Zhao Kun regretted nothing.
Which, unfortunately for everyone involved, was his defining flaw.
---
Ren discovered Zhao Kun's decision the next morning when three things happened in rapid succession:
1. His name appeared on the Outer Disciple Challenge Board
2. A crowd formed suspiciously fast
3. Someone started taking bets
Ren squinted at the wooden board.
Challenger: Zhao Kun
Challenged: Lin Fan
Reason: Dispute of Honor
Ren rubbed his temples. "Ah yes. Honor. The spiritual duct tape of bad decisions."
> System Alert:
Formal Duel Registered
Declining may result in reputation loss and increased hostility.
Ren sighed. "Of course it will."
A nearby disciple whispered loudly, "He'll die in one strike."
Ren turned, smiled pleasantly. "Bold of you to assume Zhao Kun only needs one."
---
The arena wasn't large—just a stone platform surrounded by spectators eager for blood or humiliation. Possibly both.
Ren stepped onto the platform, posture relaxed, expression bored.
Zhao Kun stood opposite him, radiating confidence and just enough Qi to be annoying.
"You should've stayed in the Hall of Records," Zhao Kun sneered. "Books can't save you."
Ren nodded thoughtfully. "True. But neither can overconfidence, and yet here we are."
The crowd murmured.
> System Advisory:
Combat Mode: Active
Recommended Strategy: Evasion, Redirection, Psychological Disruption
Ren smiled. "Ah. My specialty."
---
The signal was given.
Zhao Kun struck first—fast, aggressive, all power and zero patience.
Ren moved.
Not quickly.
Not impressively.
Just correctly.
He sidestepped, letting the blow pass, then lightly shoved Zhao Kun's shoulder as he overextended.
Zhao Kun stumbled.
The crowd gasped.
Ren blinked. "Huh. Yielding works."
> Concept Applied: Yielding Before Flow
Body Tempering Progress: 26% → 27%
Zhao Kun snarled and attacked again, Qi flaring.
Ren ducked, rolled, and popped back up behind him.
"You know," Ren said conversationally, "for someone obsessed with honor, you swing like you're angry at the air."
A backhand clipped Ren's ribs.
Pain exploded.
Ren wheezed. "Okay. That was less philosophical."
> Resilience Triggered
Pain Tolerance: Temporarily Increased
Ren retreated, breathing steadily.
Don't win, he reminded himself. Survive.
Zhao Kun charged again.
Ren waited.
At the last second, he stepped inside the strike, twisted, and used Zhao Kun's momentum to throw him off balance.
Zhao Kun crashed to one knee.
Silence fell.
Ren stood over him, heart pounding, body screaming, mind oddly calm.
He could strike.
He didn't.
He stepped back.
"I yield the point," Ren said. "Not the duel. Just… that point."
The elder overseeing the match raised a brow. "Explain."
Ren shrugged. "He's stronger. I'm smarter. Let's not confuse the two."
The crowd erupted in confused chatter.
Zhao Kun stared up at Ren, fury and disbelief warring on his face.
> System Update:
Psychological Advantage Gained
Enemy Confidence: Shaken
The duel continued briefly, but the outcome was clear.
Zhao Kun won.
But he did not dominate.
And Ren walked away.
---
Later, bruised and limping, Ren sat beneath a tree, sipping water like it was the elixir of life.
> Duel Outcome: Loss (Non-Catastrophic)
Gains:
• Combat Insight
• Mental Stability
• Reputation Shift: "Not Completely Useless"
> Body Tempering Progress: 27% → 29%
Ren smiled despite the pain. "I lost upward. That's new."
Liu Yan rushed over. "You're hurt!"
Ren waved her off. "I've had worse meetings."
> Favorability (Liu Yan): 21% → 25%
Su Meilin watched from a distance, eyes thoughtful.
> Favorability (Su Meilin): 36% → 38%
Ren leaned back against the tree, closing his eyes.
"System," he murmured, "status."
> Status Summary:
Cultivation: Body Tempering (29%)
Route: Ethical Harmony
Enemies: Wary
Elders: Observing
Probability of sudden escalation: High
Ren chuckled weakly. "Of course it is."
Above him, clouds drifted lazily.
And somewhere deep within the Azure Blossom Sect, the first true crack appeared in the assumption that Lin Fan was disposable.
Ren smiled.
"Good," he said softly. "I hate being underestimated.