Yuexin's nails dug into the lacquered wood of the railing, leaving crescent-shaped marks. Below, in the heart of the training ground, Lin Feng was no longer the brother she remembered. Yes, his face held the same handsome lines, a stark contrast to his former sickly pallor. But his eyes... they burned with a chilling intensity that stole her breath away and awakened a thrill deep within her.The crowd's gasps were a mere buzzing in her ears as she witnessed his transformation. This wasn't a mere fluke, not even a hidden talent suddenly unearthed. It was something else entirely – potent, dangerous, and irresistibly alluring.The Rising Dragon Fist, a technique ingrained into the clan's very foundation, flowed from him with a power that sent shivers down her spine. The pulse of draconic energy rippling outwards…it resonated with her, stirring a primal hunger she'd never dared to name.Her Lin Feng had been weak, pliable. This new version...he was a force of nature barely contained. The realization sparked a wicked heat within her. She wanted that power – desired him – not with the innocent affection of a sibling, but a possessiveness that bordered on madness."A cheat! It has to be," Elder Zhang's voice finally pierced through the haze of her fascination. A flicker of satisfaction ran through her. The old fool, so quick to dismiss Lin Feng, now trembled on the edge of either fear or greed. She, however, saw only opportunity.Lin Feng turned towards the elders, and for a breathless moment, she thought their eyes might meet. But his gaze didn't reach her hidden alcove, instead settling on the circle of power – those who held the keys to his advancement. A sly grin tugged at his lips, and Yuexin felt a jolt of certainty. Her brother wasn't merely reborn; he was playing a game, and it seemed he already knew the rules.Her mind raced. She'd always been the clever one between them, protecting him from petty cruelties, smoothing his path with gentle manipulations. It was a role she relished. Yet, now the playing field had shifted. She needed a new strategy, bolder and far more dangerous than ever before.The wager - a month's labor in the desolate ancestral mines in exchange for a single blow landed on an arrogant oaf. Lin Feng was setting a trap, and the elders, blinded by their disdain for him, were stumbling right into it. Elder Wang's gluttony, Elder Hu's barely concealed envy...she cataloged their weaknesses. These were tools ripe for her exploitation.The demonstration ended the way it had to – with Lin Feng's victory and the crowd buzzing in a confused mixture of excitement and disbelief. It was time for her to make her move.Dismissing her maidservant with a flick of her wrist, she descended from her hidden balcony, her silk robes whispering with each step. The goal was to intercept Lin Feng, isolate him under the pretense of sisterly congratulations. His display had surely drawn attention; she needed to stake her claim before rivals emerged."Lin Feng," she called out, her voice a sweet melody calculated to stand out from the din of the crowd.He turned, and their eyes finally met. A flicker of surprise, perhaps even a hint of wariness, marred his otherwise triumphant expression. Good. She didn't want him to think this was all according to her plan; a little vulnerability would make him more susceptible."Sister Yuexin, that was...incredible," she breathed, allowing her usual composure to slip, revealing genuine awe.His answering smile was slow, calculating. "Merely a glimpse of what I'm now capable of," he said, his words low, meant only for her ears.The thrill intensified as she caught the hint of darkness beneath his playful tone. Here was an echo of what she'd felt on the balcony, a shared secret between them. It both frightened and emboldened her."You must tell me everything," she insisted, letting her hand brush his sleeve, a touch light as a butterfly's wing."And why shouldn't I leave you to wonder, dear sister?" he countered, his eyes gleaming with amusement.He was testing her, enjoying this new dynamic. She needed to up the ante. Taking a deep breath, she leaned in, the scent of jasmine blossoms deliberately clinging to her skin."Because I believe there are… advantages I could offer you," she whispered, infusing her voice with a hint of seductive promise. "Advantages others couldn't possibly understand."