Web Of Lies

Wei Zhang groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, finding himself in an unknown place. He was lying in an extravagant room adorned with luxurious tapestries and intricate wood carvings. The ceiling was high, with delicate chandeliers casting a soft, warm glow. Silk curtains framed the windows, and the furniture was finely crafted from dark mahogany, polished to a shine.

He prepared for pain as he sat up, but he felt nothing. His eyes widened as he glanced down, seeing that his wounds were completely healed.

"My wounds," he murmured in astonishment.

He climbed out of the plush bed and explored the room, eventually finding a door that led to a washroom. The washroom was a marvel of opulence, with a gold and white marble sink that gleamed under the light. The faucets were intricately designed with dragon motifs, and the mirror was bordered with ornate carvings.

Wei Zhang tentatively approached the sink, his eyes scanning for any sign of how it worked. He gingerly turned the faucet, and cold water streamed out. Cupping his hands, he splashed the water on his face, the chill refreshing and invigorating. He gazed into the mirror, seeing his reflection clearer than he ever had before.

"What is this place?" he thought, his mind racing with questions.

"Looks like you found the bathroom. What do you think?" 

Startled, Wei Zhang spun around, his eyes landing on a tall, muscular woman standing in the doorway. She wore a gold and black mask covering her lower face, and her presence was imposing.

'I didn't even sense her presence. She's dangerous' he thought, his heart pounding.

She raised her hands in a non-threatening gesture as she approached. "I mean you no harm," she said calmly.

Wei Zhang eyed her warily. "Who are you, and where am I?"

The woman smiled, her eyes crinkling slightly behind the mask, and sat down on a nearby chair. "My name is Alexandra, and you are in my disciple's cemetery."

"Did you heal me?" he asked, his voice filled with both gratitude and curiosity.

Alexandra nodded. "I did."

"Thank you," Wei Zhang said, bowing deeply and clasping his fist in a gesture of respect.

He was about to ask more questions, but Alexandra raised her hand, signaling him to stop. Despite his curiosity, he felt an inexplicable need to heed her command.

"Why don't we discuss this matter with some food? I made breakfast," she said, smiling kindly.

Wei Zhang nodded slowly, still processing the turn of events as he followed her out of the washroom

—

In the grand main hall of the Verdant Lotus Clan, the atmosphere was tense as the grand elders convened alongside the sect heir, Lianhua Ming. The hall, adorned with intricate floral motifs and softly glowing lanterns, echoed with the gravity of the situation at hand.

Grand Elder Qiu, a stout man with a grizzled beard, cleared his throat to address the assembly. "As you all know, Elder Shan was dispatched to investigate the disappearance of our ten inner disciples. What he discovered was alarming indeed." He paused, his voice carrying a mix of disbelief and outrage. "A large sign, boldly proclaiming the property of the Oceanic Sect, stood before the field of the mysterious healing flower. Hanging from it were the bloody sect tokens of each of our disciples."

Grand Elder Fang scoffed incredulously. "Oceanic Sect? I've never heard of such a sect, daring to trespass on our grounds and spill our blood."

Lianhua Ming, spoke up next, his concern palpable. "The loss of the healing flower field is not just a matter of pride but of practicality. It sustains many of our orders and ensures our sect's future prosperity. If we allow this affront to go unanswered, we risk significant setbacks."

Nodding grimly, Grand Elder Yu, a stoic figure renowned for his strategic acumen, interjected, "We must act swiftly and decisively. Retrieving the field is paramount."

Grand Elder Chen, the eldest among them and a voice of reason, suggested, "Perhaps we should inform Sect Leader Lin about this dire situation. His guidance and authority would be invaluable."

However, several elders disagreed, citing the Sect Leader's current preoccupation with other crucial matters. "We cannot burden him with this until we have more information and a plan," Grand Elder Wu reasoned, his voice resonating with pragmatism.

After deliberation, a consensus emerged. "We will dispatch a capable envoy to investigate the Oceanic Sect discreetly," Lianhua Ming declared, his tone firm. "We must ascertain their intentions and reclaim what rightfully belongs to us."

As the meeting adjourned, the grand elders and Lianhua Ming dispersed.

—

Wei Zhang followed me out of the small house I had created with the system's help, which was conveniently connected to the cemetery. As we stepped outside, the morning sun cast a warm glow over the landscape, illuminating the redwood table where Yutian Wei and Xu Jie were already seated, waiting for us. The table was an exquisite piece, crafted from deep red mahogany with intricate carvings of ancient symbols and mythical creatures along its edges. Each detail told a story of its own.

Xu Jie's face was a picture of exhaustion, sweat glistening on his forehead from the 100 reps of pull-ups I had kindly encouraged him to do. Despite his fatigue, there was a determined glint in his eyes, a testament to his unwavering resolve to reach the Foundation realm. His perseverance brought a smile to my face.

As we approached the table, the enticing aroma of freshly baked biscuits and savory gravy wafted through the air. Four plates were set out, each with a stack of golden-brown biscuits drenched in rich, creamy gravy, the surface speckled with chunks of sausage. Beside each plate was a tall glass of orange juice, its vibrant hue and the condensation on the glass promising a refreshing contrast to the hearty meal.

"Wei Zhang, I present to you the disciples of my sect, Yutian Wei and Xu Jie," I announced with a touch of pride.

Yutian Wei inclined his head slightly. "It's a pleasure to officially meet you, Wei Zhang," he said warmly.

Wei Zhang returned the gesture with a respectful bow. Xu Jie, despite his obvious fatigue, managed a bow as well. Wei Zhang responded again, resulting in an amusing series of bows that made me chuckle inwardly.

'What's with them and their bowing?' the system remarked dryly in my mind.

Suppressing a laugh, I replied silently, 'It's a cultural thing.'

Once introductions were done, we finally sat down to eat. Xu Jie and Wei Zhang's reactions to the food were immediate and enthusiastic. Xu Jie's eyes widened as he took a bite, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Wei Zhang, after taking a sip of the orange juice, looked utterly amazed.

"I have never tasted anything like this before," Zhang said, his voice filled with wonder. "What is the origin of this food?" he asked, clearly intrigued.

I crafted a quick lie. "It comes from my sect and its rich culinary history," I said with a straight face.

Wei Zhang nodded, accepting my explanation without question. "Your sect must be truly remarkable," he said, savoring another bite.

"Remarkable is one word for it," I thought, amused by his reaction.

Xu Jie, his mouth full, gave a thumbs-up. "Sect Leader, this is amazing," he managed between bites. "We should eat like this every day!"

Yutian Wei laughed, a sound as warm as the morning sun. "Indeed, this meal is a fine reward for hard training."

As I removed my mask to start eating, I noticed both Xu Jie and Wei Zhang staring at me in shock, their eyes wide with surprise.

'They've lost their appetite after seeing your ugly ass face,' the system quipped.

'Shut up,' I snapped back mentally.

Yutian Wei, already accustomed to my appearance, continued eating without a care in the world.

"Sect Leader, where do you come from?" Xu Jie asked, his voice tinged with awe and curiosity.

I quickly recalled the story I had told Yutian Wei when he first saw my face. "I come from a small island that was isolated from the world. It was the original home of the Oceanic Sect. My features are a result of how we cultivated and lived through many generations," I explained smoothly, fabricating as I went.

Wei Zhang's eyes lit up with curiosity. "I have been a wandering cultivator for the past twenty years and have never heard of such a place," he said, clearly fascinated by my story.

"What happened to it?" Xu Jie asked, his curiosity piqued.

"It was destroyed by an evil and powerful beast that dwells in the deepest part of the ocean," I said, weaving more into my tale.

Wei Zhang's eyes widened in shock. "Are you talking about the legendary Abyssal Leviacres?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

'What the hell is an Abyssal Leviacres?' I asked the system mentally, trying to keep my expression neutral.

'It's the most 'powerful' creature that actually lives in the deepest part of the ocean,' the system replied.

"Yes," I said aloud without hesitation, nodding for emphasis.

Yutian Wei immediately stopped eating and looked at me in surprise. He hadn't heard this part of the story before, and his reaction was understandable.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you and your home," Wei Zhang said, his voice filled with genuine sympathy.

I could only manage an awkward nod.

"To think it actually exists," Wei Zhang muttered, still in disbelief.

'Nice save. Let's hope you don't get tangled in today's lies,' the system remarked with its usual sarcasm.

Xu Jie started to ask more questions, but I raised a hand to shush him. "I'll answer them after we finish eating and after I have a conversation with our guest," I said firmly.

Xu Jie nodded and continued eating, though his curiosity was far from satisfied.

The system piped up again. 'You should write this down and put it in the Oceanic Sect's historical section.'

'I'm definitely going to write this down,'I muttered, acknowledging the need to keep track of my growing web of lies.