Chapter 33 - An Offer from the Shadows
Wang Li's heartbeat thundered in his ears as Xue Lian's words sank in.
"The Crimson Pact?"
The name carried weight—like an echo from the darkest corners of the cultivation world. They weren't just any organization. They were ghosts, whispers in the night, a faction that didn't just oppose sects but outmaneuvered them at every turn. Some called them rebels. Others called them executioners.
And now, they wanted him.
Wang Li clenched his fists. "Why me?"
Xue Lian smirked. "Why not you?" She took a slow step closer, her crimson robes shifting like liquid silk. "You're already fighting battles that aren't yours. You're caught in a power struggle between sects, and yet, you have no backing."
Her gaze sharpened. "The Crimson Pact offers you power. Freedom. No sect restrictions, no elders forcing you into pointless traditions. Only strength."
Wang Li narrowed his eyes. "Sounds nice. But I doubt it's that simple."
Xue Lian chuckled. "Of course not. Everything comes with a price."
She tapped her mask. "Join us, and you'll be trained in techniques even the Four Great Sects fear. You'll never have to worry about assassins or arrogant young masters trying to kill you. But..." Her smirk faded slightly. "Refuse, and you'll be marked as a potential enemy."
Wang Li felt his stomach twist. He wasn't naïve—this wasn't an invitation. It was a test.
Either join them.
Or prepare to fight them.
A Dangerous Decision
Wang Li took a step back, rolling his shoulders. "And if I need time to think?"
Xue Lian tilted her head. "That depends. How much time are you asking for?"
"Enough to make an informed decision."
Her red eyes flickered with amusement. "You're stalling."
"Obviously."
She let out a soft laugh. "Fine. I'll give you three days. After that, I'll come find you. And if you're not with us..." She ran a finger along her blade. "Well, let's just say I don't like being ignored."
Wang Li exhaled. Three days.
Three days to figure out his next move.
Xue Lian turned on her heel, her robes flowing behind her like a river of blood. "Until next time, Wang Li."
Then, in the blink of an eye, she vanished into the mist.
Silence settled over the shrine once more, but Wang Li felt anything but calm.
"What the hell have I gotten myself into?"
Returning to the Sect
By the time Wang Li made it back to the sect, the sun was already setting. His robes were torn, and bruises ached beneath his skin, but his mind was too restless for pain.
The Crimson Pact.
Why him?
What did they see in him that made him worth recruiting instead of simply eliminating?
"I need answers."
As he approached his courtyard, he wasn't surprised to find Mu Qingling already waiting for him. Arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently.
"You look like you fought a spirit beast barehanded," she said flatly.
"Close enough."
Mu Qingling frowned. "What happened?"
Wang Li hesitated. He trusted her—but the Crimson Pact wasn't something to talk about lightly.
"Someone made me an offer," he said vaguely.
Mu Qingling's eyes sharpened. "What kind of offer?"
"The kind that comes with a death sentence if I refuse."
Her expression darkened. "Wang Li... whatever you're caught up in, be careful. The sect is already watching you. If you make the wrong move—"
"I know," he said, rubbing his temple.
He needed to think. Fast.
Because three days wasn't a lot of time.
And something told him that once he made his choice—there'd be no turning back.
The moon hung high in the night sky, casting pale silver light over the sect's rooftops. Wang Li sat on the edge of his courtyard, his thoughts tangled in a storm of possibilities.
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Three days.
It felt like a cruel joke. In just seventy-two hours, he had to decide whether to ally with a shadowy organization that made even the Four Great Sects uneasy—or prepare for an enemy that had already marked him.
And he still didn't know why they wanted him.
"No, that's not true."
He had a hunch.
Ever since his return to this world, he'd been attracting trouble like a magnet. Whether it was his ex-girlfriends, the internal sect struggles, or now the Crimson Pact, everything was spiraling out of control.
And the only thing that made sense was...
The power inside him.
Something had changed when he was reborn. His soul felt stronger, his cultivation advancing at speeds that should have been impossible for someone with his background. And if the Crimson Pact had noticed—
They might know exactly what was happening to him.
Wang Li exhaled sharply. That was dangerous.
A sudden rustling broke his thoughts.
He tensed. "Who's there?"
No response. But the shadows in the courtyard shifted unnaturally.
Without hesitation, Wang Li grabbed the Shadowfang Dagger Mu Qingling had gifted him and spun on his heel—just in time to see a figure emerge from the darkness.
An Unwanted Visitor
The intruder was tall, clad in a deep violet robe, their face hidden beneath a hood. But their presence...
It was suffocating.
Not like a direct attack—more like a silent predator watching its prey, waiting for a single misstep.
"You're handling this well," the figure said, their voice smooth and unhurried. "Most disciples would be trembling in fear."
Wang Li's grip tightened on his dagger. "I don't like surprises."
"Then you must really hate what's coming."
Before Wang Li could react, the figure moved—a blur of violet that flickered past him.
Cold steel touched the back of his neck.
A whisper in his ear:
"The Crimson Pact isn't the only one watching you."
Wang Li forced himself to remain still. "Who are you?"
The blade at his neck disappeared just as fast as it had come. The figure reappeared a few feet away, hands tucked casually into their sleeves.
"Consider me... an observer."
Wang Li scowled. "Not cryptic at all."
The figure chuckled. "You don't need to know my name. What you do need to know is that you're at a crossroads. The Crimson Pact isn't giving you a choice. They never do."
Wang Li crossed his arms. "And you're here to offer me another?"
The figure's hood tilted slightly. "Perhaps. But first, tell me—why do you think they want you?"
Wang Li hesitated. He could lie, but something told him this person would see right through it.
So he decided to gamble.
"Because something's different about me," he admitted. "I shouldn't be progressing this fast. And they've noticed."
A moment of silence. Then, the figure nodded.
"Good. You're not as blind as most."
Wang Li narrowed his eyes. "So you do know something."
The figure didn't deny it. "Your rebirth... isn't as simple as you think. The power inside you isn't just yours."
Wang Li's pulse quickened. "What does that mean?"
The figure turned away, already retreating into the shadows. "Find out before they do."
And just like that—they were gone.
A New Layer of Mystery
Wang Li stood in the courtyard, his mind racing.
The Crimson Pact wanted him. But someone else was watching. Someone who seemed to know more than they were letting on.
One thing was clear—
Time was running out.
And if he didn't figure out the truth soon...
He might not live to make a choice.