Yan Xuan took Instructor Han's advice the next day.
Not immediately.
He waited until it would matter.
"Outer disciples, sparring pairs," the announcer called out. "Winners advance. Losers sit out."
A few murmurs rippled through the group.
Zhou Kai leaned toward Yan Xuan. "If we win this round, our monthly evaluation goes up."
Yan Xuan nodded. "I know."
Zhou Kai hesitated. "You're… going to win, right?"
Yan Xuan met his eyes. "That depends."
Zhou Kai frowned. "On what?"
"On whether winning helps," Yan Xuan replied.
Zhou Kai opened his mouth, then closed it. "You really are terrifying sometimes."
Yan Xuan's opponent was a stocky disciple named Li Chen, known for brute force and aggressive Qi bursts. Li Chen grinned as they stepped onto the ring.
"Don't worry," Li Chen said loudly. "I'll go easy."
Yan Xuan inclined his head slightly. "Thank you."
The signal was given.
Li Chen charged immediately, Qi flaring bright and heavy. His strikes were powerful but straightforward—designed to overwhelm.
Yan Xuan stepped back.
Once.
Twice.
The system flickered.
Opponent Overcommitment: High
Counter Opportunity: Immediate
Outcome if Exploited: Victory (Low Effort)
Yan Xuan ignored it.
He adjusted his footing a fraction too late.
Li Chen's fist grazed his shoulder.
A sharp sting bloomed.
The crowd reacted instantly.
"Oh!"
"He got hit!"
"Guess he's not untouchable after all."
Yan Xuan steadied himself, breath even.
Li Chen's grin widened. "Careful now."
They exchanged several more blows.
Yan Xuan blocked efficiently—but not perfectly. He let one strike slip through, another push him back a step farther than necessary.
Then, at exactly the right moment, he misjudged a retreat.
Li Chen's final strike sent him skidding across the stone.
"Winner," the announcer called, "Li Chen!"
Applause followed.
Li Chen laughed loudly. "Good match."
Yan Xuan rose calmly and bowed once. "Well fought."
Later, near the edge of the training grounds, Instructor Han watched him in silence.
"You lost," Han said.
"Yes."
"On purpose."
"Yes."
Han exhaled through his nose. "And?"
Yan Xuan answered evenly. "No injuries. No resentment. Minimal attention."
Han studied him. "You gave up advancement points."
"For now."
Han shook his head slowly. "You're wasting potential."
Yan Xuan replied quietly, "I'm protecting it."
For a long moment, Han said nothing.
Then he nodded. "Good. That means you understand Cloudfall."
He turned away. "Don't make a habit of it. People who lose too often become invisible."
Yan Xuan watched him leave.
Invisible, he thought, was acceptable.
That night, Zhou Kai flopped onto his bed with a groan. "I can't believe you lost."
Yan Xuan sat cross-legged, calm. "You believe it."
Zhou Kai stared at him. "You could've ended that fight in seconds."
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you?"
Yan Xuan met his gaze. "Because winning would've cost more than losing."
Zhou Kai was silent for a long time.
"…You think long-term," he finally said.
Yan Xuan closed his eyes. "I think correctly."
Qi settled.
The system hovered briefly.
Exposure Reduced
Structural Stability Maintained
Long-Term Outcome: Favorable
Yan Xuan dismissed it.
Losing had been the correct move.
But even as he lay down to rest, he knew something else was true:
You could only lose correctly for so long.
Sooner or later, Cloudfall Sect would demand proof.
And when that moment came—
Yan Xuan would decide whether to keep hiding…
Or remind everyone why restraint was a choice, not a limitation.