The Punishment Platform had always been a place where time moved strangely.
Sometimes it passed very slowly.
Sometimes it passed very quickly.
It depended on who was kneeling there.
The platform lay at the center of Discipline Peak.
Black stone tiles absorbed blood easily. Spirit chains were carved into the ground, old and cold, humming faintly with suppression arrays. Wind passed through the open space, carrying the sharp scent of iron and incense.
Yan Mochen knelt at the center.
His back was straight.
Too straight.
Blood soaked the back of his outer robe, but he did not move. His spiritual veins were sealed, leaving his body heavy and numb, yet his posture did not collapse.
Disciples gathered at a distance.
Some pitied him.
Some feared him.
Some quietly enjoyed the sight.
No one spoke.
Because Discipline Peak did not welcome noise.
Yan Mochen lowered his eyes.
The pain was familiar.
He had been punished before.
Many times.
What surprised him was not the pain—
But the interruption.
Ji Chenqing collapsing mid-punishment had not been in his expectations.
So even Discipline Peak has cracks.
The thought was calm.
Observant.
Yan Mochen did not feel joy. Nor did he feel hatred.
Not yet.
He simply memorized it.
Footsteps echoed from the stone stairs.
The gathered disciples instinctively straightened.
White robes appeared through the mist.
Ji Chenqing.
He walked slowly, cloak draped neatly over his shoulders. His expression was cold, unreadable, just like always. No sign remained of the earlier collapse.
If not for Elder Shen Ruoyi following closely behind, one might think nothing had happened.
The whispers died instantly.
Ji Chenqing stopped before the platform.
He looked down.
Yan Mochen raised his head.
Their gazes met.
This moment was important.
In the original novel, this was the point where Ji Chenqing would sneer, add another punishment, and completely crush the last trace of warmth in the protagonist's heart.
And it was also—
A future starting point for revenge.
Ji Chenqing's gaze swept over Yan Mochen carefully.
Blood loss.
Forced kneeling.
Spiritual veins sealed.
Alive.
Barely.
Ji Chenqing's thoughts were orderly, almost cold:
He won't die.
Not yet.
The plot needs him alive.
Inside his consciousness, the system remained silent.
That silence was pressure.
"Why did you enter the Sword Pavilion?" Ji Chenqing asked.
His voice was level. Calm. Official.
Yan Mochen answered without hesitation.
"To return a stolen manual."
A stir ran through the watching disciples.
Ji Chenqing already knew the answer.
That was the problem.
In the original Ji Chenqing's logic, this did not matter.
Rules were rules.
But now—
Ji Chenqing paused.
Only for a breath.
But that single breath was enough.
[Warning.]
[Minor deviation detected.]
Ji Chenqing continued speaking before the system could say more.
"Theft is theft," he said coldly.
"Intent does not erase violation."
Yan Mochen lowered his head again.
"Yes, shizun."
His tone was respectful.
Too respectful.
Still pretending, Ji Chenqing thought calmly.
Or perhaps… not yet.
Ji Chenqing lifted his sleeve.
The spirit chains rattled softly.
"The punishment stands," he said.
Some disciples exhaled quietly.
This was Discipline Peak after all.
But then—
Ji Chenqing spoke again.
"However."
The single word cut sharply through the air.
Yan Mochen's fingers twitched.
Just once.
Ji Chenqing noticed.
"The kneeling ends now," Ji Chenqing said.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even Elder Shen Ruoyi froze.
The watching disciples stared, disbelief written plainly on their faces.
Yan Mochen slowly raised his head.
For the first time, his calm expression cracked slightly.
"…Shizun?"
Ji Chenqing's gaze was sharp.
"Discipline is not execution," he said.
"You have received punishment. Further kneeling serves no purpose."
This sentence was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
It was not kindness.
But it was not cruelty either.
Inside Ji Chenqing's mind, the system finally spoke.
[Points adjusted.]
[Current points: 95.]
Five points lost.
Ji Chenqing accepted it calmly.
Five points was better than dying.
Yan Mochen stood slowly.
His legs trembled for a moment before stabilizing.
Ji Chenqing watched him carefully.
So he endures pain well,
And recovers fast.
Useful traits.
Dangerous ones.
Yan Mochen lowered his head again.
"Thank you… shizun."
The gratitude was sincere.
That sincerity was the most dangerous part.
Ji Chenqing turned away.
"Return to your quarters," he said.
"Reflect."
Yan Mochen answered, "Yes."
But inside his heart, another thought formed:
Ji Chenqing is different today.
Not kinder.
Not gentler.
But—
Unstable.
And unstable things could be broken.
Or used.
As Ji Chenqing walked away from the platform, the wind lifted his cloak slightly.
Elder Shen Ruoyi followed in silence for a long time before finally speaking.
"…Peak Lord," he said carefully,
"Today's decision—"
"Was necessary," Ji Chenqing replied.
Necessary for survival.
Necessary for the plot.
Necessary for a future that had already begun to deviate.
High above Discipline Peak, clouds drifted slowly.
Below, Yan Mochen stood alone for a moment longer than needed.
Then he turned and walked away.
His back was straight.
His steps steady.
And deep inside—
Something quiet had awakened.
End of Chapter 2