Chapter 13 After a tough Battle

The frost gradually receded from the chamber's walls, like winter reluctantly giving way to spring. Unfortunately, the herbs they had initially sought would take many seasons until they would make their return, leaving the two empty handed besides the loot from the [BOSS].

Zhao Lingfeng sat on a broken piece of pillar, massaging his sword arm with a grimace. The adrenaline of battle had faded, leaving him acutely aware of muscles he hadn't known existed. Despite training with a sword every day, he knew that with his status there was only so much time he had.

Experiencing a battle like that?

It was honestly a luxury. 

[Special System Notice: Hidden Titles function has now been unlocked. Would you like to equip your new Hidden Title?]

[Yes/No]

In his Status Window, a new function had been added.

[Hidden Title: Moon Slayer's Companion:

[When fighting alongside others against moon-attributed beings, your presence weakens the enemy's moon-based techniques by 10% and you and your allies deal 10% more damage to them.]

[You have equipped the Hidden Title: "Moon Slayer's Companion"]

A decent title, but pretty niche. Only useful in specific situations—great if you're up against moon-type enemies, but otherwise useless, Zhao Lingfeng thought.

"Something wrong with your arm?" Lin Tian asked, his voice carrying an edge of amusement. "Could it be you're not used to actually swinging that sword of yours? Too much scrubbing, perhaps?"

Zhao Lingfeng nearly choked on his own breath. That hit him where it hurt. Was the mighty Son of Destiny actually teasing him?

"This junior has extensive experience in the art of sword maintenance," Zhao Lingfeng replied with as much dignity as he could muster. "Primarily through the ancient technique of polishing sect floors."

Lin Tian's lips twitched. "Ah yes, the legendary 'Floor Immortal's Sword Path.' I've heard it's quite... grinding."

Zhao Lingfeng shot him a look of betrayal.

Who knew the protagonist had such a terrible sense of humor?

"Speaking of mysterious techniques," Lin Tian continued, gesturing at the faint golden threads of energy still connecting them, "your jade disk's effects are remarkably persistent. Most formation artifacts I've encountered don't maintain their power this long after combat."

Zhao Lingfeng felt sweat forming on his brow. "Ah, well, you see—"

"Though I suppose it's not too surprising," Lin Tian continued without change, saving Zhao Lingfeng from his fumbling explanation. "There are ancient seals that have lasted centuries, and some of the more powerful Heavenly Treasures maintain their effects for years. Still, it's quite impressive for something that looks so... plain."

Zhao Lingfeng wanted to smack himself.

Of course that would be normal in this world!

He'd nearly panicked over nothing. The cultivation world was full of mysterious artifacts that defied common sense. His gaming experience had actually worked against him here.

"By the way," Zhao Lingfeng said, eager to change the subject, "how many of those elixirs did you end up using?"

"One Qi Elixir and two Health Elixirs," Lin Tian replied, patting his robes where he'd stored the remaining vials for quick usage. "They're remarkably potent. The spiritual energy is pure in a way I've never—" He paused, catching himself. "They're very effective."

Zhao Lingfeng nodded, then began counting on his fingers. "Let's see... I used three Health Elixirs and... two Qi restoration ones?" He blinked in surprise. "I could have sworn I used more."

"Five total?" Lin Tian raised an eyebrow. "Your cultivation base must be more resilient than it appears, to have survived that battle with so few."

"Or perhaps I'm just naturally talented at not dying," Zhao Lingfeng replied cheerfully, though internally he was thanking his [Newbie Armor Amulet] for its protection. Without it, he'd have been wolf food several times over. The second thing that Zhao Lingfeng valued when it came to equipment over a powerful weapon was good armor.

He naturally had other items that he had kept for this journey that did not belong to the System. But the majority of them were junk, compared to what the System gave him. In a battle like that, they were almost worthless.

Lin Tian made a noncommittal sound, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. The contrast between his current composure and his earlier deadly swordsmanship was striking. Even in lighter moments, he maintained that edge of careful restraint.

"That spirit beast you summoned," Lin Tian said carefully, his eyes carrying that calculating look that never quite left them. "It's positioning was... precise."

"Ah yes, my brave beast," Zhao Lingfeng said, trying to keep his tone light despite the subtle probing. "Gone too soon, sacrificed to the great cause of... my continued breathing." He paused, then added more seriously, "though I admit, I hadn't expected such cooperation from it."

Lin Tian nodded slowly, that measuring gaze still present. "…Indeed. Quite fortunate."

Zhao Lingfeng recognized the familiar tension creeping back into the air.

Time to move on.

"We should probably start moving. Who knows what other delightful creatures might have heard our little... encounter with the wolf pack?"

"Encounter," Lin Tian repeated, his voice dry but not entirely unamused. The word hung in the air between them, acknowledging the absurdity of such an understated description without fully breaking his careful demeanour.

As they gathered themselves to continue deeper into the secret realm, Zhao Lingfeng noticed Lin Tian's hand still resting casually near his sword, ever vigilant despite their moment of relative peace.

"Fellow Daoist Lin," Zhao Lingfeng ventured trying to break the ice, "I don't suppose you'd care to share what would have happened if that pillar hadn't broken?"

Lin Tian's response was a look that could have frozen water faster than the wolf's spiritual frost. "Would you care to share more about that interesting jade disk of yours?"

"...Point taken." Zhao Lingfeng quickened his pace slightly. He had failed to break it. "Shall we see what other mysteries this realm has in store?"

"Fellow Daoist Lin?" Lin Tian's voice carried a hint of something Zhao Lingfeng couldn't quite identify. "During the battle, you seemed to have... forgotten such formalities. You called me by name directly."

Zhao Lingfeng nearly tripped over his own feet.

Now that Lin Tian mentioned it, he had dropped all pretence of proper address in the heat of combat. His face burned with embarrassment. In the cultivation world, such casual address could be seen as a grave insult, especially toward someone of clearly superior cultivation.

"This junior apologises profusely," Zhao Lingfeng said quickly, turning to bow. "In the heat of battle, this one's tongue became quite loose and—"

"You should be more careful," Lin Tian cut him off, his tone stern. "In the cultivation world, such familiarity could lead to death if shown to the wrong person." Despite his words of warning, there was a certain softness in his expression that hadn't been there before.

After a moment's hesitation, Lin Tian added, "Though... since what's done is done, you may address me as Brother Tian, and I shall call you Brother Zhao."

Zhao Lingfeng blinked in surprise but didn't dwell too long on it. Brother-sister forms of address were common enough among cultivators who'd fought together or shared experiences. The degree of intimacy such terms implied varied greatly. Sometimes it was merely polite recognition, other times it marked deep brotherhood.

Still slightly flustered, Zhao Lingfeng hurried ahead, eager to put the awkward moment behind him.

Behind him, Lin Tian's footsteps slowed. His eyes grew distant, focused on something far beyond the secret realm's ancient walls.

"Lin Tian..."

he whispered, so softly even the spirits couldn't hear.

"To think that in this world, there would come a day when someone else besides grandfather who would address me so again..."

The words carried the weight of old memories, hints of a past that lay buried beneath his careful composure. But Zhao Lingfeng, forging ahead through the darkness, remained oblivious to this brief glimpse behind his companion's mask.

***

The second day.

The ancient passageways seemed to stretch endlessly, leading them deeper into the secret realm's depths. Occasional patches of luminous fungi cast everything in an ethereal blue glow, creating shadows that danced along weathered stone walls that stretched up into darkness.

Suddenly, Lin Tian's hand shot out, gripping Zhao Lingfeng's shoulder. "Don't move," he whispered, voice barely audible.

Zhao Lingfeng froze mid-step.

His spiritual sense wasn't developed enough to detect whatever had alarmed his companion, but years of survival instincts kicked in. He pressed his back against the cold stone wall, tilting his head to listen.

At first, there was nothing but the gentle drip of water somewhere in the darkness above. Then... a soft scraping sound. The faintest whisper of claws on stone. Not from one direction, but many.

"What is it?" Zhao Lingfeng breathed, his eyes straining to pierce the shadows between the towering pillars that surrounded them.

"We're being stalked," Lin Tian replied, his hand never leaving his sword hilt. "At least a dozen beasts. They've been following us for the past hundred steps."

His eyes narrowed.

"They're hunting."

A low growl echoed from somewhere in the darkness above, answered by another from their left, then their right. More joined in, a chorus of predatory sounds that seemed to come from everywhere at once.

Zhao Lingfeng's hand tightened around his sword. "Great. I don't suppose they're just here to thank us for defeating their tyrannical wolf overlord?"

A pair of eyes gleamed in the darkness ahead, then another, and another. The frightening sight made Zhao Lingfeng's blood run cold.

"Brother Zhao," Lin Tian said quietly, "unfortunately they're not here to thank us at all."

From the shadows, something large began to emerge.