Ruolan started his first day of training with the enthusiasm of someone who wanted to live, while Lin Xuanji supervised with the seriousness of someone pretending he knew what he was doing.
"Alright," Lin Xuanji said, pointing at the new training platform. "Run laps around the formation."
Ruolan stared at the wide circle. "…How many laps, Sect Master?"
"Uh… let's start with three."
Ruolan nodded firmly and started running.
Lin Xuanji nodded as if he had planned it all.
In reality, he was sweating inside.
He leaned against a tree. "System."
(Listening.)
"That tremor from earlier. You sure it's nothing dangerous?"
(Host cannot handle the answer.)
Lin Xuanji rubbed his temples. "Why are you like this?"
(Efficient communication.)
"I've had headaches more comforting than you."
Ruolan kept running—slow, awkward, but determined.
He had the expression of someone forcing his body to move despite a lifetime of neglect.
And honestly… Lin Xuanji respected that.
He watched the kid run for a moment before sighing. "System, when will the next disciple show up?"
(When the conditions align.)
"…Which means?"
(Unclear. Fate fluctuates.)
"So you don't know."
(Host's interpretation is overly simplistic.)
"That means you don't know!"
Ruolan tripped a little but kept going. "Sect Master, are you… fighting someone?"
"No, Ruolan. Just arguing with… bureaucracy."
The System stayed silent, which somehow annoyed Lin Xuanji even more.
He was about to say something else when—
A faint presence flickered at the far end of the forest.
Lin Xuanji straightened immediately.
"System?"
(Host's senses are improving. That is all.)
"No, no, no—don't do that vague oracle nonsense. What did I sense?"
(Someone approaching. Not friendly.)
Lin Xuanji froze.
"Ruolan!" he called. "Stop training!"
Ruolan halted instantly, panting. "W-What's wrong?"
Lin Xuanji pointed toward the forest. "Someone's coming."
Ruolan paled. "Is it… them?"
Lin Xuanji didn't know who "them" referred to—Ruolan's story had too many potential villains—but he didn't like the fear in the boy's eyes.
He stepped in front of his disciple. "Get behind me."
Ruolan obeyed immediately.
A few tense seconds passed.
Leaves rustled.
Branches snapped.
Then—
Three men in black stepped out from the forest, each carrying blades and wearing expressions that said they weren't here for snacks.
Lin Xuanji whispered, "System. Attack power assessment."
(Host cannot beat them.)
"…What if I tried really hard?"
(Host will still lose.)
Lin Xuanji swallowed. "Great. Wonderful. Inspirational."
The lead man sneered at Ruolan. "There you are, brat. Thought you could run?"
Ruolan trembled behind Lin Xuanji. "Sect Master… I'm sorry…"
Lin Xuanji raised a hand. "Hold that thought. Hey, you three. What do you want with my disciple?"
"Your disciple?" the man spat. "That trash belongs to the Bai Clan. Hand him over."
"Oh no," Lin Xuanji muttered. "Bai Clan. Why couldn't it be the 'Friendly Farmers Association' or something?"
The three men drew their blades.
Ruolan sucked in a shaky breath. "Sect Master…"
Lin Xuanji's heart hammered—but he stood his ground.
"Ruolan," he whispered, "listen carefully."
Ruolan leaned forward anxiously.
"If they want trouble…"
Ruolan bit his lip.
"…then they really came to the wrong mountain."
The wind shifted, as if the peak itself listened.
The men lunged.
Lin Xuanji braced himself—
(Host has gained eligibility for Emergency Support.)
"What!?"
(Activating.)
The ground trembled—sharp, sudden, alive.
A pulse of power rippled through the stone beneath Lin Xuanji's feet, rising like breath from the mountain's core.
The attackers froze mid-strike.
Lin Xuanji blinked. "System… what did you do?"
(Minimal assistance. Host still needs to handle the situation.)
"…Thanks for the nightmare phrasing."
Ruolan clung to his sleeve. "Sect Master…?"
Lin Xuanji stepped forward as the wind surged behind him.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's give this a try.