The Alliance escorts settled near the courtyard, setting up a neat little camp with quiet efficiency.
Their presence alone made Heavenly Peak feel… watched.
Not judged, not hostile—
just observed.
Lin Xuanji hated it.
"They're looking at everything," he whispered harshly.
Ling Xueyin sipped tea beside him.
"That is their job."
"I know, but—look! LOOK!"
He pointed.
One of the escorts politely observed Kai Yun swinging her sword at a tree stump.
Kai Yun noticed the audience… and immediately began swinging harder.
Lin Xuanji panicked.
"KAI YUN STOP SHOWING OFF—"
Kai Yun yelled back,
"I'M REPRESENTING OUR SECT!"
"BY TRYING TO CUT DOWN MY TREES?!"
"They insulted the mountain!"
"No they didn't!"
Stonewall approached silently.
"Sect Master. The escorts will judge more harshly if you panic."
"I'M NOT PANICKING—"
"Your voice cracked."
"…I'm regulating my tone."
---
Basic Etiquette Training Begins
Lin Xuanji gathered the disciples in a straight line.
The escorts watched from afar, curious but silent.
Lin Xuanji inhaled deeply.
"First lesson: Bowing politely. Kai Yun, don't bow aggressively. Feng Xiao, don't roll your eyes. Ruolan, stand straight."
Ruolan fixed his posture immediately, determined not to embarrass the sect.
Feng Xiao smirked. "Teach Ruolan, not me."
Kai Yun stretched her arms dramatically. "I can bow with style!"
"No. No style," Lin Xuanji said firmly.
"Polite, normal, calm bow."
He demonstrated.
It was elegant.
Almost too refined.
Like a man who had practiced such bows in front of kings and immortals.
Stonewall nodded approvingly.
The disciples copied him.
Kai Yun: too enthusiastic
Feng Xiao: too casual
Tian Wen: perfect
Mu Xiaofan: bowed while feeding a sparrow
Ruolan: bowed nervously but correctly
Lin Xuanji clapped.
"Okay, not terrible—"
A polite cough interrupted him.
One of the escorts stood nearby.
"Your etiquette form is quite proper, Sect Master."
Lin Xuanji stiffened.
"Oh—uh—thank you."
The escort smiled faintly.
"I did not expect such refinement from a newly revived sect."
Lin Xuanji felt sweat running down his spine.
He could practically feel Stonewall and Ling Xueyin staring at him, silently judging how well he was hiding his past.
Kai Yun whispered loudly to Feng Xiao,
"He looks like he's lying again."
"I KNOW," Feng Xiao whispered back.
Tian Wen noticed and gently pushed Ruolan forward.
"Focus."
Ruolan straightened, cheeks red.
"Y-Yes…"
Mu Xiaofan let a squirrel climb to his shoulder.
The escort looked at all the disciples thoughtfully before bowing and stepping back.
"We look forward to seeing your sect at the ceremony."
Lin Xuanji bowed back.
His body once again moved with ancient grace.
The escort blinked, clearly impressed.
Lin Xuanji internally screamed.
---
Stonewall Drops a Rock-Sized Truth Bomb
After the escort left, Stonewall approached Lin Xuanji.
"Your movements are too perfect."
Lin Xuanji winced.
"I'm TRYING to look average."
"You are failing."
"YES I KNOW—"
Stonewall lowered his voice.
"If you continue to move like a peak-level cultivator, the world will notice."
Lin Xuanji froze.
This time it wasn't fear.
It was realization.
"…Stonewall. Am I… dangerous to the sect?"
Stonewall looked at him seriously.
"No."
Lin Xuanji sighed in relief.
Stonewall continued:
"The world is dangerous to you."
Lin Xuanji froze again.
"…That wasn't comforting."
Ling Xueyin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Xuanji. We will handle the pressure. You only need to be yourself."
"I don't know who that is!"
"We know," she said gently.
Somewhere behind them, Kai Yun yelled:
"CAN WE PRACTICE FIGHTING NOW?!"
Stonewall sighed.
"…Perhaps start with restraint."
---
Lunch Chaos
Mu Xiaofan offered the escorts food.
The escorts: polite, confused
Kai Yun: fought a chicken
Feng Xiao: burned the rice
Ruolan: saved the rice
Tian Wen: somehow prepared perfect tea
Wei Tian: guarded the pot like it was a sacred relic
Stonewall: ate rocks
Ling Xueyin: didn't let anything catch fire
Lin Xuanji: screamed internally
Mu Xiaofan fed the dragonling leftover leaves.
The dragonling rumbled contently.
One escort whispered to the other,
"This sect… is unique."
Lin Xuanji overheard and muttered,
"That's one word for it…"
---
The Message That Changes Everything
As sunset painted the sky orange, one of the escorts approached Lin Xuanji again.
"Sect Master. There is one more thing the Alliance requires."
Lin Xuanji stiffened.
"What?"
The escort handed him a sealed scroll.
"The ceremony will not only recognize Heavenly Peak."
Lin Xuanji opened the seal.
His expression drained of color.
Kai Yun leaned over his shoulder.
"What does it say?"
Lin Xuanji read aloud slowly:
"'Each sect must display one disciple in a public demonstration.'"
Feng Xiao smirked.
"That's easy."
Kai Yun raised her sword.
"I VOLUNTEER."
"NO," Lin Xuanji said instantly.
Tian Wen stepped forward calmly.
"I can do it."
Ruolan's eyes went wide with fear.
"W-Wait— does that mean I also…?"
Mu Xiaofan hugged the fox.
"I don't want to fight…"
Lin Xuanji put the scroll down and whispered:
"…We're doomed."