Legacy of Blood: Reclaiming the Lost Throne

Chapter Five: My chance to find the fragment

He waved a hand, and a disciple entered from outside.

“Take him to the infirmary to recover a little then after that take him to the outer disciple quarters. Assign him to low-tier duties.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Kaien bowed deeply, concealing the fire in his chest.

The outer disciple quarters?

He’d been reduced to nothing but it was only a matter of time before he regained his former glory.

He would find that fragment.

And then?

He’d restore some of his lost cultivation.

He followed the disciple out while Liwei looked at him pitifully.

The infirmary was quiet, its white curtains swaying with the faint mountain wind. The disciple guiding him barely spared a glance in his direction as he gestured toward an empty cot.

“Stay here. The physician will come soon.”

Kaien nodded once, biting back the weight of humiliation swelling in his chest. He sat on the edge of the cot, wincing as pain resurged through his side. His ribs were hurting badly, and the injuries got a bit worse after that strike. But he was alive and that was enough for now.

A young healer arrived shortly after, her gaze was cold but not unkind. She worked without a word, pressing some healing elixirs into the gashes, wrapping cloth tightly around his torso.

“You’re lucky to be alive,” she muttered finally, breaking the silence between them.

Kaien didn’t know how to respond to that so he just kept mute.

When she finished, she handed him a small vial of bitter liquid. “Drink this. It’ll help you sleep at night through the pain.”

He drank it, ignoring the taste, and lay back against the thin bedding. His body eased slightly, though the ache remained. His mind, however, refused to rest.

When Kaien opened his eyes again, it was late afternoon. The same disciple from before returned. “You’ve rested long enough. Come. I’ll show you to your quarters.”

He didn’t argue.

The disciple led him down the sloping path along the edge of the mountain. The mist was thicker there.

“The outer disciple quarters,” he said flatly.

Inside, rows of sleeping mats lined either side of a narrow hall. The scent of sweat, herbs, and dust lingered in the air. No one looked up when Kaien entered.

“This one’s yours,” the disciple said, pointing to the far corner.

“I see,” Kaien murmured.

He turned to leave but paused. “Low-tier duties start at dawn. Don’t be late.”

Kaien waited until he left before he walked over and sat on the mat.

The day passed in silence. He fetched water from the spring. He swept stone paths. He did not complain. He did not speak to anyone either.

The fragment was near. He could feel it.

Now, it was just to figure out how to get to it.

Later that night, as twilight slipped into darkness, Kaien returned from the outer herb fields with a worn basket on his back. Fog curled between the stones, lanterns flickering like half-dead stars.

Just as he stepped into the narrow corridor leading to his quarters, a voice rang out, it was quite sharp, arrogant, and far too loud.

“Hey! You newbie.”

Kaien stopped.

Three figures blocked the path, shadows stretching in the mist. The one in the center wore his robe loose, a red sash tied crookedly around his sleeve, Zhou Shan, senior among the outer disciples.

His smirk was crooked and somewhat annoying to see.

“I heard you’re the one Sect Leader almost chased out,” he said, voice soaked in mockery. “Survived one palm, didn’t you? Must be luck.”

Kaien grunted, more in irritation than pain, and brushed the dirt from his sleeve.

Zhou stepped closer, inspecting him like something rotten. “No spirit blade. No sect badge. No clan name. What are you some wandering stray?”

Kaien met his eyes without flinching. “Did you need all three to feel like someone?”

Zhou blinked as if he didn’t expect him to retort. Then he laughed. “A sharp tongue for someone still limping.”

One of his lackeys cracked his knuckles. “Maybe he needs a little reminder of where he is.”

Zhou raised a hand casually. “On your knees, stray. Beg nicely, and maybe we won’t ruin that smug little face of yours.”

Kaien didn’t move.

He tilted his head. “What, too proud to kneel?”

“No,” Kaien said coolly. “Just wondering when this drama will end.”

The smile vanished from Zhou’s face.

He stepped forward, the air shifting between them.

“You think you’re special?” he said lowly. “You’re nothing here.”

Kaien smiled faintly. “Then why are you so bothered?”

One of his lackeys cracked his knuckles. “Should we help him remember his place, Senior Brother?”

Zhou smirked. “On your knees! Maybe we’ll let you keep your teeth.”

Kaien stepped forward once. Just close enough that the space between them turned sharp.

His voice was quiet and calm.

“Go ahead. Try.”

The smirk faltered. His eyes twitched, confused for a heartbeat.

Zhou then said out of the blue. “Forget it, let’s go.”

Then they turned and left.

Kaien wondered why he just suddenly left like that when he obviously came with the intention to bully him but he had too much on his plate to pay so much attention to that.

The next morning, bells rang through the outer grounds.

A gathering was called at the jade terrace, an open platform beneath the moonlit cliff, where announcements were made to all outer disciples.

Elder Jinhai, a round man with a long overflowing beard and deep eyes, stood at the center, his voice loud through the clearing.

“In three days’ time, an outer disciple hunting expedition will commence.”

Murmurs passed through the crowd.

“The region beyond the southern peaks has been disturbed. Spirit beasts have emerged from the ravines. The sect has granted permission to eliminate them.”

He paused, letting the anticipation build.

“But that’s not all the disciple who earns the highest spirit merit measured by beast cores gathered shall be considered for advancement into the Inner Sect.”

A wave of loud cheers spread through the outer disciples.

This was more than just hunting. It was status to them.

A path to better cultivation techniques and martial arts.

One chance in a hundred.

But it was all they needed. It was also the opportunity Kaien had been waiting for to find the fragment.

Zhou Shan was in the crowd, grinning again now, whispering to his companions.

He’d already set his eyes on the prize. Kaien turned away indifferently.

He had been feeling the fragment calling out to him more lately.

And now he had a reason to leave the sect. This was just perfect for him.