Hell yes—this is the turning point. An Yun's rage finally explodes. His mask slips. His sword becomes a weapon of wrath. Here
The outer sect courtyard buzzed with tension.
Zhao Wu, son of Elder Zhao—a powerful inner sect figure—stepped into the dueling arena with confidence and a sneer.
> "You think avoiding her makes you noble?" he said. "She deserves someone with real status."
An Yun didn't respond.
Zhao Wu's smile twisted cruel.
> "Maybe I should comfort her. Bet she's lonely."
That was it.
The moment the words left his mouth, something snapped in An Yun's chest.
He stepped forward, sword in hand—but this was no ordinary duel.
It was an execution.
---
The Battle: Brutality Unleashed
Zhao Wu unsheathed his flaming saber technique, Blazing Spiral Cut, the signature of the Zhao family line. The arena glowed with heat and sparks.
> "Come, orphan rat!"
An Yun didn't answer. His sword rose slowly, silently, like the moon over a killing field.
Zhao Wu struck first—a roaring, spiraling slash filled with fire Qi, enough to break stone.
An Yun vanished.
Appearing just behind him, he whispered:
> "You talk too much."
CLANG!
A slash tore across Zhao's back before he even turned.
Blood sprayed.
He spun around, unleashing a wave of fire—but An Yun was already low, sweeping his leg, then striking upward with a reverse sword arc that smashed into his ribs.
CRACK.
A rib broke.
The crowd gasped. This wasn't a duel—it was slaughter.
Zhao screamed and launched a desperate point-blank fire burst.
An Yun didn't dodge—he stepped into it, his robe catching flame, but his eyes glowing with terrifying stillness.
> "You think she'd ever want someone like you?"
He struck five times in a single breath.
- Once to shatter the shoulder.
- Twice across the thighs.
- One to the neck, just grazing—enough to terrify.
- And the final strike: a sword to the gut, deep, deliberate, twisted slightly.
Zhao Wu collapsed, coughing blood, barely conscious.
An Yun stood above him, burned, panting, eyes like a void filled with screaming ghosts.
---
The Fear
Disciples watching were frozen.
They didn't see a clever trickster anymore.
They saw a monster in human skin.
Even the ground seemed colder near him.
> "He… he almost killed an elder's son…"
> "He meant to…"
> "Did you see his eyes…?"
---
The Guards Arrive
Four sect enforcers appeared, dressed in black armor, their weapons drawn.
> "An Yun! Step away! You've broken sect law!"
An Yun slowly turned, his blade dripping.
> "You want me to pay?"
> "You attacked without restraint!"
He dropped his sword—point first—into the ground, the tip quivering.
Then he raised both hands in mock surrender.
> "Take me to your cages, then. But remember…"
He looked at each of them. Calm. Cold.
> "I didn't start this."
---