Location: Lotus Sun Sect – Inner Arena Grounds
Time: Early Morning Training
Sky: Overcast, like the heavens know what's coming
MC's Mood: Emotionally bankrupt and breakfast-deprived
---
You know things are bad when your system literally sneezes.
> [System Alert:]
ERROR. Reward delivery failed.
Destination rerouted to: [Shadow Trade System]
System Mood: 🙃 "We're totally fine."
---
I stared at the system window.
"You're glitching."
> [System Response:]
Nuh-uh.
You're glitching.
"…Great. A sass update."
---
Lin Yumei had dragged me to the sect's inner arena for morning sparring.
Which really meant she beat me with a wooden sword while lecturing me about "reflexes."
Yue Lan was off helping the elders track the assassin maid's trail. Yura was still in bed, probably drooling on my robes again.
I raised my broom-spear.
"I'm ready."
Lin Yumei smiled coldly. "You said that last time. Then you got hit in the soul."
"...Emotionally or physically?"
"Both."
---
> [System Glitch Detected:]
Ability: Trash Dodge (Passive) is currently being interfered with.
Reason: Shadow Trade System has injected code.
"WAIT. WHAT?!"
Lin Yumei swung.
I didn't dodge.
I flew across the arena like a leaf in a hurricane.
---
Cut to me lying on the ground, wheezing.
"You okay?" she asked.
"No. My body went into 'ragdoll' mode."
"You always look like that."
---
After training, I returned to my room.
A new window popped up.
But it wasn't from my system.
---
> [Shadow Trade System Notification:]
Hello, Unwilling Catalyst Host.
Since you are a leaky, unguarded spiritual node, we have taken the liberty of:
– Redirecting 73% of your rewards
– Reselling stolen loot across the System Black Market™
– Using your chaos-affinity to farm passive cultivation data
You're welcome.
(No refunds.)
---
I screamed into a pillow.
Then, another alert from my system finally came through.
> [System Emergency Mode Activated]
Partial Lockdown Engaged
Engaging Counter-Protocols...
Warning:
Conflict may cause spiritual fragmentation, reward swapping, or sudden reverse summoning.
"Wait—reverse wha—"
---
My wall exploded again.
And Yura fell through, covered in smoke.
"OKAY WHO STOLE MY BUNS AND MY COMFORT BLANKET?!"
"…It wasn't me, this time!"
She stood up, fox tail twitching, eyes glowing.
"There's a spiritual virus running through the sect's inner array. It's targeting you."
"Me?"
"Yes, you! You're like a cursed loot box with legs!"
---
That's when it happened.
From across the sect courtyard…
A voice called out:
"Arin. Fight me."
It was a calm voice. Smooth. Elegant.
Too elegant.
I turned—and saw Jun Bai.
But something was wrong.
His sword… was whispering.
And it was glowing black.
---
> [System Alert:]
Spiritual Weapon Interference Detected
Name: Black Vein Blade
Affiliation: Shadow Trade System
Host: Jun Bai
Status: COMPROMISED
---
"Of course," I whispered. "Of course it's him."
He stepped forward, eyes cold.
"No more games. No more sect rules. No more Yue Lan between us."
I looked at my system screen.
It just read:
> Run, idiot.