CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37

Jake’s heartbeat thundered in his chest as realization dawned—he had been utterly abandoned by Erik.

Stripped of any hope for protection, no backing left to call upon, Jake clenched his fists in bitter frustration and reluctantly took his leave.

As Jake’s form vanished into the night, Erik sank to his knees, hands trembling as he clasped them together and began a desperate litany of apologies.

"Core Disciple, I beg forgiveness for my grievous errors. I shouldn’t have believed Jake’s tales or allowed such slander to poison your hearing."

Rowan’s gaze bore into Erik, calm yet razor-sharp.

"Do not pretend I am unaware of your true motives. You nurse a grudge from five years past—a wound to your pride inflicted by Ethan himself. Now, embittered by humiliation, you seek personal vengeance under the guise of justice."

He inclined his head ever so slightly, cold authority tightening every word.

"Remember your place. You were utterly defeated by Ethan, only once, but miserably so. Pursuing petty revenge through slander serves only to undermine your own advancement."

Erik bowed his head, admitting defeat without a word.

For all his cruelty in public, Rowan held a measure of leniency.

"That said, you have served loyally these many years. I will tolerate this breach—but mark my words, Ethan’s protector Azel, an Elder from the Forbidden Land, will no longer be so forgiving towards those who cross him."

He fixed Erik with intense scrutiny.

"Temper your ambitions. Perfect your cultivation. When future battles come, prove yourself through strength, not intrigue. Should you invoke Elder Azel’s displeasure again, I will not be able to protect you."

Erik swallowed hard, his relief tangible.

"My thanks, Core Disciple. Your magnanimity reassures me."

With the warning delivered, Rowan gestured for them to depart. The night called, and duty waited no man.

For his part, Ethan remained detached from the swirling currents of sect politics.

Whatever gratitude Azel held, whatever favors rippled outward, mattered less than the steady climb ahead.

He woke early one morning, initiated his routine with practiced precision—dark eyes opening beneath the familiar bamboo hat, breath steady, body stretched and warmed in the cold air.

A simple meal fortified his resolve as dawn crept over the snow-laced peaks.

Looking toward the back mountains that guarded Serene Mirror Lake, an irreverent smirk curled his lips.

"Commander Lilith’s been spying since dawn again," he muttered wryly.

"Why does she care about a nobody like me?"

Grinning at the absurdity, he quipped, "If she really wants a show, maybe she should come see me at night instead." His chuckle lingered on the bite of the wind.

An idea nudged aside hesitation.

Stripping off his robes, he revealed the honed musculature beneath, each line of sinew and bone a testament to a decade of grim work.

Now, this was the form he wore into seclusion and battle alike.

With a confident flick of his wrist, he raised his hands, casting his Heaven-piercing Mind Eye’s gaze over the nearby landscape.

To his surprise, Lilith remained rooted in place, unmoving, her aura flickering faintly as if caught between worlds.

Seizing the moment, Ethan feigned casual indifference.

Then, with a sudden, deliberate gesture, he shed the last of his garments—briefly standing naked beneath the winter sky.

The reaction was immediate.

Commander Lilith’s presence plummeled out like a candle snuffed, and the masked woman vanished like mist.

Peeking from behind a nearby tree, Lilith’s sharp gaze flicked back reluctantly to where Ethan stood. Her internal commentary was a mixture of disbelief and begrudging admiration.

"That boy... throwing off his clothes in the early morning like a fool... but I admit, his form is quite remarkable."

"I should withdraw," she murmured to herself, retreating into the blanketing shadows.

Left with his freedom once more, Ethan dressed and settled into the quiet comfort of his home.

The weight of unseen gazes lifted, and for the first time in years, he exhaled with some relief.

Then, as the system’s reminder chimed softly in his mind, the familiar summons came.

[Warm reminder: Task issued—catch twenty Azurefin Carps. Completing the quest will yield generous rewards.]

Ethan smiled to himself—simple and steadfast ritual. Out into the crisp air he went, carrying a wooden bucket and fishing rod, whistling a tune lost to time.

By the shimmering lake, he seated himself upon a well-worn bluestone, polished smooth by years of use—the perfect perch for a patient fisherman.

The surface where he sat bore the imprint of his presence, the stone’s cold beaded smooth under his weight.

With calm hands, he prepared his bait, flinging the weighted hook far into the lake’s mirrored depths.

Around him, the world slipped into silence; the only assurance was the gentle pluck of the line and the whispered dance of the cold wind.

Azurefin Carp—the prized quarry—were noted for their elusive nature. Their wise instincts and fragile strength rendered them scarce, flitting through the lake with ephemeral grace. Though their power was low, their rarity demanded patience and respect.

Ethan knew this well.

Just yesterday, luck might have seen him net twenty with ease; today, only a dozen had yielded.

His progress slowed as afternoon slipped away, winter shadows gathering at the edges of the horizon. The last eight evaded capture, teasing his resolve and sharpening his focus.

In the quiet, he uncorked a small green gourd dangling from his belt.

The familiar aroma of Peach Blossom Wine, sweet and subtle, welled up as he took a sip.

The crafted vintage was a balm to frozen fingers, a solstice of warmth amid the deathly cold.

"Good wine."

Suddenly, a voice sounded in Ethan’s ears. cool and aged.

Ethan stopped drinking, and his expression suddenly became solemn.

what was the situation?

How can someone get close to me without me noticing?

You know, after obtaining the Heaven-piercing Mind Eye, even strong men like Commander Lilith and Elder Azel will have difficulty doing this.

So, how did this guy do it?

Is this a great cultivator stronger than the both of them?