Chapter 26 – Hidden Moves

The glow of the training courtyard lanterns cast long, flickering shadows across the Earth Division's quarters. Li Tian stood at the edge of the balcony, his gaze fixed on the quiet grove beyond the academy walls. The weight of what he had uncovered sat heavy in his mind. Elder Meng's hand in the conspiracy confirmed what he had long suspected—this was no mere battle between students. The academy's highest powers were actively working to control the outcome, their motives hidden in layers of intrigue.

System Activation:

Countermeasure Protocol Initiated

Analysis: Upcoming match schedules being manipulated. Probability of unfavorable matchups exceeds 70%.

Countering Action Unlocked: Influence Imprint – Apply subtle manipulation to balance match probabilities and obscure external interference.

The system's guidance was precise, its tools subtle in their impact. Li Tian focused inward, letting the threads of Influence Imprint extend into the currents shaping the tournament's logistics. It operated like a breeze nudging a falling leaf—quiet, unnoticeable, but impactful.

He closed his eyes as faint ripples formed, shifting key match placements and ensuring his students would face challenges sharp enough to temper but not break them. The balance had to be perfect. His students needed to grow, yet survive.

Once the system's adjustments were complete, Li Tian turned back toward the warm light of the quarters. He could hear the faint murmur of his students' voices, their camaraderie a small reassurance amidst the storm brewing around them.

But he would tell them none of this. They were strong, yes, but not ready to carry the full weight of what lay ahead. Not yet.

Inside the training hall, Yin Yue's focus faltered. Her strikes against the training post landed off-center, her rhythm uneven—an unusual sign for someone as disciplined as her. She exhaled sharply, stepping back as her grip tightened around her wooden blade.

"You're distracted," Cao Ren noted bluntly as he adjusted the straps of his gauntlets nearby. His tone wasn't accusatory, but it wasn't kind either.

"I'm fine," Yin Yue replied quickly, too quickly.

"Really? Because the pole might disagree," Jie Ming quipped from across the room, though his grin faded when Yin Yue shot him a glare sharp enough to cut stone.

"Leave it," she muttered, returning to her stance.

But she wasn't fine. Her mind kept returning to the cryptic message they had found the night before—and more importantly, to Li Tian's reaction. The teacher they all looked up to had dismissed it too quickly. She trusted him, of course, but… something about his demeanor had felt off.

That, coupled with his growing tendency to retreat into solitude under the pretense of preparation, stirred doubt in her chest. Li Tian was hiding something from them. Of that, she was certain.

Later that evening, when the others had retired to their rooms, Yin Yue lingered. She sharpened her blade in the corner of the hall, the rhythmic scraping of the whetstone masking her growing restlessness. When she heard the faint creak of the main door closing, she rose quietly, peering into the corridor.

Li Tian's silhouette disappeared around the curve of the hallway, his robes flowing like shadow against the lantern light. He was leaving again.

With a deep breath, Yin Yue slipped out into the corridor, her steps careful, her presence hidden.

Li Tian walked the path toward the central archives, the system feeding constant updates into his mind.

System Guidance:

Data reflects increased surveillance on Earth Division. Multiple factions now monitoring tournament progression and student movements.

Suggestion: Mask investigative actions through indirect routes. Avoid suspicion.

He reflected on the system's value, its ability to stay hidden even from the eyes of the academy's watchers. Without it, he would be walking blind through a labyrinth of traps and adversaries.

Near the archive's side entrance, he placed his hand against the stone wall, activating the covert pathway the system had previously revealed. A soft vibration pulsed under his palm as a hidden seal unlocked, and the wall gave way to a narrow staircase leading downward.

Unbeknownst to him, Yin Yue watched from the shadows, her breath caught in her throat. She had suspected Li Tian of keeping secrets, but this… this was something else.

She waited until the door had sealed behind him, the faint vibrations fading into silence, before stepping forward. She pressed her hand to the same spot where Li Tian had touched and frowned. There was nothing—no sign of a door, no visible markings.

"What are you hiding, Teacher?" she whispered to herself, her hand curling into a fist.

Below ground, Li Tian moved through the dim passageways of the archive's restricted section. Rows of sealed scrolls and stone tablets filled the walls, their inscriptions glowing faintly with protective wards. The system guided him to a specific set of shelves, the faint hum of its tools aligning his thoughts.

System Notification:

Target document located. Historical records on faction power fluctuations verified. Match identified with Elder Meng's manipulated directives.

He reached for the scroll, its energy faint but tangible against his fingers. Unraveling the parchment, he scanned its contents swiftly, his mind processing not only the words but the implications behind them.

Elder Meng's name surfaced again and again, tied to incidents dating back decades. The patterns were clear—systematic suppression of rising divisions and the consolidation of power within a select few factions.

The scroll ended with an unsigned line, its meaning as sharp as any blade.

Control ensures order, and order ensures survival.

Li Tian's lips pressed into a thin line. The Earth Division was not the first target of this calculated sabotage. But if Elder Meng believed this strategy would work against them, he underestimated what the Earth Division was becoming.

Back at the Earth Division quarters, Yin Yue stood in Li Tian's private study. She shouldn't be here—she knew that much—but unease had overwhelmed her hesitation.

Her eyes scanned the room, searching for something, anything that might explain the teacher's recent behavior. At first, she found nothing beyond the expected books and training charts. But then her gaze fell on the desk.

The surface was clean, save for a single slip of parchment tucked beneath a polished stone paperweight. Her heart quickened as she lifted it, reading the faintly glowing symbols etched onto its surface.

It wasn't a normal message. The symbols didn't follow any language she recognized; they seemed to flicker with an energy that felt more alive than it should have.

"What… is this?" she muttered, her fingers brushing over the parchment. The touch sent a faint pulse through her arm, not unlike the sensation of spiritual energy, but colder. Stranger.

The parchment's glow faded suddenly, as though reacting to her presence. She stared at it, questions swirling in her mind.

Whatever it was, it wasn't normal.

And Li Tian… he knew about it.

Hours later, Li Tian returned to the quarters, his expression as calm as it had been when he left. But Yin Yue stood in the hall, her arms crossed and her gaze sharp.

"We need to talk," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Li Tian tilted his head, his hands resting calmly behind his back. "About?"

Yin Yue hesitated for the briefest moment, the parchment's ghostly glow still imprinted in her mind. "About what you're not telling us," she said, her voice firm.

Li Tian didn't respond immediately. His gaze met hers, steady and unreadable, while the system pulsed faintly in the back of his mind.

System Notification:

Minor breach detected – Yin Yue's investigation intersected with system-adjacent materials. Precautions required.

The silence stretched for a moment longer before Li Tian spoke, his voice calm but layered with quiet authority.

"We all carry burdens, Yin Yue," he said. "Some are necessary to protect those we lead."

Her grip tightened on the hilt of her sword, her frustration barely restrained. "And some truths," she said slowly, "are necessary to protect those who follow."

Li Tian's expression didn't waver, but the faintest flicker of… something crossed his gaze. Approval? Disappointment? It was impossible to tell.

"Go rest," he said finally, his tone final. "Tomorrow will demand all of us at our best."

Yin Yue didn't move for a long moment. When she finally did, her steps were slow, deliberate, as though leaving the conversation unresolved was a battle half-lost.

Alone once more, Li Tian turned toward his study, his hand brushing against the faint traces of energy left behind on his desk. His gaze sharpened, though his composure remained.

The storm was coming—and now, it seemed, the questions within his own ranks were adding to its fury.

But for Li Tian, the answer was clear. They would endure. Together or divided, they would endure.