Chapter 27 – Senior Sister's Mood Swings
Li Chen walked a few steps behind her, his pace steady but his thoughts all over the place.
From the moment she told him to come along, something had been bothering him. It wasn't exactly fear. It was that quiet kind of unease that crept in when things didn't quite add up. People like Lin Qingxue didn't act on impulse, not in a place like this. Every action had a purpose for someone backed by a powerful family like hers.
Li Chen glanced at her figure ahead of him. She looked calm and unhurried, as if bringing an outer sect disciple like him into the inner sect was nothing worth thinking about.
Li Chen didn't believe that for a second.
"So what do you want from me?" he thought, his gaze narrowing slightly.
He didn't ask out loud. If she wanted him to know, she would say it herself. If she didn't, prying would only make things worse.
The feeling stayed with him, but he kept walking. Turning back now would only create more problems than it solved.
Before long, the surroundings began to change. The paths became cleaner and wider, every stone laid with precision. The buildings rose higher, their structure refined, giving off a quiet sense of order and authority. Even the spacing between them felt intentional, like everything here had been carefully planned.
Then Li Chen stepped across an invisible boundary and felt it immediately.
The Qi pressed against him softly, wrapping around his body in a way that felt different. It wasn't just denser. It was smoother, more refined, as if it had been filtered and cultivated over centuries.
Li Chen took a breath, and the energy flowed into his body far more easily than anything in the outer sect. His meridians responded instinctively, drawing it in without resistance.
Li Chen's brows furrowed slightly.
"So this is why inner sect disciples have an advantage," he thought.
No matter how hard outer sect disciples trained, they were already starting from a lower point. Just existing here gave inner sect disciples an advantage, and it wasn't a small one. It was the kind that only grew wider with time.
His thoughts were interrupted by movement around him.
Inner sect disciples passed by, dressed in their refined robes. Their steps were calm, their expressions composed. There was no chatter or chaotic movement like in the outer sect. Everything felt controlled.
Their eyes still moved, and almost all of them landed on Li Chen.
Some were curious. Some indifferent. A few were openly disdainful.
Li Chen didn't react, though he noticed it all.
Their gazes lingered briefly on his robes before moving on. Li Chen followed their line of sight down for a moment. His outer sect uniform looked worn and plain, completely out of place here. Compared to the refined robes of the inner sect disciples, the difference was obvious.
A faint exhale left him.
Before his thoughts could go further, her voice cut in, carrying a slight hint of annoyance.
"Try to keep up."
Li Chen looked up and quickened his steps.
After a few turns, the buildings gradually thinned out, opening into a wide field. It wasn't endless, but it was spacious enough to accommodate a reasonable number of people. The ground was smooth, clearly maintained, likely used for training or sparring.
Several inner sect disciples were already there, moving in pairs and exchanging blows in controlled sparring matches.
Li Chen watched for a moment.
Compared to the outer sect, the difference was obvious again. No shouting, no reckless clashes. Just precision and control.
Lin Qingxue finally stopped, and Li Chen halted a step behind her.
For a moment, she didn't speak.
Then she shifted slightly, turning halfway toward him. Something about her posture changed, subtly but noticeably. She didn't meet his eyes immediately, and when she finally did, Li Chen paused.
There was a faint redness on her cheeks.
Li Chen couldn't help but find it a little amusing.
"You," she started, her tone sharper than usual. "That day…"
Li Chen immediately understood what she meant.
Her gaze stayed on him, steady but with tension behind it.
"You didn't tell anyone… did you?"
Li Chen didn't answer right away. He looked at her for a moment, then let out a quiet breath.
"I didn't," he said simply. "I don't plan to."
He paused, then added casually,
"I'd prefer my head to stay attached."
For a split second, something shifted in her expression.
Relief.
It passed quickly, but it was there.
"Good," she muttered, a bit too quickly. The faint redness on her face deepened slightly before she turned her gaze away.
Li Chen looked elsewhere, giving her space. He couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips.
After a few seconds, she regained her composure. When she looked back at him, her expression had already returned to normal, calm and sharp.
"You understand the situation then," she said.
Li Chen nodded. "I do."
Her tone shifted completely.
"I need you to spar with me."
Li Chen blinked.
"You what?"
"Spar," she repeated. "With me."
He stared at her. No smile. No hint of a joke.
She was serious.
"You brought me here for that?"
"Yes."
Li Chen ran a hand through his hair, letting out a breath. Of all the things he had expected, this wasn't one of them.
Still, as he looked at her, something else began to surface.
Excitement.
Even if he lost, and he probably would, this was still an inner sect disciple. A chance like this wasn't something he could easily pass up.
"Alright," he said after a moment.
A faint shift passed through his stance.
"Let's do it."
They stepped forward, facing each other.
As was customary, Li Chen brought his fists together and bowed slightly.
"I hope to learn from Senior Sister Lin."
She returned the gesture with a small nod.
Then they moved.
Li Chen didn't hesitate. The moment the distance closed, he stepped forward first. His body lowered slightly as he closed in, testing her reaction.
She moved smoothly.
No panic. No rush.
She sidestepped his approach with ease, her movement light but precise.
Li Chen didn't stop. He adjusted mid-step, redirecting his momentum and launching a palm strike toward her shoulder.
Crushing Palm.
Qi gathered in his palm as it closed the gap.
It didn't land.
She raised her hand lightly and deflected it. Not forcefully. Just enough to disperse the impact.
Li Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
He stepped back immediately, creating space, then moved again, faster this time.
He circled, testing angles, watching her carefully.
Her gaze stayed on him, calm and steady.
No openings.
No wasted movement.
Li Chen exhaled and pushed forward again. This time, he increased his speed. His movements became sharper, more aggressive as he tried to break her rhythm.
Strike after strike followed.
Palm. Step. Shift. Turn.
She blocked. Deflected. Redirected.
Each motion minimal.
Perfectly timed.
Li Chen felt the pressure building. Not from force, but from the fact that nothing he did seemed to work.
He clicked his tongue internally.
Then his body blurred.
Shadow Step.
In an instant, he closed the distance, appearing at her side.
Crushing Palm followed immediately.
Faster. More direct.
This time, she reacted more noticeably. She raised her arm to block.
The impact landed.
A dull sound echoed as their energies clashed.
She slid back half a step.
But it was enough.
Li Chen's eyes lit up slightly.
It worked.
He pressed forward again without hesitation.
Her movements sharpened immediately. The next time he attacked, her counter came faster.
A light strike landed against his side.
It disrupted his balance completely.
Li Chen staggered back.
Before he could recover, another hit came.
Then another.
Each one controlled and effective.
He was being pushed back.
Little by little.
His breathing grew heavier.
His movements slowed.
The effect of Shadow Step began to fade.
His stamina dropped.
Li Chen tried to push forward again.
But this time, she moved first.
Her palm landed against his chest.
Not hard enough to injure him.
Just enough to stop him completely.
Li Chen froze.
Then he exhaled.
"I lost," he said.
He straightened up slightly, rolling his shoulders. His body felt heavy, his Qi running low, but his eyes were still bright.
Across from him, she stood still, watching him.
There was a brief pause before she spoke.
"You did well."
Li Chen blinked.
That sounded genuine.
Not polite. Not dismissive.
Real.
"You did well for an outer sect disciple," she added. "Your control and reaction speed are above average."
She looked at him briefly.
"Especially that movement technique of yours."
Li Chen scratched the back of his head.
"Got lucky," he said.
She didn't respond to that.
Instead, she turned slightly.
"Come here tomorrow."
Her tone made it clear.
Li Chen sighed quietly.
"Do I have a choice?" he asked.
"No."
"Thought so."
He nodded anyway.
"I'll be here."
She gave a small nod of acknowledgement