The mountain gate wasn't as quiet anymore.
Not noisy.
Just… crowded.
Too crowded.
Liu Xia kept sweeping and glanced up.
There were more people on the steps.
Not laborers.
Different clothes.
Different posture.
Straighter.
Steadier.
Like they were waiting.
"Lots of people today," he said.
No one replied.
He kept sweeping.
—
Not far away—
Several inner disciples stood to the side.
One of them spoke:
"That him?"
The one beside him nodded.
"Zhao Heng—and those two in the mining area. Something happened after they talked to him."
"Checked?"
"Checked."
"No spiritual fluctuations."
"No formations."
"No traces."
That person went silent for a moment.
"Then it's more interesting," he said.
His tone was light.
Like he'd decided something.
—
Liu Xia swept up to them.
Didn't stop.
"Make way," he said.
Same tone.
Flat.
One of them didn't move.
Blocking the path.
Liu Xia paused.
"You all like blocking the way today?"
The man smiled.
"I heard you're good with words."
Liu Xia glanced at him.
"You want to learn?"
Someone nearby couldn't help but laugh.
The man's expression didn't change.
"I want to see whether what you say… works."
His tone turned a little cold.
Liu Xia sighed.
"You're really bored."
"Why don't you try it yourselves?"
He said that and tried to walk around.
The man stepped over and blocked him again.
"Don't go."
Liu Xia stopped.
Looked at him.
A bit annoyed.
"Move."
he said.
—
The air sank slightly.
—
The man didn't move.
One second.
Two seconds.
He stood there.
Didn't budge.
Then he smiled.
"No reaction."
he said.
"Looks like the rumors are fake."
The people around relaxed a little.
Someone whispered, "Told you it was coincidence."
—
Behind the tree—
Jesse stood there.
Watching.
Silent.
Her gaze was colder than before.
She knew.
It wasn't that nothing happened.
It was—
"Not triggered."
That last sentence of his had no emotion.
Just casual.
—
Liu Xia looked at the man.
Silent for a second.
"You sure?"
he said.
His tone changed.
Not louder.
Just—
More serious.
The man was still smiling.
"Sure."
he said.
"You—"
Liu Xia cut him off.
"Then don't stand."
he said.
—
The moment those words fell—
No sound.
No ripple.
Nothing.
—
The next second—
The man's body dropped.
As if something had "denied" him.
His standing—
No longer valid.
His knees gave out.
He dropped straight to the ground.
Thud.
The sound was clear.
The stone steps trembled slightly.
—
Silence.
Everyone froze.
No one spoke.
The man himself was stunned.
He tried to stand.
Couldn't.
His legs trembled.
Not injured.
Just—
"Not allowed."
Like the rule had been changed.
—
Liu Xia looked at him.
A little speechless.
"You insisted on trying," he said.
"Happy now?"
No one answered.
The people around all took a small step back.
Subtle.
But unified.
—
The ones who were talking just now—
Not a word left.
They looked at Liu Xia.
For the first time—
Not as a laborer.
But as something—
They couldn't explain.
—
The man was still kneeling.
His face pale.
What he felt just now wasn't power.
It was—
The fact that he "could stand" had been removed.
Just one sentence.
No spiritual force.
No attack.
But it worked.
—
Behind the tree—
Jesse closed her eyes briefly.
Then opened them.
She confirmed it.
Not coincidence.
Not once.
Not three times.
It was—
A rule.
She murmured softly:
"The command holds."
—
Liu Xia bent down, picked up the broom, and continued sweeping.
Like nothing had happened.
As he passed the man, he said:
"You can get up now."
His tone was casual.
—
The man froze.
The next second—
He really could stand.
No resistance.
Like nothing had happened.
—
The entire place fell completely silent.
No one moved.
No one questioned.
—
Liu Xia finished that section and paused.
Looked around.
"No one hit me today," he said.
"Not bad."
He picked up the broom and walked down the steps.
—
No one stopped him.
Everyone moved aside on their own.
—
In the distance—
A man who hadn't spoken at all watched everything.
He hadn't moved from start to finish.
His aura was steady.
Stronger than the others.
He looked at Liu Xia's back.
For a long time.
Then spoke:
"Not a technique."
he said.
Someone beside him asked quietly:
"Then what is it?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Just kept watching that figure.
After two seconds—
He said:
"What he says… is treated as a rule."
The air fell silent again.
No one spoke after that.