Two days passed in a blur of preparation.
I spent mornings studying for the disciplinary hearing, reviewing exactly what happened with Mei Ling and organizing my testimony. Elder Hu had been clear, facts, not emotions. The Disciplinary Hall judges responded to evidence, not outrage.
Afternoons were dedicated to recovering from my burns and light cultivation. Medical Disciple Wen had been adamant about not overdoing it, and for once, I listened.
[MEDICAL COMPLIANCE: SHOCKING]
[BURNS: 87% HEALED]
[FULL RECOVERY: TOMORROW]
[PERFECT TIMING FOR YOUR MATCH WITH HAN FENG]
Right. Han Feng. Stage 6 cultivator who wanted to "test the new talent." Our match was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, right before the disciplinary hearing the following morning.
"Fantastic timing," I muttered, reviewing Han Feng's combat record that Su Mei had helpfully provided.
[HAN FENG COMBAT PROFILE:]
[CULTIVATION: STAGE 6 (PEAK)]
[SPECIALTY: CLOSE-COMBAT, OVERWHELMING FORCE]
[TECHNIQUE: IRON MOUNTAIN FIST]
[WINS: 34 | LOSSES: 7]
[FIGHTING STYLE: AGGRESSIVE, STRAIGHTFORWARD, DURABLE]
[WEAKNESS: LACKS ADAPTABILITY]
"So he's going to try to punch me into submission," I said.
[BASICALLY]
[HE'S A TANK]
[HIGH DEFENSE, HIGH OFFENSE, LOW MOBILITY]
[YOUR FLOWING STYLE SHOULD COUNTER HIM]
[SHOULD BEING THE KEY WORD]
A knock interrupted my review, Yun Xia's familiar pattern.
"Come in," I called.
She entered carrying a small box. "I brought you something."
"More food? I literally just ate."
"Not food." She set the box on the table and opened it, revealing a set of formation talismans. "Protection charms. Elder Sister Wen mentioned your match tomorrow, and I thought... just in case."
The talismans glowed faintly with defensive Qi. Not as powerful as the jade talisman Elder Hu had given me, but still valuable.
[LESSER PROTECTION TALISMANS x3]
[EFFECT: ABSORB MODERATE DAMAGE]
[DURATION: ONE HOUR EACH]
[SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT YOU GETTING HURT]
"Yun Xia, these are expensive," I protested.
"And you're fighting a Stage 6 tomorrow while still recovering from Stage 7 lightning burns." Her expression was firm. "Take them. Please."
I looked at her concerned face and felt that now-familiar warmth in my chest. "Thank you. Really."
She smiled. "Just don't make me watch you almost die again. My heart can't take it."
[HEROINE FLAG +2]
[SHE LITERALLY JUST ADMITTED SHE CARES DEEPLY]
[BOSS, DO SOMETHING]
"I'll try not to," I said. Then, gathering courage: "Yun Xia, after the hearing tomorrow... would you want to get dinner? Just the two of us?"
Her eyes widened slightly. "Like... a date?"
[YOU DID IT]
[YOU ACTUALLY ASKED HER OUT]
[I'M SO PROUD]
"If you want it to be?" I said, suddenly nervous. "Or just dinner as friends. Either way is—"
"Yes," she interrupted, blushing. "I'd like that. The date version, I mean."
[SUCCESS!]
[ROMANTIC SUBPLOT: ACTIVATED]
[DEVELOPMENT: EXCELLENT]
We stood there for a moment, both smiling awkwardly, until Yun Xia cleared her throat. "I should go. You need rest before tomorrow. But... I'm looking forward to it. The dinner."
"Me too."
After she left, I couldn't stop grinning.
[BOSS IS HAPPY]
[IT'S ADORABLE]
[NOW DON'T DIE TOMORROW AND RUIN IT]
'Planning not to.'
The next afternoon, the training grounds were even more packed than for the Feng Zhao match.
Apparently, watching me fight had become entertainment. The betting pools were active again, though this time the odds were closer, only 3-to-1 against me instead of 10-to-1.
[YOUR STOCK IS RISING]
[PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BELIEVE IN YOU]
[OR AT LEAST BELIEVE YOU WON'T GET IMMEDIATELY DESTROYED]
Han Feng was already in the arena, warming up. He was massive, easily two meters tall, built like a mountain, with muscles that looked carved from stone. His cultivation aura radiated solid, unwavering power.
"Lin Tian," he rumbled when I entered the arena. His voice matched his appearance, deep and heavy. "I've watched your matches. You're skilled. Fast. But let's see how you handle real power."
"Looking forward to it," I said, taking my position.
Elder Liu supervised again, giving the same pre-match instructions. When she signaled start, Han Feng didn't waste time.
He charged.
[COMBAT ASSIST: ACTIVE]
[WARNING: DIRECT BLOCKING IS INADVISABLE]
[HIS STRENGTH EXCEEDS YOURS SIGNIFICANTLY]
Han Feng's fist drove toward my chest like a battering ram. I flowed aside, the Infinite Tide Scripture making my dodge look effortless. His fist cratered the stone where I'd been standing.
[IMPACT FORCE: EXTREME]
[YEAH, DON'T GET HIT BY THAT]
I countered with a quick slash aimed at his exposed side. My sword connected, and bounced off his Qi-reinforced skin with a metallic ring.
"Iron Mountain Body Technique," Han Feng said, grinning. "Good luck cutting through this."
[HIS DEFENSIVE QI IS ABSURDLY DENSE]
[NORMAL ATTACKS WON'T WORK]
[NEED TO FIND WEAK POINTS OR OVERWHELM WITH CONCENTRATED STRIKES]
He attacked again, this time with a combination, punch, elbow, palm strike. Each blow carried enough force to shatter bones. I wove through them, the system predicting his movements with precision.
But defense alone wouldn't win. I needed to hurt him somehow.
[ANALYZING OPPONENT...]
[IRON MOUNTAIN TECHNIQUE: FULL-BODY DEFENSE]
[BUT REQUIRES CONSTANT QI CIRCULATION]
[IF YOU CAN DISRUPT HIS QI FLOW...]
The Infinite Tide Scripture had techniques for Qi disruption, pressure point strikes that interfered with circulation patterns. Risky against someone this heavily defended, but possible.
I dodged another overhead smash and countered with a precise thrust toward his inner elbow, a meridian junction point. My sword, enhanced with spiraling Qi, found the gap in his defense.
Han Feng's arm spasmed. For just a moment, the iron-like defense flickered.
"Clever!" he said, actually sounding pleased. "Most people just try to punch harder. You're going for technique."
"Can't match your strength," I admitted, circling. "Have to be smarter."
"Good answer." He adjusted his stance, now protecting his meridian points more carefully. "Let's see how smart you really are."
The fight intensified. Han Feng adapted quickly, covering his weak points while maintaining offensive pressure. I had to work harder for each opening, spending more Qi on defensive techniques.
[STAMINA: 74%]
[QI RESERVES: 68%]
[HAN FENG: APPROXIMATELY 71% QI]
[YOU'RE BOTH WEARING DOWN]
[THIS WILL COME DOWN TO WHO MAKES A MISTAKE FIRST]
Minutes passed. The crowd watched in tense silence as two different fighting philosophies clashed, overwhelming power versus flowing adaptation.
Then Han Feng made his move.
"Iron Mountain Descent!"
He launched himself into the air and came down like a meteor, both fists aimed at crushing me into the ground. The technique sacrificed defense for maximum offensive power.
[THIS IS YOUR OPENING]
[HIS DEFENSE IS DOWN]
[COUNTER NOW]
I didn't dodge. Instead, I planted my feet and channeled everything into one strike.
"Infinite Tide: Tsunami Fang!"
My sword thrust upward, meeting his descending attack. The spiraling Qi around my blade concentrated into a single point, all my remaining power focused on penetrating his weakened defense.
The two techniques collided.
BOOM.
The shockwave knocked spectators in the first row backward. The arena floor cracked in a spider-web pattern. For a moment, neither of us moved, locked in the clash.
Then Han Feng's Iron Mountain technique shattered.
My Tsunami Fang broke through his Qi defense and struck his chest, not deep enough to seriously injure thanks to his body tempering, but enough to count.
We both stumbled backward, breathing heavily.
Elder Liu raised her hand. "Match concluded. Winner: Lin Tian."
The crowd erupted.
[VICTORY!]
[TWO STAGES UP: DEFEATED]
[YOUR REPUTATION: SKYROCKETING]
[PEOPLE ARE RUNNING OUT OF EXCUSES TO CALL YOU LUCKY]
Han Feng straightened, rubbing his chest where my strike had landed. Then he laughed, a booming sound that filled the arena.
"Excellent! That last technique, Tsunami Fang? Powerful!" He approached and offered his hand. "You earned this win, Lin Tian. No luck involved."
I shook his hand, surprised by the genuine respect. "You're incredibly strong. If you'd lasted another minute, I would've run out of Qi."
"Honesty. I like that." He grinned. "Most people would claim they had plenty left." He lowered his voice. "Lin Tian, I'm not part of any faction. Stay independent like me. We don't need political games, just strong opponents to push us forward."
[HAN FENG: RESPECTFUL WARRIOR TYPE]
[ACTUALLY GENUINE]
[POTENTIAL ALLY]
"I'll keep that in mind," I said.
As we left the arena, I noticed the crowd's reaction had shifted. Less skepticism, more genuine respect. Disciples nodded respectfully. Some even offered congratulations.
Su Mei caught up with me, grinning. "Two for two against higher stages. You're making a name for yourself."
"Is that good or bad?"
"Both, as always." She handed me a jade slip. "Updated faction interest. Phoenix Faction increased their resource offer. Azure Dragon Alliance is impressed by your combat honor. Blue Moon Association... well, we're still chill and don't do bidding wars."
[FACTION INTEREST: INCREASING]
[EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF THE RISING STAR]
Before I could respond, a messenger disciple approached. "Lin Tian? The Disciplinary Hall requests your presence for preliminary testimony review. They want to prepare you for tomorrow's hearing."
Right. The hearing. With all the match excitement, I'd almost forgotten about Mei Ling's accusations.
[REMINDER: TOMORROW MORNING]
[MEI LING VS YOU]
[FORMAL DISCIPLINARY HEARING]
[THIS COULD GO BADLY]
"I'll be there shortly," I told the messenger.
Su Mei squeezed my shoulder. "Good luck. If they're calling you in for prep, they're taking it seriously."
The Disciplinary Hall was an imposing building near the sect's administrative center. Inside, three stern-faced elders sat behind a long table, the judges who would decide my case.
Elder Hu stood to one side, his expression unreadable.
"Lin Tian," the center judge said. An elderly woman with sharp eyes. "I am Elder Qin, head of the Disciplinary Hall. We've reviewed both complaints, yours against Mei Ling for unprovoked assault, and hers against you for provocation and improper conduct."
"Yes, Elder."
"Tomorrow's hearing will be formal. You'll present your testimony, she'll present hers, and we'll examine evidence and witnesses." Her eyes bored into me. "I want to be clear: political influence will not sway our judgment. We care only about truth and sect law. Understood?"
"Yes, Elder."
"Good." She gestured to Elder Hu. "Elder Hu has submitted a witness statement supporting your account. Do you have other witnesses?"
"Yun Xia, a fellow outer sect disciple, was present during the incident. She's willing to testify."
Elder Qin made a note. "We'll summon her. Now, walk me through exactly what happened, in your own words."
I spent the next hour recounting the incident, Mei Ling's arrival during the invasion's aftermath, her accusations, her attack on Yun Xia and me, Elder Hu's intervention. The judges asked pointed questions, probing for inconsistencies or exaggerations.
[THEY'RE THOROUGH]
[GOOD SIGN: THEY'RE ACTUALLY INVESTIGATING]
[BAD SIGN: THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANY REASON TO DOUBT YOU]
When we finished, Elder Qin dismissed me. "Tomorrow, noon. Be punctual. Dress formally. And Lin Tian?"
"Yes, Elder?"
"The truth will serve you better than any political maneuvering. Remember that."
I bowed and left, my mind spinning.
Outside, Yun Xia was waiting. "How did it go?"
"They're taking it seriously. Really seriously." I managed a weak smile. "They want you to testify tomorrow."
"I expected that." She took my hand. "We'll tell the truth. That's all we can do."
[HAND-HOLDING]
[IN PUBLIC]
[RELATIONSHIP STATUS: OFFICIALLY PROGRESSING]
"About that dinner..." I started.
"After the hearing," she said firmly. "Once this is resolved. Win or lose, we celebrate that it's over."
"Deal."
We walked back toward the residential area, her hand warm in mine. Tomorrow would be challenging, a formal hearing that could impact my entire future in the sect.
But tonight, I had someone who believed in me.
That made all the difference.
[DAILY SUMMARY:]
[MATCH RESULT: VICTORY]
[REPUTATION: SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED]
[FACTION INTEREST: MULTIPLE OFFERS]
[DISCIPLINARY HEARING PREP: COMPLETE]
[RELATIONSHIP WITH YUN XIA: OFFICIALLY ROMANTIC]
[SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 57%]
[TOMORROW: MAKE OR BREAK]
[TOMORROW'S SCHEDULE:]
[NOON: DISCIPLINARY HEARING]
[OUTCOME: UNCERTAIN]
[STAKES: HIGH]
[IF YOU WIN: VINDICATION, INCREASED STANDING]
[IF YOU LOSE: POTENTIAL EXPULSION OR SEVERE PUNISHMENT]
[NO PRESSURE]
I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, knowing sleep would be difficult.
Everything I'd built in a week could collapse tomorrow.
Or it could cement my place in the sect.
[BOSS]
'Yeah?'
[WHATEVER HAPPENS TOMORROW]
[YOU'VE ALREADY PROVEN YOU BELONG HERE]
[REMEMBER THAT]
I smiled in the darkness.
'Thanks, ACS.'
[ANYTIME]
[NOW SLEEP]
[BIG DAY TOMORROW]