Chapter 28 – So… About That Mission
Li Chen walked out of the inner sect without looking back. The moment he crossed the boundary, it felt like stepping into a different world. The Qi was thinner. The environment had lost that refined edge. But more than anything, it was the people that made the difference.
The same stares that had followed him in were still there. Now they were worse.
Earlier, he had walked behind Lin Qingxue. That alone had been enough to keep most people in check. No one dared to say anything with her around. Now he was alone.
And it showed.
People looked at him properly this time. Some disciples didn't even bother hiding their expressions. Their gazes swept over him with open disdain before moving on. Others whispered to each other in low tones, not particularly concerned if he noticed.
Li Chen ignored all of it.
He had gotten used to being looked down on.
He kept walking, his pace steady, his expression calm as if none of it mattered.
It didn't take long before the inner sect buildings disappeared behind him. The paths became rougher, the structures simpler, and the air lost that smooth, refined Qi he had just experienced.
Li Chen let out a breath.
His thoughts drifted back to the spar.
Every exchange replayed itself in his mind without effort. The way she moved. The way she reacted. The way every attack he threw seemed to fall just short of making any real impact.
He clicked his tongue lightly.
The gap had been obvious.
It wasn't just strength. It was control, experienc. Even when he thought he had pushed her, it never really felt like she was under pressure.
Still, the memory didn't frustrate him.
If anything, it stirred something else.
A quiet sense of excitement.
Li Chen shook his head slightly.
There were more immediate things to worry about.
The pending quest.
He hadn't forgotten about it . He had just been… distracted. Looting from fellow disciples. Now that he thought about it again, it sounded just as ridiculous as before.
Li Chen glanced up at the sky. The light had already begun to fade.
There wasn't enough time left.
And even if there was, he wasn't about to go around picking fights for no reason.
That only left one outcome.
He would fail.
And with that… came the penalty.
Li Chen frowned slightly, though his steps didn't slow.
He didn't know what the system would do. That uncertainty was the real problem. If it was something minor, fine. If it wasn't…
He exhaled and let the thought go.
The path ahead was quiet.
For once, nothing interrupted him. No sudden trouble. No disciples looking to stir something up. Just silence.
It felt strange.
Li Chen slowed a little, taking in a deeper breath than usual. The air wasn't as rich as the inner sect's, but it was steady… calming in its own way.
For the first time in a while, he wasn't rushing toward anything.
No fights.
No immediate danger.
No one trying to force him into something.
He exhaled slowly.
When was the last time he had a moment like this?
The answer didn't come immediately.
Ever since the system appeared, everything had changed. One thing after another, barely any time to pause in between.
Before that…
His expression didn't change, but his thoughts shifted.
Before that, things had been different.
He had been weak.
That hadn't changed back then. People had pushed him around, treated him like he didn't matter… like he didn't even deserve to stand among them.
He had endured it.
Because there was nothing he could do.
Li Chen let out a quiet breath.
At least that was changing.
The system had given him that much. Even if he didn't understand it yet, even if it came with strange missions and even stranger conditions… it had still given him a chance.
A chance to grow stronger.
A chance to stop just enduring.
To push back.
He paused slightly, then frowned.
Come to think of it…
The annoying voice had been quiet.
For a while now.
Li Chen raised a brow slightly. That was unusual. Not that he minded the silence. In fact, he preferred it.
Still…
It felt off.
Just as the thought settled—
"So you finally noticed."
The voice came without warning, cutting cleanly into his thoughts.
Li Chen didn't react outwardly. Only his eyes shifted slightly.
"You've been quiet."
"I've learnt to only speak when necessary."
Li Chen almost scoffed.
"That's new."
"Your current situation requires no commentary. The outcome is already decided."
There it was.
Straight to the point.
Li Chen sighed lightly. "Yeah, I figured."
"The mission remains incomplete."
"I know."
A brief pause followed as he continued walking.
Then the voice added,
"The penalty will be applied once the time limit expires."
Li Chen rubbed the back of his neck. "Can't wait."
There was no sarcasm in his tone.
Just acceptance.
Not long after, he reached his quarters.
The familiar structure stood quietly where it always had, unchanged and unremarkable.
But the moment he stepped closer—
Something shifted.
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
Li Chen stopped.
His body tensed instinctively as his eyes swept the area.
For a split second, he had felt it.
A presence.
Heavy.
Pressing down on him just enough to make his instincts react.
Then it was gone.
Like it had never been there.
Li Chen stood still for a moment longer, his gaze narrowing slightly.
"What was that…?"
No answer came.
No movement.
Nothing out of place.
After a few seconds, he exhaled quietly and shook his head.
Then he stepped inside.
The door closed behind him with a dull sound, cutting off the outside world.
The room felt the same as always.
Simple.
Quiet.
Safe, in its own way.
Li Chen didn't waste time.
He moved to the center of the room and sat down, crossing his legs as he settled into position. His breathing slowed naturally as he focused, letting everything else fade into the background.
If something was coming…
He would meet it properly.
A faint blue light appeared in front of him.
The all too familiar system panel.
[ Mission: Loot items worth 50 copper coins]
[Status: Incomplete]
[Time Remaining: 00:02:04]
Li Chen stared at it for a moment.
Two minutes and four seconds.
That was all that remained.
He let out a breath and closed his eyes.
There was no point thinking about it anymore.
Whatever happened next…
He would deal with it.
Time passed quietly.
The numbers ticked down.
[00:01:27]
[00:00:49]
[00:00:18]
Li Chen's breathing remained steady, but his awareness sharpened.
[00:00:07]
He opened his eyes.
[00:00:03]
The air around him felt… off.
[00:00:01]
Then everything changed.
The space around him twisted without warning. The room blurred, stretched, and collapsed inward as if it had lost its shape.
Li Chen felt his body being pulled along with it, like something had grabbed hold of him and refused to let go.
His vision distorted.
The ground beneath him disappeared.
For a moment, there was nothing left.
Just darkness swallowing everything around him as he was dragged deeper into it.
Then as suddenly as it began
Everything went still.