Ling Chen's heart was pounding so hard he was sure it'd wake the entire Azure Cloud Sect.
Jian Hao's accusation—"You cheated in the trials!"—still rang in his ears, the elder's stern warning adding fuel to the fire: "Your score is under review."
The summit of Crimson Peak buzzed with disciples whispering, their eyes darting between Ling and Jian, who stood smugly with his arms crossed, his white robes practically screaming
"I'm the hero." Mei Lin's gaze lingered on Ling, her expression unreadable—ally or spy? The system's betrayal warning wasn't helping his nerves.
Great. I'm ninth place, but Jian's trying to DQ me, Ling thought, wiping sweat from his brow. His gamer brain was in overdrive, screaming side quest time.
The elder had said top-ten trial winners could access the sect's vault, and Ling wasn't about to let Jian's tantrum steal that loot.
The system's mission—Place in the top 10 to access the sect vault—was his ticket to power.
Failure meant servant status, and Ling wasn't about to spend his days scrubbing floors in a Xianxia novel.
The elders dismissed the crowd, but Ling caught their murmurs about "investigating" his score.
He had a window—maybe hours—before they locked him out. The vault was his shot at something game-changing, and he wasn't waiting for permission.
Slipping away from the summit, Ling used his new Shadow Step skill, his movements blurring slightly as he darted through the misty paths of Crimson Peak.
The sect's vault was hidden behind the inner disciple halls, a stone building carved into the mountain, guarded by runes that could probably fry him into next week.
His qi buzzed, sharpened by the spirit herb and Mei Lin's training, but he was still a Qi Condensation nobody with a rusty dagger and a prayer.
[System alert: Vault access restricted. Use Shadow Step and Deceptive Aura to bypass guards. Reward: 300 Villain Points, access to vault. Warning: Forbidden items may have trackers.]
"Trackers?" Ling muttered, crouching behind a boulder near the vault. "You couldn't mention that before I decided to rob the place?"
The system, as usual, was silent. Two guards patrolled the entrance, their spears glinting under lantern light.
Runes pulsed along the stone door, giving off a "touch me and die" vibe.
Ling focused, letting Deceptive Aura mask his qi to seem like a harmless breeze. Shadow Step kicked in, his steps blurring as he slipped past the guards, heart in his throat.
The runes hummed, but didn't zap him. Score one for the system.
He pressed against the door, finding a loose panel—sloppy security for a sect full of sword nuts. Squeezing through, he entered a dim chamber.
The vault was a treasure trove straight out of an RPG. Jade scrolls, glowing weapons, and spirit stones lined the shelves, their faint hum making his qi tingle. Ling's eyes widened.
"Jackpot," he whispered, but the system's warning about trackers kept him cautious. He needed something powerful but low-key.
A dusty scroll caught his eye, tucked in a corner like an afterthought. Its black cover was etched with faint red runes, pulsing with a dangerous energy.
The system pinged: Forbidden Manual: Crimson Void Technique. High-risk, high-reward cultivation method. Warning: Tracker detected.
"Forbidden? That's my brand," Ling said, grinning despite the risk. He grabbed the scroll, tucking it into his robes. The system chimed.
[Objective achieved: Vault infiltrated. Item acquired: Crimson Void Technique. Mission progress: 90%. Warning: Tracker active. Evade detection to complete mission.]
Ling's grin faded. Tracker active? He scanned the vault, his qi-enhanced senses catching a faint hum from the scroll. Great.
He'd just stolen a magical GPS beacon. He needed to get out—now.
Using Shadow Step, he slipped back through the panel, heart racing. The guards were still oblivious, but the runes on the door flickered, like they'd sensed something.
Ling darted into the shadows, heading for the outer disciple quarters. If he could hide the scroll in his hut, maybe he could figure out how to disable the tracker later.
He was halfway down the mountain when a familiar figure stepped into his path. Mei Lin. Her green robes glowed faintly in the moonlight, her jade hairpin catching the light.
Her eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the bulge under his robes.
"Ling Chen," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "What did you just do?"
Ling froze, Deceptive Aura humming to mask his panic.
"Uh, just… taking a walk?" His gamer charm was running on fumes. Mei Lin's spying for Elder Zhang meant she could blow his cover.
But her expression wasn't pure suspicion—there was something else, like she was torn.
"Don't lie," she said, stepping closer. "I saw you near the vault. Elder Zhang's already suspicious, and now you're… what, stealing again?" Her voice softened, almost pleading. "Tell me what's going on, or I have to report you."
Ling's mind raced. The system's betrayal warning screamed, but he needed her.
"Mei Lin, I'm just trying to survive. You know Jian's out to bury me. That vault's my only shot at staying alive."
He let a hint of sincerity slip through, hoping Deceptive Aura made it convincing.
She hesitated, her hand twitching toward her hairpin. Then she sighed. "You're an idiot. But… I'll keep quiet. For now." She glanced over her shoulder. "Get out of here before—"
Footsteps crunched on the path, heavy and deliberate. Ling's blood ran cold. A shadow loomed—a guard? An elder? The scroll's tracker hummed louder in his robes, like a ticking bomb.
Mei Lin's eyes widened, and she grabbed his arm, pulling him behind a tree.
"Hide," she hissed. "If they find that scroll, you're dead."
The footsteps grew closer, and the system flashed red: [Alert: Tracker signal intensifying. Detection imminent. Evade or face sect punishment.] Ling's heart hammered.
Someone was coming, and he was out of tricks. Was Mei Lin saving him—or setting him up?