The medical pavilion was busy when Yun Xia dragged me inside.
Disciples with training injuries filled the waiting area, bruised ribs, sprained ankles, the occasional broken bone from sparring accidents. The elderly medical disciple from before looked up when we entered, sighed, and pointed to an empty treatment bed.
"You again," she said flatly. "What did you break this time?"
"Just lightning burns," I said.
"Just lightning burns, he says." She gestured impatiently. "Sit. Remove your outer robe."
I complied while Yun Xia hovered nearby, looking worried. The medical disciple examined the burns with professional efficiency, prodding areas that made me wince, checking for deeper damage with her spiritual sense.
"Stage 7 lightning techniques," she said after a moment. "You're lucky these are only surface burns. Another second of exposure and you'd have nerve damage." She began applying a cooling medicinal paste that immediately eased the pain. "I heard you won the match. Congratulations on being an idiot."
[SHE'S GOT A GREAT BEDSIDE MANNER]
[REALLY MAKES YOU FEEL APPRECIATED]
"Thank you?" I said uncertainly.
"Feng Zhao is two stages above you. You shouldn't have won that fight." She wrapped bandages around my torso. "The fact that you did means you either have exceptional talent or you're relying on something unsustainable that will eventually destroy your cultivation foundation."
Her eyes met mine, sharp and knowing.
"I'm... naturally gifted?" I offered weakly.
"Mm-hmm." She didn't sound convinced. "Well, your 'natural gifts' have earned you burns that will take three days to fully heal. No intense cultivation or combat during that time. Understand?"
"Yes, Elder."
"I'm not an elder. I'm Senior Medical Disciple Wen." She handed me a small bottle of pills. "Take one each morning. They'll accelerate healing and prevent scarring." She turned to Yun Xia. "You. Make sure he actually rests. He strikes me as the type to ignore medical advice."
"I'll watch him," Yun Xia promised.
[SHE'S GOING TO WATCH YOU]
[BABYSITTER ACQUIRED]
[THIS IS EITHER GREAT OR TERRIBLE]
[PROBABLY BOTH]
By the time we left the medical pavilion, word of my victory had spread throughout the entire sect. Disciples pointed and whispered as we walked. Some called out congratulations. Others looked at me with calculating expressions.
"This is weird," I muttered.
"You beat a Stage 7 as a Stage 5," Yun Xia said. "People are going to talk. And watch. And probably challenge you."
"Su Mei mentioned that. How many challenges is normal?"
"For someone who just proved themselves against a higher stage? Maybe ten to fifteen in the first week." She made a face. "The inner sect is competitive. Everyone wants to use strong opponents as stepping stones for their own advancement."
[CHALLENGE REQUEST LOG: UPDATED]
[CURRENT TOTAL: 12 REQUESTS]
[PROJECTED TOTAL BY END OF WEEK: 23]
[YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUSY]
"Can I just... decline them all?"
"Technically yes, but you'll be labeled a coward. Face is everything in the cultivation world." Yun Xia paused. "Though you could accept selectively. Fight the important ones, decline the obvious attention-seekers."
"How do I tell the difference?"
"That's the tricky part."
We reached my quarters, and I was surprised to find someone waiting outside, a boy who looked barely fifteen, wearing inner sect robes that seemed too large for his thin frame. His cultivation felt like Stage 4, maybe newly advanced.
"Senior Brother Lin!" he said eagerly, bowing deeply. "I'm Zhou Ming. I watched your match today. It was incredible!"
[DETECTING: HERO WORSHIP]
[THIS KID THINKS YOU'RE AMAZING]
[IT'S KIND OF ADORABLE]
"Thank you," I said. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"I wanted to ask about your technique! The Infinite Tide Scripture, I've never seen anything like it. The way the Qi spiraled and flowed..." His eyes were practically shining. "Could you possibly give me some guidance? Just a few pointers?"
[HE WANTS YOU TO TEACH HIM]
[PROBLEM: YOUR TECHNIQUE IS SYSTEM-GENERATED]
[YOU CAN'T EXACTLY EXPLAIN THAT]
"The Infinite Tide Scripture is... personal," I said carefully. "It only works properly with my specific constitution. I don't think I could teach it effectively."
Zhou Ming's face fell. "Oh. Of course. I understand." He bowed again. "Sorry for bothering you, Senior Brother."
He turned to leave, looking dejected.
[BOSS, HE'S JUST A KID]
[LOOK AT THAT SAD FACE]
[YOU MONSTER]
"Wait," I said, sighing. "I can't teach you my specific technique, but I could show you some basic Qi flow principles. The foundation concepts that make it work. Would that help?"
His face lit up immediately. "Really? That would be amazing! Thank you, Senior Brother!"
"Tomorrow afternoon. Training grounds. Bring your cultivation manual, I'll need to see what you're working with."
"Yes! Thank you!" He bowed three more times and practically skipped away.
Yun Xia smiled at me. "That was kind of you."
"I'm a softie, apparently."
[CONFIRMED: SOFTIE]
[BUT IT'S ENDEARING]
[ALSO, HELPING JUNIOR DISCIPLES BUILDS REPUTATION AND CONNECTIONS]
[SMART MOVE, EVEN IF ACCIDENTAL]
Inside my quarters, I finally had a chance to review the challenge requests properly. The system helpfully displayed them in a organized list.
[CHALLENGE REQUESTS: 12]
[NOTEWORTHY ONES:]
[1. HAN FENG - STAGE 6, WANTS TO "TEST THE NEW TALENT"]
[2. LIU YANG - STAGE 7, PHOENIX FACTION MEMBER (PROBABLY REVENGE FOR FENG ZHAO)]
[3. SHEN WU - STAGE 5, GENUINE DESIRE FOR MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT]
[4-12. VARIOUS ATTENTION SEEKERS]
"Three legitimate challenges out of twelve," I said. "The others are just people wanting attention?"
[BASICALLY]
[WELCOME TO BEING FAMOUS]
[EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF YOU NOW]
"Can you help me draft responses? Accept the real challenges, politely decline the others?"
[I'M A CULTIVATION SYSTEM, NOT A SECRETARY]
[...BUT YES, I CAN HELP]
[BECAUSE I'M AWESOME LIKE THAT]
I spent the next hour composing responses with ACS's help. Accepting matches with Han Feng and Shen Wu—scheduling them several days apart to allow for recovery. Liu Yang's challenge I postponed, citing medical restrictions.
[SMART]
[LET HIM STEW AND WONDER IF YOU'RE SCARED OR STRATEGIC]
[PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE]
I was finishing the last response when someone knocked. Again. My door was getting more traffic in one day than my old outer sect room had gotten in a week.
This time it was Elder Hu.
"Elder," I said, bowing quickly. "Please, come in."
He entered, his expression as unreadable as ever. His eyes scanned my quarters briefly before settling on me.
"I heard about your match with Feng Zhao."
"Yes, Elder."
"Stage 5 defeating Stage 7." He crossed his arms. "Either you're hiding your true cultivation level, or your combat ability exceeds your stage by a significant margin."
[HE'S FISHING]
[TRYING TO FIGURE OUT YOUR SECRET]
"My technique allows me to amplify my Qi output," I said, sticking to partial truths. "Combined with my abnormally large reserves, I can temporarily match higher-stage opponents."
"Temporarily," Elder Hu repeated. "Meaning you'll exhaust yourself eventually?"
"In extended fights, yes."
He studied me silently for a long moment. "Lin Tian, I'm going to be direct. You have potential that extends beyond normal parameters. That makes you both valuable and vulnerable. Valuable because strong disciples benefit the sect. Vulnerable because success breeds enemies."
"I'm beginning to understand that, Elder."
"Good." He produced a jade slip from his robes. "This contains a list of the inner sect's major factions, their leaders, and their political positions. Study it. Understanding the political landscape is as important as cultivation strength."
I took the jade slip, surprised. "Thank you, Elder."
"Don't thank me yet. I'm also here to warn you, Mei Ling has filed a formal complaint against you with the Disciplinary Hall."
My stomach dropped. "What?"
"She claims you provoked her during the invasion, forcing her to defend herself. She's demanding an investigation and punishment."
[THAT LYING—]
[SHE ATTACKED YOU!]
[ELDER HU WITNESSED IT!]
"But you were there," I said. "You saw what happened. She attacked me and Yun Xia without provocation."
"I did. And I've submitted my testimony to that effect." His expression hardened. "However, Mei Ling's family has significant influence. They're pushing for a formal hearing. You'll need to testify."
"When?"
"Five days from now. Disciplinary Hall, mid-morning." He moved toward the door. "Prepare your testimony carefully. Be honest but not emotional. The judges respond better to facts than accusations."
"Elder Hu?" I called as he reached the door. "Why are you helping me?"
He paused. "Because talent like yours shouldn't be wasted on petty politics. The sect needs strong disciples, especially after our losses during the invasion." He glanced back. "Don't disappoint me, Lin Tian."
He left, and I stood there holding the jade slip, feeling the weight of everything pressing down.
[SO TO SUMMARIZE YOUR DAY:]
[- WON A FIGHT]
[- GOT TWELVE CHALLENGE REQUESTS]
[- AGREED TO TUTOR A JUNIOR]
[- RECEIVED FACTION RECRUITMENT OFFERS]
[- NOW FACING FORMAL DISCIPLINARY CHARGES]
[BUSY DAY, BOSS]
"This is insane," I muttered, collapsing onto my bed. "A week ago I was nobody. Now I'm dealing with sect politics, formal hearings, and people who want to either recruit me or destroy me."
[CONGRATULATIONS ON SUCCESS!]
[IT COMES WITH COMPLICATIONS]
[BUT ALSO BETTER HOUSING AND RESOURCES]
[TRADE-OFFS]
A softer knock came at the door, Yun Xia's distinctive pattern.
"Come in," I called.
She entered, carrying a tray with food. "I figured you hadn't eaten since this morning. You need to maintain your strength for healing."
The simple gesture of care made something warm bloom in my chest.
"Thank you," I said sincerely. "For everything. The medical pavilion, the food, just... being here."
Yun Xia set the tray down and sat beside me. "We're friends, Lin Tian. This is what friends do." She hesitated. "I heard about Mei Ling's complaint. That's serious."
"I know."
"You're going to need witnesses. Character testimony. I'll testify on your behalf if they allow it."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to," she interrupted firmly. "You saved my life during the invasion. Multiple times. And Mei Ling attacked you unprovoked. The truth needs to come out."
[HEROINE FLAG +4]
[LOYALTY: MAXIMUM]
[SHE'S A KEEPER, BOSS]
"Thank you," I said quietly. "That means a lot."
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the chaos of the day finally settling into something manageable.
"This is going to be my life now, isn't it?" I asked. "Challenges, politics, people constantly testing me?"
"Probably," Yun Xia admitted. "But you don't have to face it alone. You have allies. Elder Hu. Su Mei. Me." She smiled. "We'll figure it out together."
[POWER OF FRIENDSHIP]
[STILL EFFECTIVE EVEN IN CULTIVATION WORLDS]
[WHO KNEW?]
I looked at the jade slip Elder Hu had given me, then at the food Yun Xia had brought, then at her concerned face.
Maybe the complications were worth it.
Maybe having people who cared was more valuable than anonymous peace.
"Together," I agreed.
[GOOD ANSWER, BOSS]
[NOW EAT YOUR FOOD AND STUDY THAT JADE SLIP]
[YOU'VE GOT FIVE DAYS TO PREPARE FOR A HEARING]
[AND TWO MORE CHALLENGES SCHEDULED]
[NO REST FOR THE PROTAGONIST]
[DAILY SUMMARY:]
[VICTORIES: 1]
[NEW ALLIES: 1 (ZHOU MING)]
[NEW PROBLEMS: 1 (DISCIPLINARY HEARING)]
[CHALLENGE REQUESTS: 12 (3 ACCEPTED)]
[FACTION OFFERS: 1 (PHOENIX FACTION)]
[RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT: POSITIVE]
[OVERALL STATUS: COMPLICATED BUT IMPROVING]
[SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 54%]
[WE'RE TRENDING UPWARD!]
Outside my window, the sun was setting over Azure Peak Sect, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges.
But tonight, I had friends, food, and a plan.
That was enough.
For now.