Inside the shadowy quarters of Elder Park, the incense smoke curled in lazy spirals. Lady Park sat reclined on her cushioned chair, sipping wine from a jade cup, her long nails tapping the armrest rhythmically.

The door creaked. Jumi entered, her steps hesitant. She bowed low.

"My Lady, forgive me for disturbing your evening. I bring news… of Lady Ku."

Lady Park's eyes narrowed. "Lady Ku? That foolish fox again? What has she done now?"

Jumi swallowed, lowering her voice. "She… attempted to seduce Mo Han today in the Academy Hall. She cast her charm spells in full view of the disciples, tried to humiliate him by calling him a boy afraid of women. But…"

"But?" Lady Park's voice was sharp.

Jumi hesitated. "Mo Han answered with a fireball that shattered the grand fountain. Then—before everyone—he said her beauty was not even worthy to be his concubine."

Crack. The jade cup in Lady Park's hand snapped into pieces, wine dripping from her palm to the floor.

For a long moment, silence filled the chamber. Only the soft crackle of the brazier could be heard. Lady Park's face darkened, her lips curling in disdain.

"So… that fool Ku acts on her own, without my consent, and fails so miserably that she has not only shamed herself but allowed that boy to make a spectacle of her. Hmph."

She leaned back, her eyes glittering with cold light. "Ignorant little men and their stubborn pride… they think they can resist forever. Every man has a weakness, every man can be bent. That boy is no different."

Jumi raised her head carefully. "My Lady… then what should we do?"

Lady Park reached into a small lacquered box on the table beside her. She lifted a delicate vial, no bigger than a finger, filled with shimmering golden powder that sparkled faintly under the lamplight.

"This." She handed it to Jumi. "Charm Powder. Refined over a hundred years. Even a sword saint could not resist if it enters his breath. Once it seeps into his veins, the boy will follow you like a lost dog begging for affection. His will shall melt, his pride will turn to devotion. He will crawl willingly into your bed and lick your feet like a slave."

Jumi took the vial with trembling hands, both awe and fear in her eyes. "My Lady… do you truly wish me to use this against him?"

Lady Park's gaze turned icy. "Do you think he can be allowed to parade about, dismissing the disciples of Eternal Night Mansion? Today it is Ku, tomorrow it may be you, and the next day he might dare to sneer even at me. Such arrogance must be broken. Use the powder. Make him kneel. Make him mine through you."

Jumi bowed deeply. "As you command, My Lady."

Lady Park waved her hand dismissively, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Do not fail me, Jumi. If you do… you may end up shamed more deeply than Ku. And the Eternal Night Mansion does not forgive failures."

Jumi's body trembled, but she pressed the vial against her chest, bowing once more before leaving swiftly.

---

Meanwhile, inside the quiet room of the Academy Hall, Mo Han sat cross-legged before a low table, a stack of crystalline discs shimmering faintly under the lamplight.

He inserted one into the jade frame, pouring a thread of aura into it. Immediately, the crystal flared and a vivid image sprang to life above the table—two elder-rank cultivators locked in ferocious battle. One wielded a massive glaive wrapped in lightning, the other a chain of ice that danced through the air like a serpent.

Mo Han's eyes narrowed, his mind already dissecting every movement.

Too heavy with his first strike… poor stance… he's leaving his ribs open.

The scene shifted as the glaive-wielder lunged. Mo Han leaned forward slightly, whispering to himself. "There. That hesitation in his footwork—that was the moment of defeat."

Again and again, disc after disc, battle after battle, he studied. His fingers moved unconsciously, mimicking the trajectories of swords and flames. Each failure, each weakness, he committed to memory. Each victory, he measured against his own Sun Piercing Sword.

At one point, his lips curved into a faint smile. "Yes… this is it. Technique without foundation is weakness. But foundation sharpened by insight… becomes invincible."

"Three months… for the tournament of rising elders."

The room filled with the sounds of battle echoes, sword clashes, and Mo Han's steady breath—each one carving him closer to the strength he sought, while unseen shadows prepared their next move.

---

Jia Kai and Chi Kai walked side by side through the winding paths of Eternal Night Mansion. The sect grounds stretched wide, adorned with jade pavilions, blooming spirit trees, and disciples moving in small groups, either practicing techniques or gossiping under shaded corridors.

But as the two sisters strolled, they noticed heads turning wherever they went. Whispers followed them like shadows.

"Those are the girls living with the new disciple…"

"Mo Han, right? The one who burned the fountain and humiliated Lady Ku."

"I heard he rejected five invitations for dual cultivation just yesterday."

"Who does he think he is? To turn down women like pearls and jade?"

Some women sneered openly, while others whispered behind fans. A few bold ones even pointed directly, their eyes filled with jealousy. The sisters held their composure, but it was impossible not to feel the weight of attention pressing down on them.

Chi Kai leaned closer, whispering, "Sister… do you hear them? Everyone is speaking about Mo Han. Some in envy, some in anger, some even in admiration. It's like he's the only name in the sect today."

Jia Kai's lips curved faintly, though her eyes remained sharp. "That's because he is the only one daring enough to resist this place's constant temptations. His defiance makes him both a target and an intrigue. But such fire always attracts wind—eventually, it might either blaze brighter or get extinguished."

Chi Kai lowered her gaze, her cheeks warming. "No matter what they say… I know he's not like other men. If he was, he wouldn't have treated me with such respect that night. He deserves to blaze brighter."

They walked further, past training halls where disciples sparred, past gardens where laughter mixed with seductive chants. Yet, the whispers trailed them everywhere, a constant reminder of the storm Mo Han had stirred.

---

Meanwhile, inside the stone house near Elder Mei's garden, Fatty Lambu crouched by the window, his large body squeezed awkwardly behind the wooden shutters. His small eyes darted nervously at every passing shadow outside.

-Tq:-)