Shackles of Fate

The moon cast a pale glow over the sect, illuminating the towering wall where Zhou Chuan knelt in silence. The Back Mountain was a place of reflection, exile, and forgotten souls. Here, disciples who committed mistakes were sent to face the **Wall Punishment**, forced into meditation for days, weeks, or even months. 

Zhou Chuan had been sentenced for **slandering the sect and disrupting order**, though he knew it was all a setup. He clenched his fists as the cold mountain wind howled around him. 

*"Who did this to me?"* 

But deep in his heart, he already knew. 

**Klaus.** 

Meanwhile, within the sect's grand chamber, Klaus lounged on an ornate chair, his fingers lightly drumming against the table. He already knew Zhou Chuan's thoughts. The protagonist would stew in resentment, but without allies or influence, he was powerless. 

And Klaus wasn't done yet. 

Just then, the **System's** voice echoed in his mind. 

**[Host, the protagonist's luck is wavering but still intact. His fate is at a turning point. If left alone, he may still rise again.]** 

Klaus's lips curled into a smirk. "Then I need to push him further into the abyss." 

He turned his gaze towards the **Holy Maiden**'s residence. 

*"Let's see how much faith she truly has in him."* 

Klaus arrived at the Holy Maiden's courtyard just as she was finishing her meditation. She looked up, startled by his sudden presence. 

"Klaus," she said, her voice guarded. 

Klaus gave a polite nod before stepping forward, his expression unreadable. "I thought I'd check in on you. You seemed troubled the last time we spoke." 

She hesitated but eventually sighed. "It's about Zhou Chuan… He was sentenced so harshly, but I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. The sect's elders turned against him so quickly. It's almost as if…" 

"As if it was planned?" Klaus finished for her. 

Her eyes flickered with surprise before she slowly nodded. "Yes." 

Klaus walked past her, standing near the garden where **spiritual lotus flowers** bloomed under the moonlight. He let the silence stretch, knowing that tension would force her to speak again. 

After a moment, she asked, "Do you think Zhou Chuan was framed?" 

Klaus chuckled. "That depends. Do you believe he is truly innocent?" 

The Holy Maiden's grip tightened around her robes. "I… I don't know anymore." 

*"Good."* Klaus thought. *"Doubt is a weapon sharper than any blade."* 

He turned to face her. "Let me ask you something. What if the Zhou Chuan you knew was nothing but a façade? What if, deep inside, he had ambitions that he never showed?" 

She frowned. "That's not true. He—" 

"But what if it was?" Klaus interrupted, his voice smooth yet insidious. "You already have doubts, don't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't be here, questioning me." 

The Holy Maiden remained silent, but Klaus could see the uncertainty brewing in her eyes. 

He leaned in slightly. "A man's true nature is revealed when he is pushed into a corner. If Zhou Chuan is truly innocent, he will endure this punishment with patience. But if he begins to resent the sect, to curse those around him… then perhaps, you never truly knew him at all." 

She lowered her gaze, deep in thought. 

Klaus smiled inwardly. *"With this, she will hesitate when Zhou Chuan seeks her support. And hesitation… is fatal."* 

With the Holy Maiden's faith shaken, Klaus now needed to ensure that **Zhou Chuan himself fell into despair**. 

That night, he made his way to the Back Mountain, stopping at a secluded point near where Zhou Chuan was meditating. 

The protagonist was sitting motionless before the great stone wall, his posture rigid but his energy unstable. **Anger, frustration, and helplessness churned within him.** 

Perfect. 

Klaus didn't need to speak to Zhou Chuan directly. Instead, he **planted a voice transmission talisman** near the area, embedding his words into Zhou Chuan's subconscious like a venomous whisper. 

In the dead of night, the talisman activated. 

*"They betrayed you."* 

Zhou Chuan's eyes flickered. 

*"The Holy Maiden is hesitating. She didn't defend you."* 

His breathing became unsteady. 

*"Your so-called friends abandoned you."* 

A crack formed in his spiritual aura. 

*"You are alone."* 

The moment the talisman finished its work, Klaus walked away, satisfied.