The villagers whispered in hushed voices long after the Iron Fang Sect had fled. Some murmured in awe, others in disbelief.
"The Hidden Sage… he spoke, and they ran."
"They were terrified of him. Did you see their leader? He looked as if he'd seen a ghost!"
Jiang Chen paid no attention to the murmurs. He simply poured himself another cup of tea, his expression unreadable.
Across from him, Xiao Yue and Bai Qi remained standing, still gripping their weapons.
Finally, Xiao Yue spoke.
"That wasn't normal," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "You did something."
Jiang Chen sighed. He looked up at her, then at Bai Qi, who was watching him with the same searching gaze.
"And if I did?" Jiang Chen asked.
Xiao Yue crossed her arms. "Then I would like to know why."
Jiang Chen took a slow sip of his tea. Then, he set his cup down.
"Tell me," he said. "What did you see?"
Xiao Yue hesitated. "Their leader—when you looked at him, it was as if he… lost his will to fight. As if he saw something that terrified him."
Bai Qi nodded. "It was just a glance, but for an instant, he was paralyzed."
Jiang Chen chuckled. "Then it seems to me that he was simply afraid."
Xiao Yue narrowed her eyes. "Afraid of what?"
Jiang Chen met her gaze. "Of what he thought he saw."
The answer was vague, but it made them pause.
Bai Qi frowned, glancing down at his sword. "Was it… an illusion technique?"
"Not quite," Jiang Chen replied.
The truth was simpler. Jiang Chen had not used anything. He had simply looked at the man with the calm awareness of one who had once stood above the heavens themselves.
His mere presence, even in mortal form, still carried an echo of what he had once been. And for those who were weak-willed—or sensitive to power—sometimes that was enough.
But explaining that would only make matters worse.
So, instead, he picked up his tea again and smiled. "Sometimes, people create their own fears."
Xiao Yue exhaled, rubbing her forehead. "You are… exhausting."
Bai Qi sheathed his sword. "That may be, but one thing is certain."
Jiang Chen lifted an eyebrow.
"The Iron Fang Sect won't forget what happened today," Bai Qi said. "They will return, and next time, they will bring stronger cultivators."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the villagers.
"They won't let this go," Elder Shu said, stepping forward. "What do we do?"
Jiang Chen sighed. "For now? We prepare."
The villagers looked at him expectantly.
Jiang Chen stretched, stood up from his seat, and dusted off his robe.
"I think it's time we taught this village how to defend itself."