The System of Desires
Chapter 4 — Duel of Pride
The morning of the duel dawned crisp and bright, the twin suns painting the sky gold.
Kai stood in his courtyard, tightening the straps of his martial robe. He had trained relentlessly for this moment — bruised ribs, bloodied knuckles, sleepless nights — all of it led here.
Lian stood nearby, nervously wringing her hands. "Are you sure about this?"
Kai smirked. "What, you don't think I can win?"
She bit her lip. "Chen Hao is… dangerous. If he cripples you—"
"Then I'll heal," Kai said lightly, though his tone softened. "Lian, I'm not doing this to throw my life away. I'm doing this to take it back."
Her cheeks pinked, and she nodded. "Then… I'll be cheering for you."
[Affinity with Lian: +4. Affinity Level: 24% — Steady Trust.]
Kai's smile widened. "Then I can't lose."
The Arena
The duel was held at the training ground between the Shen and Chen territories — a neutral space, but with a crowd that leaned heavily toward Chen supporters.
Chen Hao stood at the center already, arms folded. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his black robe marked with the Iron Sword Sect's emblem.
When he saw Kai approach, he smirked. "Well, well. The little Shen pup actually came back for more. Didn't learn your lesson last time?"
Kai twirled his spear lazily. "Oh, I learned something, alright. I learned you're a loudmouth who needs to be shut up."
Gasps ran through the crowd.
Chen Hao's grin widened into a sneer. "Brave words. You won't be smiling when I break the rest of your ribs."
[Quest Updated: Defeat Chen Hao in Official Duel.]
Kai's pulse quickened, but he kept his grin. Time to cash in all that training.
The Duel Begins
The referee, an elder from a neutral sect, raised a hand. "Begin!"
Chen Hao moved first, faster than Kai remembered. His sword flashed, a streak of silver in the morning sun.
Kai twisted aside, the blade grazing his sleeve.
"You've gotten faster," Chen Hao said, smirking.
"Thanks," Kai said, thrusting his spear. "You're still ugly."
The crowd laughed nervously, and Chen Hao's eyes narrowed.
He struck again, a sweeping arc aimed at Kai's neck.
Kai ducked, sliding under the strike, and jabbed the spear toward Chen Hao's ribs. The tip struck, but barely dented the other boy's Qi shield.
"Tch," Kai muttered.
[System Tip: Target's Qi shield is stronger than yours. Recommend exploiting footwork and counters.]
"Yeah, I got that," Kai muttered back, earning a confused look from Chen Hao.
Trading Blows
The duel turned into a flurry of strikes and counters.
Clang!
Thrust. Parry.
Clang!
Kai's arms ached, but he refused to back down.
"You're fighting better than before," Chen Hao admitted between swings. "But you're still weak!"
He unleashed a sword technique, a sweeping crescent of energy that carved a line into the ground.
Kai barely leapt aside in time, rolling back to his feet.
[Warning: Qi Reserves dropping. 28/100 remaining.]
"Noted," Kai muttered.
He tightened his grip on the spear. Need to end this fast.
The Turning Point
Kai waited until Chen Hao lunged again, then sidestepped, hooking the spear around Chen Hao's ankle.
The bigger boy stumbled, just for a moment — but that was all Kai needed.
He drove the spear forward, channeling every drop of Qi into the strike.
Crack!
Chen Hao's Qi shield shattered, and the spear tip stopped just short of his chest.
Silence fell.
Chen Hao froze, eyes wide.
Kai grinned. "Yield."
Chen Hao's jaw worked. For a moment, it looked like he'd refuse.
But then he stepped back and sheathed his sword. "I yield."
The referee raised his hand. "Winner — Kai Shen!"
The crowd erupted into shocked murmurs.
Aftermath
Kai lowered his spear and let out a long breath. His arms were shaking, but he kept his smile.
From the edge of the arena, Lian's face was lit with relief and pride.
[Affinity with Lian: +6. Affinity Level: 30% — Blossoming Affection.]
And just beyond her, leaning casually against a tree, Yue was smirking.
[Quest Complete: Impress Yue.]
Reward: +30 System Points
Ability Unlocked: Qi Condensation Guidance — Speeds cultivation progress by 15%.
Yue caught his eye and gave a slow, approving nod before vanishing into the crowd.
Kai's grin widened. Yeah, she's definitely trouble.
Clan Reaction
Back at the Shen compound, the mood was electric.
"You did it, Young Master!" one of the juniors said, grinning from ear to ear.
Kai smirked. "Of course I did. We're not done yet, though. This is just the first step."
The elders gathered, nodding reluctantly. Even the one who had opposed him before looked grudgingly impressed.
"You may have just saved our last spirit field," one elder said.
Kai bowed. "I intend to save more than that. The Shen Clan isn't done yet."
Evening — Quiet Moment
That night, Lian came to his courtyard with tea.
"You were incredible today," she said softly.
Kai chuckled. "I was just doing what needed to be done."
"You didn't just win," she said, sitting beside him. "You gave the whole clan hope again."
Kai looked at her, smiling gently. "Then I guess I did my job."
She blushed, looking away. "Don't say things like that so casually."
Kai leaned closer. "Why not? It's true."
Her blush deepened, and she stood abruptly. "I-I should go."
[Affinity with Lian: +4. Affinity Level: 34% — Heart Stirring.]
Kai leaned back with a satisfied grin. "One step at a time."
System Update
As the night deepened, the System chimed softly.
[Main Quest Progress: 50% — Objective 1 Complete.]
[New Objective Unlocked: Investigate the Source of the Chen Clan's Sudden Growth.]
[Optional Quest: Pursue Yue — Unlock Unique Skill: Shadow Dance.]
Kai laughed softly. "Oh, great. Politics and romance. My favorite combination."
He looked up at the twin moons, his grin turning sharper.
"Fine. Bring it on. This world wants me to play the game? Then I'll play to win."