The Elder’s Proposition

The Crimson Feather Sect was abuzz with whispers. Xiao Lian's victory over Ji Ren, now Huang Fei had spread like wildfire. No one had expected the quiet, unwanted disciple to defeat an inner sect member so effortlessly. The way she moved, so precise, so deliberate, had sent chills through even the strongest disciples.

And now, the elders were taking notice. The morning mist clung to the stone paths of the sect as Xiao Lian made her way toward the outer courtyard. The air smelled of damp soil and incense, the usual fragrance of early training hours. Yet today, something felt… off, and she could feel it.

She had received a message. A simple note slipped beneath her door in the dead of night.

"Come to the Pavilion of Silent Wisdom at dawn. Alone."

No name. No signature.

SIS immediately flagged it as suspicious.

"High probability of an elder's involvement. Possible opportunity… or trap."

Xiao Lian wasn't a fool. She understood the density of her recent actions. She had humiliated Huang Fei. She had drawn attention. And now, someone wanted to meet her in secret.

The Pavilion of Silent Wisdom was an ancient, secluded chamber at the heart of the sect. As she stepped inside, the first thing she noticed was the silence, deep, consuming, unnatural silence. Then, she saw him.

A lone figure sat at the center of the room, his silver robes flowing around him like rippling water. His face was obscured by a veil of shadow, but his presence was undeniable.

Elder Jian. A man of few words, but of terrifying reputation.

"You came," his voice was smooth, yet laced with something unreadable.

Xiao Lian bowed slightly. "You summoned me, Elder."

He didn't reply immediately. Instead, he waved his hand, and suddenly, the space between them shimmered.

A formation appeared. Intricate. Complex. Alive. It pulsed with ancient energy, runes shifting like puzzle pieces seeking completion.

"You will solve this," Elder Jian said, his tone casual, yet holding an unmistakable burden. "If you can."

[SIS activated immediately, scanning the formation.]

[Recognized structure: A Nine-Seal Puzzle Array. Purpose: To test comprehension of battlefield formations. Estimated time to solve: 4.6 seconds.]

Xiao Lian suppressed a smile. She lifted her hand and, without hesitation, moved one piece. The array snapped into perfect alignment.

The entire chamber shook as the puzzle's energy stabilized, and then, it vanished with a fast pace.

Elder Jian's fingers twitched. His lips curled slightly. "Interesting."

The silence stretched between them. Xiao Lian could feel his gaze assessing her, measuring something unseen. And she can't really put a finger on it directly if what it is.

"You do not ask what this test was for," he finally said. His eyebrow hatched. With a observation smirk rolling to the side of his lips before it disappeared.

Xiao Lian met his eyes, unblinking. "I assume you already had an answer in mind, Elder."

A quiet chuckle. "Clever girl."

Then, his voice lowered. "Would you like to learn under my tutelage?"

SIS immediately flagged the request.

[Warning: Elder Jian's motives are unknown. Probability of genuine mentorship: 32%. Probability of ulterior motives: 68%.]

Xiao Lian didn't let her reaction show, but inwardly, she frowned. This wasn't just a casual offer. He wanted something.

Training under an elder wasn't a minor thing, it meant favor, protection… and obligation. And obligations could be dangerous.

"Why me?" she asked, tilting her head. "Surely there are more talented disciples."

Elder Jian smiled. It was not a comforting expression.

"Because you see the game for what it is," he said simply.

That was… not the answer she expected. He rose to his feet, his robes whispering against the stone floor. "Think on it, Xiao Lian. But do not take too long. Opportunities do not wait forever."

With that, he turned and walked away from the pavilion with a swash of the wind, he was full gone.

Unbeknownst to her, someone else had been watching. Ji Ren stood on a rooftop overlooking the pavilion, his sharp eyes locked on the departing figure of Elder Jian. His fingers tapped idly against the hilt of his sword.

He didn't like this. At first, he had thought Xiao Lian was just an oddity, an intelligent girl playing a clever game. But this? This was different.

Elder Jian didn't waste time on meaningless people. If he had taken an interest in her, then that meant… she was valuable. And when he meant valuable, he means very very valuable to get his attention and she had gotten it. And if she was valuable, then she was a threat.

As Xiao Lian exited the pavilion, her mind still processing the encounter, she stopped abruptly. Ji Ren was waiting for her. Leaning casually against a wooden pillar, arms crossed, his sharp gaze unreadable. The morning light cast shadows across his angular face, emphasizing the striking contrast of his dark eyes against his pale skin.

"You attract trouble too easily," he remarked.

Xiao Lian met his gaze, unfazed. "Is that concern I hear, Senior Brother?"

His lips twitched. Not quite a smile, not quite a smirk. "Hardly. Just… an observation. And I'm not your senior brother,"

He stepped closer, his movements fluid, controlled, powerful, the way only someone at the pinnacle of martial skill could move.

"Elder Jian is not someone you simply say 'yes' to," Ji Ren said, voice quieter now. "Be careful. When I mean careful, I meant very very careful because they just don't give someone an opportunity without wanting something big in return,"

Xiao Lian studied him for a moment. She didn't trust him. But she could tell he wasn't lying.

"I'll keep that in mind," she said lightly, stepping past him.

As she walked away, Ji Ren exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. For the first time in a long while, something was nagging at him. Xiao Lian wasn't just a curiosity anymore. She was becoming a problem. And Ji Ren had never liked problems. But this is indeed a very beautiful problem.