Chapter 4: The Aftermath of Madness
Yang Kai strolled through the sect grounds with the confidence of a man who had just pulled off the scam of the century and somehow lived to tell the tale.
The problem?
Everyone was staring right at him.
Some looked curious, others looked terrified, and a select few looked like they were mentally calculating how many of their life savings they'd bet on him dying and how much they'd just lost.
"Did you see that? He actually survived against Gao Shen!"
"No way he's still the same Yang Kai… Did he eat some kind of divine treasure?"
"He must be hiding some secret technique… or maybe he's possessed?"
Yang Kai grinned. Possessed? Oh, if only they knew.
[New Skill Unlocked: Mocking Counter]
[Mocking Counter: The host gains increased attack power when retaliating against someone who insulted them first.]
Yang Kai paused mid-step.
"Wait… So, if someone insults me first… I hit harder?"
The system remained silent.
Yang Kai rubbed his chin. "So basically, if someone calls me trash, my cultivation jumps. But if I initiate the trash talk, I get nothing?"
Still silence.
"...System, are you saying I can only be a sarcastic little gremlin in self-defense?"
Silence.
Yang Kai sighed. "Fine. I'll be a passive-aggressive little gremlin instead."
Ding!
"New Mission: Annoy an Elder. Reward: 300 Cultivation Points."
Yang Kai blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
He read it again.
Then again.
Yup. It was real.
His system had officially decided that survival was optional.
The inner sect training grounds were alive with disciples practicing their sword forms and refining their techniques. Yang Kai, however, had far more important business.
Specifically, he was on a mission to commit social suicide.
His target?
Elder Sun.
Now, Elder Sun was not just any elder.
No, no.
This man was the angriest, grumpiest, most "I'm-not-angry-this-is-just-my-face" old man in the entire sect.
He hated jokes.
He hated laziness.
And most of all?
He hated Yang Kai.
Which, really, made him the perfect victim.
Yang Kai casually approached as Elder Sun was lecturing a group of disciples on the importance of discipline.
"…And that is why hard work and perseverance lead to—"
Yang Kai raised a hand.
"Quick question, Elder Sun!"
The elder's eye twitched. "What?"
Yang Kai tilted his head. "Have you ever considered… smiling?"
Silence.
The disciples froze. A few stopped breathing.
One poor soul choked on his tea.
Elder Sun's frown deepened. "…What?"
"I mean, have you looked in a mirror lately?" Yang Kai continued. "No offense, but your face looks like a withered peach that just found out its wife left it for a fresher fruit."
Elder Sun twitched.
Somewhere, a bird fell out of a tree.
One disciple's knees buckled.
Another began writing his will.
"Are you implying—" Elder Sun began.
Yang Kai held up a hand. "No, no, don't thank me! I just believe in self-care. You know, skincare, good lighting, not scowling like life personally offended you?"
Elder Sun's face turned purple. "YOU—"
Ding!
"Mission Complete! +300 Cultivation Points."
Yang Kai grinned.
Elder Sun looked like he was about to commit actual homicide.
"You—You insolent little—!"
And then—
A voice rang out.
"Yang Kai."
The sect grounds fell silent.
A tall figure stepped forward. His robes flowed like mist, his presence sharp as a blade.
Sect Leader Han Jing.
The highest authority in the sect.
Yang Kai's grin froze.
Oh.
Oh no.
Ding!
"New Mission: Survive the Sect Leader's Judgment. Reward: ???"
The entire sect held its breath.
And Yang Kai?
He laughed nervously. "Uh… So… Great weather today, huh?"
Han Jing's eyes pierced through him like a sword.
"You have been causing quite a commotion today."
Yang Kai scratched his head. "Commotion? I'd say 'mild disruption' at best—"
Han Jing didn't blink. "First, you humiliate Zhao Ling. Then, you provoke Gao Shen. And now you dare to insult an elder in public?"
Yang Kai cleared his throat. "Uh… When you put it like that, it does sound kinda bad, huh?"
Elder Sun snarled. "Sect Leader! This insolent brat must be punished immediately! If we let this behavior continue, he will corrupt the sect's younger generation!"
Yang Kai gasped. "Corrupt? Wow, I was aiming for 'bad influence,' but I'll take it."
Some disciples snickered. Others silently prayed for his soul.
Han Jing remained impassive. "Yang Kai, you are one of our weakest outer sect disciples. Yet in a single day, you have overturned the sect's hierarchy and walked away unscathed. This… is unnatural."
Yang Kai shrugged. "What can I say? I have a very persistent survival instinct."
Han Jing's gaze sharpened. "Then let's test that."
The temperature seemed to drop.
Yang Kai stiffened. "Uh… Test?"
Han Jing lifted a hand. "If you can endure a single strike from me, I will overlook today's events."
The sect exploded into chaos.
"The Sect Leader himself?! Against Yang Kai?!"
"He's dead. He's so, so dead."
"Forget a slap—Sect Leader Han Jing could turn him into dust with a flick of his sleeve!"
Yang Kai's brain went into emergency mode.
One strike.
One hit from Han Jing wasn't just a death sentence—it was a VIP ticket to the afterlife, express delivery.
He quickly checked his system.
[Current Cultivation: Qi Condensation 3]
[Sect Leader Han Jing: ???]
Yeah, no. That "???" isn't a good sign.
Yang Kai slowly exhaled. "Alright, sure, one strike."
Han Jing nodded. "Prepare yourself."
Ding!
"Emergency Mission: Survive the Sect Leader's Strike. Reward: 5000 Cultivation Points."
Yang Kai felt his soul leave his body.
FIVE. THOUSAND. POINTS?!
Wait…
That meant the system actually thought he had a chance.
Yang Kai's eyes lit up.
Han Jing raised his hand.
Spiritual energy gathered, forming an intense pressure that made the entire sect feel like they were suffocating.
Yang Kai took a deep breath.
Alright, System. If you've got any last-minute miracles, now would be a really great time to share.
Han Jing's palm descended.
A blinding light filled the training grounds.
And then—
Ding!
"Hidden Skill Activated: ???"
Yang Kai's eyes widened.
And then—
Everything went black.