Chapter 2 - A Target of Opportunity
Wei Chen's first year as Sect Leader passed swiftly, consumed by the myriad duties of overseeing the sprawling Zhangxia Sect. While the administrative tasks bored him, Wei Chen threw himself into perfecting new martial techniques and assessing the strengths of his growing forces. Change was in the air, yet he lacked a clear direction for Zhangxia's expansion.
That autumn, fate provided the spark his ambitions required. Word reached the sect of attacks by thieves and bandits plaguing a trading town on the fringes of their territory. The local magistrate pleaded for aid, yet his meager guards proved ineffective. Sensing an opportunity, Wei Chen assembled his elite disciples for a demonstration of Zhangxia's power.
Their arrival turned the tide against the marauders. Wei Chen himself cut through a score of ruffians with fluid strikes, while his disciples dismantled entire bands with coordinated formations. Within days the threat was eliminated and Zhangxia's prowess resounded across the region. The grateful magistrate showered them with gifts and praise, inviting the sect to maintain a permanent presence.
Wei Chen accepted thoughtfully, spinning this development to his disciples. "Our duty is to spread cultivation and justice wherever needed. From today Zhangxia establishes a protection force near Jieshi Town, led by Fan Xian." The disciples cheered their new mission, oblivious to Wei Chen's calculations. A foothold had been gained in this promising territory, the first step towards dominating the nearby valleys and trade routes.
The months passed busily as the sect's influence spread. Under Fan Xian's command, Zhangxia's disciples drove off monsters plaguing local farms and mediated disputes. In time residents came to view them as esteemed protectors rather than outsiders. Meanwhile, Wei Chen dispatched envoys across the region to further Zhangxia's reputation and learn of upcoming opportunities.
His intelligence networks soon bore fruit. Word arrived of infighting tearing apart the rival Blood Python Sect to the south, as different factions vied for control. Wei Chen convened his senior disciples with a cunning proposal. "While our neighbors war internally, we shall send volunteers to aid the weaker parties. With our backing, one side may prevail - ensuring Zhangxia a new alley, and a foothold near more fertile lands."
The plan was set in motion. Over several seasons Zhangxia agents stealthily aided the rebellion of the You brothers against Blood Python's elders. In a climactic showdown witnessed from afar by Wei Chen, the rebels emerged victorious through Zhangxia's timely intervention. The vanquished sect readily swore allegiance to their saviors, doubling Zhangxia's territory in a single move.
Wei Chen smiled inwardly at how effortlessly threats became opportunities in the hands of an ambitious man. Zhangxia's rise was only beginning.