As the carriage rattled onward, the distant cries faded into memory, but Shen Yun's mind churned relentlessly. He stared out the small window at the blurring trees, his crimson eyes narrowed in calculation.
Those bandits... they're not operating alone. Someone from the Azure Sect is pulling their strings—keeping it hushed from the higher-ups. An outer elder makes the most sense. Regular bandits would've swarmed my carriage the moment they spotted its quality. Numbers and greed would've driven them to test us for gold, artifacts, even the maids.
He clenched his fist subtly, piecing it together. But they only targeted that merchant and his low-status guards—people who complain to the outer sect at best, where bribes silence everything. No risk to the real power players. This world runs on the same rot as every other: corruption woven into the foundations, elders skimming "tolls" through disposable thugs.
A bitter smile tugged at his lips. *Good thing my system's shop has counters for that. Azure Sect won't know what hit them.*
Mei noticed his distant expression and touched his arm gently. "Prince? What troubles you?"
Shen Yun blinked, masking his thoughts with a calm nod. "Just planning ahead. The road to power is never clean."
Back at the merchant's overturned wagon, the bandits closed in with savage grins, blades raised high. The leader spat on the ground, his voice dripping with malice. "Enough beggin'. Time to end this—old man and his brat first."
The merchant shielded his terrified daughter, eyes squeezed shut as death loomed. "Please... mercy..."
Just as the first axe swung down, a powerful gust ripped through the clearing. A lone figure landed between them like a thunderbolt—tall, clad in flowing blue robes marked with Azure Sect insignia, his long black hair whipping in the wind. Qi erupted from him in waves, Foundation Establishment peak, crushing the air itself.
"Step away from them," the man commanded, voice calm but laced with steel. His eyes swept the bandits coldly. "Or die where you stand."
The bandits faltered, exchanging uneasy glances. "Who the hell are you?" the leader snarled, gripping his weapon tighter.
The man didn't answer with words. His hand blurred, palm striking forward—a single [Thunder Palm] technique exploded outward, qi shaped like lightning chains that bound the front row of bandits mid-charge. They convulsed, screaming as electricity coursed through them.
"Azure Sect Inner Disciple—Lin Hao," he stated flatly, drawing a sleek spirit sword that hummed with power. "You prey on the weak. Today, your 'hunt' ends."
The remaining bandits roared in fury, charging as one. Lin Hao moved like a phantom—dodging a cleaver swipe, countering with a sword thrust that pierced a bandit's shoulder, then spinning into a low sweep that shattered another's knee. Blood sprayed as he dismantled them methodically: a qi-infused kick crumpling armor, a precise slash severing tendons.
The leader lunged desperately, axe high. Lin Hao sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing his wrist and twisting—crack!—before delivering a point-blank palm strike to the chest. The bandit flew back ten meters, crashing lifelessly into a tree.
Silence fell, broken only by the groans of the wounded. Lin Hao sheathed his sword smoothly, turning to the merchant. "You're safe now."
The old man trembled, bowing low with tears streaming. "Thank you, young hero! We thought we were done for..."
Lin Hao knelt, pulling a jade bottle from his robe. "Here—Vital Essence Pills. They'll heal your wounds and stabilize your daughter's qi shock." He pressed two pills into the merchant's hand. "Rest, then head to the nearest town. Report this to the outer sect patrol if you can."
The girl peeked out, wide-eyed. "Big brother... you're like a fairy tale hero."
Lin Hao ruffled her hair gently, a rare smile softening his stern features. "Just doing what's right. Safe travels."
With a final nod, he leaped away in a blur of azure light, vanishing into the forest—leaving the grateful family alive, and the bandits broken.
The carriage finally crested the final hill as the sun dipped low, revealing the majestic Azure Sect sprawled across mist-shrouded mountains. Towering peaks pierced the clouds, connected by winding stone bridges and glowing array formations that hummed with protective qi. At the base, the outer sect quarters formed neat rows of wooden pavilions, lanterns flickering to life as dusk settled.
A stern outer sect disciple checked Shen Yun's royal token at the gates, assigning them a modest but clean quarter: two connecting rooms with simple bamboo beds, a cultivation mat, and a small spirit spring for qi recovery.
"Outer quarters for Crown Prince Shen Yun," the disciple announced curtly. "Inner disciple selection exam begins at dawn tomorrow. No disturbances after curfew."
Lian guided the horses to the stable while Mei helped Shen Yun unpack. Inside the warm, lantern-lit room, exhaustion from the road weighed heavy. Mei prepared a light herbal tea, her hands gentle as always. "Rest well, Your Highness. Tomorrow, you'll shine."
Shen Yun nodded, sinking onto the bed with a quiet sigh. Azure Sect... outer exam was easy to pass, as far as I remember Shen Yun was last. With the system's shop, I can pass—but staying low-key is key in inner sect is going problematic.
Lian joined them shortly, slipping into the shared space with a soft smile. The three settled for the night—Maid on either side of him in quiet companionship, the air filled with unspoken support. Outside, crickets chirped under the starry sky as the sect prepared for the trials ahead.
Sleep came swiftly, dreams laced with sword forms and hidden traps, fueling Shen Yun for the challenges of dawn.