Chapter Twenty-Two: Shadows of Pride and Power
As Li Yan emerged from the shadows, he assessed the three Kunlun disciples standing before him, each exuding a sense of disciplined strength that spoke of rigorous training. Their stances were firm, radiating an air of authority as rooted as the Kunlun Sect's influence over the region. Yet beneath their calm exteriors, he sensed a tension simmering just below the surface.
The disciple at the front took a step forward, bowing slightly but keeping his eyes fixed on Li Yan with an intent gaze. "I am Liu Min, outer disciple of the Kunlun Sect," he announced in a voice as steady as his stance. "We were sent by Elder Fan to investigate disturbances in this region—disturbances that seem to lead directly to you." He gestured to his two companions. "These are my fellow disciples, Shen Cai and Zhao Rong."
Li Yan's gaze swept over each of them, his mind sharp and watchful. He noted the authority in Liu Min's gaze—a presence that spoke of quiet control and practiced confidence. He's calm, but there's steel beneath it. A strategist, likely the one holding them together.
His eyes shifted to the disciple beside Liu Min—Shen Cai. The contempt in Shen Cai's smirk was unmistakable, his eyes narrowing as he fixed on Li Yan with a bitterness that was hard to miss. Shen Cai's Qi bristled faintly, as if the anger within him was barely held in check. This one has no patience for restraint.
Finally, Li Yan's gaze fell on the third disciple. Zhao Rong held himself with a different air—calm, steady, his gaze assessing rather than antagonistic. Early Core Formation. Stronger than the others. This one's here to ensure control.
Li Yan kept his voice calm, though his wariness deepened. "If Kunlun has questions, there's no need for three of you. I don't intend to disrupt your order."
Before Liu Min could reply, Shen Cai scoffed, stepping forward with a scornful expression. "Disrupting our order? How noble of you. Yet here you are, acting as if Kunlun's reach doesn't touch you. You think you're untouchable, don't you?"
Li Yan met Shen Cai's glare evenly, a flicker of something almost like pity crossing his mind. He's quick to anger, driven by his pride. "I don't answer to Kunlun for every step I take," he replied, his tone level.
Shen Cai's fists clenched, faint, hostile Qi gathering around them. "You humiliated me once, Li Yan. I'm here to make sure you remember your place."
Li Yan was quiet for a moment, observing the resentment simmering in Shen Cai's eyes. It wasn't just about Kunlun's authority—this was personal. Shen Cai wasn't simply here to carry out Elder Fan's orders. He wanted to prove himself, even if it meant risking conflict. An insecure pride.
Zhao Rong's calm voice broke the tension momentarily. "Shen Cai, remember our orders. This isn't about settling scores."
Shen Cai shot him a sharp look, the resentment in his expression undiminished. "With all due respect, Zhao Rong, this is personal. Kunlun doesn't tolerate insolence." His Qi flared slightly, a challenge clear in his posture.
Li Yan felt his own energy surge in response, though he kept his expression neutral. His gaze flicked briefly to Liu Min, who had been watching closely, his expression unreadable but wary. A strategist who lets his underlings take risks. Liu Min's calm may just be a front—or maybe he's testing his own resolve by seeing how I respond.
Liu Min's voice was steady, cold as he addressed Li Yan. "Kunlun's duty extends here, Li Yan. Whether you choose to respect that or not… that's up to you."
Shen Cai's sneer returned, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes as he sensed the inevitable. "Big words for someone standing alone against Kunlun." His Qi surged, an open dare, his body already shifting into an offensive stance.
Li Yan's expression remained impassive, though he felt the weight of his choice hanging in the air. They're organized, but this one's pride will be their weakness. Liu Min is watchful, but not above using Shen Cai's anger to see how I respond. His gaze hardened, a flicker of steely resolve flashing in his eyes.
"I don't bow to threats," he replied, his voice calm yet unwavering.
That was all Shen Cai needed. With a sharp intake of breath, he surged forward, Qi gathering into his fists as he prepared to strike. "Then prove it."
The forest held its breath as Shen Cai's challenge echoed. He took a step forward, a thin gust of wind swirling around him, stirring leaves in his wake. Li Yan's gaze remained steady, though his senses sharpened, ready for the inevitable clash. He remembered the bite of Shen Cai's wind attacks from their last encounter—a power meant to cut and control.
Shen Cai smirked, his voice filled with contempt. "Big words for someone who thinks he's beyond Kunlun's reach."
Without another word, he thrust his hand forward, a sharp blade of wind cutting toward Li Yan. Li Yan sidestepped with practiced ease, feeling the rush of air slice past his cheek. But Shen Cai moved swiftly, closing in with a follow-up strike.
In response, Li Yan channeled his Qi, releasing a controlled arc of fire—Ember Stream Flow—to counter. The flames surged forward, but Shen Cai called upon the wind to disperse the attack, a barrier of air scattering the flames harmlessly.
Liu Min stepped forward then, his expression unreadable. He moved his hands in a controlled, precise manner, and suddenly, shards of ice crystallized in the air around him. "We have no interest in prolonging this, Li Yan," he said, his voice cool. "Yield, and this can end here."
Li Yan's eyes narrowed as he observed the new element. Ice. Precise and unforgiving—just like him.
Zhao Rong, observing the exchange, finally stepped forward, his presence grounded and unshakable. With a single stomp, he sent a tremor through the ground, cracks splintering beneath Li Yan's feet. "You're only making this harder on yourself," Zhao Rong remarked, his tone level but edged with finality. "This isn't just about Elder Fan's orders. Kunlun's patience only extends so far."
Li Yan leapt to avoid the shifting ground, landing lightly on a nearby branch. He took in a steady breath, gathering his focus. He could feel the weight of their combined energies pressing against him, each elemental affinity shaping the battle in a way that forced him to stay on the defensive. Wind, ice, and earth—each reinforcing the other. They know how to corner an opponent.
Shen Cai scowled, eyes flashing with anger as he launched another barrage, wind blades slicing through the air with lethal speed. "Stop hiding, Li Yan! Face me directly if you're as confident as you claim!"
Li Yan's eyes flicked toward Liu Min and Zhao Rong. Both were disciplined, their expressions calm, each moving with controlled precision that made them formidable. But Shen Cai…
With a calm voice, Li Yan addressed Shen Cai. "For all that anger, I'm surprised you still need your friends' help. I'd think Kunlun would expect more from someone like you."
Shen Cai's jaw clenched, his Qi flaring as he glared at Li Yan. "I don't need their help to deal with you," he spat, stepping forward with a surge of wind that left him momentarily exposed.
Liu Min's eyes narrowed. "Shen Cai, stay in formation."
But Shen Cai ignored him, his pride overriding his reason. "Stay back! I'll finish this on my own."
Li Yan saw his chance, his gaze sharpening as he focused his Qi. With Shen Cai breaking formation, the unified pressure they had been exerting weakened, giving him a slim opening.
Now.
With quick, controlled movements, Li Yan channeled Focused Qi Strikes into his hands, igniting them with flame. He surged forward, targeting the gap Shen Cai had left, striking with a swift burst of fiery energy that caught Shen Cai off guard. Shen Cai stumbled back, a mix of shock and anger flashing across his face.
The disruption forced Liu Min and Zhao Rong to adjust, momentarily off-balance as they tried to regroup. Zhao Rong raised an earthen barrier to block Li Yan's path, but the unexpected change in Shen Cai's positioning left him slightly out of sync.
Liu Min's expression darkened as he stepped forward, forming a barrier of ice between Li Yan and Shen Cai. "Enough, Shen Cai. Don't let him provoke you," he said coldly, his tone layered with frustration.
Zhao Rong's gaze was equally stern. "Your pride is costing us ground. If you can't control yourself, step back."
Shen Cai's fists clenched, his face red with humiliation. "I don't need advice from you. This isn't over, Li Yan."
Li Yan took a steadying breath, feeling the weight of the clash but remaining calm. The brief exchange had weakened their formation, showing that even Kunlun's discipline wasn't flawless. He tightened his stance, prepared for the next move, his mind already planning the next strike.
The trap snapped shut, and Li Yan felt the sudden shift in their formation. He had been led into their counter, and as ice and earth closed around him, he quickly redirected his Qi to avoid the tightening grip of their attack. Even as he evaded, he couldn't ignore the discipline and calculation in their teamwork.
"Did you think we wouldn't adapt?" Liu Min's voice was cold, edged with a hint of satisfaction. "Kunlun doesn't crumble under pressure so easily."
Li Yan's expression remained steady, though he could see the subtle movements each disciple made to prepare for his next attack. Liu Min's calm calculation, Zhao Rong's steady force, and Shen Cai's barely contained aggression—they were relentless in their combined assault.
With a fluid motion, Shen Cai drew his weapon—a slender, elegant sword that gleamed with a faint green hue, a testament to his wind affinity. Li Yan was already familiar with Shen Cai's weapon and the razor-sharp wind currents he could channel through it. Aggressive, quick to strike. He'll keep pressing to cover the others.
As Shen Cai surged forward, Liu Min's eyes remained trained on Li Yan, his expression unreadable. In his hands, he wielded a long, polished spear, its blade glinting faintly with frost. With a measured movement, Liu Min spun the spear, gathering his Qi before releasing a flurry of ice shards that flew toward Li Yan in precise arcs.
Ice? Li Yan thought, surprised by the cold edge to Liu Min's attacks. He hadn't expected an affinity so controlled, so deliberate. A spear cultivator with ice—a perfect fit for his personality. Calm, methodical, every strike planned.
Zhao Rong, observing the exchange, raised a heavy spiked staff, embedding it into the ground with a deep thud. His earth affinity surged through the weapon, reinforcing the ground beneath him as he prepared to block any direct assault. With his grip steady, he thrust the staff forward, sending a tremor through the earth that cracked the ground under Li Yan's feet.
Li Yan's mind raced as he dodged the combined attacks, his movements fluid as he navigated the onslaught of wind, ice, and earth. Three on one, each with a weapon honed to their strengths. They're aiming to wear me down through coordination. But he felt the disparity in their cultivation levels pressing against him, the relentless assault forcing him to adapt quickly.
As he evaded another slice from Shen Cai's wind-enhanced sword, Li Yan called out, his tone challenging. "Three against one, and all this effort just to handle someone weaker in realm? I'd think Kunlun disciples would have more pride."
Shen Cai's face twisted in anger, his grip on the sword tightening as he pointed it at Li Yan. "You have no idea of the power you're facing, Li Yan. This isn't about pride—it's about ensuring that Kunlun's order is maintained."
Li Yan scoffed, sidestepping another spear thrust from Liu Min. "Order? Seems more like overkill." He watched Liu Min's reaction carefully, noting the disciple's calculating gaze, as if weighing every word and action Li Yan made.
But before Liu Min could respond, Shen Cai surged forward, his wind-infused sword sweeping in wide arcs. "Enough talking! Stand and fight, or are you only brave when you're running?"
Li Yan narrowed his eyes, his stance shifting subtly. "If it's a fair fight you're looking for, why hide behind the strength of three?"
Liu Min's voice cut in, calm and measured. "We're here to fulfill a mission, not entertain your bravado. If you believe we're relying on numbers alone, then perhaps you've underestimated Kunlun's discipline." He twirled his spear, releasing another volley of ice shards that forced Li Yan back, his control over his weapon almost as precise as his words.
As the barrage continued, Li Yan remained focused, but he couldn't deny the growing strain. The combined power of their weapons and elemental affinities created a formidable rhythm, each disciple exploiting the strengths of the other. Yet Li Yan felt a quiet resolve harden within him—he had faced countless challenges, and this would be no different.
With a steadying breath, he prepared himself for the next wave, determination shining in his eyes as he braced against their unyielding force.