The night was too quiet.
Wei Liang noticed it immediately.
The Shen Estate was always controlled.
Always silent.
But this—
Was different.
No footsteps.
No distant movement.
Even the wind—
Felt absent.
Wei Liang sat in his courtyard.
Eyes closed.
Not cultivating.
Listening.
Waiting.
His breathing was slow.
Steady.
But his awareness—
Sharp.
Something was wrong.
Then—
A shift.
Faint.
At the edge of perception.
Wei Liang's eyes opened.
The courtyard door.
Still closed.
But—
Not untouched.
A presence.
Outside.
Not standing.
Hiding.
Wei Liang didn't move.
Didn't react.
Just…
Waited.
Time passed.
One breath.
Two.
Three.
Then—
It came.
The door moved.
Not opened.
Cut.
A thin line appeared across the wood—
Perfect.
Silent.
Then—
Split.
A figure slipped through.
Black-clad.
Masked.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Assassin.
Wei Liang was already moving.
Not back.
Sideways.
The blade flashed.
Fast.
Precise.
Aimed at his throat.
Wei Liang tilted his body—
Just enough.
The blade passed.
Close.
Too close.
The assassin didn't stop.
Second strike.
Faster.
Lower.
Wei Liang reacted—
But not enough.
The blade grazed his arm.
Blood.
Warm.
Real.
Pain flared.
Sharp.
Wei Liang's eyes hardened.
Stronger than before.
More controlled.
More dangerous.
This wasn't a test.
This was—
Execution.
Wei Liang stepped back.
Measured.
Breathing steady.
The assassin advanced.
No words.
No hesitation.
Only intent.
Kill.
Wei Liang's mind moved quickly.
Speed:
Higher.
Strength:
Higher.
Skill:
Refined.
Conclusion:
Cannot win directly.
So—
Change.
The assassin lunged again.
Wei Liang didn't dodge fully.
He moved in.
Closer.
Inside the strike.
The blade cut across his side—
Deeper this time.
But—
Not fatal.
Wei Liang's hand shot forward.
Not to block—
To disrupt.
His fingers struck the assassin's wrist.
Precise.
The angle shifted.
Just enough.
The next strike—
Missed.
The assassin's eyes flickered.
Unexpected.
Wei Liang didn't stop.
He twisted.
Shoulder forward.
Body low.
The movement—
Not powerful.
But—
Efficient.
The assassin staggered half a step.
That was enough.
Wei Liang retreated instantly.
Creating distance.
Blood dripped from his side.
Breathing steady.
Control.
Everything—
Control.
The assassin adjusted.
Then—
Changed.
His stance shifted.
Lower.
More focused.
Serious now.
Wei Liang's eyes narrowed slightly.
So he was testing before.
Now—
He's killing.
The next attack came—
Faster than before.
Wei Liang barely reacted.
Too fast.
The blade struck—
His shoulder.
Deep.
Wei Liang's body shook—
But didn't fall.
Pain exploded.
His vision blurred—
Just for a moment.
That moment—
Was dangerous.
The assassin moved again.
Final strike.
Wei Liang's thoughts sharpened.
Too fast.
Too strong.
No escape.
Then—
Something moved.
Not outside.
Inside.
The pagoda.
The second floor—
Pulsed.
Violently.
The fragment—
Reacted.
The world slowed.
Not physically.
Perception.
Wei Liang saw it.
Clearly.
The angle.
The timing.
The flaw.
There.
His body moved.
Not faster.
More precise.
He shifted half a step.
The blade passed—
Missed his heart by a fraction.
Wei Liang's hand struck.
Not hard.
Perfect.
The assassin's throat.
The movement—
Clean.
Correct.
The assassin froze.
Just for a moment.
Enough.
Wei Liang stepped in.
Closer.
His second strike—
Connected.
The throat.
Again.
Not powerful.
But—
Accurate.
The assassin stumbled back.
Air cut off.
Balance lost.
Wei Liang didn't chase.
Didn't hesitate.
He picked up the fallen blade.
And—
Finished it.
Clean.
Silent.
Final.
The courtyard fell still.
Wei Liang stood there.
Breathing steady.
Blood dripping.
Hands—
Unshaken.
The body hit the ground.
Didn't move again.
Wei Liang looked down.
Expression calm.
"…So this is how it feels."
Not fear.
Not relief.
Understanding.
Killing—
Wasn't difficult.
Deciding to kill—
Was.
Wei Liang closed his eyes briefly.
Then—
Opened them again.
Clear.
Sharp.
Alive.
Deep within—
The pagoda trembled.
The second floor—
Stabilized.
The fragment—
Complete.
Not fully.
But—
More.
Wei Liang exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
Because now—
He had crossed a line.
And there was no going back.