His words didn't echo loudly, but they carried enough weight that even the men on the ground seemed to shrink from them.
One of them coughed weakly, a thin line of blood trailing from the corner of his mouth. His fingers twitched as if trying to push himself up, but the effort failed halfway. The others weren't in any better condition—faces pale, breathing uneven, their earlier aggression completely gone.
Lin Kael watched them for a moment, his expression steady.
"You were sent," he said, not as a question, but as a conclusion. "But not very well prepared."
One of the men forced a bitter laugh that turned into a cough. "Tch… who would've thought…" He shook his head slightly, then went quiet again, unwilling—or unable—to continue.
Lin Kael didn't press further. There was no need.
Their reaction had already confirmed what he wanted to know.
"These injuries won't kill you," he added after a brief pause. "But if you move too soon, you might regret it. Stay down for a while."
It wasn't concern. It was practicality. Dead men caused investigations. Injured ones caused noise, but less of it.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked out of the alley.
---
The night outside felt unchanged.
The outer district still buzzed with its usual, uneven rhythm—vendors arguing over prices, old generators humming like tired beasts, footsteps weaving through narrow paths. Life went on, indifferent to what had just happened a few streets away.
Lin Kael blended into it easily.
But his thoughts were far from ordinary.
He replayed the encounter in his mind—not the fight itself, but the decisions behind it. The choice of location, the number of attackers, their lack of coordination.
"Too crude," he muttered under his breath.
Zhao Kai hadn't been careful.
Or perhaps… he hadn't thought it necessary.
Lin Kael let out a quiet breath, his gaze lifting slightly as he walked.
"That kind of thinking gets people into trouble."
There was no anger in his tone. Just a calm, almost analytical certainty.
He didn't need to rush.
Once he entered the Pathwalker system, Zhao Kai wouldn't just be dealing with him anymore—he would be dealing with rules, oversight, and consequences he couldn't easily control.
And from what Lin Kael had seen today…
Zhao Kai wasn't good at control.
---
When Lin Kael stepped into the apartment, Lian Mei was still awake.
She turned at the sound of the door, her eyes immediately scanning him from head to toe. It wasn't obvious, but the slight tension in her shoulders gave her away.
"You're late," she said, setting down the cloth in her hand. "And you didn't answer my call earlier."
Lin Kael closed the door behind him. "Sorry. I had my phone on silent."
She raised an eyebrow. "That's not like you."
He paused briefly, then walked further inside. "I needed to focus on something."
Lian Mei didn't reply right away. Instead, she studied him more carefully, her gaze lingering on his face.
"…You're not hurt," she said, more to herself than to him.
"No."
That seemed to ease her a little, but not completely.
"Sit," she said, gesturing toward the table. "There's still food."
Lin Kael didn't argue. He sat down, picking up the bowl she placed in front of him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lian Mei broke the silence.
"You've been… different lately," she said, her tone thoughtful rather than accusing. "Not distant, exactly. Just… like you're carrying something."
Lin Kael considered her words, then gave a small nod. "That's not wrong."
She didn't press immediately. Instead, she leaned back slightly, waiting.
Lin Kael set his spoon down.
"I awakened," he said.
The reaction was immediate this time.
Lian Mei's eyes widened slightly, her composure slipping for just a moment. "You—" She stopped herself, then tried again. "You're sure?"
"I confirmed it."
"How?" she asked quickly. "Was it at school? Did something happen?"
Lin Kael met her gaze. "Something happened."
There was enough in his tone to make her pause.
"…Trouble?" she asked more quietly.
"Handled."
The answer wasn't detailed, but it was firm enough that she didn't push further. Instead, she exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing as she processed it.
"A Pathwalker…" she murmured, almost to herself.
Her gaze drifted briefly toward the curtain in the corner.
Lin Kael followed it.
Behind it, Lin Jian's breathing remained faint and uneven, unchanged.
Lian Mei spoke again, her voice softer now. "Then you'll register tomorrow?"
"That's the plan."
She nodded, her expression gradually settling into something steadier.
"That's good," she said. "It means access… opportunities." She hesitated, then added, "It means we might finally have options."
Lin Kael didn't interrupt. He knew exactly what she was referring to.
"The registration center will guide you," she continued. "And after that… you'll need to choose a department, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you know which one?"
"Not yet," Lin Kael replied, then added after a moment, "But I have an idea."
She gave him a faint, knowing look. "You always do."
He allowed a small smile at that.
Lian Mei studied him again, her expression softening. "Just don't rush into anything. Power changes things—but not always in the way people expect."
Lin Kael nodded. "I'll think it through."
She seemed satisfied with that.
"Good," she said, standing up. "Finish your food. You'll need your strength tomorrow."
---
The next morning, the Pathwalker Registration Center stood like a boundary between two worlds.
The structure itself was reinforced and orderly, its clean lines a stark contrast to the patched buildings of the outer district. Armed personnel stood at key points—not aggressive, but unmistakably present.
Lin Kael slowed slightly as he approached, taking in the details.
"Security's tighter than I expected," he murmured.
The man in front of him in line glanced back. "First time?"
"Yeah."
The man chuckled. "You get used to it. Once you're registered, they stop looking at you like you might break something."
"That reassuring?" Lin Kael asked.
"Depends on how you look at it," the man replied with a grin. "You either feel safer—or more watched."
Lin Kael gave a small nod. "Fair point."
Ahead of them, another pair was talking.
"…I'm telling you, if you get into the military, the benefits are insane."
"Yeah, but the risk—"
"Everything has risk. At least they pay for it."
Lin Kael listened quietly, piecing together the tone behind the words. Excitement, anxiety, ambition—they were all there, mixed together.
When his turn came, he was directed into a testing room.
Inside, a man in his forties sat behind a desk, casually sipping tea. He looked up as Lin Kael entered, his gaze briefly assessing him before settling into something more relaxed.
"Morning," he said. "You look like you actually got some sleep. That already puts you ahead of most people walking in here."
Lin Kael let out a quiet breath. "I figured being exhausted wouldn't help."
"Good instinct." The man gestured toward the scanning device. "Go on, let's confirm what you've got."
Lin Kael stepped into position.
A soft hum filled the room as the scan began, then faded just as quickly.
The man leaned forward, eyes flicking across the display. A small smile formed.
"Well, that explains the calm," he said. "Spirit Walker."
He looked up again, clearly more interested now.
"First time registering?"
"Yes."
"Alright," the man said, setting his cup down. "Then let's do this properly. No rush."
That last part caught Lin Kael's attention.
"No rush?" he repeated.
The man shrugged lightly. "You'd be surprised how many people walk out of here without understanding half of what I tell them. I'd rather not add you to that list."
Lin Kael gave a small nod. "Fair enough. I'd prefer to understand what I'm stepping into."
"Good," the man said. "Makes my job easier."
He leaned back slightly, folding his arms.
"Once you're registered, you're officially a Pathwalker. That means privileges—real ones. You'll receive a standard evolution technique to help you grow. Without it, you're basically stuck at square one."
Lin Kael listened attentively. "And the differences between techniques?"
The man smiled faintly. "Now that's a better question than most ask. The one you get here is foundational—stable, reliable, nothing flashy. Advanced ones? Those come from departments, factions, or… other places."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning," the man said, "if you want better, you'll need to earn it—or find someone willing to give it to you."
Lin Kael absorbed that, then asked, "What about information access?"
"Layered," the man replied. "You start with basics—beasts, zones, survival protocols. As your clearance increases, so does what you can see."
He paused, then added with a slight smile, "And trust me, some of what's out there… you don't want to read about before you're ready."
Lin Kael considered that. "Rogue organisations?"
The man's expression shifted slightly—not alarmed, but more serious.
"You've done some thinking," he said. "Good. Yes. Beasts aren't the only problem out there."
He didn't elaborate immediately, letting the implication settle.
Lin Kael didn't push further—for now.
"And the restrictions?" he asked instead.
"Simple in principle," the man replied. "Don't harm civilians. Don't abuse your abilities inside city zones. And don't assume awakening puts you above consequences."
Lin Kael nodded. "Understood."
"Good," the man said, then reached for a card. "Once you step out of this room, departments will start approaching you. Especially as a Spirit Walker."
He slid the card across the desk.
"Take your time. Listen to what they offer. And more importantly—figure out what you actually want."
Lin Kael picked up the card, its weight settling in his palm.
"I will."
As he turned to leave, the man added casually, "And one more thing."
Lin Kael paused.
"Whatever you choose," the man said with a faint smile, "make sure it's something you can live with. Not just something that sounds good in the moment."
Lin Kael gave a small nod.
"That makes sense."
And this time, when he stepped outside, he didn't feel rushed.
Because for the first time—
he understood exactly where he stood.