Chapter 5: The Blade of Loyalty

Night had fallen like a velvet shroud, the Loyalty Fortress hidden beneath a dome of golden energy that pulsed like a living heart. Inside, Lin Tian sat cross-legged, eyes closed, his cultivation base humming with power as he studied the System's interface.

Nearby, Li Xue polished her sword, her every movement precise, her eyes filled with a quiet, burning devotion.

Zhang Wei, marked by the glowing sigil on his chest, stood at the fortress gate. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions—fear, rage, regret, and a desperate need for redemption.

"Master…" he began, his voice trembling.

Lin Tian opened his eyes, their golden glow cutting through the darkness like a blade. "Zhang Wei," he said coldly, "your past as a traitor does not define your future. But loyalty must be proven."

Zhang Wei's chest tightened. Memories of his sect's betrayal—how they'd cast him out, how they'd branded him a traitor—flooded his mind. The pain of rejection still burned in his bones.

"Master, I—"

Lin Tian raised a hand, silencing him. He summoned the System interface.

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[Divine Fortune System Interface]

— Loyalty Challenge Initiated: Zhang Wei

— Objective: Kill the bandit leader at the western pass.

— Reward: Loyalty +10%, Divine Credits x200.

— Failure: Loyalty -20%, Loyalty Decay Accelerated.

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A cold wind whispered through the ruins, carrying the scent of blood and earth.

"Zhang Wei," Lin Tian said, his voice like iron, "the western pass is infested with bandits. They defy my claim to this territory. Bring me their leader's head."

Zhang Wei's eyes widened, his chest heaving. "Master… I—"

Lin Tian's eyes narrowed, his aura pressing down like a mountain. "Obedience is not optional. You are my blade now. Go. Succeed—and prove your loyalty."

Zhang Wei's mark glowed fiercely on his chest, a reminder of the bond that chained him to Lin Tian's will. He swallowed hard. "Yes… Master," he whispered, his voice trembling with fear and grim resolve.

Li Xue stepped forward, her gaze cold. "Do not fail him, Zhang Wei. If you do—" She trailed off, her fingers brushing the hilt of her sword, the threat unspoken.

Zhang Wei turned away, his heart pounding. As he left the fortress, the world seemed to darken around him.

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[Mission: Kill the Bandit Leader]

Objective: Sever the head.

Reward: Loyalty +10%, Divine Credits x200.

Warning: Failure results in Loyalty Decay.

──────────────────────────────

He moved through the night like a shadow, memories of his past life gnawing at his mind.

I was once a disciple of the Iron Crescent Sect, he thought bitterly. I believed in brotherhood—until they turned on me. They called me a traitor…

His hands trembled, but he clenched them into fists.

No more betrayal. No more weakness.

The bandit camp appeared in the moonlight—a cluster of tattered tents around a dying fire. Shapes moved in the darkness—ragged men with knives and clubs, their laughter echoing like the call of carrion birds.

Zhang Wei's eyes narrowed. At the center, a tall, scarred man stood, barking orders. The bandit leader's aura was strong—mid-level cultivator, maybe higher.

Zhang Wei felt a flicker of doubt. Can I really kill him?

Then he felt the mark on his chest burn, Lin Tian's voice echoing in his mind: Obedience is not optional. You are my blade now.

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Wei slipped between the tents, every step deliberate, every breath controlled. He drew the dagger Lin Tian had given him, its blade glowing faintly with the System's power.

The bandit leader turned just in time to see Zhang Wei lunging from the shadows.

"Who—" he snarled, but the dagger plunged deep into his throat, silencing him forever. Blood sprayed, soaking Zhang Wei's hands, and the bandit leader crumpled to the ground.

Zhang Wei stood over the corpse, his breath ragged, his heart pounding. He felt sick—and yet, a strange exhilaration coursed through him.

──────────────────────────────

[Objective Complete]

Reward: Loyalty +10%, Divine Credits x200.

Current Loyalty: 30%.

──────────────────────────────

The mark on his chest glowed fiercely, binding him tighter to Lin Tian's will.

I did it, he thought. I killed for him.

Tears streamed down his cheeks—tears of relief, pain, and something darker: acceptance.

I belong to him now.

With shaking hands, he severed the head, wrapping it in a torn piece of cloth. Then he turned and vanished into the night, the darkness swallowing him whole.

Master… I will never betray you, he thought.

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End of Chapter 5