# Chapter 22: Chen's Fall
The news spread fast. It moved through the sect like wildfire. It moved through the paths. It moved through the halls. It moved through the kitchens. Chen Zhi was demoted. He was no longer an Outer Disciple. He was no longer a favorite. He was stripped of his rank. He was stripped of his robes. He was sent back to the servant quarters. It was a huge fall. It was a huge shame. Everyone talked about it. Everyone whispered. Some were happy. Some were scared. They knew Chen's uncle was still an Elder. They knew this was not the end.
Lin Yu heard the news in the Inner Sect. He was sitting by the Spirit Pool. The water was clear. It glowed blue. It was full of energy. He was cultivating. He felt the Qi flow into his body. It was smooth. It was cold. It strengthened his meridians. He opened his eyes. He heard the whispers. He did not smile. He did not feel joy. He felt caution. He knew Chen. Chen was arrogant. Chen was proud. Chen would not accept this. Chen would not give up. He would fight back. He would fight dirty.
[Warning.] The Sword Box voice spoke. It was low. It was serious. [Danger Detected. Energy Signature Changed. Chen Zhi.]
"Changed how?" Lin Yu thought. He stood up. He wiped the water from his face. He put on his robes. They were blue. They were Inner Sect robes. They felt smooth. They felt heavy. They were a symbol of status. But status did not stop knives. It did not stop poison.
[Dark Energy.] The Sword Box said. [Blood Cultivation. Forbidden Technique. High Risk. High Power.]
Lin Yu frowned. He walked away from the pool. He walked through the courtyard. The flowers were blooming. They were red. They were white. They smelled sweet. But Lin Yu smelled something else. He smelled blood. It was faint. It was in the wind. It was coming from the servant quarters. He knew where that was. He used to live there. He knew the paths. He knew the shadows.
He left the Inner Sect. He walked down the mountain. The path was steep. The trees were thick. The sun was setting. The sky was orange. The shadows were long. He reached the servant quarters. It was different from the Inner Sect. The buildings were smaller. The wood was old. The paint was peeling. The air was damp. It smelled of sweat. It smelled of fear.
Servants walked past him. They bowed. They looked at his robes. They looked at his face. They recognized him. He was the servant who rose. He was the hero. But they were still scared. They knew Chen was here. They knew Chen was angry. They kept their heads down. They walked fast. They did not want to be seen.
Lin Yu walked to Chen's new room. It was number 5. It was small. It was dark. The door was closed. Lin Yu stood outside. He used his Sword Sense. He felt the energy inside. It was wrong. It was heavy. It was sticky. It felt like blood. It felt like death. He heard breathing. It was heavy. It was ragged. It sounded like pain.
He knocked on the door. *Knock. Knock. Knock.*
No answer. He knocked again. *Knock. Knock. Knock.*
"Go away," a voice said. It was Chen. But it sounded different. It was rough. It was hoarse. It sounded like he was choking.
"I need to talk," Lin Yu said. His voice was calm. It was clear. It carried through the wood.
"Nothing to talk about," Chen said. "You won. You are the hero. I am the servant. Go away. Before I kill you."
"You cannot kill me," Lin Yu said. "Not here. Not now. The Master is watching."
"The Master is old," Chen said. "He is weak. He is poisoned. He will die soon. Then my uncle will rule. Then I will rule. Then you will die."
Lin Yu did not answer. He listened. He heard a sound inside. It was a scratch. It was a drag. Something was moving on the floor. He pushed the door. It was locked. He used Qi. He broke the lock. He pushed the door open.
The room was dark. The curtains were drawn. No light came in. It smelled of copper. It smelled of old blood. Lin Yu stepped in. He closed the door. He locked it. He put a chair under the handle. He did not want interruptions. He looked around.
Chen sat on the bed. He wore gray servant robes. They were torn. They were stained. His face was pale. His eyes were red. His veins were black. They showed under his skin. They pulsed. They looked like worms. He held a pill bottle. It was black. It had no label. It smelled of death.
"What is that?" Lin Yu asked. He pointed at the bottle.
"Power," Chen said. He smiled. It was a crazy smile. It was not human. "This is Blood Pill. It gives strength. It takes life. But I do not care. I need strength. I need to kill you."
"It is forbidden," Lin Yu said. "The sect will kill you if they find out."
"They will not find out," Chen said. "I will kill everyone. I will kill the servants. I will kill the elders. I will kill the Master. Then no one will know."
Lin Yu looked at the floor. There was a stain. It was dark. It was wet. It was blood. There was a body in the corner. It was covered by a sheet. But Lin Yu could see the feet. They were gray. They were cold. It was a servant. Chen had killed him. He had used him for the pill. He had used his blood.
"You killed a sect member," Lin Yu said. His voice was cold. It was like ice. "This is not a demotion. This is a crime."
"So what?" Chen said. He stood up. He was shaky. But his energy was rising. It was dark. It was heavy. "Power is all that matters. Rules are for the weak. Morals are for the weak. I am not weak. I am strong. I am becoming a monster. And monsters do not follow rules."
Lin Yu drew the Silent Edge. The black sword appeared. It hummed. It smelled the blood. It wanted to cut. It wanted to judge. "You are not a monster. You are a criminal. And I am the judge."
"Judge?" Chen laughed. It was a dry laugh. It sounded like bones breaking. "You are a servant. You are a dog. You bark because your master tells you. I do what I want. I take what I want."
Chen charged. He moved fast. Faster than before. The pill gave him speed. It gave him strength. He held a knife. It was rusty. It was covered in blood. He stabbed at Lin Yu's heart. Lin Yu stepped aside. He used Wind Dancer. He was like the wind. He was like a ghost. He moved behind Chen.
"You are slow," Lin Yu said.
"I am fast!" Chen shouted. He turned. He slashed. The knife cut the air. It missed. He was breathing hard. He was sweating. The pill was burning him. It was eating his meridians. He could not sustain it. He knew it. But he did not care. He wanted to kill. He wanted revenge.
Lin Yu did not attack. He watched. He waited. He needed evidence. He needed proof. He took a crystal from his bag. It was a recording crystal. It captured energy signatures. It captured voices. He held it up. It glowed. It recorded Chen's confession. It recorded the blood energy. It recorded the dead servant.
"I have everything," Lin Yu said. "The Master will see this. The Elders will see this. You will be executed."
"No!" Chen shouted. He threw the knife. It flew at Lin Yu. Lin Yu blocked it with the sword. *Clang.* The knife fell. Chen ran to the window. He broke the glass. He jumped out. He landed on the ground. He ran into the dark. He disappeared into the trees.
Lin Yu did not chase him. Not yet. He picked up the crystal. He checked it. It was full. It was valid. It was enough. He walked to the corner. He lifted the sheet. It was a young servant. He was dead. His throat was cut. His blood was drained. Lin Yu closed his eyes. He felt anger. It was cold. It was sharp. He promised to protect them. He failed.
"I will fix this," Lin Yu thought. "I will end this."
[Quest Updated.] The Sword Box said. [Evidence Secured. Target: Chen Zhi. Status: Fugitive. Objective: Hunt and Eliminate.]
"Understood," Lin Yu thought.
Lin Yu left the room. He locked the door. He kept the key. He walked to the Elder Hall. He did not go in. He stopped outside. He heard voices. He heard Elder Chen. He heard the Master. They were arguing.
"He is my nephew," Elder Chen said. "You cannot execute him. He is sick. He is confused."
"He killed a servant," the Master said. His voice was weak. But it was firm. "He used blood cultivation. He is a danger to the sect."
"I can fix him," Elder Chen said. "Give him to me. I will discipline him."
"No," the Master said. "He will be arrested. He will be tried."
Lin Yu listened. He knew the truth. Elder Chen would free him. Elder Chen would help him escape. Lin Yu could not wait for the trial. He could not wait for the rules. The rules were too slow. The rules were too weak. Chen was already running. Chen was already hiding. Lin Yu had to hunt him. He had to do it outside the sect. He had to do it quietly.
He walked away. He went to his Inner Sect room. He packed his bag. He took pills. He took traps. He took food. He took the crystal. He checked his swords. Silent Edge. Flame Fang. Wind Dancer. They were ready. They were sharp. They were hungry.
He heard a knock on the door. It was soft. It was familiar. He opened it. Mei Ling stood there. She looked worried. She held a basket. She looked at his bag. She looked at his swords.
"You are leaving," she said. It was not a question. It was a statement.
"Yes," Lin Yu said. "Chen escaped. He is dangerous. He is using blood cultivation. He will kill more people. I have to stop him."
"Outside the sect?" Mei Ling asked. Her voice shook. "It is dangerous. The wild is full of beasts. Full of bandits. Full of his allies."
"I know," Lin Yu said. "But I cannot wait. If I wait, he gets stronger. If I wait, more people die."
"Take this," Mei Ling said. She gave him a scarf. It was green. It was made of soft cloth. "It is lucky. My grandmother made it. It will protect you."
Lin Yu took it. It was warm. It smelled like her. Like flowers. Like home. He put it in his bag. He put it near his heart. "I will bring it back."
"You better," Mei Ling said. Her eyes were wet. She did not cry. She was strong. "Come back alive. Do not be a hero. Just be alive."
"I will," Lin Yu said. He stepped forward. He hugged her. It was brief. It was tight. He felt her shake. He felt her fear. He let go. He turned away. He walked to the door. He stopped. "Lock the door. Do not open for anyone. Except me. If I knock three times, you open. If anyone else knocks, you stay silent."
"I know," Mei Ling said. "I will wait."
Lin Yu nodded. He left. He walked to the sect gate. It was night. The guards were tired. They did not see him. He used Wind Dancer. He was fast. He was silent. He climbed the wall. He jumped down. He landed in the grass. He was outside. He was alone.
The wind blew. It was cold. It carried the scent of blood. It carried the scent of Chen. Lin Yu followed the scent. He used Sword Sense. He felt the dark energy. It was fading. It was moving north. Towards the Black Forest. Towards the wild. Towards the death.
[Target Locked.] The Sword Box said. [Distance: 5 Miles. Closing.]
"Good," Lin Yu thought. "He is running to his grave."
Lin Yu started running. He did not walk. He ran. He used Qi to boost his legs. He was like an arrow. He cut through the trees. He cut through the bushes. He did not stop. He did not rest. He thought about the dead servant. He thought about the blood. He thought about the rules. The rules failed. The sect failed. Only he could fix it. Only he could judge.
He reached the edge of the forest. The trees were tall. They blocked the moon. It was dark. It was quiet. Too quiet. No insects. No birds. Only the wind. Only the blood scent. Lin Yu stopped. He listened. He heard a sound. It was a chant. It was a spell. It was coming from a clearing.
He moved closer. He hid behind a tree. He looked out. There was a fire. It was green. It was not normal fire. It was blood fire. Chen stood in the center. He was naked. He was covered in runes. They were painted in blood. He was chanting. He was summoning something.
"Come to me," Chen said. His voice was loud. It was not his voice. It was deeper. It was demonic. "Come to me. Give me power. Give me strength. I give you blood. I give you life."
The ground shook. The dirt moved. A hand came out. It was gray. It was dead. It was a zombie. It was a blood beast. Chen was raising the dead. He was using the servant's blood. He was using the sect's energy. He was becoming a monster.
Lin Yu gripped the sword. He was ready. He was not scared. He was angry. He stepped out. He walked into the light. The fire flickered. The zombie stopped. Chen turned. He saw Lin Yu. He smiled. It was a crazy smile. It was full of teeth.
"You found me," Chen said. "Good. I was waiting. I needed more blood. Your blood is strong. Your blood is special. It will make me a god."
"You are not a god," Lin Yu said. "You are a corpse. And I am the gravedigger."
Chen laughed. He raised his hands. The zombie charged. It was fast. It was strong. It did not feel pain. It did not feel fear. Lin Yu swung. Silent Edge. Shadow Slash. The black slash flew. It cut the zombie. It fell. It did not die. It stood up. It was hard to kill.
"Magic does not work," Chen said. "Blood is eternal. Blood is life. You cannot kill blood."
"I can," Lin Yu said. "I can cut anything. I can cut blood. I can cut life. I can cut you."
Lin Yu charged. He used Flame Fang. The red sword appeared. It was hot. It was fire. He slashed the zombie. It burned. It fell. It did not stand up. Fire purified blood. Fire purified death. Chen screamed. He was hurt. The zombie was part of him. When it burned, he burned.
"You burn me!" Chen shouted. "You burn me!"
"Yes," Lin Yu said. "This is hell. And you are the demon."
Lin Yu swung again. He used Wind Dancer. He was fast. He was everywhere. He cut Chen's arms. He cut Chen's legs. Chen fell. He could not stand. The blood runes faded. The green fire died. The night was dark again. Only the moon remained. It was white. It was cold. It watched.
Chen lay on the ground. He was bleeding. He was weak. The pill wore off. The power was gone. He looked at Lin Yu. He was scared. He was not a monster anymore. He was a boy. He was a failed boy.
"Kill me," Chen said. "Please. Do not let me live. Do not let me be a servant. Do not let me be weak."
Lin Yu looked at him. He raised the sword. He could kill him. It would be easy. It would be justice. But he remembered the rules. He remembered the sect. If he killed him here, it was murder. If he took him back, it was law. He wanted law. He wanted the sect to know. He wanted the truth to be known.
"No," Lin Yu said. "You will live. You will stand trial. You will confess. Everyone will know what you did. Everyone will know what you are. That is your punishment. Not death. Shame."
Chen cried. It was worse than death. It was worse than pain. He cried. He curled up. He was small. He was nothing.
Lin Yu tied him up. He used iron chains. He used formation tags. He sealed his Qi. He could not escape. He could not use magic. Lin Yu lifted him. He carried him. He walked back to the sect. The sun was rising. The sky was pink. The birds were singing. The world was alive. Chen was dead inside. But he was breathing.
Lin Yu walked to the gate. The guards saw him. They saw Chen. They were shocked. They opened the gate. They bowed. They knew. They knew Lin Yu won. They knew Chen lost. They knew the sect was safe. For now.
Lin Yu walked to the Elder Hall. He threw Chen on the floor. He threw the crystal on the table. He looked at the Master. He looked at Elder Chen. He looked at the elders.
"Evidence," Lin Yu said. "Judgment."
The Master picked up the crystal. He watched. He saw the blood. He saw the kill. He saw the confession. He was angry. He was sad. He looked at Elder Chen. Elder Chen was pale. He was shaking. He knew he was finished.
"Arrest him," the Master said. He pointed at Chen. "And arrest him." He pointed at Elder Chen. "They are guilty. They are traitors."
The guards moved. They took Chen. They took Elder Chen. They dragged them away. They did not fight. They knew it was over. Lin Yu watched. He did not feel joy. He felt tired. He felt heavy. He had won. But it cost something. It cost peace. It cost trust.
He walked out. He walked to his room. He locked the door. He sat on the bed. He took out the green scarf. He held it. It was soft. It was warm. He closed his eyes. He slept. He dreamed of blood. He dreamed of fire. He dreamed of a green scarf. He dreamed of home.
The sun set. The night came. The sect was quiet. The enemies were gone. But Lin Yu knew. This was just the beginning. Chen was small. Chen was local. The Guild was bigger. The Guild was everywhere. The Past Life Enemy was waiting. He was far. He was strong. Lin Yu had to grow. He had to prepare. He had to become stronger.
[Quest Complete.] The Sword Box said. [Arc 1 Complete. Sect Survival. Energy Gained: 1000. Current Energy: 2040. Status Updated: Sect Hero.]
"Good," Lin Yu thought. "Now we hunt the real enemies."
He stood up. He walked to the window. He looked at the stars. They were bright. They were far. They were cold. He touched the Sword Box. It hummed. It was ready. He was ready. The night was long. But the sun would rise. And Lin Yu would be there to see it. He would be stronger. He would be faster. He would be deadlier. The story was just beginning. The first arc was over. The real story was starting now.
Lin Yu walked. He did not look back. He looked forward. He looked at the Capital. He looked at the sky. He looked at the future. And he smiled. It was a small smile. But it was real. He was alive. And that was enough. For now.