In the Way of Business

Jo Yuan hadn't expected any trouble that day. He was walking back from the lower quarters after a long afternoon of training when he noticed something strange. The usual chatter and movement of the sect's disciples seemed quieter than usual. As he walked through one of the narrow paths between the training grounds and the probation quarters, he suddenly realized he was no longer alone.

A group of outer disciples, dressed in their dark blue robes, stood ahead of him, blocking the path. He recognized some of them from afar—strong, confident, and clearly more advanced than the probation disciples like himself. Their presence made his heart pound, but he kept his face calm, pretending not to notice their intentions.

More outer disciples appeared behind him. He was surrounded.

"How did I not notice earlier?" Jo Yuan thought. His instincts screamed that this wasn't a coincidence. There was no reason for outer disciples to suddenly take an interest in him. He had been careful, keeping a low profile, avoiding conflicts. Yet, here he was, trapped.

One of the outer disciples, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward, his eyes sharp. "You're in the way of our business," he said, his voice low but filled with threat.

Jo Yuan didn't respond immediately. His mind raced, trying to understand what the man meant. In the way of their business? What business could he, a probation disciple, possibly interfere with? His role was too lowly in the sect. His mind quickly picked up the scent of something deeper—a conspiracy, perhaps, but he had no idea what it was yet. He had stumbled into something he wasn't supposed to.

The words were vague, but Jo Yuan wasn't foolish. "Business" in a sect usually meant power plays, alliances, or hidden schemes between disciples—things that were dangerous for someone of his rank to get involved in.

"I… I don't understand," Jo Yuan said, making his voice sound unsure and weak. He kept his head lowered slightly, as if intimidated, though his mind was working quickly. They think I'm in the way of something, but what?

The scarred man gave a mocking smile. "Of course, you wouldn't. You're just a probation disciple. But sometimes, even the weak can become an obstacle without realizing it."

The other outer disciples chuckled, but Jo Yuan didn't let the laughter get to him. He sensed something off in their tone. Their movements, their eyes—they weren't just here to scare him. They were testing him. But why?

Jo Yuan had to think fast. He didn't know what their business was, but he could guess they were involved in something secret, something they didn't want discovered. The way they spoke was carefully controlled, like they were hiding something, and the fact that they had surrounded him meant they didn't trust him—or worse, they thought he was already involved somehow.

Jo Yuan decided to play along. He kept his shoulders slightly hunched, his face showing a mixture of nervousness and confusion. He didn't want them to see him as a threat. "I didn't mean to get in the way," he said slowly, "I just came back from training. If… if there's anything I did, I apologize."

The scarred man's smile widened. "Apologize? It's not that simple. You've been poking your nose around, haven't you? Always watching, listening. Makes us think you're more curious than you should be."

Jo Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Poking my nose around? He had been careful, hadn't he? He had listened to conversations, sure, but never too obviously. Was that it? Were they suspicious because he seemed too observant? Jo Yuan wasn't sure what exactly they were accusing him of, but one thing was clear: he needed to make them believe he was harmless.

"I… I don't know anything," Jo Yuan stammered, making his voice tremble just enough. "I've only been trying to improve. I watch the outer disciples because I want to learn, that's all."

He could see some of them exchange glances. They were still unsure. That was good. Jo Yuan needed to push them further into believing he was weak, uninvolved. "I'm just a probation disciple," he added, his tone desperate. "I haven't even touched Qi Building yet. I can't interfere with anything."

His words seemed to sink in, and the scarred man's expression relaxed slightly. Jo Yuan noticed that the other disciples weren't as tense anymore. They were starting to believe him. Good. Make them think I'm harmless.

To further sell his innocence, Jo Yuan lowered his eyes and took a small step back, as if wanting to escape but too afraid to move quickly. "If I've caused trouble, I'll stay out of your way," he said, his voice quieter now.

The scarred man studied him for a moment longer before finally speaking. "You better. Weaklings like you don't belong in our affairs. Stay away, or it won't end well for you."

Jo Yuan nodded quickly, still keeping up the act of being fearful. Inside, though, his mind was racing. He had gotten them to believe he was nothing more than a weak probation disciple, but the truth was, he had learned something important. There's a conspiracy, something that these outer disciples were involved in, and they thought he knew too much.

As they left him alone, Jo Yuan didn't relax. He couldn't figure out exactly what they were hiding, but he had enough hints now. There was a mastermind behind this group, someone pulling the strings from the shadows. The way they acted—careful, yet ready to silence anyone who got too close—meant it was something big.

Jo Yuan knew he couldn't take on the outer disciples directly. They were stronger, more experienced, and held higher positions in the sect. He had learned in his past regressions that sometimes, power wasn't about strength but about knowing when and how to manipulate those around you. And that's exactly what he planned to do.