Jagged images flashed behind Krishna's eyes. His mother's terrified scream, a shadowy figure looming, a desperate warning. He clutched his head, a gasp tearing from his throat. The vision was more vivid than before, a chilling echo from a past he couldn't grasp. Cold sweat drenched his skin. His breath hitched, ragged and shallow. He tried to force the memories, tried to push past the searing pain, but the fragments dissolved like smoke. "Seal detected," a calm, synthesized voice resonated in his mind. The System. "Higher cultivation levels will gradually weaken and remove the mnemonic seal. Current progress: 0.1% unlocked." A memorial seal? On his own memories? The revelation hit him harder than any blow. Someone had deliberately hidden his past, twisted his mind. Rage simmered beneath his fear. He clenched his fists, knuckles white. This wasn't just about his parents. This was about him. His identity. He needed answers. He needed strength. More than ever, he needed to protect Anya, his only family, from whatever dark forces had touched his life. --- Morning light filtered through the window, painting the small room in soft hues. Krishna sat with Anya, watching her sleep. Her peaceful face belied the danger lurking. Viper. The name still sent a shiver down his spine. He gently touched her forehead, a silent promise forming on his lips. "No one will hurt you, Anya. I swear it." Later, Krishna found Jinan in the Blue Bird Sect's courtyard, practicing a slow, deliberate form. Jinan moved with an aged grace, each motion precise despite the sect's diminished state. "Jinan," Krishna called out, his voice firm. The older man paused, turning with a slight nod. "Krishna. You seem troubled." Jinan's eyes, though ancient, were sharp, missing little. "Troubled is an understatement," Krishna admitted. "I need your help. I need two of your most reliable disciples. Strong, discreet. I need them to protect Anya. Always. Day and night." Jinan's brow furrowed. "Protect your sister? Has something happened?" Concern etched his face. He knew Krishna wouldn't ask for such a thing lightly. "The threat is real. It's... subtle, insidious. A poison master known as Viper has targeted her. I can't be everywhere at once, not yet." Krishna kept his voice low, glancing around to ensure no one else was within earshot. Jinan's expression hardened. "A poison master? That's a serious claim. But if you say it, I trust it. I will send Lian and Kai. They are young, but capable. Loyal. They will guard her with their lives." Relief washed over Krishna. "Thank you, Jinan. I owe you." "Nonsense. You are my benefactor, Krishna. The Blue Bird Sect owes you its very existence. Protecting your family is an honor." Jinan nodded decisively. "They will begin immediately." --- Krishna spent the next few hours digging. Not with his hands, but with his mind and the System. He needed to know more about Viper. The System had provided initial data, a name, a specialty. Now, he wanted affiliations, motives, weaknesses. "System, cross-reference Viper's known activities and associates with existing martial clans in Jaipur and the surrounding regions. Prioritize illicit dealings, poison cultivation, and mercenary work." "Scanning... Cross-referencing database... Local martial arts clan match found," the System announced. "Viper has strong ties to the Crimson Lotus Clan. They are a prominent, powerful sect known for their extensive involvement in illegal activities including assassination, drug trafficking, and protection rackets." Crimson Lotus Clan. The name resonated with a chilling power. Krishna had heard whispers, fragmented rumors. But to confirm Viper's connection, that meant a whole new level of danger. "Provide details on the Crimson Lotus Clan's structure, leaders, and sphere of influence." Images flooded his mind, accompanied by concise data. A sprawling network, far-reaching tentacles extending into every corner of Jaipur's underworld. Their leader, a formidable, ruthless patriarch named Elder Kael. Their resources were vast, their loyalties bought, their enemies swiftly silenced. The sheer scale of it made his stomach clench. He was just one person, a budding cultivator with a nascent sect. They were an established empire of crime and martial prowess. Protecting Anya against such an organization felt like trying to stop a tidal wave with his bare hands. A cold wave of doubt washed over him. Was he truly strong enough? He had faced challenges, yes. He had broken through cultivation levels. But this was different. This was an entire clan, with resources and power beyond his current comprehension. Their influence was immense, their brutality legendary. He saw their emblem, a stylized crimson lotus with sharpened petals, a symbol of beauty tainted by blood. It was everywhere – on illicit goods, carved into the hilt of a known assassin's blade, even subtly woven into the clothes of certain 'respectable' merchants. Every piece of information solidified the dread. Their enforcers were skilled cultivators, their reach extended into city politics, their wealth could buy silence and complicity. He was a lone wolf against a pack of apex predators. He took a deep, shaky breath. He had to be strong enough. He *would* be strong enough. For Anya. --- "We should consider this area," Jinan pointed with his staff. They stood on a ridge overlooking a vast, untamed valley. Dense foliage covered the slopes, and a winding river snaked through the center. It was far from the city, yet not completely inaccessible. Krishna nodded, surveying the landscape. "The 'Forbidden Place,' as they call it." Locals spoke of ancient spirits and dangerous beasts, but Krishna saw potential. The raw Qi here felt purer, denser than anywhere else he'd been in Jaipur. "Stories," Jinan scoffed lightly. "Mostly to keep people away from prime hunting grounds. But the Qi flow is indeed remarkable. And the natural formations... there's a cave network here, I believe. Could be expanded into a formidable headquarters." They had spent the better part of the afternoon trekking through rugged terrain, searching for the perfect location to establish Krishna's new sect. Jinan, with his intimate knowledge of the region, was an invaluable guide. "A cave network provides natural defenses," Krishna mused, picturing the layout. "And concealment. Important, given our current... situation." He still couldn't shake the image of the Crimson Lotus Clan's emblem from his mind. He needed a base that was defensible, a place where he could train his future disciples, a fortress for Anya. They descended into the valley, exploring various alcoves and clearings. Krishna used the System's analytical functions, scanning for optimal Qi points, defensible positions, and potential resources. The System highlighted several promising spots, indicating rich mineral deposits and ancient leylines. "This particular cavern entrance," Jinan gestured to a fissure in a sheer rock face, almost hidden by thick vines. "It leads deep, I recall. A natural labyrinth, easily fortified." Krishna approached, pushing aside the vines. A cool draft emanated from within. He stepped inside, the air immediately heavy with ancient energy. This felt right. This felt powerful. Hours later, as dusk began to settle, they made their way back, spirits buoyed by the promising discovery. Building a sect would be a monumental task, but with a location like this, success felt within reach. Back in his humble room, Krishna began to sort through some of his parents' old belongings. He often did this, hoping for a forgotten clue, a hidden message. Most of it was mundane – old books, faded clothes, a few trinkets. He pulled out a small, wooden chest from beneath a loose floorboard. Inside, nestled amongst dried potpourri and old letters, was a roll of parchment. It looked ancient, the edges tattered and brittle with age. He carefully unrolled it. It was a map. Not of Jaipur, or even India, but of a region he didn't recognize, filled with strange symbols and archaic script. He traced a finger over its surface, a vague sense of familiarity tugging at the edges of his memory. Suddenly, the map shimmered. A faint, blue light pulsed from its surface, growing steadily brighter. His eyes widened. The light intensified, then focused, highlighting a specific area on the map. Within that illuminated section, a symbol glowed, strikingly similar to the Crimson Lotus Clan's emblem, but with an additional, ominous mark. The mark was a stylized eye, weeping a single drop of blood. It stared back at him, an unsettling, ancient gaze. What could it mean? And why was it connected to his parents, and the Crimson Lotus Clan, in such a terrifying way? What secret had this map been hiding all along, waiting for this very moment to reveal itself?

Chapter 10: The Martial Clan's Gaze