Location: Sect Dueling Platform, Outer Edge
Time: Afternoon Duel
Audience: Growing by the second
MC's Mood: Publicly anxious
---
Let me explain how I got into this mess.
I was napping.
Again.
Then Jun Bai challenged me publicly, yelled something poetic, and tossed his glove at my face like this was a fancy tea duel.
Now, here I am, on the stone dueling platform. Yue Lan's watching. Lin Yumei's standing nearby with her arms crossed and the expression of someone who'd already buried me in her mind. Yura was cheering like this was a festival.
---
> [System Warning:]
Duel Detected: Irregular Spiritual Weapon Present
Name: Black Vein Blade
Status: Corrupted – Bound to Shadow Trade System
Suggested Action: Disengage. Run. Play dead.
> [System Glitch:]
Escape button missing.
---
Jun Bai walked onto the field, silver robes fluttering, hair perfect, ego bigger than a mountain.
"You've stolen my spotlight too long, Arin."
"I literally just exist. That's all I do."
"You stole Yue Lan's gaze."
"She's not a collector's coin—"
"And now, you'll pay for it with humiliation."
"Again, I do that to myself for free."
---
> [Audience Reaction:]
Inner Disciples: "Is Arin even a real cultivator?"
Outer Disciples: "I heard he fell off a roof last week."
One kid: "I like his blue hair."
I waved at the kid.
---
The duel began.
Jun Bai's sword hissed as it was drawn — literally hissed. Dark mist trailed from the blade.
He charged.
My system pinged.
> [Skill: "Trash Counterstep" Activated]
Trip backward awkwardly with +40% dodge chance.
I did.
He missed.
The crowd gasped.
I flailed into a roll and came up holding a wooden practice sword that wasn't even mine.
Jun Bai frowned. "That's not even your weapon."
"It's symbolic," I said, swinging it like a broom.
---
Then his sword spoke.
"Feed me."
"…Sorry, what?"
"FEED ME!"
"Did your sword just demand snacks?"
"It wants blood!" Jun Bai snapped.
"Okay, we need to get you a therapist."
---
> [System Emergency Override:]
Shadow Trade System attempting to override duel outcome
Counter-hack in progress…
Error: Too late. Sword activated passive.
Jun Bai slashed.
His blade tore through the platform like butter.
I ducked. Barely.
I raised my wooden sword. It exploded.
---
Suddenly—Lin Xue appeared again.
Floating just behind Jun Bai, she whispered into my ear.
"His sword is cursed. The only thing keeping you alive is comic relief."
"...Not helpful!"
"You need to overload it."
"With what?! I don't have real qi!"
"Then fake it."
---
Desperate Plan Mode: Activated
I opened my arms dramatically and shouted:
"I summon the power of divine comedy!"
Everyone stared.
Yura threw me a spirit bun.
I caught it, channeled my fear into my palm, and slapped the bun onto Jun Bai's blade mid-swing.
> [Hidden Buff Triggered:]
"Bun of Binding"
Effect: Sticks to spirit weapons, briefly suppresses flow
Duration: 4 seconds
Jun Bai's blade froze mid-air.
---
I dropkicked him.
He stumbled.
The blade hissed: "NOOOOOO—"
It shattered.
---
Match ends.
Referee: "…Technically, Arin wins?"
Yue Lan facepalmed.
Lin Yumei muttered, "How the hell…"
Yura screamed, "BUN POWER WINS AGAIN!"
---
Jun Bai collapsed, unconscious.
A dark rune glowed on his neck.
Elder Lianhua arrived on the platform in a blink.
"That mark… it's from the Cult," she whispered.
---
> [System Update:]
Cult Interference Confirmed
Shadow Trade System infiltration rate: 47%
New Mission Unlocked:
Break the Chain – Find and remove system parasites within the sect
Reward: ???
Risk: Everything
---
That night, I sat on my roof again, hair glowing faintly, watching the stars.
Yue Lan joined me, handing me tea.
"You shouldn't have won."
"I never should."
"But somehow… you keep breaking the rules."
"I think the rules are broken before I even show up."
She smiled, just a little.
---
In the shadows behind us, a new figure stepped out from the woods.
Eyes glowing. No face visible.
Another system host… watching.
Waiting.