Trouble

The accident at the abandoned testing ground was like a stone cast into still water, stirring ripples unlike any before between Ji Juechen and Huo Yuhao. That brief cooperation had left its mark on both of them. Huo Yuhao had seen the dependable combat ability beneath Ji Juechen's cold exterior, while Ji Juechen had used the system to gather valuable data on Huo Yuhao's command and battlefield control during a crisis.

Yet this fragile tacit understanding, so newly formed, soon developed cracks over a seemingly trivial matter.

A few days later, in the academy's residential district.

A tall, powerfully built sixth-year student with an arrogant expression—Lin Tian—was blocking the path of a slight, plainly dressed lower-year student. Two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring glimmered beneath Lin Tian's feet. The formidable pressure of a Soul King had turned the lower-year student pale and left him trembling.

"Kid, where are the Soul Tool components I told you to make for me? How many days has it been? If you delay my selection for Mingde Hall, can you afford the consequences?" Lin Tian's booming voice carried an undisguised threat. Several equally aggressive-looking lackeys stood beside him.

"L-Lin Tian, senior... the Core Array for that component is too complicated. I... I'm still studying it. Could you give me another two days..." the lower-year student pleaded in a trembling voice.

"Give you more time? Can you compensate me for my time?" Lin Tian grabbed the other student by the collar and lifted him off the ground. "If you can't hand it over today, go explain it to the instructor for me!"

Quite a few students had gathered around to watch, but most only dared to be angry in silence. Lin Tian was not only a sixth-year prodigy, but his martial soul, Molten Bone Spike, was exceptionally aggressive. He was also notorious for holding grudges, and he seemed to have some ties to the military.

Just then, Huo Yuhao and Wang Donger happened to pass by.

"Stop!" Huo Yuhao immediately frowned at the sight and stepped forward. "Bullying a lower-year student inside the academy—what kind of skill is that?"

Lin Tian shot Huo Yuhao a sidelong glance, recognized him as a newly arrived exchange student, and sneered. "Who did I think it was? Just some outsider. Mind your own business and get lost!"

Huo Yuhao's gaze darkened. Just as he was about to argue further, another voice rang out coldly from the side.

"You're too noisy."

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw that Ji Juechen had appeared nearby at some point. He was still holding the Iron Sword in his arms, watching the farce expressionlessly. Jing Ziyan stood behind him, studying both sides with interest.

At the sight of Ji Juechen, Lin Tian's arrogance instinctively subsided somewhat. The title of "Sword Fanatic" was quite renowned throughout the academy now. Still, relying on his status, he forced himself to say, "Ji Juechen, this has nothing to do with you, does it? I'm merely teaching a lesson to someone who broke his promise."

A system panel silently unfolded in Ji Juechen's mind:

[Scene Analysis: Student conflict.]

[Target: Lin Tian. Martial Soul: Molten Bone Spike. Personality Analysis: Extremely self-centered, paranoid, highly vengeful, with antisocial tendencies (mild).]

[Behavior Prediction Model activated... Based on past data, probability of retaliating against the target (lower-year student) after this conflict: 92%. Probability of repeating similar bullying behavior in the future: 87%.]

[Risk Assessment: This target is a persistent source of "trouble."]

[Recommended Handling Plan (based on principles of efficiency and risk control): Conduct "personality correction" (physical) and eliminate the hidden danger completely.]

Ji Juechen's gaze swept over Lin Tian. The system's analysis of his high probability of retaliation and its label of "trouble" led him to a conclusion.

Ignoring Lin Tian's explanation, he looked directly at Huo Yuhao and stated in his signature calm tone, "This person is trouble."

Huo Yuhao froze for a moment, then understood what Ji Juechen meant. But he immediately objected, "Even so, he should be dealt with by the academy's tribunal! We can't use force in private!"

"The tribunal?" Ji Juechen's tone carried a faint, almost imperceptible chill brought by the system's analysis. "The process is lengthy, and the evidence requirements are cumbersome. The final result will most likely be a warning or an inconsequential punishment. It cannot eliminate the hidden danger at its root."

His gaze turned to Lin Tian again, sharp as a sword. "Your actions disturbed my peace. Your existence is a potential risk."

Before his words had faded, a concentrated sword intent, almost tangible, suddenly locked onto Lin Tian!

Lin Tian's entire body stiffened. It felt as though countless icy needles were piercing him, and even his Soul Power Circulation became sluggish. The color drained from his face in an instant. All his earlier arrogance vanished, leaving only boundless terror.

"Y-You... what are you trying to do? The academy forbids private fights!" he shouted, fierce in appearance but weak within.

"Ji Juechen!" Huo Yuhao strode forward and placed himself between Lin Tian and Ji Juechen, his gaze incomparably solemn. "You can't do this! Without a trial, no one has the right to casually decide another person's fate! If his crimes are truly unforgivable, the tribunal will naturally deliver just punishment! But if there is even the slightest chance that he can reform, then your sword will snuff out all hope!"

Huo Yuhao's voice carried an unwavering conviction. "What I see is someone who needs to be judged, but who might also be saved. Is what you see merely 'trouble' that needs to be removed?"

[Warning: Target Huo Yuhao's emotional fluctuations are intense. Ideological conflict level has increased.]

[His behavioral logic is based on "procedural justice" and "human malleability," fundamentally opposing the host's current plan of "efficiency first, risk elimination."]

Ji Juechen looked at Huo Yuhao standing before him, at those eyes filled with disapproval and even a trace of disappointment. Something in his sword heart stirred. He recalled Xuan Zi's words at Shrek and Beibei's protection. An indescribable sense of stagnation appeared within his pure sword intent.

Was what the system provided truly the Optimal Solution?

Eliminating "trouble" was the most efficient method. But what were the "hope" and "possibility" Huo Yuhao spoke of—things that could not be quantified by data?

For the first time, his sword intent hesitated when facing someone weaker than himself—Lin Tian.

In the end, the cold sword intent locking onto Lin Tian slowly receded like the tide.

Lin Tian collapsed onto the ground as though all strength had left him, gasping for breath. His eyes were filled with fear as he looked at Ji Juechen.

Ji Juechen did not look at him again, nor did he look at Huo Yuhao. Still holding his sword, he turned and left, leaving behind a cold sentence that echoed through the air:

"Your mercy may cost you a far greater price in the future."

Huo Yuhao watched Ji Juechen's departing back, his brows tightly furrowed. He had prevented a possible tragedy, yet he felt no joy at all. Ji Juechen's final words were like a thorn lodged in his heart.

Jing Ziyan looked at the departing Ji Juechen, then at the grave-faced Huo Yuhao. She shrugged helplessly before quickly following after him.

The conflict was temporarily settled.

But within Ji Juechen's heart, Huo Yuhao had planted a seed concerning "justice," "efficiency," and "possibility." He began to vaguely realize that not everything in this world could be defined with simple labels of "right" and "wrong," "trouble" and "not trouble."

His sword could sever tangible things, but could it sever this intangible struggle between human hearts and ideals?

The system recorded all the data from this clash of beliefs, but in the final recommendation field, it left behind only a single flashing line of code:

[Logical paradox... Searching for solution...]