The wind returned.
Soft.
But nothing returned to normal.
I stood at the center of the village.
Still.
While the others—
Began to shift.
Lin Yue kept watching me.
More cautious now.
More distant.
He stepped forward slightly, his voice low and controlled. You know something we do not.
I glanced at him.
Chen Xu gave a faint nod. Of course.
Lin Yue's expression hardened.
He took another step. Then speak.
Chen Xu shook his head. Not necessary.
The tension rose again.
But this time—
He restrained it.
Good.
He was learning.
System spoke in a calm tone.
System observed increased restraint in Lin Yue's behavior.
Chen Xu looked toward the distance. At least he is capable of thinking.
Footsteps approached.
More than before.
Steady.
Disciplined.
I did not turn.
No need.
Their Qi was different.
Sharper.
Refined.
Moments later—
They arrived.
Six figures.
Divided into two groups.
Keeping distance from one another.
Not allies.
Lin Yue reacted immediately.
His hand tightened on his sword. You are late.
A man in gray robes stepped forward.
His presence carried a cold stillness.
Han Wei.
Han Wei swept his gaze across the village. A small place. Yet such disturbance.
His eyes stopped on me.
Stayed there.
Interesting.
On the other side—
A woman stepped forward lightly.
Her movements were graceful.
But her eyes were sharp.
Su Yan.
Su Yan's lips curved slightly. So this is where it began.
Three sects.
Qingfeng Sect.
Hanshan Sect.
Luoxia Pavilion.
They arrived too quickly.
Chen Xu observed quietly. Information spreads faster than expected.
System responded. Or it was spread intentionally.
Chen Xu smiled faintly. The second is more interesting.
Han Wei spoke again.
He glanced at Lin Yue. Your report lacked clarity.
Lin Yue remained calm.
His gaze steady. Because this cannot be explained with simple words.
Su Yan stepped forward.
Her gaze swept across the villagers.
Then stopped at me.
She tilted her head slightly. And him?
All eyes turned to me.
Silence.
Chen Xu stood calmly. I merely passed through.
No one believed it.
Naturally.
Han Wei studied me more carefully.
His eyes narrowed. You have no Qi.
Chen Xu nodded. Correct.
Su Yan smiled faintly.
She moved closer. Yet you stand at the center of all this.
Chen Xu looked at her.
Silent for a moment.
Then answered. Coincidence.
Su Yan let out a soft laugh.
She did not believe it.
Lin Yue spoke again.
His gaze remained fixed on me. He can perceive something.
Silence fell.
Han Wei reacted immediately.
He turned sharply. Explain.
Lin Yue did not hesitate.
His voice remained steady. He cannot directly see it. But he can interfere with it.
The atmosphere changed.
Curiosity faded.
Replaced by caution.
Their aura shifted.
Subtle.
But real.
System spoke again.
System detected rising hostility.
Chen Xu remained still. Expected.
Su Yan's expression grew more serious.
She took another step forward. You interfere with something none of us can even sense.
Chen Xu did not respond.
Only met her gaze.
Silence lingered.
Then—
I stepped forward.
All of them tensed.
Han Wei adjusted his stance.
Su Yan raised her hand slightly.
Lin Yue remained still.
I stopped at the same spot.
Where the last person vanished.
Chen Xu spoke calmly. You all came for the same reason.
No one denied it.
Chen Xu continued. Yet none of you understand what you are facing.
Han Wei gave a faint scoff.
He crossed his arms. And you do?
Chen Xu looked at him.
Then answered. A little.
Silence.
That alone prevented immediate conflict.
I closed my eyes.
System responded at once.
System warned of rising instability.
Chen Xu ignored it.
Chen Xu thought briefly. Let us test it again.
I opened my eyes.
Void Eyes activated.
Not to erase.
To draw attention.
To force response.
Several breaths passed.
Nothing happened.
Then—
A fracture.
Sharper than before.
Everyone reacted.
Han Wei inhaled sharply.
Su Yan stepped back slightly.
Lin Yue focused.
The air trembled.
And this time—
It did not choose a villager.
It paused.
Between us.
System spoke.
System detected a shift in behavior.
Chen Xu smiled faintly.
Chen Xu understood. Now you hesitate.
Silence.
All of them could feel it.
Though none could see it.
The pressure grew.
Han Wei spoke under his breath. What is that…
Su Yan stared ahead. Something is there.
Lin Yue remained silent.
Watching.
Good.
I took one step forward.
The pressure intensified.
But I did not stop.
Chen Xu spoke calmly. You wish to observe.
The unseen presence trembled.
System recorded irregular response.
Chen Xu continued. As do I.
For the first time—
It did not withdraw immediately.
It remained.
For several breaths.
Long enough.
Chen Xu narrowed his eyes.
Chen Xu concluded. You are changing.
Silence.
Then—
Everything collapsed.
The fracture disappeared.
The pressure faded.
Emptiness returned.
But this time—
No one spoke.
Because all of them understood—
That presence…
Chose not to act.
And that—
Was far more dangerous.
I smiled faintly.
Chen Xu looked ahead.
Chen Xu spoke softly. Now… this becomes interesting.
In the distance—
More Qi approached.
Stronger.
More numerous.
System spoke in a flat tone.
System confirmed increasing attention from multiple forces.
Chen Xu closed his eyes briefly.
Chen Xu thought calmly. Good.
When I opened them—
This world…
Had begun to move.