# Chapter 10: The Journey North
The sun rose slowly. It peeked over the horizon. It painted the sky orange. Then pink. Then blue. The light touched the trees. It touched the grass. It touched Lin Yu's face. He felt the warmth. It was a new day. It was a new life.
Lin Yu walked through the wild. He had left the sect behind. The stone walls were gone. The guards were gone. The rules were gone. Here, only strength mattered. Here, the law of the jungle ruled. The strong ate the weak. The fast survived. The slow died.
He walked north. The map was in his head. The Sword Box guided him. The path was not clear. There were no roads. There were only animal trails. They were narrow. They were covered in leaves. Thorns scratched his robes. Branches hit his face. He did not care. He kept walking. His steps were steady. He did not waste energy.
The forest was dense. The trees were tall. They blocked the sun. It was dark underneath. The air was humid. It smelled of rotting leaves. It smelled of wet earth. It smelled of beast dung. Lin Yu breathed slowly. He filtered the air. He used Qi to protect his lungs. He did not want to get sick. Sickness was weakness. Weakness was death.
[Distance Traveled: Ten Miles.] The Sword Box voice spoke. It was clear in his mind. [Pace: Steady. Energy Consumption: Low.]
"Good," Lin Yu thought. "How far to Iron Peak?"
[Thirty Miles. At current speed, arrival by sunset.]
"Fast enough," Lin Yu thought. "I do not want to arrive too early. I do not want to stand out."
[Wisdom. Predators wait for the loud ones.]
Lin Yu nodded slightly. He kept walking. He listened to the forest. He heard birds. He heard insects. He heard the wind. He also heard something else. Footsteps. They were heavy. They were not animals. They were humans.
He stopped. He stood still. He blended with the shadows. He held his breath. He waited. The footsteps got closer. They were on the same path. He crouched behind a bush. He watched.
Three men walked past. They wore blue robes. They were from another sect. They carried swords. They talked loudly. They laughed. They did not care about noise.
"This mission is easy," one said. He was tall. He had a beard. "Iron Peak beasts are weak. We get the points. We get the pill."
"Do not be careless," another said. He was older. He looked worried. "Disciples died here last month. Something is wrong."
"Superstition," the third said. He was young. He looked arrogant. "We are Level 3. What can hurt us?"
They walked past Lin Yu. They did not see him. They were too loud. They were too confident. Lin Yu waited until they were far away. Then he stood up. He continued walking. He stayed behind them. He used them as scouts. If they triggered a trap, he would know. If they fought a beast, he would see the technique. It was strategy. It was survival.
[Strategy Detected.] The Sword Box said. [Energy Efficiency: High.]
"I learn from mistakes," Lin Yu thought. "My past life mistakes. And theirs."
He followed them for an hour. The terrain changed. The trees became sparse. The ground became rocky. The path went up. They were climbing. Iron Peak was visible. It was a large mountain. It was gray. It was bare. There were no trees on top. It looked like a giant iron nail stuck in the earth.
The three men stopped at a cave entrance. It was dark. It was wide. Beast tracks were everywhere. They were deep. They were fresh.
"This is it," the bearded man said. "The nest."
"Let us go," the young man said. He drew his sword. It shined. It was expensive.
"Wait," the older man said. He held up his hand. "Listen."
They stood still. Lin Yu stood still behind a rock. He listened. He heard breathing. It was heavy. It was coming from the cave. It was not one beast. It was many.
"Too many," the older man said. "We need a plan."
"Plan is kill," the young man said. He charged. He ran into the cave.
"Fool!" the bearded man shouted. He ran after him. The older man sighed. He followed.
Lin Yu watched. He did not move. He waited. He heard screams. He heard metal clashing. He heard beast roars. It lasted one minute. Then silence.
[Analysis Complete.] The Sword Box said. [Team Eliminated. Beast Count: Five. Level: 3.]
Lin Yu stepped out from behind the rock. He walked to the cave. He did not run. He walked calmly. He drew the Silent Edge. The black sword appeared. It was matte. It did not reflect light. It was perfect for the dark.
He entered the cave. The smell hit him. It smelled of blood. It smelled of guts. The three men lay on the ground. They were dead. Their throats were cut. Their eyes were open. They looked surprised. They did not expect to die.
Five beasts surrounded them. They looked like wolves. But they had scales. They were Iron Wolves. Their fur was hard like metal. Their claws were sharp like knives. They turned to Lin Yu. They growled. They smelled fresh meat.
Lin Yu counted them. Five. He was Level 2. They were Level 3. Normally, this was suicide. But Lin Yu was not normal. He had the Sword Box. He had skills. He had strategy.
[Combat Probability: 70%. Recommendation: Use Shadow Slash. Target the leader.]
Lin Yu moved. He did not shout. He did not warn them. He activated the Silent Edge. The sword glowed dark. It was faint. It was like a shadow.
[Skill: Shadow Slash Level 3.]
He swung. The slash flew through the air. It was silent. It cut the first wolf. The head fell. The body collapsed. The other wolves were confused. They did not hear the sound. They did not see the attack. They only saw their leader die.
Lin Yu stepped forward. He did not stop. He swung again. Left. Right. He moved like water. He flowed between the wolves. He cut their legs. He cut their throats. He did not waste moves. Every swing had a purpose. Every step had a position.
One wolf jumped. It aimed at his neck. Lin Yu ducked. He rolled. He stood up behind the wolf. He stabbed. The sword went into the spine. The wolf fell. It twitched. It died.
Two wolves remained. They looked at Lin Yu. They looked at their dead pack. They were scared. Beasts felt fear. They knew death. They turned. They ran. They disappeared into the dark.
Lin Yu did not chase. Chasing was dangerous. Ambushes waited in the dark. He sheathed the sword. He breathed slowly. His heart beat fast. But his hands were steady.
[Victory Achieved.] The Sword Box said. [Energy Gained: 150. Current Energy: 400.]
Lin Yu nodded. He walked to the bodies. He searched them. He took their spirit stones. He took their pills. He took their weapons. It was not robbery. It was recycling. The dead did not need resources. The living did.
He found a mission token on the bearded man. It was the same as his. They were here for the same quest. Lin Yu took it. He would submit it. It meant more points. More rewards.
He walked deeper into the cave. It was wet. The walls were damp. Water dripped from the ceiling. *Drip. Drip. Drip.* The sound echoed. He reached the end of the cave. There was a nest. It was made of bones. There were beast cores inside. He collected them. Ten cores. Enough for the mission.
He turned around. He walked out of the cave. The sun was setting. The sky was purple. The shadows were long. He needed to camp. He could not travel at night. Night was for beasts.
He found a spot near the cave. It was hidden by bushes. He made a small fire. He did not use wood. He used dried moss. It made less smoke. He cooked some beast meat. He ate it. It was tough. It was salty. But it gave energy.
He sat by the fire. He watched the flames. He thought about Mei Ling. He wondered if she was safe. He thought about Elder Chen. He wondered if the old man knew he was gone. He hoped Chen would send assassins. He wanted to kill them. He needed the practice. He needed the energy.
[Rest Recommended.] The Sword Box said. [Cultivation Efficiency: High during sleep.]
"I will rest," Lin Yu said. He whispered.
He lay down. He put his bag under his head. He kept the sword near his hand. He closed his eyes. He listened to the night. He heard owls. He heard wind. He heard nothing else. He slept.
He woke up before dawn. The fire was out. The air was cold. He stood up. He stretched. His muscles were stiff. He moved them. They loosened. He ate the remaining meat. He drank water from his bottle. He packed his bag.
He looked at Iron Peak. The sun was hitting the top. It glowed red. Like iron in a forge. It was beautiful. It was dangerous.
"Today," Lin Yu said. "We finish the mission."
[Warning.] The Sword Box said. [Energy Signature Detected. Near the peak. High Level.]
"How high?" Lin Yu asked.
[Level 5. Maybe Level 6.]
Lin Yu frowned. Level 5 was an Elder level. Level 6 was a Core Formation expert. Why were they here? This was a disciple mission. Elders did not come here. Unless...
"Beast Tamers," Lin Yu said.
[Possibility: 80%.]
Lin Yu tightened his bag straps. He checked his traps. He checked his pills. He checked his sword. He was ready. He did not fear them. He respected them. Fear made you hesitate. Respect made you prepare.
He started climbing. The path was steep. The rocks were sharp. He used Qi to strengthen his legs. He jumped from rock to rock. He was fast. He was light. He reached the halfway point by noon. The sun was hot. He sweated. He wiped his face. He kept moving.
He heard voices. He stopped. He hid behind a large boulder. He looked down. There was a platform. Three people stood there. They wore black robes. They had masks. They stood around a cage. Inside the cage was a beast. It was large. It was wounded. It was an Iron Tiger. It was rare. It was valuable.
"They are capturing it," Lin Yu thought. "Not killing. Capturing."
[Beast Tamers.] The Sword Box confirmed. [They tame beasts for power. They sell them. Or use them for war.]
Lin Yu watched. He counted them. Three. One was Level 5. Two were Level 3. He could kill the Level 3s. The Level 5 was a problem. He could not win a direct fight. He needed a trap.
He looked around. He saw the terrain. It was narrow. Only one path. He could cause a rockslide. He could separate them. He could pick them off.
"Box," Lin Yu thought. "Can you calculate the weak point of the cliff?"
[Scanning...]
A blue grid appeared over the cliff face. It highlighted a crack. It was near the top. If struck with force, it would break.
"Perfect," Lin Yu thought.
He moved. He climbed higher. He went above them. He found the crack. He placed a trap. He used his remaining explosives. He wired them to the crack. He hid the wire. He went back down. He approached from the front.
He stepped onto the platform. He made noise. He stepped on a loose stone. *Clack.*
The black robes turned. They looked at him. The Level 5 stepped forward. He was tall. He had a scar on his neck.
"Who are you?" he asked. His voice was rough.
"Disciple," Lin Yu said. "Lost."
The man laughed. "Lost? Here? No one gets lost here. You are spying."
"No," Lin Yu said. "Just hunting."
The man looked at Lin Yu's robes. He saw the sect symbol. He saw the sword. He saw the calm eyes.
"Kill him," the man said. He did not care. He turned back to the cage.
The two Level 3s charged. They drew their weapons. They were daggers. They were poisoned. Lin Yu saw the green glow.
Lin Yu did not run. He waited. He held the Silent Edge. He waited for the right moment. They came close. Five feet. Four feet. Three feet.
Lin Yu stepped back. He stepped on the wire. He triggered the trap above.
*Boom.*
The explosives went off. The crack broke. Rocks fell. They fell on the platform. They hit the two attackers. They screamed. They were crushed. They died instantly.
The Level 5 man jumped back. He avoided the rocks. He looked at Lin Yu. His eyes were wide. He was angry.
"You tricked me," he said.
"I survived," Lin Yu said.
The man drew his sword. It was red. It glowed with fire. He was strong. He was experienced. He swung. A fire wave flew at Lin Yu.
Lin Yu dodged. He rolled. The fire hit the rock. It melted the stone. It was hot. Lin Yu felt the heat. He stood up. He held the Silent Edge. He poured Qi into it.
[Skill: Shadow Slash.]
He swung. The black slash met the fire wave. They collided. Smoke exploded. Lin Yu was pushed back. He slid on the ground. His feet dug into the rock. He stopped. He was not hurt.
The man was surprised. "Level 2? You block my fire?"
"Technique," Lin Yu said. "Not level."
The man roared. He charged. He swung fast. Lin Yu blocked. *Clang.* The swords met. Lin Yu's arm shook. The man was stronger. Lin Yu knew he could not win a duel. He needed to end it.
He looked at the cage. The Iron Tiger was watching. It was smart. It hated the Tamers. Lin Yu made a decision. He cut the cage lock. He used Shadow Slash. The lock broke. The cage opened.
The Tiger roared. It jumped out. It attacked the man. The man was distracted. He fought the Tiger. Lin Yu did not wait. He did not help. He ran. He climbed down. He left them to fight.
He heard screams behind him. The Tiger was angry. The man was busy. Lin Yu disappeared into the rocks. He did not look back. He did not need the kill. He needed the mission. He had the cores. He had the token.
He reached the bottom by evening. He was tired. His Qi was low. His arms were sore. But he was alive. He walked away from the peak. He headed back to the sect. He did not run. He walked steadily.
[Mission Progress: Complete.] The Sword Box said. [Survival Rate: 100%.]
"For now," Lin Yu said.
He walked through the night. He did not sleep. He reached the sect gate at dawn. The guards were changing shifts. They looked tired. They saw him. They nodded. He showed his token. They let him in.
He walked to his room. He locked the door. He sat on the bed. He took out the cores. He counted them. Ten. He took the token. He put them in his bag. He would submit them later. First, he needed to sleep.
He lay down. He closed his eyes. He slept for four hours. He woke up at noon. He washed his face. He ate a pill. He felt better. He went to the Mission Hall.
The clerk was there. He was the same clerk. He looked at Lin Yu. He looked at the cores. He checked them. He checked the token.
"Complete," the clerk said. "Points added. Reward ready."
He gave Lin Yu a box. Lin Yu opened it. Inside was a pill. It was blue. It glowed.
"Breakthrough Pill," the clerk said. "Rare. Helps reach Level 3."
Lin Yu took it. He bowed. He walked out. He held the box tight. This was what he needed. This was power. He could challenge Elder Chen soon. He could protect Mei Ling. He could kill the Beast Tamers.
He walked to the kitchen. He saw Mei Ling. She was cooking. She saw him. She smiled. She ran to him.
"You are back," she said. "I was worried."
"I am safe," Lin Yu said. He showed her the box. "I got the reward."
Mei Ling looked at the pill. Her eyes widened. "This is... expensive."
"For you," Lin Yu said. "Take it."
"No," Mei Ling said. "You need it. You are a cultivator."
"I have another way," Lin Yu said. "You take it. It will help your health. You work too hard."
Mei Ling shook her head. "I cannot. It is yours."
"Take it," Lin Yu said. His voice was firm. "Please."
Mei Ling looked at him. She saw the sincerity. She took the box. She held it tight. "Thank you, Lin Yu. I will keep it. For you. For when you need it."
Lin Yu nodded. He understood. She would save it for him. It was her way of caring. He accepted it. He did not argue.
He walked away. He went to his room. He locked the door. He sat on the bed. He took out the Sword Box. It hummed.
"Next step," Lin Yu said. "Level 3."
[Preparation Complete. Risk: Moderate. Elder Chen will notice.]
"Let him notice," Lin Yu said. "Let him come."
Lin Yu closed his eyes. He started to meditate. He held the Breakthrough Pill. He swallowed it. It dissolved. It became fire. It flowed through his veins. He guided it. He pushed it. He broke the next barrier.
The wall cracked. The power flowed. He was Level 3. He was stronger. He was closer.
The sun set. The night came. Lin Yu sat in the dark. He was ready. The game was changing. The servant was gone. The player was here. And he was winning.