The Sect That Loses Disciples, Finds Trouble
"When a disciple goes missing, it's either a kidnapping… or they found better food." — Li Qingyu
---
Morning — Eternal Radiance Divine Sect
Peace hung in the air like a miracle.
Zhang Xiaofan sat cross-legged under a tree, incense sticks burning out of both nostrils.
Lin Ziyan practiced sword techniques that sliced flower petals in mid-air.
Hu Daniu was inexplicably hanging from a roof beam. Again.
Lei Wudi, self-declared lightning prodigy, was zapping ants in a circle. "Training my accuracy," he muttered.
Li Qingyu, clipboard in hand, strolled through the courtyard with the air of a boss reviewing underpaid interns.
"We've got nine outer disciples now. Time to test the waters. Easy mission. Nothing crazy."
> [Ding! Side Mission: Supply Run Activated!]
Send outer disciples to Jade Willow Town to acquire spiritual herbs, nails, planks, and one bag of spicy dried turnips.
Reward: Contribution Points +20
"…System, are we building a sect or opening a grocery chain?"
> [Reminder: Logistics are the lifeblood of expansion.]
He waved over a group of disciples near the meditation platform.
"Song Dazhu. Yu Niang. Pang Fei. Liu Mei. You four—supply run. Jade Willow Town. Be polite. Don't burn anything. Don't stab anyone unless they stab first."
Song Dazhu nodded solemnly.
Yu Niang smiled too brightly. "I make no promises."
Pang Fei rubbed his belly. "Can we buy snacks?"
Liu Mei yawned. "Only if I don't fall asleep on the way."
Li Qingyu stared at them like a man watching his sect budget walk away. "Please, for once, act normal."
---
Midday — Forest Road to Jade Willow Town
The group strolled through a quiet path flanked by spirit-wood trees.
"I call dibs on any spirit beasts we see," Yu Niang said, cracking her knuckles.
"We're not hunting beasts, we're getting turnips," Pang Fei reminded.
"Can't we do both?" she grinned.
Suddenly—leaves rustled.
Seven figures in azure robes leapt from the treetops, blocking the road. Each wore a cloth mask, their robes bearing faint sword emblems.
"Well, well," one of them sneered. "More trash from that Eternal Radiance garbage heap."
Song Dazhu stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Move."
The masked cultivator drew his sword. "Make us."
Yu Niang grinned. "He said move."
[Brief Fight Scene]
The disciples attacked.
Song Dazhu fought barehanded, his fists ringing against sword blades.
Yu Niang's saber danced like a whirlwind, knocking two enemies flat.
Liu Mei tried to chant a wind spell—but fell asleep mid-incantation.
Pang Fei swung a shopping basket like a club.
But the enemy had numbers—and skill.
One by one, the disciples were overwhelmed.
Yu Niang was the last to fall, bloody but defiant. "You cowards…"
Darkness fell.
---
Afternoon — Eternal Radiance Divine Sect
Back at the sect, things were... weirdly normal.
Zhang Xiaofan was levitating four spoons and a tea kettle in mid-air meditation.
Lin Ziyan was trying to slice falling droplets of water. "Too slow," she muttered.
Hu Daniu practiced dodging spiritual chickens. They were winning.
Lei Wudi screamed as he shocked himself trying to cook a potato. "Worth it!"
Li Qingyu sat at the stone table, sipping tea, staring at the system screen.
> [Outer Disciples: 9/20]
"They should've been back by now."
He looked up at the sky, brows furrowed.
---
Dusk — Edge of the Forest
A figure dragged himself through the underbrush, bleeding, robes torn, one sandal missing.
It was Pang Fei.
He limped through thorns, collapsed once, crawled over roots, then stumbled down the mountain path.
---
Evening — Eternal Radiance Divine Sect
The sky turned orange. Crickets sang. Dinner was roasted cabbage. Spirits were low.
Zhang Xiaofan floated upside down, humming.
Li Qingyu's finger tapped the stone table again. The system still showed nine disciples.
> [Time Passed: +6 hours since expected return.]
[Status: No updates. Outer Disciple Count unchanged.]
"Something's wrong," he muttered.
Then—
> THUMP!
Pang Fei stumbled into the courtyard, bloodied, half-conscious, scroll pouch dangling in shreds.
"M-Master…" he gasped, falling to his knees. "Ambush… sword symbols… blue robes… they took everyone…"
Li Qingyu caught him just in time.
"Who did this?" he asked coldly.
Pang Fei shakily pulled out a torn cloth—azure, marked with a faint blade insignia.
Li Qingyu stared at it.
No words.
Just silence.
Then—he smiled.
Not the nice kind.
The cold, terrifying kind.
He cracked his knuckles, and the pressure in the courtyard shifted.
Even the spirit chickens froze.
"Wuxia," he said softly. "Ready your sword."
"Yes, Sect Master."
"Daniu, stay here. I don't want you turning into a pancake again."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
His robe fluttered as he stood up.
"It's time someone learned what 'radiance' really looks like…"