# Chapter 4: The Girl in the Dark
Lin Yu held his breath. He gripped the Silent Edge. The sword was invisible in the dark. Only the cold metal touched his palm.
"Lin Yu," the voice whispered again.
It was familiar. Lin Yu relaxed his muscles slightly. He knew that voice.
"Mei Ling," Lin Yu said. He did not stand up. He stayed low.
A figure stepped into the moonlight. It was her. She wore a dark cloak. She held a basket. She looked scared. But she was here.
"You should not be here," Lin Yu said. His voice was low. "The forest is dangerous."
"I know," Mei Ling said. She walked closer. She sat on a rock near him. "I saw you leave. I knew you were hunting snakes."
"It is my mission," Lin Yu said.
"Venomous snakes kill servants," Mei Ling said. She opened the basket. She took out a bottle. "Here. Antidote. Take it."
Lin Yu looked at the bottle. It was green. It was expensive. Servants could not buy this.
"Where did you get this?" Lin Yu asked.
"I saved money," Mei Ling said. She looked away. "For months. I wanted to give it to you. For your birthday. But... now is better."
Lin Yu felt a warmth in his chest. It was not Qi. It was emotion. In his past life, no one cared about his birthday. No one gave him gifts.
[Hint: Hidden Love detected. Emotional Energy +5.]
Lin Yu took the bottle. He put it in his bag. "Thank you."
"Do not die," Mei Ling said. Her voice shook. "Chen is planning something. For the competition."
"What?" Lin Yu asked. His eyes narrowed.
"I heard him talking," Mei Ling said. "He bribed an outer disciple. They will hurt you during the match. They say... they say accidents happen."
Lin Yu clenched his fist. Chen was not just angry. He was ruthless. He wanted to kill Lin Yu legally. In the competition, injuries were common. Death was sometimes overlooked.
"I will be careful," Lin Yu said.
"Be more than careful," Mei Ling said. She stood up. "I have to go. If they see me here, I will be punished."
"Wait," Lin Yu said. He stood up. He walked to her. He gave her a snake core. It was green. It glowed.
"This is valuable," Mei Ling said. "You need it for the mission."
"I have nine," Lin Yu said. "I need one more. You take this. Sell it. Buy medicine. Protect yourself."
Mei Ling looked at the core. Then she looked at Lin Yu. Her eyes were shiny. She did not cry. She nodded.
"Okay," she said. She took the core. She turned and ran. She disappeared into the trees.
Lin Yu watched her go. He felt a new feeling. Responsibility. He was not just fighting for himself. He was fighting for her.
[Emotional Bond Strengthened. System Stability Increased.]
"Let us finish," Lin Yu said to the Sword Box.
[One snake remains. The Venom King. It is nearby.]
Lin Yu stood up. He walked deeper into the forest. The grass was thick. The air smelled of poison. He felt a chill.
He saw a hole in the ground. It was large. Smoke came out of it.
[Warning: Danger Level: Medium. Venom King. Qi Level: 3.]
Lin Yu was Qi Level 1. The snake was stronger. But he had the Silent Edge.
He waited. He stood still. He became like a stone.
A head appeared. It was huge. Green scales. Red eyes. Fangs dripped poison.
The snake hissed. It smelled him. It charged.
Lin Yu did not move. He waited. One second. Two seconds.
The snake opened its mouth. It struck.
Lin Yu stepped inside the strike. He was too close. The snake could not bite him here.
He raised the Silent Edge. He poured Qi into the blade. The black sword glowed dark.
[Skill: Shadow Slash.]
He swung. The sword cut the snake's neck. It was clean. Silent. Fast.
The snake's head fell. The body thrashed. Then it stopped.
[Victory Achieved. Energy +50.]
[Current Energy: 200.]
[Mission Complete.]
Lin Yu breathed hard. He was tired. But he was alive. He took the core from the snake's head. It was large. It pulsed with energy.
He had ten cores. He had enough.
He walked back to the sect. The sun was coming up. The gates were opening. Servants were lining up to enter.
Lin Yu joined the line. He looked tired. His clothes were dirty. People looked at him. They whispered.
"He survived," one said.
"Lucky," another said.
Lin Yu walked to the Elder's hall. The Elder was sitting on a chair. Chen was standing next to him. Chen looked happy. He thought Lin Yu was dead.
Lin Yu put the bag on the table. He opened it. Ten green cores rolled out.
The Elder's eyes widened. He picked one up. "Venom King core? You killed the King?"
"Yes," Lin Yu said.
Chen's face went dark. He looked angry. He did not expect this.
"Good," the Elder said. He smiled. "You are talented. Very talented."
The Elder took a tablet. He wrote something. He gave it to Lin Yu.
"This is a token," the Elder said. "You are now a candidate for the competition. You get extra rations. You get training time."
"Thank you," Lin Yu said.
"Do not waste it," the Elder said. "The competition is in seven days. Do not die before then."
Lin Yu bowed. He walked out. Chen followed him.
"You got lucky," Chen said. He stood in Lin Yu's way.
"Maybe," Lin Yu said. He tried to walk past.
Chen blocked him. "Luck runs out. In the arena, there is no luck. Only strength."
"I will remember that," Lin Yu said. He looked at Chen. His eyes were cold.
Chen felt a chill. He stepped back. He did not know why. He felt fear.
Lin Yu walked away. He went to his room. He locked the door. He sat on the bed. He looked at the Sword Box.
[Energy: 200. Unlock Available: Skill Upgrade.]
"Upgrade Shadow Slash," Lin Yu said.
[Confirmed. Energy -100. Current Energy: 100.]
Lin Yu felt power flow into his arm. The Silent Edge vibrated.
[Shadow Slash Level 2. Range Increased. Damage Increased.]
"Good," Lin Yu said. He had seven days. He needed to train. He needed to eat. He needed to prepare for Chen's trap.
He went to the kitchen. He showed the token. The cook gave him meat. Rice. Fruit. It was better than servant food.
He ate quickly. He went to the training yard. It was empty. Early morning.
He started practicing. He swung the Silent Edge. He used the upgraded skill. The slash went further. It cut a tree branch ten feet away.
[Skill Progress: 1%.]
He trained for hours. His muscles burned. His Qi ran out. He refilled it with the food.
Mei Ling came at noon. She brought water. She did not say much. She just watched him. She smiled when he succeeded. She frowned when he stumbled.
"Chen is watching," she whispered. She pointed to the gate.
Lin Yu looked. Chen was there. He was with a tall man. The man wore outer disciple robes. He had a scar on his face.
"Who is that?" Lin Yu asked.
"Brother Zhao," Mei Ling said. "He is strong. He is Qi Level 4. He fights for Chen."
Lin Yu watched Zhao. Zhao watched Lin Yu. Zhao smiled. It was a cruel smile. He tapped his sword. He challenged Lin Yu without words.
Lin Yu turned back to the dummy. He swung harder. He did not show fear.
[New Mission: Defeat Brother Zhao in Competition.]
[Reward: 500 Energy. Status: Outer Disciple.]
[Failure: Death or Expulsion.]
"I know," Lin Yu said. He spoke to the Box.
"Who are you talking to?" Mei Ling asked.
"No one," Lin Yu said. "Just myself."
He finished training. The sun went down. He went to his room. He locked the door. He lay on the bed.
He thought about the competition. It was not just a fight. It was a test of survival. Chen wanted him dead. Zhao wanted him dead.
He needed a plan. He could not just fight. He needed to be smart.
"Box," Lin Yu said. "Can you analyze opponents?"
[I can scan Qi levels. I can detect weaknesses. But I cannot fight for you.]
"That is enough," Lin Yu said.
He closed his eyes. He slept. He dreamed of the arena. He dreamed of blood. He dreamed of winning.
In the morning, the bell rang. It was loud. It echoed across the sect.
"All candidates report to the Arena," a voice boomed.
Lin Yu stood up. He put on his clean robes. He took the Silent Edge. He hid it in his sleeve.
He walked to the arena. It was a large circle. Stone walls. Seats for disciples. Elders sat at the top.
Many servants were there. They looked nervous. Some shook. Some prayed.
Lin Yu stood in the corner. He was calm.
Chen walked in. He wore armor. He held a shiny sword. He walked to the center.
"Welcome," an Elder said. "The rules are simple. Fight until one yields. Or until one cannot stand. Death is... acceptable."
The crowd murmured. Death was acceptable. This was not a game. This was war.
Lin Yu looked at Chen. Chen looked at Lin Yu.
"First match," the Elder said. "Lin Yu vs. Brother Zhao."
The crowd gasped. It was not random. It was fixed. Chen planned this. Lin Yu had to fight the strongest opponent first.
Mei Ling watched from the seats. Her hands were tight. She was scared.
Lin Yu walked to the center. He stood opposite Zhao. Zhao was tall. He was muscular. He smiled.
"Servant," Zhao said. "I will break you slowly."
Lin Yu did not speak. He drew the Silent Edge. The black sword appeared. It made no sound.
Zhao laughed. "A black stick? That is your weapon?"
"Start," the Elder said.
Zhao charged. He was fast. His sword glowed red. He swung hard.
Lin Yu waited. He watched. He saw the weakness.
He stepped forward. He swung the Silent Edge.
*Clang.*
The swords met. Sparks flew. Lin Yu did not move. Zhao stepped back.
Zhao was surprised. "You have strength."
"More than you," Lin Yu said.
Zhao got angry. He attacked again. Faster. Harder.
Lin Yu blocked. He parried. He waited for the opening.
[Weakness Detected: Right Rib. Old Injury.]
Lin Yu saw it. Zhao protected his right side. He was hurt there before.
Lin Yu feinted left. Zhao blocked left. Lin Yu struck right.
The Silent Edge hit Zhao's rib. It was silent. But the impact was loud.
*Crack.*
Zhao screamed. He fell. He could not breathe.
Lin Yu stood over him. He held the sword at Zhao's throat.
"Yield," Lin Yu said.
Zhao looked at Chen. Chen looked away. Chen did not help.
"I yield," Zhao whispered.
The Elder stood up. "Winner. Lin Yu."
The crowd was quiet. They did not expect this. A servant beat an outer disciple.
Lin Yu sheathed the sword. He walked back to the corner. He looked at Chen.
"Your turn," Lin Yu said.
Chen's face was pale. He did not expect Zhao to lose. He did not expect Lin Yu to be this strong.
The competition had just begun. And Lin Yu was ready.