Cultivation starts with picking up attributes
Chapter 114: Ch-114: Unfair

Chapter 114: Ch-114: Unfair

The sun hung high over the Feilun Sect, casting golden warmth across tiled rooftops and jade-green courtyards.

Birds chirped lazily in the trees, disciples trained in their respective peaks, and the scent of blooming spiritual lotus drifted from the herbal gardens.

Six months had passed since the fall of the Mirror Pavilion.

The Black Lotus Heart Fragment remained sealed deep beneath the sect in Elder Su’s personal warding chamber, surrounded by thirteen arrays and enough talismans to make a beast king dizzy. No further corruption had stirred—at least none that dared show its face.

And so, for once, peace had reigned.

"Tian Shen! I told you not to touch that formation stone!"

*Boom*

A minor explosion rocked the edge of the Scout Division’s training ground.

Smoke drifted upward, followed by the sound of coughing.

Tian Shen emerged from behind a scorched boulder, his sleeves singed, his hair puffed up with static.

"I... was just trying to modify the output flow."

He said sheepishly.

Feng Yin stood nearby, arms crossed, talismans fluttering behind her like banners of judgment.

"You’re the leader of the division, not its primary hazard."

Tian Shen rubbed the back of his head.

"In my defense, it almost worked."

"Almost?"

Little Mei dropped from a tree overhead, tail swaying smugly.

"Another few seconds and you’d have blasted a hole into the alchemy pavilion. Again."

"Oh come on," Tian Shen muttered. "That was once."

"And it rained peach wine for two whole hours."

Little Mei added.

"Wasn’t that a good thing?"

Feng Yin snorted, though her stern expression melted just a little.

"Only because the Sect Master pretended it was part of a grand ceremony."

She stepped forward and brushed his robe with her fingers, gently dusting off ash.

"Just... don’t kill yourself experimenting with formations."

Tian Shen looked at her and smiled.

"Only if you’re not around to save me."

She rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it.

...

The Scout Division had grown under Tian Shen’s leadership.

Once a ragtag group assembled after the Mirror Pavilion’s fall, it had now evolved into a sharp, agile unit.

They specialized in detection, talisman warfare, terrain manipulation, and reconnaissance.

Each week brought simulated missions, talisman decoding drills, and long treks into nearby spirit forests to hone their senses.

It wasn’t always glamorous, but it was purposeful.

And to Tian Shen’s surprise—it was fun.

"Leader!"

A disciple called out, breathless and covered in moss.

"The fog valley test has been completed!"

"Excellent. Are there any casualties?"

"Uh... just Xu Wei, he got injured. He fell into a pond and got stuck in a Spirit turtle’s illusion for three hours."

From nearby, Xu Wei groaned, holding his forehead.

"The turtles kept lecturing me about humility."

Tian Shen patted his shoulder.

"Good. Consider it guidance."

...

Meanwhile, Feng Yin had taken up a Outer Sect Elder role at the inner sanctum.

Despite her reluctance at first, she’d grown into the role with natural grace. Her lectures on talisman evolution, battlefield tactics, and spiritual harmonics drew disciples from all peaks.

"Elder Feng, is it true you once punched a corrupted Core Formation elder with a spirit-infused palm and vaporized half the Pavilion?"

"No."

She replied, expression flat.

"Then what happened?"

"I kicked him. The talisman exploded afterward."

Applause of awe resounded, with several disciples gasping.

Her fanbase had become... intense.

Which only amused Tian Shen more.

"They worship you now."

He teased one evening, sipping tea beside her on their private balcony.

"Jealous?"

"I’d be more worried if you weren’t already mine."

Feng Yin smirked and leaned into him.

"Good answer."

...

Life wasn’t all smooth perfection. There were still incidents.

Like the time Little Mei snuck into the Spirit Beast Sanctuary and released three dancing moonlight wolves into the Elder Su’s meditation chamber.

"...They just looked so sad locked up!"

Or when Elder Su tried teaching Tian Shen how to read ancient spirit bone patterns—and he accidentally activated a relic that summoned a ghostly choir of yaks.

Still, no one died, no demons rose from the earth, and the sect flourished.

One day, even Elder Su laughed—a full, unrestrained sound—as she beat Tian Shen red and blue.

...

But not all growth was peaceful.

Tian Shen continued to train each day. Not to chase power, but to refine his edge.

His system remained active—though quiet.

Yet it offered no messages, no missions. Just silence.

...

One quiet evening, as a drizzle of spirit rain fell across the mountains, Tian Shen stood outside the sealed grotto containing the fragment.

He placed his palm on the outer barrier—felt the faint thrum of corrupted potential.

Behind him, Feng Yin stepped beside him, her umbrella shielding them both.

"Still no change, right?"

"No."

He replied.

She looked at him, eyes full of both concern and faith.

"If it ever speaks, I’ll be right here."

He met her gaze, and for the hundredth time, knew how lucky he was.

...

That night, the sect held a bonfire celebration under the rising twin moons. A ritual of joy, to mark the half-year since the Festival of Renewal.

Tian Shen found himself roped into a drinking contest by several Scout Division members.

"You can’t keep dodging, Leader!"

"I never agreed!"

"Too late!"

Three cups in, he was woozy.

Feng Yin watched from the side, amused.

"You’ll regret this in the morning."

Tian Shen blinked up at her from the grass, his head in her lap.

"Totally worth it."

Little Mei passed out nearby, using a glowing squirrel as a pillow.

Lian Hua sang softly to herself, her voice strange but beautiful.

Elder Su stood by the fire, watching her disciples with a rare expression of warmth.

The Sect Master even joined them briefly, offering Tian Shen a gourd of the Sect’s best wine and saying simply.

"Well done."

...

As stars filled the sky, Tian Shen whispered to Feng Yin.

"Do you think we’ll have more moments like this?"

She looked up at the heavens.

"If we fight hard enough to protect them... yes."

He smiled, letting his eyes close.

...

The fire crackled gently, casting flickering shadows across the courtyard stones.

Somewhere in the distance, a flute played a soft, drifting tune. The night wrapped around the Feilun Sect like a blanket—warm, calm, and full of life.

Tian Shen breathed in the scent of roasted chestnuts and night jasmine, still half-leaning against Feng Yin’s shoulder.

Her hand rested lightly on his head, idly brushing through his hair as if he were a sleepy fox rather than a battle-hardened cultivator.

"You’re really drunk."

She murmured, amused.

"Am not," he muttered. "Just... horizontally appreciating the stars."

Feng Yin arched a brow.

"You’re lying on my lap."

"Stars are above. You are beneath the stars. Therefore, I win."

She huffed a small laugh, poking his cheek.

"Sleep, fool."

But Tian Shen didn’t sleep—not quite. His eyes drifted across the bonfire ring where the younger disciples danced and chanted, their faces glowing with innocent delight.

Little Mei had woken up just enough to join them, now spinning with her tails flared out like silver ribbons. She looked wild and happy.

Even Sect Master had let down his persona, firelight gleamed along strands of crimson as he clinked cups with Elder Su—who, for once, didn’t look like she was plotting to rearrange someone’s bone marrow for fun.

Peace.

This was what they’d fought for. What they’d bled for. And it was worth every scar.

But still...

Tian Shen’s fingers brushed the small, cold object tucked beneath his sash.

The Black Lotus Heart Fragment. Sealed and warded, yet always near. Elder Su had entrusted it to him temporarily for "observation"—a polite way of saying we can’t make it vanish, but maybe your weird system can keep it from biting someone.

It hadn’t moved.

Not even a flicker.

But its presence never left his thoughts.

"Tian Shen."

Feng Yin’s voice was low, threading through his thoughts like a calming breeze.

"I know," he murmured. "I’m not worrying. Just... remembering."

She nodded, and the quiet stretched between them. Comfortable. Deep.

Then—

crack.

A firecracker exploded nearby, sending sparks into the sky—and Tian Shen straight into alert mode, eyes wide and hand on his sword.

Feng Yin blinked, startled.

Across the courtyard, a pair of Scout disciples looked sheepishly toward them.

"Sorry! We were testing a new array for signal flares!"

"...It worked," Tian Shen grumbled, heart slowing.

Feng Yin shook her head, smiling despite herself.

"Leader Tian, always on edge."

"You try napping while carrying a demon relic in your belt."

She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"That’s why you have me."

He flushed, then muttered,

"Unfair."

"Very."

She smirked.

...

The night wore on, filled with songs and laughter. But under the surface, beneath all the joy, something stirred in the silence.

Far underground, within Elder Su’s now-empty warded chamber, a single rune flared—then faded.

The fragment was no longer alone.

Something had noticed it.

And was listening back.

But for now, the night was still gentle.

And Feilun Sect continued to dream in peace.

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