“You could have warned me, you know,” Jack grumbled under his breath, seated next to Sarah on the soft grass.

“I could, but it was more fun this way,” She replied with a light giggle.

Oh well, at least Sarah seemed back to normal. Well… as close to ‘normal’ as their circumstances allowed, Jack doubted anyone could go through the apocalypse and come out the same person

Adept Lanhai coughed lightly, cutting off the small talk between them.

“I am sure our fight taught you with experience more than my words ever could,” Adept Lanhai began, his voice containing the patience and charm of an aged mentor that was passionate about his field of study. “But, I shall now proceed with your evaluation.”

“Please,” Jack replied cordially, having come to respect Adept Lanhai for the invaluable experience given him. The helplessness he felt when facing the brunt of his attack had left a mark on his soul, one that would not let him rest until he devised a strategy to counter an opponent far stronger than himself, or at least procure some way of escape. Merely believing oneself to be helpless because the opponent outclassed him was not an acceptable course of action for him.

Adept Lanhai nodded, before continuing “Your sword dao is tempered, even beginning to display a hint of refinement after being baptized in life and death battles you have no doubt experienced since the trial began. Young man, have you received instruction in the sword?”

Jack nodded in confirmation, noting Sarah’s curious expression. While she didn’t seem surprised, she was no doubt wondering why he had instruction in the sword as a self-proclaimed gun salesman. The latter was the sale of lethal weapons for defense, while the former was closer to a sport in the modern world, seldom used for any practical purposes.

“Your strikes are no doubt efficient, seeking to end the battle as quickly and cleanly as possible, and you do not let go of any openings in the opponent’s defenses. A point in your favor, undoubtedly. But, if you consider the problem from a different paradigm, that is also your weakness.” Adept Lanhai explained, but Jack failed to grasp the gist of it.

“Pardon?” He asked, with intent to clarify and not doubt his judgment.

Adept Lanhai sighed, and then explained, “Efficiency, when viewed from the paradigm of a skilled swordsman, is no different than predictability. When faced with a superior foe, your entire focus is on him, a singular desire to kill, disable or discourage the opponent as fast as possible. But did you not consider that even the most minor of openings could be created by a skilled swordsman to lure you in? Your failings are similar to Sarah, too entrenched in your mortal perspective,” he paused, shaking his head slightly in disapproval.

“Your senses— sight, sound, smell, touch, taste and even the sensation for danger that improves as you reach higher stages of cultivation, all can be deceived. However, at your level, it is hard enough to deceive one sense, let alone all. If you were paying closer attention, relying on more than sight, you would have realized that my footsteps had stopped making noise as I retreated, my movements were no longer as smooth or graceful, but in fact slightly stilted, like a puppet dangled by its strings. These were all cues I had left for you, but in a world of supernatural powers and abilities, did it not occur to you that combat would no longer be so straightforward?” Adept Lanhai continued to lecture him, and Jack accepted the teachings with a humble attitude— for it was better to be given the warning now than die in an ambush without understanding what went wrong

“Of course, I understand that it is unreasonable to expect this of a novice to the world of cultivation…. especially after what you have gone through in the last few hours. My intention is to only help you best survive what lies ahead, for if only in name, you are the disciples of I, Adept Lanhai. And no disciple of mine is allowed to die without honor,” Adept Lanhai chuckled mirthlessly, letting emotion seep in his voice for the first time since Jack met him.

“Then what do you rely on? If all these senses can be tampered with, even if the likelihood is low, they are unreliable,” Jack bluntly stated, his thinking in line with his character— utilitarian and militaristic. If Earth had nuclear weapons as their greatest arsenal, then the three realms had cultivators— walking, talking, portable nukes that could wreak havoc on their own, then allowing hostile forces to tamper with them would be unpredictable. Or maybe his line of thinking was completely flawed, still viewing things from the perspective of the old world, but Jack knew that there was a force, or forces aligned against the three realms.

Adept Lanhai’s gaze flickered with genuine surprise, gazing at Jack appraisingly.

“Perceptive,” he smiled, seeming more impressed with his insight than his combat capabilities. Jack didn’t know whether to be flattered or slightly irked, but he took it in his stride.

His hands moved delicately, picking up the jade pot delicately— a crystalline liquid trickled out from the narrow circular opening, into the earthen glazed cup. A puff of smoke, or perhaps vapor, emanated out of the cup, but Jack was unable to tell if it was the liquid that was hot or just some sort of after effect. And then the process repeated again, another filled cup steaming on the table. .

“Would you like to find out?” Adept Lanhai asked, as he slid the two cups in their direction with perfect control.

Realization seemed to wash over Jack’s face, not really having thought much about the small, unassuming pot kept on the table until now.

Adept Lanhai is not authorized to harm you. The effects of the liquid are considered a temporary advantage, and will be dispelled before you leave Adept Lanhai’s abode.

“Why not?” Jack grunted in affirmation, and reached out for the cup. Sarah seemed to have read the system notification, no longer hesitating when she saw Jack make the first move.

“Hey, wait up,” Sarah’s expression was relaxed, so Jack didn’t think much of it, relaxing instead. She clinked her earthen cup with his own, and then smiled before saying, “Bottoms up.”

Jack looked towards Adept Lanhai, and asked, “Are there any side-effects to downing it in one go?”

“You are supposed to,” he replied simply, back to his habit of tossing his knife in the air and catching it by the blade’s edge.

“You’re on,” Jack muttered, before gulping the liquid down in one fluid motion.

And then the world exploded in colors.