The sun had barely set when Lin Xuan was approached by a familiar figure.
"Senior Brother Lin!" Zhao Ming ran up to him, breathing slightly heavy, eyes shining with respect. "Please forgive me. I thought you were arrogant before, but now… I realize how wrong I was. You didn't just defeat me—you enlightened me."
Lin Xuan chuckled lightly. His hands were behind his back, gaze calm. Villain aura… this is the benefit, he thought. When you stand tall enough, people who once scorned you crawl to make peace.
"It's nothing," Lin Xuan said aloud, his voice composed. "As senior brother, it is my duty to guide junior disciples onto the right path."
He glanced to the side, and his gaze briefly settled on Jiang Feng.
That disciple, still bandaged and limping after the humiliating defeat in the tournament, clenched his jaw. His eyes were filled with hatred, yet he remained silent. Inside, he swore: One day, I'll make you pay, Lin Xuan… for humiliating me in front of everyone!
But Lin Xuan had already read his thoughts. So predictable.
Instead of responding, Lin Xuan simply smirked and turned away, letting his indifference strike deeper than any insult.
Now an inner disciple, Lin Xuan made his way toward the familiar courtyard of his master, Lan Yuerong. The cherry blossoms outside her abode swayed gently in the breeze. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Disciple greets Master."
Lan Yuerong stood by the railing, her back straight, her presence elegant. Her sharp eyes met his, unreadable at first.
"I've heard quite the number of rumors," she said, voice neutral. "You defeated the outer sect's number one and stepped into the inner court. In ten years, this is your first true achievement."
Lin Xuan lowered his head. "Is Master pleased, or disappointed in her disciple?"
She scoffed lightly. "Hmph, your brain has finally started working after a decade."
Then her tone sharpened. "But why did you return all the resources you won to the other disciples? Spiritual stones, pills, treasures… Do you know how rare that chance was?"
Lin Xuan sighed. "I… felt guilty. They worked hard too, and I didn't want to take everything."
In his mind, however, a very different thought surfaced: If I hadn't gifted those things, how would the system have given me the 10x return?
Lan Yuerong studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well. But tell me this—why haven't you contacted your seven sisters recently? Are you avoiding them? What's going through your head?"
Lin Xuan hesitated. A trace of conflict flickered in his eyes.
"Master… I want to sever ties with them for now. I need to focus solely on my cultivation. I've wasted enough time."
His words stunned Lan Yuerong. For a few seconds, she said nothing.
Then, she let out a breath and said softly, "Good. You may leave."
Lin Xuan bowed and turned to exit.
Only when he had walked away did Lan Yuerong whisper to herself, "My disciple… today you spoke words I've longed to hear. I only hope… you truly mean them."
But fate rarely offered peace for long.
Outside, under the moonlight, a familiar voice snapped through the courtyard.
"You bastard!"
Lin Xuan paused. His seventh sister, Tang Xiaoran, stood there, fists clenched and face flushed with anger.
"Have you lost your mind?" she shouted. "You gave away a thousand low-grade spirit stones, rare treasures, even that Qi Pills! And you didn't give me anything except some leftover herbs?! Do you know how humiliated I felt? Beg me right now or I won't forgive you! In fact, I want everything you gave others!"
Lin Xuan stared at her, eyes indifferent.
"Who let this dog bark so late at night?" he said, voice dripping with contempt.
"You—!" she gasped.
But Lin Xuan stepped closer, eyes as cold as frost. "Who do you think you are to order me? In my eyes, you're nothing more than dust—an annoyance in my path."
"You dare—"
"From this moment on," Lin Xuan declared, "you are not my sister, and I am not your brother. Stay out of my way."
He brushed past her without another glance. Tang Xiaoran stood rooted in place, stunned.
"S-Severed ties…?" she murmured, her voice hollow. "You really want to cut ties with me? Hmph! Don't act like you can fool me! You're just trying to get my attention again, aren't you?! Fine! I won't forgive you, Lin Xuan! Let's see how long you can keep up this act!"
But Lin Xuan didn't hear her.
Back in his room, he sat cross-legged on the mat, entering meditation. The candlelight flickered beside him as his aura began to stabilize.
But peace was fleeting.
That very night, five figures slipped silently through the shadows of the outer sect. Hooded, cloaked, and masked. Leading them was none other than Jiang Feng, his face twisted with hatred.
"Tonight, Lin Xuan dies," he growled.
But as they approached Lin Xuan's courtyard, they paused.
A silhouette stood at the entrance—Zhao Ming.
Jiang Feng narrowed his eyes. "Senior Brother Zhao… are you here to take revenge too? If we team up, we can take him down quickly."
Zhao Ming smiled.
But it wasn't friendly.
It was cold.
Deadly.
Without a word, he stabbed his sword into Jiang Feng's side.
"Aghhh!" Jiang Feng screamed and staggered back, clutching the wound. "Y-You…!"
The other four disciples moved quickly. Before Jiang Feng could react, two more blades pierced his back.
Blood splattered across the grass.
"Why…?" Jiang Feng gasped, falling to his knees. "Why are you… betraying me…?"
One of the disciples looked down at him with disdain. "Senior Brother Lin is righteous, powerful, and honorable. Even after winning, he returned the treasures. How could we ever hurt someone like him for trash like you?"
Another added, "You really thought you could defeat him? He's no longer someone you can touch."
And with that, the four blades finished what they had started, silencing Jiang Feng forever.
Far away, in his quiet room, Lin Xuan opened his eyes briefly.
"Fool," he whispered. Then closed his eyes again and resumed his cultivation.
The storm had only just begun.