved to board the ship from the side. The front gangway was completely jammed; at least five different groups were queued there, and progress slowed by strict inspections.
“A grand assembly? What exactly happened?” Lu Sheng asked.
“This subordinate does not know either,” the disciple replied, shaking his head.
Lu Sheng let the matter drop, though a deep furrow settled between his brows as unease crept into his chest.
Once aboard, he headed straight for the central great hall. From afar, the low rumble of voices seeped from within, a restless tide of noise.
He followed the corridor and stepped inside. A sea of banners—sect, clan, and society alike—filled his vision. Representatives from countless factions crowded the vast chamber.
At the far end, seated above all others, was the Old Sect Master. Chen Ying stood beside him, along with the External and Internal Affairs Emissaries, Elder Wang, Elder Ouyang, and all the gathered elders.
Beneath the elders’ seats were the representatives of the two great societies—She Lin Society and the Eastern Mountain Society. Their distinguished members filled every space allotted to them. Further down were the three major clans—the Transformation Clan, Unity Path Clan, and Mountain Tiger Clan—each sending their own eminent figures. The great hall roiled with movement and noise, a vast sea of shifting robes and murmured conversations.
Lu Sheng’s gaze rose toward the Old Sect Master. Hong Mingzi spotted him in turn and gave a small nod, subtly motioning for him to come forward and take a seat.
As Lu Sheng approached, his attention fell on the young man seated to Hong Mingzi’s left—a calm, composed figure dressed in simple gray robes. A finely ornamented sword hung across his back, yet nothing about him seemed ostentatious. His bearing was gentle, almost scholarly, like a quiet teacher or the owner of a modest bookstore. A soft, layered aura surrounded him, distinctly different from the martial sharpness of those around him.
Lu Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly before he continued forward.
“Junior Apprentice Brother, sit by my side,” Hong Mingzi said quietly, indicating the seat to his right—just after Chen Ying.
Chen Ying held the position of second-in-command. For Lu Sheng to receive the seat immediately following his meant one thing: he was now regarded as the third-highest figure in the Crimson Whale Sect.
Lu Sheng took the seat without hesitation, sitting with the confidence of someone who had earned his place.
“Senior Apprentice Brother, what happened? Why call for a grand assembly?”
Hong Mingzi mustered a faint smile and gestured to the young man at his side. “This is the one currently overseeing the situation, dispatched by the Zhen Family—Young Master Zhen Xun.”
He leaned closer to the young man and spoke in a low tone. “Young Master Zhen Xun, this is my junior apprentice brother, Lu Sheng. At present, his skills place him among the top three in the Crimson Whale Sect.”
Zhen Xun gave Lu Sheng a calm, wordless nod.
In that instant, recognition flashed through Lu Sheng’s mind.
Zhen Xun—the current leader of the Zhen Family’s forces. A Nobleman of extraordinary renown. And to be entrusted with leading a contingent of Noblemen, he had to be a towering figure even among them.
Lu Sheng clasped his hands respectfully toward Zhen Xun, who offered only a brief nod in return. It was exactly the sort of response one would expect from someone of his status.
Lu Sheng took no offense and settled into his seat in silence. In Zhen Xun’s eyes, he was merely another leader within the Crimson Whale Sect—one among many under the Zhen Family’s broader influence. The fact that the Nobleman had bothered to meet his gaze was already a courtesy.
One by one, more members of the Crimson Whale Sect’s upper management arrived. Each time a powerful figure stepped through the doors, Hong Mingzi would personally introduce them to Zhen Xun. The renowned Nobleman received each introduction with the same calm poise, showing neither impatience nor condescension.
Once the upper management understood who the man in gray truly was, they sat straighter, nerves tightening as though facing a dangerous beast. None dared risk offending him, and the atmosphere gradually turned strained.
Nearly an hour passed before all of Crimson Whale Sect’s key figures had been presented. Representatives of the other sects and clans were also in place. The massive doors of the great hall swung closed, sealing the room in solemn anticipation. Hong Mingzi lifted his arms.
A deep boom of a drum echoed through the hall.
“SILENCE!” Hong Mingzi’s voice thundered.
Within seconds, the endless chatter faded. Leaders from every faction straightened, their subordinates falling into disciplined stillness as all eyes turned to the front.
From his seat, the Deputy Chairman of Eastern Mountain Society raised his voice. “Old Sect Master Hong, since Crimson Whale Sect was granted the authority to call a grand assembly over ten years ago, this is only the second time you’ve invoked it. Are we gathered here because of the recent disturbances outside the city?”
She Lin Society’s Chairman followed immediately, his tone firm. “Indeed. Trouble has been brewing nonstop throughout the Northern Lands. Strange incidents everywhere, unsettling the people and spreading panic. This is no small matter! Crimson Whale Sect, as the dragon head of the North—can you propose any measures to restore stability?”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the hall. Losses in recent months had struck every faction, and unexplained deaths were rising sharply. Even the residents of Mountain-Edge City now lived in fear—let alone those beyond its walls.
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Though many tried to carry on as if nothing was amiss, those with clarity in their minds knew the truth—the situation had already slipped far beyond anyone’s control.
Hong Mingzi coughed twice and raised his hand, calling the room back to order. “Indeed, you are correct. The Northern Lands have grown increasingly unstable. For that reason, the Crimson Whale Sect has summoned all of you here today.”
He extended a hand toward the young man seated beside him. “This Young Master Zhen Xun has arrived precisely to resolve this matter.”
Zhen Xun?!
The name rippled through the hall like a sudden gust of wind. Whispers raced from one seat to another. Faces that had previously shown impatience now shifted in expression—some startled, others uneasy. Only the newer rising experts appeared confused; the veterans needed no explanation of what the Zhen Family represented.
A heavy silence settled. Among the crowd, those who had dabbled in questionable dealings felt a chill crawl down their spines, unsettled by the thought that this Young Master might call upon their misdeeds.
Zhen Xun rose slowly, a faint, composed smile on his lips. He swept his gaze across the hall, taking quiet note of the tension stirred merely by his name.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began—his tone unadorned, yet effortlessly carrying across the chamber. “I stand here on behalf of the Zhen Family and ask for your cooperation in two matters.”
He stood tall. Instantly, everyone—including Hong Mingzi—rose to their feet in respect.
“Our greetings to Young Master Zhen Xun! May… may we know what Young Master requires of us?” the Deputy Chairperson of Eastern Mountain Society asked, voice laced with cautious respect. His question echoed the curiosity and anxiety shared by all present.
Zhen Xun’s smile remained gentle. “I want every faction—every personnel under your command—to investigate all forces associated with the Scarlet District.”
“Scarlet District?” Hong Mingzi’s voice faltered, his expression tightening with sudden shock.
“That’s right. ‘Scarlet’ as in the color. ‘District’ as in a city quarter,” Zhen Xun said with a nod. “They are the true source of the present chaos. Additionally, I require a name list of all distinguished individuals who have recently entered the five major cities. Any foreigners with notably unusual features must also be recorded.”
It was an enormous undertaking. The five major cities—Mountain-Edge City among them—were the largest and busiest hubs in the Northern Lands. Countless people passed through their gates every day. To single out individuals with unusual features was no different from searching for a needle in a boundless field of hay.
Standing to the side, Lu Sheng gradually understood Zhen Xun’s intent. The Nobleman was leveraging the vast information networks of the mortal factions to sift through the masses and drag out hidden enemies.
“Since this is Young Master Zhen Xun’s request, we will certainly accomplish it!” She Lin Society’s Chairman declared first. The other leaders quickly echoed their agreement.
Everyone seated in the upper rows knew the reality well. The Zhen Family was the true ruler of the Northern Lands—the silent power behind Crimson Whale Sect. Every year, the sect’s immense earnings were emptied without fail, delivered entirely as tribute to the Zhen Family. None of this was a secret.
Zhen Xun gave a small nod. “Since you understand my instructions, I will entrust the gathering of intelligence to the Crimson Whale Sect. After some time, I will send someone to check your progress. Any objections?”
His gaze swept across the hall, sharp and unblinking.
“We will certainly obey Young Master’s orders!” Hong Mingzi responded at once, wearing the practiced, deferential smile of someone who knew exactly where the lines of power were drawn.
Lu Sheng found himself speechless. It was his first time witnessing his senior apprentice brother act in such a manner. No wonder he led the number one sect—he knew how to bow when required.
“We will obey!” the rest of the factions echoed, none daring to differ.
Zhen Xun briefly outlined the types of individuals they were to investigate, then turned and strolled away, his hands clasped behind his back. Moments later, he mounted a Crimson Whale Sect horse and rode off.
And just like that, the hastily convened grand assembly came to an end.
None of the leaders left with the ease they had arrived. Each departed with a heavy heart, already planning how to deploy eyes and ears across every stretch of land in compliance with the Zhen Family’s orders.
Lu Sheng was preparing to take his leave as well when the Old Sect Master called him back.
“Senior Apprentice Brother, why have you specially asked me to stay behind?”
Inside the Sect Master’s library, Hong Mingzi dismissed the attendants one by one until only he and Lu Sheng remained in the quiet room.
“Junior Apprentice Brother, a great change is coming. You must prepare yourself for it.” Hong Mingzi’s voice was low and weighted with caution.
“A great change?” Lu Sheng’s expression hardened. The Old Sect Master wouldn’t have stopped him without a serious reason.
“Yes.” Hong Mingzi nodded slowly. “For more than twenty years, I’ve dealt with the Zhen Family. Their actions have always been decisive—even ruthless. Steady, thorough, and never chaotic. That is their way. But this time… something is wrong. Young Master Zhen Xun is not acting in accordance with the Zhen Family’s usual style. I have a very bad feeling about it.”
“Senior Apprentice Brother, are you certain?” Lu Sheng asked, his tone grave.
“I’m certain,” Hong Mingzi replied. “The Zhen Family is moving too quickly, too urgently. Perhaps I’m being overly suspicious, but caution has never led us astray. Junior Apprentice Brother, be vigilant. The Zhen Family… seems unstable.”
“Got it…” Lu Sheng murmured. A heavy weight settled in his chest.
…………
He left the library in silence, Hong Mingzi’s words echoing in his mind as he made his way back. The more he thought about it, the heavier the weight in his chest grew.
Given Hong Mingzi’s temperament, he would never speak such things without reason. Lu Sheng had come from a clean, respectable family before entering Crimson Sun Sect; his character was plain for all to see. To Hong Mingzi, he was truly a junior apprentice brother—someone worth warning, someone worth protecting.
Hong Mingzi was treating him as family.
‘The Zhen Family is unstable… If I’m supposed to prepare, then what should I prepare for?’ The question throbbed in Lu Sheng’s mind like a persistent drumbeat.
In the Northern Lands, the Zhen Family had always been the shield against the dark supernatural forces. They absorbed the wealth and resources of the region, and in return, they safeguarded its people. It was a balance everyone accepted.
If that colossal shield were to collapse… the consequences would be far beyond ordinary turmoil. It would be nothing short of hell unleashed.
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