Lowering his hand he made a ‘let’s move along’ gesture. “For now, we will attend the conference and see what happens. We will also keep sending out scouts to see if any of the Shigong members survived and are in hiding.” Hopefully they would agree to come to the Liu and give their statements, or at the very least, to take shelter in Willow Retreat. Pushing those worries aside, Liu Huizhong refocused. “Besides the Sui’s expansion and recruitment. There have been a larger than normal number of cultivators being killed.” Here he briefly looked across the table at Zhou Jinhai. Who’s blindfolded face was tilted down, a dark frown furrowing the skin of his brow. He looked paler than normal, and the blood that splattered his robes stood out in stark contrast. Liu Huizhong felt his heart ache for the man, knowing how close he’d been to the latest known victim. 

“Liu Li-Tai is the latest casualty, but there have been countless others. There seems to be no clear reason, as their deaths have been caused by a wide variety of circumstances.” He moved that pile closer, then split it into several sections. Pointing at the smallest, he continued. “These were all killed while on Night Hunts, while the beasts they fought were stronger than expected, there seems to be no undue influences from outside.” He moved that pile to one side and slid the remaining two closer, a hand on each, body leaning over the table as he looked at each Elder intently. “But these…. “ He tapped one with a finger, indicating the larger stack. “The cause of death are varied, but each has the obvious signs of foul play.” Raising the other hand he spread out the papers in a fan, face grim. “And these are known assassinations.” Liu Li-Tai’s name was the last on the top-most sheet, the ink having barely dried. “Each was attacked by someone using assassination techniques designed to kill a cultivator.” He looked once again at Zhou Jinhai, the others following his gaze. The blindfolded man stood stiffly, as if he knew he was suddenly the center of attention. “The poison that took your eyes….” Liu Huizhong’s expression was regretful. “.. It’s a known compound that destroys the meridians and the golden core.” 

Shocked gasps rose around the table as the Elders all blanched. Such poisons had been known in the past, but who would dare create one? The smallest mistake in the process would risk one’s own golden core, the destruction of which would render the victim no longer able to cultivate, and would forever prevent the formation of a new Core. To be struck from the path of Immortality to become a mere mortal once more… it was unthinkable. And such a foul poison had not only been created, but used? Muttering broke out among the group, disbelieving whispers soon turning from shock at the existence of such a thing, to indignation that it was being used on other cultivators, and finally to angry condemnation of the obvious culprits behind such dirty tricks. The Sui. 

Raising a hand to quiet the growing hubbub, Liu Huizhong looked at each of his sect brothers gathered around the table. “While we can’t prove the Sui are behind these assassinations, the circumstantial evidence is strong.” He paused, forcing everyone to focus their attention once more, the lingering whispers finally fading to silence. “We do know the poison uses ingredients found only within Sui territory.” He refrained from looking again at Zhou Jinhai, since it was Liu Li-Tai’s body that had given up that secret. And Liu Huizhong was certain that Liu Li-Tai hadn’t actually been the target, but Zhou Jinhai. For as well rounded a cultivator as Liu Li-Tai had been, he was no match for the man who had been at his side, and was the one considered a genius among geniuses by all within the Jianghu.

One of the Elders, a tall thin fellow by the name of Yang Jiehong spoke up. “Are we sure enough to present this to the other sects at the Conference?” 

Liu Huizhong nodded. “We have to try.” The table fell silent then, each lost in his own thoughts. The news was dire, and if indeed the Sui were assassinating prominent members of rival sects, that would indicate larger plans were being set into motion. 

Finally, the Clan Head gathered the separate piles of paper with the names of deceased cultivators recorded, and set them to one side. They still had further issues to discuss after all.  Hand lifting to point at the map that had various locations marked. “Now, on to the escalating monster sightings.” 

The meeting continued as they discussed the increase in spirit beast attacks, the level of which seemed to have increased far too fast. There were also increased fierce corpse sightings, though those seemed to be strangely subdued, often easily killed as they didn’t retaliate. And other strange sightings and occurrences that were less easily explained. They put a plan into motion to set up teams headed by the stronger inner sect members to be sent out on reconnaissance missions to the affected areas. 

Eventually the meeting wound down, and the gathered Masters broke into pairs and small groups as they left Serenity Hall. Before Zhou Jinhai and Feng Jianyu could depart, Liu Huizhong beckoned the latter. “Please, can you both spare a moment?” Without a pause both men nodded, leaving the table and following the Clan Leader deeper into the hall, past an intricately carved wooden screen of weeping willows by a pond, to the small table set up with refreshments. Settling down on a cushion, Liu Huizhong set about pouring tea from the small pot at his elbow, setting a cup down before each cultivator as the two men, one stern of face, and the other splattered with dried blood, settled on the two remaining cushions. 

Having guided Zhou Jinhai with a light touch to his elbow, Feng Jianyu accepted the cup, clasped it in both hands and saluted before drinking. Liu Huizhong returned the gesture, taking a sip before setting the cup to one side and regarding his two guests. “Thank you both for staying.” Feng Jianyu nodded, but remained silent. Zhou Jinhai simply sat, back upright and expression unmoving. His tea hadn’t been touched. Liu Huizhong respected the man’s poise during such a difficult time. Even now he seems able to predict what this is about. Zhou Jinhai’s abilities on the battlefield had appeared to stray into the realm of precognition, that was how well he could read his opponents. Now, even though he was blind and carried internal injuries, his senses were as sharp as ever. “We were able to trace the murderer for a distance, but lost his trail in Hēiyǐng Forest. Please know that we are doing all we can to find the criminal. But this situation….” Liu Huizhong paused, then sighed heavily. “I have a bad feeling about it. I think we will see much worse in the near future.” He looked at the statue-like man at Feng Jianyu’s side. “A-Xiu, I believe who ever the mastermind is behind these attacks will come for you again. Please…. Be careful.” 

Zhou Jinhai didn’t react to the news, he only nodded. After a moment he rose smoothly from the cushion and, clasping his hands before him, he bowed low. “If I may be excused, I’d like to go clean up.” He remained bent at the waist, head lowered, his unbound hair falling about his face and shoulders like black ink, until Liu Huizhong sighed heavily and nodded. Regret and sorrow were heavy in his voice as he replied. “Of course, A-Xiu…” Liu Huizhong watched as the other man straightened, bowed to Feng Jianyu and then left, his stride steady and sure despite his lack of sight. 

Turning to the lone remaining sect member before him, Liu Huizhong shook his head. The entire situation was a tragedy and it hurt his heart to see these two loyal men suffer so. “Go on then…” Without a word, Feng Jianyu stood, dropped into a brief bow of his own, then strode purposely after Zhou Jinhai.

“Look out for each other, ok?” Liu Huizhong told the empty air of Serenity Hall, feeling anything but serene as his mind continued to worry at the troubling events unfolding all around them.