The sect did not change overnight.
That was what made it dangerous.
Li Fan stood at the edge of the inner courtyard training grounds, watching disciples circulate qi in rigid formations. Their movements were clean, repetitive, predictable. The sect liked predictability. It made control easier.
Chen Yu finished a cycle and walked over, wiping sweat from his brow.
"You have been standing there for a while," Chen Yu said. "Thinking again?"
"Observing," Li Fan replied.
Chen Yu followed his gaze. "You are not even looking at the strong ones."
"They reveal nothing new," Li Fan said. "Weakness appears in the unnoticed."
Chen Yu frowned. "That sounds unsettling."
"It should," Li Fan said.
---
Across the courtyard, two inner disciples spoke quietly.
"Did you hear?" one whispered. "Lu Yan failed to recruit him."
The other scoffed. "That outer disciple? Arrogant."
"Arrogant people die early."
Li Fan heard every word.
He did not react.
---
Later that day, a bell rang.
A summons.
Inner courtyard candidates were ordered to gather at the Hall of Records.
Chen Yu looked uneasy. "This is not scheduled."
Li Fan replied calmly. "Then it is intentional."
They walked together.
The girl from the archives was already there, standing near a pillar. When she saw Li Fan, her posture eased slightly.
"You were called too?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Do you know why?"
"No," Li Fan said. "But I know who requested it."
She hesitated. "Who?"
"Someone testing boundaries," Li Fan replied.
---
Inside the hall, Elder Qian stood behind a long desk, expression unreadable.
Several inner disciples were present, including Lu Yan.
Lu Yan smiled faintly when he saw Li Fan.
Elder Qian spoke. "You are all here because reports have reached the elders."
Chen Yu stiffened.
"Reports of unregistered alliances," Elder Qian continued. "Information moving without authorization. Influence forming where none was granted."
The room was silent.
Elder Qian's gaze landed on Li Fan.
"Li Fan," he said. "Step forward."
Li Fan did.
"You have been active," Elder Qian said.
"Yes," Li Fan replied.
"You assisted others," the elder continued. "You advised. You coordinated."
"Yes."
Elder Qian raised an eyebrow. "You do not deny it?"
"No."
Murmurs spread.
Lu Yan spoke smoothly. "Elder, enthusiasm should not be mistaken for ambition."
Li Fan looked at Lu Yan. "Ambition is defined by secrecy. I have hidden nothing."
Lu Yan's smile tightened.
Elder Qian studied Li Fan carefully. "Then explain your intent."
Li Fan did not rush.
"My intent is stability," he said. "Disciples fail because they act alone without understanding the system they exist within."
"And you believe you understand it?" Elder Qian asked.
"I observe patterns," Li Fan replied. "Patterns reveal systems."
Silence followed.
Elder Qian nodded slowly. "Interesting answer."
He turned to the others. "This is not a crime. But it is being watched."
Lu Yan interjected, "Then permission should be formalized. Or restricted."
Li Fan looked at him. "Permission implies ownership."
Lu Yan met his gaze. "And influence implies responsibility."
"I accept that," Li Fan replied.
That answer caused several elders to glance up.
Elder Qian waved his hand. "Enough. This is not a trial. You are dismissed."
As they turned to leave, Elder Qian added, "Li Fan. Remain."
---
The hall emptied quickly.
Chen Yu hesitated at the door, then left.
The girl lingered a moment longer, then followed.
Only Li Fan and Elder Qian remained.
"You are careful," Elder Qian said. "Too careful for your age."
Li Fan replied, "Carelessness is expensive."
Elder Qian leaned back. "Tell me something. If I were to restrict you, what would happen?"
Li Fan answered without hesitation. "You would slow me. You would not stop me."
Elder Qian laughed softly. "Bold."
"Honest," Li Fan said.
The elder's eyes sharpened. "You do not seek power in the usual way."
"No," Li Fan agreed. "I seek leverage."
Elder Qian nodded slowly. "Very well. Continue."
Li Fan bowed. "Thank you."
As he turned to leave, Elder Qian added, "One warning. Lu Yan will not stop."
Li Fan replied, "Neither will I."
---
Outside, Chen Yu exhaled loudly. "I thought we were finished."
Li Fan said, "We were evaluated."
"And?" Chen Yu pressed.
"And found tolerable," Li Fan replied.
The girl approached them, concern in her eyes.
"What did the elder say?" she asked.
"That he is curious," Li Fan said. "And cautious."
She frowned. "That sounds dangerous."
"It is manageable," Li Fan replied.
She hesitated. "I found something else in the archives."
Li Fan looked at her. "Speak later."
She nodded.
---
That night, Li Fan met her in a quiet storage room beneath the archives.
She unrolled an old scroll.
"It is a cultivation record," she said. "Written by the woman I mentioned before."
Li Fan scanned it quickly.
"Her techniques are incomplete," she added. "But her insights are strange."
"They are not strange," Li Fan said. "They are advanced."
Her eyes widened. "You understand it?"
"Yes."
She swallowed. "Then… what does it say about me?"
Li Fan looked at her carefully. "It suggests you were meant to inherit something. But no one guided you."
She lowered her head. "I always felt like something was missing."
"It still is," Li Fan said. "For now."
She looked up. "For now?"
Li Fan nodded. "When the time is correct, I will help you unlock it."
She studied his face. "Why?"
Li Fan answered honestly. "Because your growth benefits my future."
She laughed quietly. "You are really like that."
"Yes."
She paused. "But I do not dislike it."
Li Fan did not respond.
---
The next day, Lu Yan made his move.
A challenge was issued.
Formal. Public.
A sparring request.
Chen Yu burst into Li Fan's room. "He challenged you."
Li Fan looked up calmly. "I expected it."
"It is tomorrow," Chen Yu said. "Inner courtyard stage."
Li Fan nodded. "Accept it."
Chen Yu stared. "You will fight him?"
"Yes."
"You are only Qi Condensation Level Three," Chen Yu said. "He is Level Six."
"Levels measure quantity," Li Fan replied. "Not control."
Chen Yu clenched his fists. "Everyone will be watching."
"That is acceptable," Li Fan said.
---
Word spread quickly.
Disciples gathered in anticipation.
Lu Yan stood confidently on the stage, arms behind his back.
Li Fan stepped onto the platform without ceremony.
Lu Yan smiled. "You should have joined me."
Li Fan replied, "Then this would be pointless."
Lu Yan laughed. "Still arrogant."
Li Fan looked at him calmly. "Begin."
The elder overseeing the match raised his hand.
"Start."
Lu Yan attacked immediately.
Fast. Heavy.
Li Fan moved.
Not back.
Sideways.
Precise.
Every step minimized force.
Lu Yan frowned. "You are dodging."
"Yes," Li Fan replied. "You overextend."
Lu Yan snarled and attacked again.
Li Fan blocked lightly, redirecting qi instead of resisting.
The crowd murmured.
"He is not losing."
"He is not winning either."
Li Fan spoke quietly. "Your foundation is unstable."
Lu Yan laughed harshly. "You think you can lecture me mid fight?"
"Yes."
Lu Yan roared and released more qi.
Li Fan waited.
Then stepped inside Lu Yan's guard.
One palm strike.
Clean.
Controlled.
Lu Yan staggered.
The elder raised a hand.
"Enough."
The match ended.
Silence followed.
Lu Yan stared at Li Fan in disbelief.
"You did not defeat me," Lu Yan said.
"No," Li Fan replied. "I demonstrated disparity."
The elder nodded slowly. "Match concluded."
---
Later, as the crowd dispersed, the girl found Li Fan.
"You were calm," she said.
"That was necessary," Li Fan replied.
She hesitated. "People will fear you now."
"That is also necessary," Li Fan said.
She looked at him carefully. "Do you ever feel alone?"
Li Fan paused.
Then said, "Rarely."
She smiled faintly. "If you ever do, you know where to find me."
Li Fan nodded once.
---
That night, Li Fan cultivated quietly.
The sect above him shifted slightly.
Small.
Almost unnoticeable.
But enough.
The silence was no longer passive.
It was moving.
And Li Fan was guiding it.
(Chapter Ended)