The Duel of Wits and Might

The training grounds of the Li clan were alive with activity as disciples sparred and honed their skills in preparation for the upcoming mini tournament. A small crowd had gathered, intrigued by the sudden announcement of a duel between Jin Rui and one of Li Wei's team members. Whispers filled the air as onlookers debated the outcome, many assuming that Jin Rui, a well-known talent within the Qi Gathering Stage, would easily emerge victorious.

Li Wei stood to the side, watching everything unfold with his usual calm and composed demeanor. His white hair gleamed in the sunlight, and his piercing blue eyes surveyed the scene without a hint of worry. Beside him, his teammates were far less composed. They shifted nervously, clearly aware of Jin Rui's strength.

Jin Rui, dressed in a dark training robe, stepped forward confidently, his eyes scanning Li Wei's team. Although he respected Li Wei for his recent victory over Xiao Feng, the other members of the team didn't impress him. In his mind, this fight was already decided. He gave Li Wei a quick glance, his expression both respectful and arrogant.

"I hope you won't take it personally when I win, Li Wei," Jin Rui said with a thin smile. "After all, I'll only be testing your teammates."

Li Wei's expression didn't change. He didn't rise to Jin Rui's bait and instead, he glanced at the teammate he had chosen to fight. "Li Jun," he said, his voice steady. "You'll face him."

Li Jun, the youngest and least experienced among them, swallowed hard. His face paled slightly as he looked at Jin Rui, who was already a stage above him in cultivation. The murmurs from the crowd grew louder as they noticed Li Wei had chosen what many believed to be the weakest link in his team.

"Are you serious?" Li Jun whispered, trying to hide the tremor in his voice. "I... I don't stand a chance against him."

Li Wei stepped closer to Li Jun, his voice low and controlled. His eyes gleamed with a knowing confidence. "Trust me, Li Jun. I'll be guiding you."

Li Jun's eyes widened. "Guiding me? How?"

A faint smile tugged at Li Wei's lips. "I'll communicate through the Qi in the air. I'll send you my thoughts during the fight. You just need to stay calm and listen."

Li Jun blinked, understanding dawning on him. Thought transmission through Qi—telepathy—was a rare and difficult technique. Only those with an intricate understanding of Qi could perform such a feat. It required the ability to manipulate the flow of Qi precisely, as thoughts could be intercepted if not transmitted with care. To communicate clearly during a fight demanded immense focus and control.

"Are you sure?" Li Jun asked, still unsure.

Li Wei's smile widened slightly, his eyes steady. "I am. Just follow my directions, and you'll be fine."

Jin Rui stretched his arms, his movements fluid and confident as he took his place in the center of the training grounds. "Are we ready, then?" he called out, his voice carrying easily over the murmurs of the crowd. He was certain of his victory, and his expression showed it.

Li Jun stepped forward, still visibly nervous but steeling himself for the fight ahead. The crowd watched in anticipation, many eager to see how this would unfold. Some wondered if Li Wei was setting his teammate up for failure, while others believed there might be more to this than met the eye.

An elder overseeing the grounds raised his hand. "Begin!"

Jin Rui wasted no time. He dashed forward, his movements a blur as he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat. His Qi surged around him, and he sent a powerful punch directly toward Li Jun, aiming to end the fight quickly.

At that moment, Li Jun heard Li Wei's voice in his mind, clear and precise, like a whisper carried on the wind. Step to your left.

Instinctively, Li Jun moved—just as Li Wei had instructed him. He sidestepped the attack, barely avoiding Jin Rui's fist. Jin Rui's eyes narrowed in surprise, but he didn't slow down. He launched a rapid series of punches and kicks, each one infused with Qi, each one fast and powerful.

Again, Li Wei's voice came, steady and calm. Lean back. Now, turn.

Li Jun moved with precision. He wasn't faster or stronger than Jin Rui, but his movements were guided perfectly, his footwork deliberate. Every time Jin Rui attacked, Li Jun would evade, stepping just out of reach or deflecting the blow with minimal effort. It was as if Li Wei could see the fight unfold before it happened, giving Li Jun the exact instructions needed to stay one step ahead.

The crowd watched in stunned silence as the seemingly weaker Li Jun continued to avoid Jin Rui's attacks. It was clear that something was off—Jin Rui's strikes, while powerful, weren't landing as cleanly as they should have.

From the sidelines, Li Wei stood calm, his focus entirely on the fight. His system had already revealed Jin Rui's weaknesses: overconfidence and an overreliance on brute strength. His technique had gaps—gaps that Li Jun could exploit if guided properly.

Now sidestep and strike his ribs, Li Wei's voice echoed in Li Jun's mind.

Li Jun followed the direction without hesitation, and his fist connected with Jin Rui's ribs, causing the older boy to stumble. The crowd gasped as Jin Rui faltered, clearly not expecting the blow.

Jin Rui's frustration grew as he failed to land a solid hit. His attacks became more forceful, more desperate, but that only made him more predictable. Li Jun, now gaining confidence, continued to dodge and deflect, all while keeping his focus on Jin Rui's weaknesses.

Li Jun feigned a stumble, a move Li Wei had suggested, and Jin Rui took the bait. He lunged forward with a powerful punch, aiming to finish the fight in one decisive blow. But at the last moment, Li Wei's voice guided Li Jun. Duck low and spin behind him.

Li Jun did exactly that, ducking low and spinning behind Jin Rui, delivering a quick, controlled strike to his back.

Jin Rui staggered forward, caught off balance. Before he could recover, Li Jun struck again, this time aiming for Jin Rui's legs, sweeping him off his feet. Jin Rui crashed to the ground, the air knocked out of him.

The crowd was in stunned silence.

Jin Rui lay there for a moment, staring up at the sky, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He had been so sure of his victory, so confident in his abilities. But now, lying on the ground, he realized he had underestimated both Li Jun and, more importantly, Li Wei.

Li Jun stepped back, his heart pounding in his chest, but a look of disbelief and triumph on his face. He had done it. He had followed Li Wei's instructions perfectly, and it had worked.

Jin Rui slowly rose to his feet, his expression a mix of frustration and grudging respect. He turned to Li Wei, who was watching with his usual composed expression.

"You... you really are something, Li Wei," Jin Rui said, his voice quieter now, humbled by the experience. "I accept defeat. A deal is a deal."

Li Wei's smile was barely noticeable, but it was there. "Welcome to the team, Jin Rui."

Jin Rui nodded, still catching his breath. "I'll admit, I didn't expect that. I thought I could take on your team easily, but clearly, I was wrong."

"It wasn't about strength alone," Li Wei said, his voice calm. "Sometimes, knowing your opponent is more important than overpowering them."

Jin Rui glanced at Li Jun, who was still processing the fact that he had won. "You fought well, Li Jun. I'll gladly join the team."

As the crowd slowly dispersed, murmurs of admiration and surprise followed them. Li Wei had once again shown his brilliance—not through raw strength, but through intelligence and careful planning.

As they walked away from the training grounds, Li Jun couldn't help but glance at Li Wei with newfound respect. "How did you know, Li Wei? How did you see through Jin Rui like that?"

Li Wei's eyes flickered for a moment, his smile faint. "Experience."

He didn't elaborate, and Li Jun didn't press further. But in that moment, Li Jun realized that there was far more to Li Wei than anyone in the clan had yet to understand.