Two shadowy figures stood atop a rooftop overlooking No. 2 High School. Their blended black robes covered their entire body, the only visible detail being the faint, intricate patterns of an obsidian veil embroidered on their hoods.
They were adepts of the Obsidian Veil, a secretive and ruthless organization that believed in the absolute dominance of the strong over the weak. The cult thrived on manipulating events for their own dark purposes, employing any means necessary to achieve their sinister goals.
Both figures exuded a sinister aura, the unmistakable presence of those who had reached the Middle-Rank Shadow Adept level, equivalent to the Martial Artist realm. Their cold and calculating eyes were locked onto the figure of Chu Yan, who was walking with Su Ming outside the school gate.
"That's him," whispered the first figure, his voice low as he compared Chu Yan's face with the photo. "Chu Yan, a little brat who dare to disrupted our plans."
The second figure nodded, his gaze fixed on Chu Yan's every movement. "He's stronger than we anticipated. For someone his age to reach the Fourth-Layer of the Martial Artist realm... it's extraordinary."
The first figure sneered, a flash of contempt crossing his face. "Whether he's extraordinary or not, he's a threat to our operations. That worthless Jin Rong was supposed to deliver those stolen resources to us. His inept death has set our plans back significantly."
There was a moment of silence as they continued to watch Chu Yan, who seemed completely unaware of their presence. His movements were fluid and precise, his sword flashing in the moonlight as he practiced a series of techniques with unwavering focus.
"So what do we do with him?" the second figure asked, his tone cold and pragmatic. "Eliminate him? Or... recruit him?"
The first figure tilted his head slightly, weighing the possibilities. "He's young, powerful, and highly talented. If we could turn him to our side, he might become a valuable asset to the Obsidian Veil."
"But," the second figure interjected, "if he refuses, we can't risk him becoming a bigger problem. He would need to be eliminated before he rises beyond our control."
The first figure's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Indeed. But let's not be hasty. We should first gauge his potential and see if he has any weaknesses we can exploit. If he's willing to join us, he'll be useful. If not…"
He trailed off, leaving the unspoken threat hanging in the air. The second figure nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowing as he observed Chu Yan.
"Perhaps," the first figure continued, "we should test him. This is an opportunity to push him to his limits using those experimental subjects and observe his response. If he survives, we can offer him a choice. If not, we'll still gain valuable data from the beast's performance."
The second figure gave a short, approving nod. "Agreed. But we must proceed carefully. He's not one to be underestimated. Jin Rong may have been a low-level pawn; defeating him is not a small feat."
As they spoke, Chu Yan, who had been walking, suddenly paused and glanced slightly to the side, as if sensing an unseen presence. The two figures immediately fell silent, merging deeper into the shadows and suppressing their auras to avoid detection.
"What's wrong?" Su Ming inquired, noticing Chu Yan's sudden shift in focus towards the school building.
"I had the sensation that someone was watching me," Chu Yan replied.
"Probably just some eager fans wanting your autograph," Su Ming teased.
"Forget it, probably my imagination," Chu Yan said with a dismissive wave.
After a brief pause, Chu Yan shook his head, pushing aside the unsettling feeling, and resumed his walk. The two figures lingered in the darkness a moment longer, ensuring that Chu Yan had not truly detected their presence.
"What a sharp sense he has," the first figure whispered. "It seems we'll need to monitor him from a distance to avoid detection. For now, let's retreat into the shadows. The right moment to act will come soon enough."
""Embrace the Shadows, Command the Night."
Without another word, the two figures silently retreated, their forms vanishing into shadow as if they were never there.