Formless Ascension: My Affinity Is Limitless

Minutes later, inside a private, lavishly decorated chamber deep within the Inner sect of the An clan...

"And you are certain these are all the texts he read?"

Nayu An stood over a large table, her eyes scanning a stack of maps and books.

A lithe figure clad entirely in a skin-tight black suit, with only their cold, sharp eyes visible, knelt on one knee before her, bowing deeply.

"Yes, Young Mistress," the figure reported in a low, muffled voice. "Those are every single document, map, and text from the library that his hands touched. I recorded the ones he studied closely as well as the ones he merely skimmed through."

Nayu frowned slightly, her eyes analyzing every single map and book Uhtred had touched.

She looked up suddenly, her gaze going distant.

"What do you think, Nayu?" The voice of an old man sounded from the corner of the lavish room. He was stirring a pot of tea made with exquisite leaves, turning it softly to let the properties seep deep into the water. "Do you think he’s planning something?"

"I can’t really get a read on him," she shook her head. "Every one of his actions so far makes sense, but I can’t help the feeling that there’s something off about him."

The old man let out a soft, amused chuckle. He poured the freshly brewed tea into two delicate porcelain cups, carrying one over to the table and offering it to Nayu.

The moment he stepped into the light and his figure was seen, one could immediately tell that he was most definitely related to Nayu An.

He looked old, with a white beard and white hair tied up in a ponytail. However, his body still looked fairly vigorous, and he strode forward confidently without the air of an aged man. He looked like an older version of Nayu An... if she were a man who had lived for centuries.

He was the Ancestor of the An clan.

"I know you take my teachings to heart, my dear," the Ancestor said gently, setting the teacup down before her. "It is good to be vigilant, but you must also learn to balance suspicion with a realistic assessment of your opponent’s limits. Be wary of your enemies, yes, but do not attribute grand genius to a common insect."

He looked at her with warm, doting eyes as she scrunched up her nose in thought.

"The boy is a simple outer-sect warrior born to a line of servants, is he not?" the Ancestor continued, taking a slow sip from his cup. "You give him far too much credit if you believe he is playing a high-level game against you. He is a child bound by the limits of his birth, his lack of education, and his low standing. He does not possess the knowledge you possess, nor does he have the mental capacity to scheme on your level."

Nayu let out a quiet sigh. "I know, grandfather... but those eyes of his... when he looked at me in that room, it felt as though he was staring right through my act."

The Ancestor paused, a faint smile lingering on his face as he gave her a knowing nod. He recognized the look in her eyes. It was the stubborn pride of a young genius who refused to let go of a hunch until she proved it herself.

"Very well then," the Ancestor said, humoring her. "What have you deduced from the records he examined?"

Nayu flushed slightly, realizing her grandfather was indulging her paranoia out of affection.

"I—If he somehow realized our intentions and is planning to flee," Nayu began, tapping a finger against the maps, "the second shadow noted that he examined regional maps first. If he intends to run, there are only three logical directions. The first is the Wudang Sect to our north. The high mountain ranges there provide endless caves and secluded valleys where a fugitive could hide as a hermit even till he dies."

"You can cross Wudang off your list," the Ancestor replied casually. "The Wudang elders are notoriously hostile toward unregistered outsiders. Furthermore, our hidden spies in their towns would report his arrival within hours. If he runs north to Wudang, he’s running straight into a cage."

Nayu nodded, moving her finger across the map. "He could also head toward the Righteous Sword Sect to our west, or the Righteous Fist Sect to our southwest."

"Those two are far more probable," the Ancestor agreed, examining the map. "Even if he doesn’t stay within their domains, he could pass through their borders and push straight for the western maritime territories. The Namgung Clan and the Merchant Alliance control those coastal cities. It is a chaotic, crowded region with thousands of traders moving through daily. He can disappear like a phantom if he gets that far."

The Ancestor pointed a finger at the western routes. "The Righteous Sword Sect and the Righteous Fist Sect are the only two paths worth monitoring. If he ever attempts an escape, those are the choke points you must seal..."

He looked up at Nayu, his eyes narrowing playfully.

"...But that is if he even manages to escape."

Nayu met his gaze, her lips curving into a small smile.

"You already have people watching him, do you not?" the Ancestor stated rather than asked. "The third shadow trails him as we speak. Even if he were to somehow be this ’scheming genius’ you make him out to be, he cannot shake off watchers who he doesn’t know exist."

Nayu sighed, massaging her temple softly. She finally saw the reasoning behind her grandfather’s absolute confidence.

"You are right, grandfather. I am overthinking this matter," Nayu chuckled at her own expense. "He simply cannot escape. Aside from the third shadow currently watching him now, I also placed a mark on him."

"Oho?" The Ancestor laughed heartily. "Then why do you worry? There is no way a low-level warrior like him can detect a tracking mark, let alone erase it with his cultivation. Wherever he goes, you will see him."

"You’re right grandfather," Nayu laughed even more, beginning to see how paranoid Uhtred had made her become. "There is no means for him to escape. Even if he goes beyond my expectations and hatches a plan, I am already several steps ahead of him. I will lock down every route for him to possibly escape. The ritual will go as planned after he is healed, and there is nothing that will stop it."

"That’s my granddaughter," the Ancestor said proudly, patting her shoulder. "Now, check his current position on the tracking mirror so you can put this foolishness to rest and let us discuss other matters."

He turned and walked back toward the kettle in the corner to refill his cup.

"Yes," Nayu smiled, bringing out a small mirror-like device. "He was previously at the latrine earlier, but he should have headed to his room by now—"

Her words cut off abruptly.

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