The System of Desires
Chapter 13 — Whispers Before the Storm
The Azure Sky Sect loomed like a fortress carved into the mountain itself. Towering jade walls glimmered with protective runes, and vast banners fluttered in the wind, each embroidered with the sect's sigil: a blue phoenix wreathed in lightning.
Kai's group walked through the massive gates, joining hundreds of cultivators arriving from every corner of the continent. The air buzzed with power and tension. Spirit beasts roared in cages. Rival sect disciples boasted loudly. Vendors sold talismans and spirit food to wide-eyed juniors.
It felt less like a sacred tournament and more like a battlefield waiting to ignite.
Arrival & Tension
Yue stretched lazily as they passed under the gate. "Well, this place reeks of arrogance. I feel right at home."
"Behave," Lian muttered, shooting her a sharp look. "We're representing the Shen clan."
Yue grinned. "Relax, little princess. I'll only punch someone if they insult me first."
"They will insult you," Lian said flatly.
Kai chuckled nervously. "Let's just focus on surviving the qualifiers, okay?"
As they walked deeper inside, Kai couldn't help but notice the way disciples from other sects eyed them. Some looked with curiosity, others with disdain, and a few with barely hidden killing intent.
[System Notification: Host has entered Azure Sky Sect Tournament Grounds.]
[Warning: Tournament combat is sanctioned. Fatalities are not punished within the arena.]
Kai's stomach tightened. So death is fair game here…
The Princess's Influence
Meilin rode her spirit horse through the crowd like it was her personal parade. Whispers followed her everywhere.
"Is that… Princess Meilin of the Azure Dynasty?"
"What's a royal doing at the tournament?"
"She's traveling with them? Who even is that boy with the spear?"
Kai sighed. "You're making us stand out more than we already do."
Meilin glanced at him, her smile sly. "Would you prefer I pretended to be an ordinary girl?"
"Honestly? Yes," Kai muttered.
Yue laughed loudly. "Too late, Kai. You've got a princess in your party. You'll be enemy number one by tomorrow."
Meilin leaned closer to Kai, her voice teasing. "Then I suppose I'll just have to stay close to my protector."
Lian's hand tightened on her sword hilt again. "You don't need protecting. Focus on yourself, not on dragging others into your mess."
Meilin raised a brow, unfazed. "And you're not dragging him into yours?"
The air between the two women snapped like drawn blades.
Kai quickly stepped between them. "Enough! We don't have time for this."
[Affinity with Lian: -2 — Jealousy Detected.]
[Affinity with Meilin: +3 — Playful Bond Strengthened.]
Kai groaned inwardly. The System's enjoying this way too much.
The Tournament Grounds
By evening, they reached the disciple lodgings provided for participants. It was a sprawling courtyard of stone pavilions, each buzzing with cultivators.
Kai dropped his pack onto a bedroll. "So this is home for the next week."
Before they could settle in, a sharp knock rattled the door.
Yue opened it to find Jiang Rui — the arrogant Iron Blood Sect disciple they had met on the road — standing with two companions.
"I thought I smelled weakness," Rui sneered, stepping inside uninvited. "Imagine my disappointment when it was only you."
Kai stood, gripping his spear. "What do you want?"
Rui smirked. "Just to let you know — tomorrow, the qualifiers begin. And when you step into that arena, you won't be walking out again."
Lian's eyes narrowed. "Threats outside the arena are meaningless. Leave."
Rui ignored her, his gaze locking on Meilin. "But you… Princess. Surely you're not lowering yourself to travel with such trash. Come with me instead. I'll ensure you survive this tournament."
The room went silent.
Meilin's smile was cold and sharp as glass. "I would rather die on the battlefield than spend a single breath standing beside a coward like you."
Rui's expression twisted. He spat on the floor. "Then die with them. Tomorrow, Shen Kai, I'll crush you in front of everyone."
He stormed out with his companions, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Kai clenched his fists. "He's making me his first target."
Yue grinned, rolling her shoulders. "Good. Let him. Then we'll see who ends up bleeding."
Nighttime Conversations
Later that night, Kai sat by the courtyard pond, staring at the moonlit water. The weight of tomorrow pressed down on him.
Lian approached quietly, sitting beside him.
"You're nervous," she said softly.
"Yeah," Kai admitted. "Back on Earth, I was just… ordinary. Now I'm supposed to fight monsters, arrogant prodigies, people who've trained their whole lives. Sometimes it feels like I don't belong here."
Lian looked at him, her eyes gentle. "But you do belong. You've worked harder than anyone I've ever seen. And you… you give people hope. You give me hope."
Kai turned, caught off guard by her sincerity.
"Lian…"
She hesitated, then whispered, "Promise me you'll come back tomorrow. No matter what happens."
Kai held her gaze. "I promise."
[Affinity with Lian: +10 — Emotional Bond Deepened.]
Before either could say more, Yue's voice cut in from the shadows.
"If you two are going to confess, at least do it when I'm not trying to sleep."
Lian jumped up, flustered, and stormed off. Yue strolled into the moonlight, smirking.
"You know she's already halfway in love with you, right?"
Kai groaned. "Yue—"
"Relax," Yue said, sitting down beside him. Her smirk softened into something almost serious. "Just don't hurt her. Or I'll break that pretty face of yours."
Kai blinked. "You… care about her?"
Yue shrugged. "She's the only one here besides me who isn't pretending to be something she's not. That makes her worth protecting."
For once, Kai didn't argue.
Morning of the Qualifiers
The next day, the Azure Sky Sect's arena roared with noise. Tens of thousands of spectators filled the stands, banners waving, drums beating like thunder.
The tournament master — an old man with a voice like lightning — announced the rules.
"Disciples will face one another in single combat. Victory is by surrender, incapacitation, or death. No outside interference will be tolerated. Those who survive will move on. Those who fall… will be forgotten."
Kai's group waited near the staging grounds, tension thick in the air.
Yue cracked her knuckles. "Finally, some fun."
Lian checked Kai's armor straps one last time, refusing to look him in the eye.
Meilin leaned close, whispering, "Show them you're more than just a reincarnated nobody."
The gong sounded.
"First match," the announcer bellowed. "Shen Kai of the fallen Shen Clan… versus Jiang Rui of the Iron Blood Sect!"
The crowd exploded with cheers and jeers.
Kai exhaled slowly, stepping into the arena.
Across from him, Rui was already waiting, grinning like a predator.
"This is it, Shen," Rui said. "Your end."
Kai spun his spear, steadying his breath. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing."
[System Quest: Defeat Jiang Rui in the Qualifier.]
[Reward: ??? Hidden Unlock.]
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
The clash of spear and sword echoed through the arena, and the fate of Kai's journey teetered on the edge.
End of Chapter 13