The Calm Before the Storm
Victory had its own kind of weight.
After defeating Luo Wen in front of the Inner Court, my name started spreading fast. Too fast.
It wasn't just the fact that I had beaten an Inner Court disciple at his own game. It was how I had done it.
Strategic design. Psychological advantage. Thinking ahead.
People noticed.
And not all of them were happy about it.
....
Unexpected Visitors
The morning after the competition, I had just finished adjusting some sketches when a knock came at my workshop door.
I opened it to find three inner disciples standing there.
Not just any disciples. These were men who carried themselves with a certain weight..... people used to power.
Their leader, a sharp-eyed man with a snake-like smile, took a step forward.
"Lu Tian, was it?"
I didn't answer immediately. I knew how these things worked.
They weren't here to congratulate me.
So I let the silence stretch. Make them talk first.
The man's smile widened slightly. "I hear you embarrassed Luo Wen in front of the entire Inner Court."
I shrugged. "I won the challenge. That's all."
"Is that so?" He tilted his head. "Because from where I stand, it looks like you're making enemies in high places."
Ah. So that's how it was.
Luo Wen wasn't going to strike back directly. He was letting others do it for him.
Classic.
....
The Warning
The man leaned in slightly. "Let me give you some advice, outer disciple. You're starting to get noticed. That's good… but it can also be dangerous."
His meaning was clear.
This wasn't just a warning. It was an invitation.
Join them. Align myself with the right people.
Or things might start getting… difficult.
I crossed my arms, keeping my expression unreadable. "I appreciate the concern. But I'm doing just fine on my own."
The man chuckled. "Suit yourself."
He turned to leave, his two followers trailing behind him.
But before he stepped out, he paused.
"Oh, one last thing." His smile sharpened. "Be careful where you walk at night."
Then, they were gone.
.....
Escalation
That night, someone trashed my workshop.
They didn't steal anything.
They didn't break anything valuable.
But they went through every fabric roll, every set of tools, every design sketch.
A message.
Luo Wen wasn't just trying to scare me.
He was trying to make my life difficult.... disrupt my work, waste my time, force me to play defense.
But here's the thing.
I've played this game before.
And I don't play to defend.
I play to win.
.....
Counterattack
The next morning, I acted like nothing happened.
I cleaned up, reorganized my things, and went right back to work.
I made sure people saw me doing it.
Whispers started spreading.
"Wait… someone trashed his place?"
"Then why does he look so calm?"
Luo Wen was trying to control the story. Make it seem like I was struggling, like I was losing.
I refused to give him that satisfaction.
Instead, I made myself more visible.
Every time someone passed by, I was working. Sketching new designs. Discussing materials. Meeting clients.
Instead of looking under attack, I looked busier than ever.
And that did something important.
It flipped the narrative.
Instead of thinking, Lu Tian is in trouble, people started thinking, Luo Wen failed to intimidate him.
And that?
That made Luo Wen look weak.
.....
Luo Wen's Next Move
By the second day, Luo Wen must have realized that his tactics weren't working.
So he changed strategies.
Instead of small, petty moves, he went for something bigger.
An official complaint to the sect elders.
The charge?
"Unethical competition practices."
...
The Summoning
I received the notice in the afternoon.
A formal order to appear before Elder Shen and two other elders for a hearing.
I let out a slow breath.
Alright, Luo Wen. You want to play this game?
Let's see who wins....