After Daren and Lin left…
The hall slowly began to regain its noise, but it was not completely natural.
The laughter returned, yes… the conversations as well.
Even the sounds of utensils and small movements started spreading through the place again, as though everyone was trying to convince themselves that what had happened earlier was nothing more than a passing argument between disciples.
But the truth…
The atmosphere itself was no longer the same.
Something faint remained hanging inside the hall, something invisible, yet clear enough to keep eyes drifting toward a certain corner of the room.
Toward Faiser.
Some disciples looked at him cautiously, some with curiosity, while others… with obvious irritation.
As for Mira—
She was no longer looking at him the same way as before.
This time, there was no mere passing curiosity or temporary interest in her eyes.
Instead… there was genuine thought.
The kind of thought belonging to someone who had started feeling that the image before them… no longer matched the logic they were used to.
She thought to herself while silently watching him:
"This person… the more he speaks… the harder he becomes to understand."
Meanwhile, Faiser—
Remained seated calmly as though nothing important had happened at all.
He slowly raised his cup of water and took a short sip without hurry, while the book inside his mind remained silent for several long seconds, something unusual for it.
Even it… was thinking.
And that alone was something rare.
A few moments passed before Faiser finally stood up from his seat and began walking toward the hall's door with calm and steady steps, without looking at anyone.
But as he passed—
Some voices automatically quieted down.
One disciple stopped speaking the moment Faiser approached, while another quickly averted his gaze as though he wanted no contact with him.
Not exactly fear…
But tension.
Finally, the book spoke in a normal tone carrying slight mockery:
"It seems you've started gaining a new talent."
Faiser did not reply.
So the book continued:
"Causing problems without actually doing anything."
Faiser finally left the hall, and the moment the door closed behind him—
Most of the noise vanished immediately.
The outer corridors were far quieter compared to the inside, and sunlight coming from the open courtyards reflected across the long stone floor stretching between the buildings.
The air was slightly warm, accompanied by a light breeze flowing through the sect's high corridors.
Faiser raised his gaze briefly toward the sky.
It was clear, vast, and strangely calm compared to what had happened only minutes ago.
Suddenly, the book spoke:
"By the way…"
It paused briefly before continuing:
"You still haven't answered me."
Faiser's expression did not change.
He simply kept walking.
But this time, the book did not stop.
"That thing you said inside the hall…"
Then it imitated his voice mockingly:
'It reminds me of myself when I was thirteen years old.'
It laughed slightly.
"Even I couldn't tell whether you were joking… or if you've finally started hallucinating."
A very faint smile appeared on Faiser's face, barely noticeable, but he did not answer.
He continued walking calmly through the long corridor, the sound of his footsteps clear due to the silence of the place.
Then—
His steps suddenly stopped.
Not because he sensed danger…
But because someone had already been standing in front of him from the very beginning.
Daren.
He stood near one of the large stone pillars, his hands behind his back, while the sunlight coming from the open side of the corridor stretched his shadow long across the floor.
He did not seem surprised to see Faiser.
As though he had truly been waiting for him.
Faiser's steps finally stopped.
A short silence spread between them.
But it was not a comfortable silence.
It was the kind of silence that made it feel as though the conversation had already begun before either of them spoke.
Then Daren calmly said:
"You deliberately say strange things… don't you?"
Faiser raised his eyes directly toward him.
"Hahaha… and who said they're strange?"
Daren answered almost immediately:
"Someone your age… shouldn't speak that way."
A slight smile appeared on Faiser's face.
"And is there a specific way of speaking tied to age?"
Daren did not answer immediately.
Instead, he kept staring at him for a few short seconds, as though trying to notice something behind the words themselves.
Then he said:
"No."
He paused slightly.
"But there's a difference between someone who speaks confidently…"
Then he continued:
"And someone who speaks as though they've seen more things than they should have."
Inside Faiser's mind—
The book suddenly fell completely silent.
As though it had started listening as well.
Meanwhile, Faiser—
Remained calm.
He simply said:
"People see many things."
Daren replied:
"Not like this."
Then he took a small step closer.
"You don't look at the disciples here as people competing against you. You don't look at the elders as people above you. You don't even act like someone trying to prove himself."
A brief silence followed.
Then:
"And that's strange."
Another faint smile appeared on Faiser's face.
Not mocking.
Not provocative.
But closer to someone hearing something they had already expected beforehand.
Then he said:
"And you observe people more than you should, boy."
Daren calmly replied:
"Because people always reveal themselves."
Then he added:
"Even when they think they don't."
A light breeze passed through the corridor, causing the edges of their clothes to move slightly.
The place remained quiet…
But the atmosphere itself was not.
Faiser said:
"So?"
"Did you come just to analyze me?"
Daren looked directly at him before answering:
"I came because I don't like things I can't understand… especially when they suddenly appear inside a stable place."
Faiser replied:
"Stability is a fragile thing. People just like pretending it's permanent."
Daren answered:
"And despite that… it remains better than chaos."
Then he continued in a slightly slower tone:
"Chaos may seem entertaining at first… but it always devours its owners in the end."
Inside Faiser's mind—
The book spoke quietly:
"Hah… the more he talks… the more interesting he becomes."
Meanwhile, Faiser—
Looked at Daren for a slightly longer moment this time before saying:
"You seem to think a lot."
A faint smile appeared on Daren's face.
"And you seem to trust very little."
Silence followed.
But it was not the silence of hostility.
It was the silence of two people each trying to see what lay behind the other.
Then—
Daren suddenly asked:
"How old are you… Faiser?"
At that moment—
Even the breeze itself seemed to calm slightly.
Even the book froze for a moment.
As for Faiser…
His expression did not change.
But his gaze fixed onto Daren for one short second.
Just one second.
Yet it was enough to make Daren feel that the question… had not been wrong.
Then—
A very small smile appeared on Faiser's face as he calmly said:
"Hahahahahaha… this is truly amusing…"
"Haaaaah… very well then…"
"And what makes you think age… is measured only by the number of years… Daren?"
Daren fell silent.
Not because he lacked an answer—
But because he felt something strange within that sentence.
Something… uncomfortable.
As though the words were not random speech.
But something closer to genuine experience.
A few moments passed before Daren finally sighed and said:
"You truly are… an annoying and strange person at the same time."
Faiser laughed lightly.
"I've been told that many times."
Daren slightly shook his head before slowly turning around.
But before walking away—
He said without looking back:
"In the upcoming competition…"
He paused briefly.
"Try not to die."
Then he began walking away through the long corridor.
Faiser remained standing there for several moments, calmly watching him disappear.
Then—
The book finally spoke, but this time its tone was not entirely mocking:
"Seriously… who exactly are you… Faiser?"
Faiser did not answer.
He simply raised his gaze toward the sky.
The sun was high, white clouds moved slowly above the sect, while bright light peacefully covered the old stone buildings with strange calmness.
He remained silent for several long seconds before finally saying quietly:
"It seems the time has come."
The book asked:
"Time for what?!"
Faiser answered while beginning to walk through the corridor once again:
"The competition is approaching."
Then he continued:
"And I don't have enough time to waste on those idiots."
A slight smile appeared on his face.
"I'll enter seclusion for four days."
Inside Faiser's mind—
The book's eyes widened instantly.
"Four days?!"
Then it shouted:
"What do you mean four days, you lunatic?!"
But Faiser continued as though he had not heard it:
"I need to raise my level further… and reveal the rest of the martial arts hidden inside you."
Then he calmly added:
"My current level… is still not enough."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
The book suddenly burst into loud laughter, a long laugh filled with its usual mockery.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"So we've finally returned to this again!"
Then it continued with sarcastic excitement:
"Four days of seclusion to refine yourself and discover the strange martial arts hidden within me… followed by entering a competition filled with idiots who want to destroy you…"
"How troublesome."
It paused briefly before speaking again with a lighter laugh:
"Hah…"
"But… it seems the upcoming competition… will truly be entertaining."
Faiser continued walking calmly through the sect's long corridors while the sunlight gradually shifted toward a faint orange color.
His steps were steady and calm, as though his mind… was no longer completely here.
He passed several disciples along the way, but paid no attention to any of them.
Even those who noticed him did not dare stop or speak to him after what happened inside the hall earlier.
Something had changed.
Not within the sect itself…
But within their view of him.
As for Faiser—
He did not care about that at all.
He finally arrived at his small room located in the quiet section of the third generation residences.
Then he slowly opened the door and entered.
The room was simple and quiet.
Nothing special about it except that heavy feeling filling the place every time he entered.
He closed the door behind him.
Then—
Without hesitation…
He sat directly on the floor in the lotus position.
He slowly closed his eyes.
And the moment his breathing stabilized—
The Qi inside his body gradually began to move.
Slowly at first…
Then it became smoother and more orderly, like a faint current flowing patiently through the veins of his body.
Inside his mind—
The book spoke with light sarcasm:
"Hah… we've returned once again to this boring atmosphere, as though you're some monk, you idiot."
Faiser did not respond immediately.
He remained silent for a few moments while the sensation of Qi spread further through his body before calmly saying:
"Lin… is merely someone easily controlled by his emotions despite his strength."
He paused briefly.
"And Mira… is somewhat intelligent, but she still views things from inside the cage."
Then he slightly opened his eyes.
A calm and cold gaze.
"As for Daren…"
A brief silence followed.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"That boy… is slightly different."
The book laughed lightly.
"Oh? So someone has finally genuinely caught your interest?"
Faiser calmly answered:
"It's not interest."
Then he continued:
"He simply possesses a better way of thinking than the others."
He slowly closed his eyes once again, and the Qi around him gradually grew denser.
"But in the end…"
"He's still far too young… and insignificant before me."
A short silence filled the room.
There was nothing except the steady sound of Faiser's breathing and that faint sensation of energy slowly moving around him.
Then—
Faiser suddenly spoke in a low voice:
"My goal right now is clear."
Inside his mind, the book became silent for a moment.
Meanwhile, Faiser—
Smiled a cold smile this time.
"The Sixth Elder…"
He paused briefly before continuing:
"I will crush his pride during this competition… in front of everyone."
"And that… will only be the first step."
The energy inside the room began trembling slightly as his breathing stabilized further.
As for his voice—
It remained frighteningly calm while a wide, insane smile slowly spread across Faiser's face…
"One day…"
"This sect… will belong to me."