Liam''s Perspective


    I opened my eyes, surprised at my own rity of thought. The cultivation session had been intense, but effective. Energy coursed through my meridians with newfound strength. Not quite a half-step Martial Marquis yet, but undeniably closer.


    A quick test confirmed what I already sensed. My spiritual power had increased by at least thirty percent. Still not enough, but progress nheless.


    I moved toward the door, eager to check if the month was up. My hand stopped before touching it. Invisible barriers of energy hummed against my palm – the Pavilion Master''s seal was still intact.


    "Damn it," I muttered, pulling back.


    The month wasn''t over. Mariana''s power signature remained fresh in the energy matrix. She had sealed me in here for my own protection, but it felt like a prison now. After yesterday''s breakthrough, I was itching to test my new abilities.


    I returned to my meditation mat. Patience was necessary, even if unwee. The Ascendant Saints Order wouldn''t hesitate to kill me if they found me. Better toplete my seclusion and emerge stronger.


    Sitting cross-legged, I resumed my cultivation. The Three Pure Ancient Trees'' essence still circted through my system, though less intensely than before. My body was adapting, absorbing what it could handle.


    "Just a little more," I whispered to myself. "One more push."


    I closed my eyes and dove deep into my spiritual core, letting the world fade away.


    ---


    In a hidden corner of the Celestial Apothecary Guild''s outerpound, Maxim Huxley nursed his wounded pride. The bruises on his face had mostly faded, but the humiliation burned brighter than ever.


    His fellow Elder, Foster, paced nearby, equally agitated.


    "You said it would be easy," Foster spat. "You said the Pavilion Master was overrated."


    Maxim''s fists clenched. "How was I supposed to know she''d been hiding her true strength? The intelligence was wrong!"


    "Tell that to the Sect Master," Foster replied bitterly. "His message this morning was... unpleasant."


    Both men fell silent, remembering Josiah''s scathing rebuke. Five cultivators defeated without a single casualty on the Guild''s side. Aplete disgrace to the Ascendant Saints Order.


    "We need another approach," Maxim finally said. "A direct confrontation won''t work."


    "What do you suggest? Poison? Assassination?"


    "Something more... subtle."


    A shadow detached itself from a nearby wall. "Perhaps I might offer a solution, gentlemen."


    Both men whirled around, hands flying to their weapons. A thin man in elegant ck robes stood watching them, an amused smile ying on his lips.


    "Dudley Lowell," Maxim growled in recognition. "What''s a snake like you doing here?"


    Dudley''s smile widened. "The same thing as you, I imagine. Seeking opportunity in chaos."


    Foster''s eyes narrowed. "What opportunity?"


    "The Celestial Apothecary Guild is... inconvenient for many powerful people," Dudley said smoothly. "My employer included. We share amon goal."


    "And what would that be?" Maxim asked warily.


    "Removing the current Pavilion Master from power."


    A tense silence followed. Maxim and Foster exchanged nces.


    "We''ve already tried," Foster said tly. "You saw how that ended."


    Dudley reached into his sleeve and withdrew a small jade box. "That''s because you tried to defeat her directly. A foolish approach against someone of her caliber."


    He opened the box, revealing a single, unassuming white pill. "This is a Spirit Severing Pill. Odorless, tasteless, andpletely undetectable by spiritual senses."


    Maxim''s eyes widened. "Those are banned. The form was supposed to be destroyed centuries ago."


    "And yet, here one is," Dudley replied. "One dose will temporarily sever the connection between a cultivator and their spiritual core. For approximately six hours, your Pavilion Master will be no stronger than an ordinary mortal."


    Foster reached for the pill, but Dudley snapped the box shut.


    "Not so fast. My employer doesn''t offer such gifts without assurance of... mutual benefit."


    "What do you want?" Maxim demanded.


    Dudley''s eyes gleamed. "Just a promise that when you take control of the Guild, certain exclusive forms will find their way to my employer."


    "Done," Maxim said without hesitation.


    Foster looked less convinced. "How do we administer it? The Pavilion Master trusts no onepletely."


    Dudley''s smile turned predatory. "That''s not entirely true. There is one person..."


    ---


    Night had fallen by the time Maxim Huxley slipped through the shadows toward a secluded pavilion. The meeting ce was deliberately chosen – far from prying eyes, yet still within the Guild''s outer boundaries.


    He waited, tension building with each passing minute. Had his message been intercepted? Had his contact lost courage?


    A figure appeared, moving cautiously between patches of moonlight. Chief Enforcement Elder of the Celestial Apothecary Guild, Tang Wei, renowned for his loyalty to the organization.


    Or so everyone thought.


    "Speak quickly," Tang said tersely. "My absence will be noticed."


    Maxim wasted no time. "How long have you served as Chief Enforcement Elder?"


    Tang''s expression hardened. "Twenty-three years."


    "And in those twenty-three years, how many times were you considered for Pavilion Master?"


    A sh of bitterness crossed Tang''s face. "Three times. Passed over each time."


    Maxim nodded sympathetically. "Because Mariana Valerius keeps blocking your advancement."


    "She ims I''m too rigid in my thinking," Tang spat. "Too traditional."


    "She fears your strength," Maxim corrected. "She knows you''d make a better Pavilion Master."


    Tang said nothing, but his eyes betrayed his thoughts. The seed had been nted long ago – Maxim was merely watering it.


    "What do you want from me?" Tang finally asked.


    Maxim produced the jade box. "A chance for you to im what you deserve."


    He exined the pill''s effects, watching Tang''s expression shift from shock to calction.


    "And after?" Tang asked. "The Ascendant Saints Order will still want control."


    Maxim smiled. "We need a figurehead who understands practical matters. Someone who won''t interfere with our broader goals."


    "Someone like me," Tang concluded.


    "Precisely. Pavilion Master Tang Wei. It has a nice ring to it, doesn''t it?"


    Tang stared at the box for a long moment. Decades of resentment warred with his oath of loyalty. <dfn ss="in-imprint-b">Thank you for reading. This was brought to you by *.</dfn>


    "I''ll need to think about this."


    Maxim''s smile disappeared. "There''s no time for thinking. The Sect Master returns tomorrow with reinforcements. This opportunity vanishes then."


    Tang took the box, his decision made before he''d even realized it.


    "How will I know when to act?"


    "When Mariana is incapacitated, we''llunch our assault," Maxim exined. "Be ready to assumemand of the Guild''s defenses."


    Tang nodded, slipping the box into his robes. "What about Liam Knight?"


    "Leave him to us," Maxim replied. "His seclusion chamber will be his tomb."


    ---


    Morning came too quickly for Tang Wei. He''d barely slept, reying his decision over and over in his mind.


    "There are no eternal friends," Dudley had told him during their brief meeting after his encounter with Maxim. "Only eternal interests. Your interest is bing Pavilion Master. Act ordingly."


    The Spirit Severing Pill felt unnaturally heavy in his pocket as he prepared the Pavilion Master''s morning meal. A simple porridge – her preference on days when important decisions needed to be made.


    His hands didn''t shake as he crushed the pill into a fine powder. Twenty-three years of passed-over promotions. Twenty-three years of watching others advance while he remained stagnant.


    The powder dissolved instantly, leaving no trace in the steaming porridge.


    Tang arranged the tray carefully, adding a pot of fragrant tea and fresh fruit. Everything normal. Everything as it should be.


    He climbed the steps to Mariana''s private quarters, each footfall carrying him further from loyalty and closer to ambition. The guards nodded respectfully as he passed. They knew better than to question the Chief Enforcement Elder.


    Mariana was already awake, reviewing reports at her desk. She looked up as he entered, offering a tired smile.


    "Elder Tang. Early as always."


    "You need your strength, Pavilion Master," he replied, setting down the tray. "Especially today."


    She nced at the documents before her. "Yes, our scouts report the Ascendant Saints Order is mobilizing a muchrger force. Josiah himself maye."


    A flicker of guilt passed through Tang, quickly suppressed. She trusted himpletely – as she had for over two decades.


    "All the more reason to eat," he insisted, pushing the bowl of porridge closer to her. "You''ve been working too hard these days."


    Mariana nodded absently, still focused on the reports.


    Tang watched anxiously as she picked up the spoon.


    "Drink it while it''s hot," he urged, his voice betraying nothing of his inner turmoil.


    Mariana paused, the spoon halfway to her mouth. For a terrible moment, Tang thought she sensed something wrong.


    Then she smiled at him. "Always looking after me, Elder Tang. What would I do without you?"


    The spoon moved toward her lips.