Minh didn't come to the gym the next day.
He was home, recovering — sore, bruised, exhausted, but filled with a flicker of pride.
He had passed the test.
And for the first time in days, the overlapping voices in his head were quieter.Not gone… just waiting.
The leather-jacket man, Lãnh Phong, knew Minh wouldn't show up today.That was fine.
He had other problems.
At sunset, the leather-jacket man — real name still unknown — walked out of gym Dạ Nam, wearing a fresh shirt and the same worn jacket slung over his shoulder.
He checked his phone.
12 missed calls — all from the same woman.
He grimaced.
"...shit."
He had completely blown off a date last night.
He went anyway.
Skipped through traffic.Dodged scooters.Arrived at the café.
Thanh Vân sat with arms crossed, tapping her nails.
"You disappeared," she snapped."You didn't even text."
He gave a half-grin that usually worked.
"Something came up."
Her glare deepened.
"You always say that. I'm not stupid. Are you in trouble? Are you in a gang? Are you a debt collector? What are you?"
He froze.
For a brief second, he considered telling her the truth:
I'm hunted by võ lâm assassins.I train a boy who quite exceptional in a way, perhaps autistic.I'm constipated for a day or so, and coffee is not a good option.
Instead he sighed.
"I'm sorry."
Her expression softened — slightly.
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
He nodded.
Then she left.
He stood alone on the sidewalk, feeling heavier than he expected.
Later that night, he stood on a rooftop overlooking District 4.The city hummed below him.
Neon signs flickered.Motorbike engines vibrated.Humidity clung to everything.
He exhaled slowly.
Taking Minh as a disciple had already tangled his life more than he wanted.
"Kid's going to be trouble," he muttered.
"That he will."
He spun instantly.
A figure stood behind him — tall, lean, dressed in a hooded jacket and loose black pants.
He hadn't heard them approach.
His eyes sharpened.
"So… they finally found me."
The figure's voice was calm, almost polite.
"You hide well. But even rats leave footprints."
He said nothing.
The figure stepped forward into the neon glow.
"Aren't you going to greet me, Vô Danh Thần Giả?"
The man's jaw tightened.
"…Don't call me that."
It was the title he abandoned.The name he never wanted to hear again.
Vô Ảnh Thần Giả — the Shadowless Divine WandererOne of the most feared martial artists in all modern võ lâm.
A name that made powerful people tremble.A name tied to blood, to rebellion, to a war he walked away from.
His cover as a quiet gym instructor… was gone.
The figure moved first — a blur slicing through air.
A palm strike aimed at his throat.
He vanished.
One step.Two steps.
Vô Ảnh Bộ - Shadowless Step.A technique so fast it made the user appear weightless.
The assassin spun, barely tracking him.
"So you still remember that technique."
He appeared behind them and swept a kick.
The figure leaped off the railing, flipped midair, and struck from above.
He blocked with his forearm, sliding back across the rooftop gravel.
"Who sent you?" he demanded.
No response.
He counterattacked — a rapid flurry of precise strikes.
The assassin absorbed each one, staggering but not breaking.
Interesting.
Then his opponent's jacket shifted — revealing a curve of the chest beneath the bindings.
Not a man.
A woman.
She pulled off her mask, revealing sharp eyes and a face half-hidden by shadows.
"Cross-dressing assassin," he muttered."Cute."
"Quiet," she snapped."I'm here to bring you back. Your existence is a threat. The factions want you dead or chained."
He smirked.
"Tell your masters I'm still not interested."
She charged again.
Their fight tore across the rooftop —fast, silent, lethal.
Palm strikes.Kicks that dented metal.Qi ripples that cracked concrete.
Not far below, pedestrians walked unaware that two martial elites were fighting above their heads.
At last, he pinned her against the rooftop door, forearm to her throat.
"Who sent you? Thần Đạo (Godhood clan)? Toàn Chân Phái (All Might clan)? Or—"
Her lips curled into a smirk.
"—The ones who fear the boy you just accepted."
He stiffened.
"Minh?"
"Yes," she said softly."Minh has autism."
"Yes," she agreed softly. "But this doesn't matter."
He stepped back slowly.
Her meaning was clear:
Minh was already on the radarof the most dangerous factions in modern võ lâm.
And by accepting the boy,he had painted a target on his own back.
The assassin wiped blood from her lip.
"This is your warning, Vô Ảnh Thần Giả. More will come."
He didn't move.
"I'm not afraid of any of them."
She tilted her head.
"You should worry about your disciple instead."
Then she stepped off the roof.
He rushed forward — but she flipped gracefully onto the balcony below, then disappeared into the Saigon night.
He stood alone, wind rustling his jacket.
The wind felt colder.
He whispered to himself—
"Minh…you have no idea what kind of hell you just stepped into."
He never knew rumor spread that far.
And now, enemies — old and new — were waking up.
Lương Thế Vinh High buzzed with unusual energy that morning.
Not from exams.Not from gossip about Marie Curie gangs.Not even from Minh dodging trouble again.
No —because the school had just introduced the new School counselor.
And she was gorgeous.
She stepped onto the stage during assembly:
A white blouse, black slacks, neatly tied hair, and a warm, almost ethereal smile.
Her voice was gentle but carried across the hall:
"Chào các em. Cô là Hạ Yên, chuyên viên tâm lý học đường mới của trường.Nếu có áp lực học tập, gia đình, hay cần tâm sự… hãy đến gặp cô nhé~"
(Hi everyone, I'm Miss Hạ Yên, the school psychology counselor . If you have any academic or family stress, or need someone to talk to… please come and see me!)
Half the male student body melted on the spot.
"She's so pretty—""Bro she looks like a K-drama psychologist—""Minh, wake up!!"
Even teachers whispered.
Minh did not.
He was too busy holding his ribs.
After assembly, Lâm dragged Minh straight to Hạ Yên's counseling room.
"Yo, my nibba, you look like a skibidi toilet. Go see her."
"Bro I'm fine—"
"You literally groaned standing up from your desk."
Minh sighed but allowed himself to be pushed inside.
Hạ Yên looked up, smiling softly.
"Come, Dạ Minh, Have a seat."
Her voice was soothing.Professional.Caring.
But when she examined the bruising on his side, her eyes sharpened like a doctor analyzing a crime scene.
"These aren't from a fall."
Minh froze.
"Um… I'm just clumsy."
She raised a brow.
"You really suck at lying."
The ghost murmured caution.Gomboc purred amusement.
But Hạ Yên didn't push further.
Instead she wrapped an elastic bandage expertly around his ribs — movements precise, practiced.
Suspiciously practiced.
"If you don't feel well, just come to me."
"Yes, mam'."
As Minh left, she watched him go with a thoughtful expression.
During lunch, Minh slipped toward the canteen, hoping to eat quietly.
No such luck.
Two men in business shirts appeared, cutting off his path.Their stares were sharp.Too sharp.
"You're Dạ Minh, right?""Come with us."
Minh stepped back.
"I—I don't know you."
"You don't need to."
One man grabbed his wrist.
Ghost:Danger.Gomboc:Rip his arm off.
Minh tensed—
A soft, calm voice cut through the tension:
"What are you doing to my student?"
Hạ Yên stood behind them, holding a folder.
They stiffened instantly.
"Oh—Counselor. We're just—"
She stepped between them, her smile never fading.
"I am responsible for the students' safety. If you continue to hold his hand, I will call the school administration and security to intervene."
One man hesitated.The other tried to block her path.
"You don't understand—"
She reached out calmly, touching his forearm—and pressed a pressure point.
He collapsed instantly, legs folding like jelly.
Minh's jaw dropped.
The second man panicked and reached inside his jacket—
A blur moved behind him.
Lãnh Phong appeared with the silent force of a falling guillotine.
He didn't attack.
He just placed a hand on the man's shoulder.
A heavy hand.
A warning hand.
The agent froze like ice.
Hạ Yên gave Lãnh Phong a slow, dangerous smile.
"Long time no see~ Vô Ảnh Thần Giả."
Minh blinked.
She knows his Master?!
Lãnh Phong scowled.
"Don't call me that."
Minh's world shattered further.
Hạ Yên leaned in close to Lãnh Phong, her voice low.
"Anh trông tệ thật đó, không nhớ em yêu này sao?"
(You look pathetic, don't remember this babe of yours?)
Lãnh Phong looked away.
"I don't have time for your nonsense."
"You're blushing," she teased.
"I'm NOT."
"Minh, do you see your master's ears turning đỏ không~?"
Minh was 100% sure he was in a hallucination. The same mentor who trained him in gym Dạ Nam.
And this counselor made him FLUSTERED.
Minh didn't know whether to laugh or panic.
Hạ Yên's tone suddenly shifted.
She nudged the unconscious agent with her shoe.
"These men aren't here to kidnap Minh. They're Alliance scouts."
Lãnh Phong's expression turned deadly.
"So. It's starting already."
"They wanted to see how important Minh is to you," she explained.
"And they wanted to confirm whether his khí awakening is real."
Minh stiffened.
"My… what?"
She placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"Em không phải người bình thường nữa, Minh."
(Your are not a commoner anymore, Minh.)
His throat tightened.
Ghost: It begins.Gomboc: Finally.
Hạ Yên continued:
"Võ lâm factions want to know if you're his disciple.If you are, you'll inherit his enemies.If you're not, they'll try to recruit you… or erase you."
Minh's blood ran cold.
Before she left, Hạ Yên leaned close to Lãnh Phong, whispering:
"Tonight, someone from the Tribunal is coming.If they confirm the boy belongs to you, they won't hesitate."
Lãnh Phong's jaw clenched.
"There goes my constipation pill."
Hạ Yên winked.
"Train him faster — or lose him to someone far worse."
She walked away, heels clicking softly on the floor, leaving students gawking.
Lãnh Phong stared after her in silence.
Minh swallowed.
"Master, what just happened?"
Lãnh Phong sighed deeply.
"Your normal life is gone."
Minh's ribs ached.His mind buzzed with too many voices.His school counselor and his mentor just dropped two grown men.
Minh whispered:
"…this is insane."
Lãnh Phong looked at him.
"You," he said slowly, "just became the center of a storm."
Minh swallowed hard.
Ghost: Feels like I'm getting back to my war once more.Gomboc: Finally… entertainment.