Chapter 12: A Totally Not Embarrassing Training Session

Su Yan slammed the door to his dorm shut, heart still racing from his great escape. He dropped to the floor, sucking in deep breaths.

"I think I almost died," he muttered.

"Yeah, but it was hilarious," the system snickered.

"I hate you."

"Love you too, buddy! Now, about that new skill—wanna give it a whirl?"

Su Yan groaned but pulled up his status screen anyway. Sure enough, the new skill was listed under his abilities.

[Phantom Assassin’s Secret Skill: Shadow Phantom]

Effect: Create an afterimage clone that lasts for 10 seconds. Clone mimics your movements at the moment of activation.

"Oh! That actually sounds kinda useful," Su Yan admitted. "Maybe I should test it out."

"I dunno, sounds dangerous," the system said ominously.

"...Why?"

"No reason! Have fun!"

Su Yan’s eye twitched. That’s never a good sign.

Deciding to ignore the warning, he stepped into his tiny courtyard and took a deep breath. He focused on his new skill.

"Shadow Phantom—activate!"

Dark energy flickered around him, and suddenly, another Su Yan appeared beside him, frozen in a running stance.

"Whoa! It worked!" He waved his hand in front of the afterimage’s face. "Kinda creepy though..."

Then, the clone moved.

Specifically, it mirrored his last action—sprinting at full speed.

"W-Wait—!"

Su Yan watched in horror as his afterimage crashed into the wall, rebounded off, and slammed into the training dummies. They collapsed like dominos, sending wooden limbs flying everywhere.

A second later, the clone disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"...Oh," Su Yan said, blinking.

"HAHAHAHA!" The system howled. "DID YOU SEE YOUR FACE?! I KNEW THIS WOULD BE GOOD!"

"IT JUST REPEATS WHAT I DO?!"

"Yup! Imagine the chaos!"

"This is so stupid!"

"You're welcome!"

Before Su Yan could scream at the system, a cold voice cut through the air.

"Su. Yan."

His blood turned to ice.

Slowly—painfully slowly—he turned his head.

Zhen stood in the courtyard, arms crossed, eyes glowing with murder.

"H-Hey, mentor! What a coincidence! I was just—"

"—Testing your new skill, I see." Her voice was deceptively calm. "Where exactly did you learn this technique?"

"Uh." Su Yan swallowed. Think fast, idiot! "T-The library! I mean, no! Not the library! Who said anything about a library?!"

Zhen’s aura flared dangerously.

"You absolute fool," she muttered, stepping forward. "You did break in."

"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT!"

"Then you won’t mind answering a few questions—in the training hall," Zhen said sweetly.

Su Yan turned to run.

She grabbed him by the collar before he moved an inch.

"LET ME GOOOOOOO!"

One Beating Later…

Su Yan lay on the floor of the training hall, a very detailed impression of his face embedded in the wooden planks.

"Ouch. Ow. Oof. I think my ribs are backwards."

"Good," Zhen said, cracking her knuckles. "That’s what you get for lying."

"I didn’t lie! I just—conveniently left out details!"

"Same thing."

Su Yan groaned. "I swear, I was just trying to get stronger!"

Zhen’s expression softened for a moment. "...Is that really why?"

The system answered for him.

"Nah, he was just trying to pay off his enormous debt."

Su Yan wanted to die.

Zhen’s eyes narrowed. "Debt? What debt?"

"Haha! Look at the time! I gotta go!" Su Yan scrambled to his feet and bolted.

Zhen sighed, watching him flee. "That boy is going to get himself killed." Then she frowned. But how did he escape me in the library? Something was off about him. And I’m going to find out what.

Meanwhile, in Su Yan’s Room…

Su Yan flopped onto his bed, groaning.

"That was awful. I feel like my soul left my body."

"I’d rate it an 8/10 beatdown," the system said. "Good form, excellent technique, but I think she could’ve broken a few more bones."

"Shut up."

Suddenly, a new mission screen popped up.

[Mission: A Man Must Have Priorities!]

Objective: Help clean the Sect’s female hot springs. (While they’re still in use.)

Reward: ¥50,000 + ‘A Very Interesting Experience’

Penalty for Failure: Public Shaming + Indefinite Celibacy

Su Yan stared at the screen.

Then he screamed.