Shen Yue's pulse quickened as he activated the system's appearance-change function. A soft ripple cascaded over Clone 1's form, reshaping its features with eerie precision. Sharp brows arched, a rugged jawline emerged, and faint battle scars etched themselves across its face—Peng Lei's face.
When the transformation completed, Shen Yue retrieved Peng Lei's bloodstained military uniform from his spatial storage and handed it to the clone.
Clone 1 dressed in silence, adjusting the tattered fabric with the practiced ease of a seasoned soldier.
Shen Yue circled him, eyes narrowed, inspecting every detail. The disguise was flawless—down to the weary slump in the clone's shoulders.
"Perfect," Shen Yue said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You're Uncle Peng now. Time for the next step."
Clone 1 nodded, standing rigid, awaiting further orders.
Shen Yue stepped back, his expression hardening. Without warning, he lunged, channeling half his strength into a condensed, brutal punch.
The blow slammed into Clone 1's chest, sending it crashing to the cave floor. Blood spurted from its lips, and a deep fist imprint marred its torso, its Blood Qi circulation thrown into chaos.
Clone 1 groaned, limbs trembling. "I'm… fine," it rasped, struggling to rise on shaky arms. "I can walk."
Shen Yue's gaze softened, but his voice remained steady. "Good. The damage looks convincing."
He turned his attention to himself, slipping into tattered, bloodstained clothes that screamed "cannon fodder." He attached a communication speaker to his chest and activated Hyper Sense, suppressing his aura until it was barely detectable.
Even a seasoned cultivator would see only a weary survivor, not a warrior on the rise.
They were ready.
Carrying a sack with the heads of one 9th-grade and three 8th-grade Blood Qi Realm barbarians—trophies from Shen Yue's earlier battles—they set out.
The hour-long trek through the desolate outskirts was silent, the weight of their plan pressing heavily on Shen Yue's mind.
This has to work, he thought, his father's betrayal a fresh wound in his heart.
At the military base, the guards barely spared them a glance. A broken deputy leader and a ragged cannon fodder were beneath notice.
Shen Yue's chest tightened as they approached the Military Management Department, the air thick with the scent of ink and old wood.
Behind a worn desk, an officer looked up, his eyes sharp. "Deputy Leader Peng," he said, his tone clipped. "Fate's been cruel. Your Blood Qi's shattered. You're no use to us like this."
Clone 1 bowed slightly, his voice tinged with practiced bitterness. "I'm here to settle my affairs."
The officer's expression didn't soften. "Medicine? Equipment? Silver?"
"Silver," Clone 1 replied.
"Badge."
Shen Yue had already slipped Peng Lei's badge to Clone 1. The officer scanned it, a pale light flickering across the device.
"Five thousand six hundred contribution points," he said. "Three thousand from Captain Shen's legacy. Two thousand six hundred earned by you."
An older official, the elder overseeing contribution exchanges, stepped forward. His gaze fell on the sack Clone 1 dropped at his feet. He opened it, inspecting the barbarian heads with a practiced eye.
"Four heads," he grunted. "That's four hundred points. Total: six thousand."
He paused, eyeing Clone 1. "Silver?"
"Yes," Clone 1 confirmed.
The elder nodded. "One contribution point equals ten copper coins. One hundred copper equals one silver. So, ten points for one silver. You get six hundred silver coins."
He handed over a heavy pouch, the faint clink of coins echoing in the quiet room. "For a family of four in the outer city," he muttered, almost to himself, "this could last a decade."
His gaze shifted to Shen Yue. "You, too?"
Shen Yue stepped forward, his voice steady despite the storm in his chest. "I was cannon fodder. My duty's done. I'm here to exchange my points."
The elder flipped through a ledger. "Name?"
"Shen Yue."
He scanned the page. "You ordered twenty days of food. Twenty points spent. Eighty remain. That's eight silver coins. Any objections?"
"None," Shen Yue said.
A smaller pouch landed in his hand, lighter but no less significant.
"Take it and leave," the elder said, already turning away.
Outside, Shen Yue and Clone 1 exchanged a brief nod, their plan unfolding without a hitch.
They prepared to head for the outer city, but a name flickered in Shen Yue's mind—Meng Xue. His heart stirred, a mix of longing and unease.
"We'll leave in a few hours," he told Clone 1. "There's someone I need to see."
Without waiting for a response, he turned toward the military infirmary.
The infirmary smelled of herbs and antiseptic, a stark contrast to the battlefield's grit.
Meng Xue was tending to a patient under Madam Xie's watchful eye, her hands steady but gentle.
At the sound of Shen Yue's footsteps, she froze, then turned. Her eyes widened, a flicker of surprise breaking her calm facade. "Shen Yue?"
Madam Xie followed her gaze, a knowing smile creeping across her face. "Go on," she said, waving a hand. "I'll finish here."
"But, Master—" Meng Xue began.
"He didn't come for me," Madam Xie interrupted, her tone teasing. "Go."
Meng Xue's cheeks flushed as she stepped outside. The moment she saw Shen Yue up close, emotion overwhelmed her. She threw herself into his arms, her warmth a stark contrast to the cold resolve he'd carried all day.
He hugged her back, the world falling away for a fleeting moment.
She pulled back, her face pink. "What are you doing?" she teased, voice shaky. "Trying to take advantage of me?"
Shen Yue grinned, his usual guarded demeanor softening. "You're the one who jumped me. Now I'm the shameless one?"
Her blush deepened. "You—!"
Before she could finish, Shen Yue's hand found her waist, his other gently cupping her cheek.
He leaned in and kissed her.
Meng Xue stiffened, then melted into it, her lips shy at first, then bold.
A strange heat surged through Shen Yue, his Yang energy stirring, as if drawn to her essence.
The kiss deepened, his control slipping.
A loud cough broke the moment. Then another.
Madam Xie stood at the entrance, arms crossed. "Pick a better spot," she scolded. "Daylight, outside the infirmary? You'd roll into the dirt if I hadn't come."
Meng Xue turned crimson, muttering, "I—I need to disappear."
Shen Yue scratched his neck, his Hyper Sense inexplicably failing to detect Madam Xie. How did I miss her?
Then, a sharp ding cut through his thoughts.
System Notification: Detection Function Activated.
Holy Mother Immortal Body – Detected (Sealed)
Bloodline – Ancient Grade (Sealed)
Target Identified: Meng Xue
Shen Yue's heart thudded. Holy Mother? Ancient Bloodline? Sealed? The words reverberated like a storm in his mind.
Was this why her presence felt so… different? Why his energy reacted so strongly?
Confusion gripped him.
Meng Xue's gaze met his, oblivious to the revelation shaking his core.
A storm was brewing—within him, around him, and in the path ahead. This was only the beginning.