Lin Xuanji stood frozen in the center of the courtyard, hand still raised from his accidental display of ancient-level technique.
Qi still shimmered faintly around him like a ghost that refused to leave.
He quickly shook his arm like it was on fire.
"Okay—okay—false alarm! Nothing happened! Everyone forget that!"
Kai Yun pointed dramatically.
"SECT MASTER IS SECRETLY STRONG!"
"No, I'm not!"
Tian Wen stared at him with calm, serious eyes.
"…Your stance was flawless."
"It was an accident!"
Feng Xiao raised an eyebrow.
"Your qi density rose like a wave."
"Reflex!"
Ruolan blinked.
"S-Sect Master… is your body… possessed?"
"YES—NO—MAYBE—I DON'T KNOW!"
Mu Xiaofan smiled purely.
"You looked beautiful."
Lin Xuanji nearly fell over.
"THAT DOESN'T HELP!"
Stonewall stepped forward, arms behind his back, face grave.
"Sect Master. That was not instinct."
Lin Xuanji stiffened.
"Oh no."
Stonewall continued.
"That was technique."
Lin Xuanji wanted to bury himself alive.
Ling Xueyin sipped tea in the background, serene as ever.
"Relax, Sect Master. It was only a small glimpse."
"That's the PROBLEM!"
Kai Yun clapped loudly.
"WE HAVE A MONSTER LEADING US!"
Feng Xiao added smugly,
"I bet he's even stronger than Elder Wei Tian."
Wei Tian, who was quietly polishing his spear, paused mid-stroke.
Everyone slowly turned toward him.
Kai Yun whispered, "Fight? Fight? Fight?"
"No!" Lin Xuanji said immediately.
"NO fighting. Absolutely zero fighting. Nobody fights anybody!"
Mu Xiaofan nodded softly.
"Fighting is sad…"
Stonewall spoke loudly, overriding everyone.
"Sect Master is correct."
Kai Yun deflated.
"Aww…"
Stonewall continued, giving a curt nod at Wei Tian.
"And Elder Wei Tian was only one of the many iron pillars of the original sect."
Lin Xuanji froze.
"Oh gods, please don't start reminiscing—"
Too late.
Stonewall continued calmly:
"Our Sect Master once led us across entire worlds. We—"
Lin Xuanji tackled him.
The disciples stared.
Stonewall didn't fall—he simply stood there, unmoving, while Lin Xuanji clung to him like a koala.
"STOP. TALKING. ABOUT. THAT!"
Feng Xiao whispered,
"…This is the most pathetic thing I've ever seen."
Kai Yun held back laughter.
"This is better than any play!"
Ruolan panicked.
"S-Sect Master, you're embarrassing yourself!"
Mu Xiaofan petted the bear.
"He doesn't like memories…"
Stonewall didn't budge, nor did his expression change.
"I apologize, Sect Master. I merely stated facts."
Lin Xuanji let go and slid down Stonewall's front like a sack of despair.
Ling Xueyin placed her tea cup down.
"That's enough for now," she said calmly. "We should continue training."
Stonewall nodded.
"Yes. Children, show me your progress."
Kai Yun leapt forward.
"YES! ME FIRST!"
Stonewall extended one massive hand.
"No."
Kai Yun froze. "…Why not?"
Stonewall pointed at her sword.
"You swing with enthusiasm. Not technique."
Kai Yun gasped.
"…You insulted my sword."
Stonewall didn't blink.
"I insulted your lack of control."
Kai Yun dropped to her knees dramatically.
"MY PRIDE—!"
Feng Xiao cackled.
Ruolan tugged Lin Xuanji's robe.
"I-I don't want to be evaluated…"
Tian Wen stepped forward calmly.
"You can evaluate me first."
Stonewall nodded.
Tian Wen sank into a stance.
Focused.
Balanced.
Breath steady.
Stonewall watched for a full ten seconds…
Then nodded once.
"Acceptable."
Kai Yun choked. "ACCEPTABLE?! THAT'S IT?!"
Feng Xiao slapped her shoulder. "Calm down."
Tian Wen exhaled slightly in relief.
Mu Xiaofan stepped shyly forward.
Stonewall stared at him.
Mu Xiaofan smiled nervously.
"I… don't know what to show."
Stonewall knelt to meet his eye level—a rare sign of gentleness.
"You carry no fighting intent."
Mu Xiaofan nodded.
"I don't like hurting things."
Stonewall placed a hand on his head.
"Then you will learn control, not combat. Your path is different."
Mu Xiaofan beamed.
"Thank you."
Kai Yun looked offended. "Why is he nice to HIM?!"
Stonewall stood.
"Because he does not attempt to decapitate the air."
Kai Yun stomped her foot.
"THE AIR DESERVES IT!"
The ground cracked slightly.
Stonewall sighed deeply.
"…Eccentric child."
Lin Xuanji clapped loudly before they argued again.
"Alright! Enough training evaluation. Let's—"
HUMMMMMMM.
Lin Xuanji froze.
"NO. NO MORE HUMMING. PLEASE."
The mountain hummed louder.
Ling Xueyin's eyes sharpened slightly.
"It seems the Peak is preparing something."
Lin Xuanji panicked.
"No! Tell it to stop! We haven't even finished today's training! I haven't even eaten—"
But the humming kept building.
Stonewall turned toward the cliff.
"The earth veins… are shifting again."
Kai Yun grinned.
"Another elder?"
Tian Wen's expression sharpened.
"…Or something outside the mountain."
Lin Xuanji paled.
"…Outside?"
Wei Tian tightened his grip on his spear.
"A presence is approaching the range."
The disciples tensed.
Mu Xiaofan hugged the fox close.
"Not a beast… a person."
Lin Xuanji swallowed hard.
"Is it—an enemy?"
Ling Xueyin spoke quietly, but decisively.
"No."
She looked toward the forest below the mountain.
"It is a messenger."
Lin Xuanji blinked.
"…A messenger?"
She nodded.
"The outside world… has noticed Heavenly Peak."
Lin Xuanji froze completely.
"…Oh no."