Morning sunlight poured over the great square of the Ming Lan Clan.
Colorful banners fluttered in the cool breeze, and the deep rhythm of ceremonial drums echoed across the open grounds, filling the air with excitement and anticipation.
Children from various families of the clan gathered near the starting line, their expressions a mixture of nervousness and determination.
Some whispered to each other, others stretched their limbs, while a few stood stiffly, overwhelmed by the attention of the large crowd.
Above them, on elevated wooden platforms, the elders and parents watched quietly.
At the center of the main platform stood the clan leader, Han Tian Lan.
His tall figure radiated authority.
When he raised his hand, the noise slowly faded.
Then his voice rang across the square like distant thunder.
"Children of the Ming Lan Clan… Elders… and honored families!"
The crowd fell completely silent.
"Today marks the beginning of a competition that will reveal the future talents of our clan."
His sharp eyes swept across the line of young participants.
"This is not merely a game."
He paused deliberately.
"It is a test of strength… intelligence… and discipline."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Remember this well—pride and recklessness have no place here.
Victory does not belong to the one with the greatest strength… but to the one who knows how to use it wisely."
A murmur of agreement spread among the elders.
The Competitors
The children at the starting line stood straighter.
Among them, several figures naturally attracted attention.
Li Hua stood calmly, stretching her arms lightly.
She came from a prestigious merchant family that owned nearly a quarter of the shops within the clan.
Her body was flexible and agile, traits she had developed from years of training.
Nearby stood Yu Mang.
He was enormous compared to the others.
Even at his young age, his broad shoulders and thick arms made him look intimidating.
He cracked his knuckles and laughed arrogantly.
"I'll win every round. The prize is already mine."
A few children nervously stepped away from him.
Not far away stood Ming Xuan.
Tall and thin, almost fragile in appearance, yet his eyes were sharp and calculating.
He observed the course carefully, analyzing every obstacle.
Victory or defeat did not seem particularly important to him.
But deep inside…
He wanted to prove something.
To someone.
Or perhaps to himself.
Then there was Jun Jie Zhe.
A boy so round that the folds of flesh nearly hid the shape of his body.
Even standing still, he was breathing heavily.
Mo Xuan glanced at him briefly.
Then she muttered under her breath.
"Looks like a pig."
A small smile tugged at her lips.
Easy target.
Especially in a speed competition.
But her thoughts quickly shifted.
Should I just run normally… and let things happen?
She immediately rejected the idea.
No.
Mo Xuan was not the kind of person who relied on luck.
Every situation needed preparation.
Every possibility needed consideration.
Even unexpected events…
Should already have an answer prepared.
The Crowd's Favorite
Among the competitors stood a girl who drew the most attention.
Shui Lan.
Her long strides and confident posture radiated strength.
The crowd erupted into cheers whenever she moved.
"Shui Lan!"
"Shui Lan!"
Even some elders nodded approvingly.
One elder whispered quietly.
"Everyone believes Shui Lan will win."
Clan leader Han Tian Lan chuckled softly.
"Strength alone is not enough."
His gaze drifted toward another figure.
A quiet girl with dark eyes.
Mo Xuan.
"Watch carefully," he said.
"We will soon see who truly understands the game."
The First Trial
Han Tian Lan lifted a small red flag.
"The first trial…!"
His voice echoed across the square.
"A test of speed!"
The crowd exploded with excitement.
"Begin!"
The flag dropped.
The children surged forward.
First Obstacle – The Hanging Bridges
Wooden bridges swayed above shallow pits.
Every step caused the planks to shift
violently.
A single mistake would cost precious seconds.
Shui Lan leapt forward confidently.
Her movements were powerful and energetic.
But when the bridge suddenly tilted beneath her feet, she stumbled slightly.
"Oops."
She quickly regained her balance.
At that moment—
A figure passed her like a gust of wind.
Mo Xuan.
Shui Lan blinked.
Since when could that dark bug run ahead of me?!
But Mo Xuan didn't even look back.
Her dark eyes calmly studied the movement of the planks.
Speed means nothing without control.
Timing is everything.
Behind them, Li Hua nearly slipped but caught the ropes.
Yu Mang charged forward recklessly,
causing the bridge to swing wildly.
"Whoa!!"
The crowd gasped.
Ming Xuan moved carefully, calculating every step before placing his foot.
Meanwhile, Xu Lian moved silently.
Gracefully.
Like a shadow gliding through the air.
Second Obstacle – The Twisting Pillars
A maze of tall wooden columns blocked the path.
The participants had to jump, climb, or weave through them quickly.
The audience shouted encouragement.
"Shui Lan!"
"We're counting on you!"
Shui Lan clenched her teeth.
"Can those idiots stop yelling?"
Mo Xuan's mind drifted briefly to her past life.
Memories of brutal athletic training sessions.
Her coach screaming while forcing them to repeat jump drills endlessly.
Timing.
Balance.
Efficiency.
Her body moved almost automatically.
Then—
"THUD!"
Her shoulder bumped into Jun Jie Zhe.
The round boy lost balance immediately.
He collapsed onto the ground with a heavy crash.
Silence fell across the arena.
"Did she just knock him down?!"
The crowd erupted in shock.
But Mo Xuan didn't slow down.
Strength without intelligence… is useless.
Third Obstacle – The Sand Pit
The ground suddenly turned into thick, sticky sand.
Every step sank deeply.
The crowd groaned.
"This will slow them down!"
Shui Lan forced her way through the sand.
Li Hua struggled but eventually crawled out.
Yu Mang's heavy body sank even deeper.
But Mo Xuan suddenly stopped.
She crouched slightly.
Studying the ground.
Then she smiled.
The edges.
The center was soft.
But the sides were firmer.
She stepped lightly along the outer edge and crossed the entire section effortlessly.
The others soon realized the trick—
But by then, she had already taken the lead.
The competitors believed the obstacles were finished.
The finish line was visible.
Shui Lan grinned widely.
"This is it!"
She burst forward.
But suddenly—
The ground changed.
Thick brown mud spread across the final stretch.
Sticky.
Shimmering faintly under the sunlight.
Several children stopped instantly.
"What is this?!"
But Mo Xuan's eyes narrowed.
Star Mud.
A rare substance used to refine Xiao energy.
It perfectly blended with the soil.
No one else had noticed.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
An opportunity.
Without hesitation—
She jumped onto a nearby tree trunk.
Then onto a branch.
Then another.
Her movements were fluid and precise.
She crossed above the sticky mud like a phantom.
The crowd exploded.
"She's climbing the trees!"
Meanwhile, Shui Lan's father shouted from the stands.
"Climb! Climb the tree!"
Shui Lan tried.
But she hesitated for a second.
Her foot slipped.
She fell directly into the mud.
"Ah!"
Yu Mang and Ming Xuan didn't even attempt it.
They were completely stuck.
The elders stared in disbelief.
One of them whispered.
"She's cunning…"
Han Tian Lan burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"What a fascinating child!"
Moments later—
Mo Xuan landed lightly beyond the mud.
She crossed the finish line.
First place.
The crowd fell silent.
The quiet girl with dark eyes…
Had defeated everyone.
Mo Xuan simply dusted off her clothes.
Inside her mind, she smiled calmly.
Surprises are not dangerous.
Only those who fail to prepare for them are.