The following morning, the Sword Hall courtyard was alive with whispers. Lin Xuan's silent triumph the previous night had spread through the estate faster than any student could imagine. Guards, servants, and outer disciples alike were talking in hushed tones.
Lin Feng, however, was not among the whisperers. He had secluded himself in his private quarters, a room darkened by anger, fear, and obsession. His hands shook as he paced back and forth. Every plan he had executed so far had failed. Poison, deception, intimidation—all neutralized by the silent, calculating boy who had made him look foolish in front of the elders.
"This… this can't continue!" Lin Feng hissed, his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles turned white. "If I don't act now… if I don't crush him before the elders notice, it'll all be over!"
The servant who had been assisting him quivered beside him. "Young Master Feng… maybe you should wait. Perhaps… we can watch his weaknesses?"
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. "Weaknesses? He's no ordinary boy. Every move, every breath, every trap I set… he anticipates it. He walks into death and survives. He laughs at my schemes. No… I can't wait. I have to confront him directly. I will end this tonight, or I will die trying."
A single bead of sweat ran down his temple. Panic had begun to seep into his mind, turning anger into desperation. He gathered all the hidden poisons, traps, and even a few crude talismans meant to suppress cultivation, and stuffed them into a black pouch. It was a dangerous gamble—but he had no choice. Lin Xuan had shown that patience and subtlety would only let the boy grow stronger.
The sun dipped behind the horizon, leaving a crimson sky over the Sword Hall. Lin Xuan had already left his quarters, moving quietly through the corridors. The Silent Sword Step hummed faintly, ready to erase his presence at a moment's notice. His senses were heightened by the System's constant updates. Every breath, every slight movement of air, every subtle change in Qi was detected and analyzed.
[Mission Update: Anticipate enemy preemptive strike]
[Threat Level: Critical]
[System Suggestion: Observe before engaging]
Lin Xuan had no intention of rushing blindly into Lin Feng's desperation. Patience, observation, and timing were his allies. He had survived the poisoned wine and the Blackroot trap; this boy's next scheme would not escape him.
As he moved through the courtyard, faint traces of residual poison caught his attention. Lin Feng had attempted to mask it this time, combining multiple toxins and applying subtle cultivator suppression to create a blind spot. The System highlighted the threat instantly.
[Detection: Residual toxins and suppression spells]
[Countermeasure: Silent Sword Step with Dao perception enhancement]
Lin Xuan's lips curved into a faint smile. So predictable.
Lin Feng had chosen the abandoned training pavilion for his confrontation, believing its isolation would give him an advantage. He waited, cloaked in the shadows, every muscle tense, eyes darting for the slightest sign of movement. The boy who had humiliated him would come—and this time, Lin Feng swore, it would end.
Lin Xuan stepped silently into the courtyard, completely unseen, his wooden sword resting lightly in his hand. Every step erased by the Silent Sword Step, every trace of his presence gone. Even a keen cultivator would fail to detect him.
Lin Feng's heart thudded violently. "He's here… I can feel him…"
The System whispered in Lin Xuan's mind.
[Host in optimal position. All threats detected. Critical engagement possible.]
[Suggested Action: Subdue without lethal force for maximum observation]
Lin Xuan did not answer aloud. He waited. He did not need to rush. The Abyss within him pulsed faintly, anticipation sharpening his reflexes, refining his perception, and heightening the precision of every potential strike.
A faint shimmer in the shadows alerted Lin Xuan. Lin Feng had laid a subtle poison rune to detect movement—but it was weak, hastily prepared in his panic. Lin Xuan touched the rune lightly, and it dissolved instantly, neutralized by the System.
"You… how do you always—" Lin Feng began, voice trembling with anger.
Lin Xuan appeared behind him, silent as a blade drawn from darkness. "Desperation is your weakness," he said softly. "You should have thought before acting."
Lin Feng spun around violently, a dagger in his hand coated with a thin layer of Blackroot poison. "I… I will end you!" he screamed.
Lin Xuan's wooden sword flicked lightly, tapping the dagger. It shattered instantly, the poison neutralized before it even left Lin Feng's hand. Lin Feng staggered back, shock overtaking fury.
"You… impossible!" he gasped. "How… how do you survive everything?"
Lin Xuan's lips curved slightly. "Survival is a result of comprehension, intent, and preparation."
The System pulsed in his mind:
[Mission Update: Enemy confrontation initiated]
[Silent Sword Step: Enhanced by Formed Stage]
[Threat Neutralization: Subdue target without killing]
Lin Xuan moved with fluid precision. Each step was a whisper, each motion measured. Lin Feng's attacks were wild and panicked, completely predictable. The Abyss guided Lin Xuan, whispering enhancements to perception and speed, allowing him to evade effortlessly and counter with precision strikes that never harmed but left Lin Feng in complete disarray.
Lin Feng fell to his knees, breathing hard, every trap he had prepared useless against this boy. "I… I can't… he's… too strong…"
Lin Xuan's wooden sword tapped lightly on Lin Feng's shoulder once more, asserting control. "This is your final warning. Learn restraint, or your recklessness will be your downfall."
The System pulsed approvingly.
[Mission Complete: Confrontation resolved without lethal force]
[Reward: +300 Dao Experience]
[Silent Sword Step evolves to Advanced Stage]
[New Objective: Observe Core Disciples and secure strategic advantage]
Lin Feng slumped against the pavilion wall, trembling and humiliated. His plan had failed completely, and the boy who had survived every trap now stood over him, calm and unreadable, a figure of absolute control.
Lin Xuan glanced toward the courtyard where the first core disciples often trained. His eyes darkened. This confrontation had been necessary, but it had only confirmed one truth: Lin Feng was desperate, yes—but he was also only one of many threats. The inner circles of the Sword Hall, the Core Disciples, even Instructor Zhao's scrutiny—all would challenge him in ways Lin Feng could not.
The night wrapped around him, silent and deep. The Abyss pulsed, urging him forward, hungry for the next step, the next evolution, the next challenge. Lin Xuan's mind was calm, his intent razor-sharp.
Tonight, he had survived and asserted dominance. Tomorrow, he would climb higher. He would observe, learn, and refine. And the System, always vigilant, would ensure he stayed two steps ahead of every enemy, every trap, every attempt to stop him.
The moonlight glimmered on his wooden sword. Silent, invisible, unstoppable. Lin Xuan had walked through poison, deception, and desperation—and had emerged stronger.
The hunt was not over. The game had only just begun.