Chapter 16 – Whispers of the Blight
The arena was still buzzing long after Zhao Ren collapsed. The disciples whispered, the elders exchanged sharp glances, and the sect master himself remained silent, his eyes heavy on Kai.
Kai stood in the center of the ring, sword sheathed, chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. He looked calm, but inside, his heart was racing. The black qi from Zhao Ren still lingered faintly in the air, like a poisonous mist that refused to vanish.
System Notice:
Warning: Traces of Cosmic Blight detected.
Recommendation: Avoid prolonged exposure.
Kai clenched his jaw. The Blight wasn't supposed to appear in a sect arena, in the heart of safety. Yet here it was.
The Elders Speak
The presiding elder raised his hand. His voice boomed across the arena.
Elder Shen: "This duel is concluded. Zhao Ren is defeated."
The disciples erupted into chatter. Some cheered Kai's name, others whispered in doubt.
Disciple 1: "Did you see that? Kai's sword cut down Zhao Ren's crimson tiger!"
Disciple 2: "But what was that black energy at the end? It looked… unnatural."
Disciple 3: "Maybe Kai is hiding something after all…"
Kai could feel the stares. Admiration mixed with suspicion. The taste was bitter.
Another elder, a stern woman with silver hair, stood.
Elder Lian: "Kai, step forward."
Kai obeyed, his steps heavy. He bowed respectfully.
Kai: "Yes, Elder."
Her eyes pierced him.
Elder Lian: "Explain what happened just now. That black qi—was it your doing?"
Gasps spread through the arena. Even Mei Ling and Arin, watching from the stands, tensed.
Kai's heart thudded. If he spoke wrongly, suspicion could turn into condemnation.
He raised his voice so all could hear.
Kai: "No, Elder. That black qi was not mine. It came from Zhao Ren's talisman. He brought corruption into the sect."
The disciples stirred. Some nodded, some frowned.
Elder Shen stroked his beard, thoughtful.
Elder Shen: "And how do you know this corruption, boy? You spoke as though you recognized it."
Kai hesitated. The System's voice echoed faintly in his mind.
System Prompt:
You may reveal limited knowledge of the Blight. Conceal the source.
Kai steadied himself.
Kai: "I have studied fragments of old records. The black qi resembles something spoken of only in myths—the Blight. I never believed it truly existed… until now."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances. The sect master finally spoke, his voice deep and measured.
Sect Master Liang: "The Blight is no myth. It is a calamity that destroyed sects in ages past. If it is truly stirring again, then our world stands at the edge of disaster."
The arena fell silent. The word "disaster" hung heavy in the air.
Suspicion and Protection
But not all were convinced. A young elder rose, pointing at Kai.
Elder Han: "Convenient, is it not? Zhao Ren collapses, and suddenly this boy speaks of ancient calamities. Perhaps he himself brought this corruption here!"
The disciples murmured louder now. Some eyes turned sharp, hostile.
Mei Ling stood up in the stands, her voice clear as a blade.
Mei Ling: "Enough! You saw it yourselves—Kai fought with his sword, with skill, not with corruption. The black qi came from Zhao Ren. To accuse Kai is baseless."
Arin, lounging beside her, yawned loudly before adding with a wicked grin:
Arin: "Besides, if Kai wanted to destroy the sect, he'd have done it already. You think he needs some shadowy trick for that?"
The crowd chuckled uneasily, but the tension lessened a little.
Kai's chest warmed at their defense. His partners weren't just watching—they were standing for him.
The sect master raised his hand, silencing the arena.
Sect Master Liang: "Enough. The truth of Zhao Ren's corruption will be investigated. Until then, Kai is to remain under supervision. But… his victory cannot be denied. He has proven his strength."
The words struck like a hammer. Supervision meant suspicion, but recognition meant protection. It was a balance—one Kai could accept.
He bowed.
Kai: "As the sect master commands."
After the Duel
The arena emptied slowly, the disciples still whispering. Some looked at Kai with awe, others with fear.
When Kai finally stepped out of the ring, Mei Ling and Arin rushed to him.
Mei Ling's eyes scanned him quickly.
Mei Ling: "Are you hurt?"
Kai:shaking head "No. Just tired."
Arin smirked, leaning against him casually.
Arin: "Tired? You just chopped down Zhao Ren like firewood. Admit it, you liked showing off."
Kai:half-smile "Maybe a little."
But his smile faded as he glanced back at the arena.
Kai: "The Blight is here. That wasn't just a duel. It was a warning."
Mei Ling's hand tightened around his arm.
Mei Ling: "Then we face it together."
Arin:grinning "Damn right. If some cosmic corruption thinks it can scare us, it's in for disappointment."
Their confidence steadied him. But inside, he knew the truth—this was bigger than them.
Private Confrontation
That night, in the quiet of his chamber, Kai sat cross-legged, meditating. The System's screen glowed faintly before him.
System Notice:
New Quest Chain – "The Blight Rises."
Investigate the source of Zhao Ren's corruption.
Strengthen bonds to resist Blight influence.
Seek ancient ruins for knowledge.
Reward: Path advancement.
Failure: Loss of bond and corruption of self.
Kai exhaled sharply.
Kai (thinking):Failure means… losing them. I won't allow it.
The door slid open. Mei Ling entered silently, her robes light, her face calm but her eyes full of concern.
Mei Ling: "You're thinking too much again."
Kai smiled faintly.
Kai: "How could I not? Zhao Ren's words… the Blight… everything is changing so fast."
She knelt beside him, placing a hand over his.
Mei Ling: "Then let me share the weight. You don't have to carry this burden alone."
For a long moment, they sat in silence, the warmth between them stronger than words.
Then Arin barged in, smirking as always.
Arin: "Tch, always the quiet ones sneaking in first. Don't hog him, Mei Ling. He needs both of us."
Kai chuckled despite himself.
Kai: "You two never stop, do you?"
Arin:playful grin "Would you really want us to?"
Mei Ling rolled her eyes but didn't pull away. Instead, she met Arin's gaze, and for once, the two women shared something like agreement.
Mei Ling: "No matter what comes, we protect him."
Arin: "And if he tries to run off alone, we tie him down."
Kai:sighing with a small smile "Looks like I don't get a choice."
Both (together): "You don't."
The three of them laughed softly. For the first time since the duel, the heaviness in Kai's chest lifted.
Hidden Ears
But outside the chamber, in the shadows of the sect, a figure stood listening. A disciple cloaked in black slipped away silently, his eyes burning with faint traces of that same black qi.
He whispered into the night.
Unknown Disciple: "The Blight grows. The chosen vessel resists, but not for long…"
The darkness swallowed him whole.
Closing
Kai didn't know it yet, but the duel with Zhao Ren was not just his victory. It was the spark that lit a fire across the sect—and beyond.
The Blight had already chosen its battlefield.
And Kai, bound by his partners and guided by the System, was standing at the center of it.