A Mortal with the proficiency panel

Chapter 5: Hidden Threats

Lin Tian returned to Qinghe Village just as the sun began to set. His clothes were dirtied from battle, but his eyes gleamed with newfound confidence. However, as he stepped into the village, something felt off.

A group of unfamiliar men stood near the entrance, their weapons hidden beneath their robes. Their leader, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, surveyed the villagers with a calculating gaze.

Lin Tian narrowed his eyes. Bandits?

He moved carefully, trying not to draw attention to himself. As he passed by, he caught a fragment of their conversation.

“…Any promising young cultivators?” the scarred man asked one of the villagers.

Lin Tian’s grip on his sword tightened. Were they scouting for talent? Or threats?

As he was about to slip away, a cry rang out. A young boy had accidentally bumped into one of the men, spilling a basket of fruit onto the ground. The scarred man’s expression darkened.

“You brat—”

Before he could act, Lin Tian stepped forward. “It was an accident. No need to hurt a child.”

The scarred man’s gaze flicked toward him, amusement flashing in his eyes. “And who might you be?”

Lin Tian forced himself to remain calm. He couldn’t afford to seem too weak, nor could he draw too much attention.

“Just a villager,” he said evenly.

The man chuckled. “Be careful out there, kid. The world isn’t kind to the weak.”

With that, the group left, but Lin Tian’s unease remained. He had avoided conflict for now, but threats lurked everywhere.

That night, as he sat cross-legged in his cottage, he pulled up the Proficiency Panel once more.

[Proficiency Points Available: 20]

If he couldn’t afford to reveal his talent publicly, he would ensure he sharpened his skills in the shadows. His training continued through the night, his determination unshaken.

For now, he would keep his head down.

But soon… he would rise.