Free Web NovelChapter 73: Chapter 73: Controlled Silence
For two days, Qin Yuheng did nothing.
At least, that was what the academy saw.
He attended classes, practiced basic sword forms, reviewed Tower Theory, and avoided all public discussion about Shen Wuji. When students whispered about whether he was afraid, he did not respond. When Zhao Tianyu’s followers tried to provoke Qin Mo, Qin Mo simply yawned and said he was too tired to care about "outsourced arrogance."
That annoyed them more than an argument would have.
Shen Wuji also waited.
He did not challenge anyone else. He did not leave the city. He appeared in public areas occasionally, always calm, always polite. Students approached him with questions, and he answered enough to build reputation without revealing much.
He became a pressure point.
A blade placed on a table.
Not moving.
Not gone.
Qin Yuheng understood the tactic.
Shen Wuji wanted public curiosity to grow. The longer Qin Yuheng waited, the more students would wonder whether he feared talent suppression. If Qin Yuheng accepted too late, some would think he had been forced. If he accepted too early, Shen Wuji would control the rhythm.
So Qin Yuheng created another rhythm.
On the third day, he submitted a request to Han Shuren.
A closed-door combat analysis session.
Participants: Qin Yuheng, Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, Qin Mo, Wei Chen, Lin Xian’er.
Purpose: Review visitor combat style and develop countermeasures for academy students.
Han Shuren approved it.
This changed the narrative.
Qin Yuheng was no longer "avoiding Shen Wuji."
He was "analyzing a visitor who defeated academy students."
Wei Chen agreed immediately. He had personally fought Shen Wuji and wanted to understand the suppression technique.
Lin Xian’er joined because information was her nature.
The session took place in a private training hall.
Han Shuren projected recordings of Shen Wuji’s matches.
First against Wei Chen.
Then Zhao Tianyu.
Qin Yuheng watched carefully.
"His suppression requires contact," he said after the first review.
Wei Chen nodded. "Yes. Shield contact, armor vibration, wrist touch. It entered through impact."
Qin Mo added, "Not pure talent suppression. More like energy rhythm interference." freewebnσvel.cѳm
Lin Xian’er said, "He speaks during combat to disturb emotions and confirm reactions."
Qin Yuchen looked at Zhao Tianyu’s recording.
"He read blood instability through aura fluctuations after contact."
Qin Lian said, "His movement avoids direct force. He creates diagonal contact angles."
Han Shuren listened without interrupting.
Qin Yuheng pointed at the projection.
"He is dangerous because he makes opponents reveal themselves. Wei Chen revealed defensive rhythm. Zhao Tianyu revealed blood instability. Against me, he will try to reveal whether my talent foundation is unstable after fruit awakening."
Lin Xian’er looked at him.
"You say that openly?"
"It is the obvious target."
Wei Chen asked, "Is it unstable?"
"No."
A simple answer.
True, at least regarding Primordial Thunder Emperor Body. After enhancement to SSS grade, its foundation was more stable than most natural talents.
Qin Mo said, "Then why not fight?"
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
"Because winning a fight is not enough. I need to decide what he believes he learned."
Han Shuren finally spoke.
"That is the correct approach."
Everyone turned to him.
Han Shuren crossed his arms.
"Shen Wuji is not here to defeat you in the ordinary sense. He is here to extract information through combat. If you simply overpower him, he learns your ceiling is higher. If you hide too much and lose exchanges, he may conclude your foundation has flaws. If you avoid all contact, he learns you fear his method."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"So I need controlled contact."
"Yes."
Lin Xian’er smiled faintly.
"Let him touch the wrong answer."
Qin Yuheng looked at her.
"Exactly."
The plan formed over the next hour.
Qin Yuheng would allow Shen Wuji to sense the visible thunder-body talent but stabilize it so completely that Shen Wuji would conclude the Talent Fruit awakening had succeeded unusually well. He would also intentionally reveal a limitation: high mana consumption during repeated movement bursts.
This limitation was partly true but exaggerated.
He would avoid exposing Primordial Origin Evolution, Origin Thunder Emperor Body Scripture, bloodline resonance, and deeper inventory resources.
Qin Mo suggested using a small formation charm to disrupt Shen Wuji’s contact rhythm, but Han Shuren forbade external hidden tools in the duel unless openly declared.
Qin Yuheng accepted.
He did not want victory through tricks.
He wanted information control.
At the end of the session, Wei Chen said, "If you defeat him, he may still report something."
Qin Yuheng answered, "Then we choose what report he carries."
Lin Xian’er looked amused.
"You are becoming more like a politician."
Qin Mo muttered, "Terrible development."
That evening, Qin Yuheng finally responded to the challenge.
Qin Yuheng accepts Shen Wuji’s visitor challenge.
Match format:
Controlled duel.
Time:
Tomorrow morning.
Supervising instructor:
Han Shuren.
The academy erupted.
Shen Wuji received the response and smiled.
In a private inn room, he opened a communication talisman.
A dark red shadow appeared above it.
Xue Rong’s voice came through.
"Will he fight?"
"Tomorrow."
"Objective?"
"Confirm talent stability. Detect possible secondary energy. Test whether thunder-body is natural, fruit-based, or disguise."
"Do not overreach," Xue Rong said. "Qin Wanshan may be watching."
Shen Wuji smiled faintly.
"I only need one touch."
The talisman dimmed.
The next morning, the Combat Arena filled before sunrise.
Han Shuren stood at the center.
Yu Qingmei watched from the upper platform.
Xu Chengdao stood in the shadow behind her.
Zhao Lan was present.
Zhao Tianyu was present, expression dark but attentive.
Lin Xian’er, Wei Chen, and the Qin team sat near the front.
Qin Yuheng walked onto the stage.
Shen Wuji stood opposite him.
The visitor smiled.
"Thank you for accepting."
Qin Yuheng drew his black sword.
"I accepted because the match finally has value."
Shen Wuji’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Han Shuren raised his hand.
"Begin."
The arena became silent.
Shen Wuji moved first.
And the first thing he aimed for was not Qin Yuheng’s sword.
It was his shadow.
