I Level Up By Making Enemies

”Lin Feng.”

The voice came from the side of the plaza, not from the platforms.

Lin Feng stopped as an Enforcement disciple in silver token robes approached through the thinning crowd. It was not Chen Yu this time, but a different one older by a few years, and looking official. His eyes held none of the curiosity of ordinary disciples.

”Come with me,” the Enforcement disciple said. ”Your match result is being recorded. An elder wants your name confirmed.”

Lu Cang’s face went blank with horror.

”Confirmed? Why does that sound worse than disqualified?”

Lin Feng glanced once at the platforms, then at the bracket board, and followed. ”Lead the way.”

They did not walk toward the waiting benches. Instead, the Enforcement disciple took him along the edge of the plaza, past the protective formation lines and up toward the raised pavilion where the elders sat. The noise of the crowd dulled behind them. Up close, the pavilion’s shade felt colder, and the pressure in the air was heavy and ofcourse Elder Mo was there too.

So were two other elders Lin Feng did not know by name. One was recording results on a long jade tablet. The other watched the platforms with a bored expression. Elder Mo, however, looked directly at Lin Feng.

”This is the one,” the Enforcement disciple reported, cupping his fists. ”Lin Feng, Block C. Winner against Pan Qing of Block A.”

Elder Mo’s gaze moved over Lin Feng from head to toe.

”I remember you,” he said slowly. ”The disciple who interrupted the morning lecture. The one later assigned to move crates. The one whose name keeps appearing beside complaints.”

Lin Feng stood straight enough to be polite, but not straight enough to look intimidated.

”Elder remembers fondly.”

The Enforcement disciple’s shoulder stiffened. One of the other elders made a faint sound that might have been either a cough or the suppressed beginning of amusement. Elder Mo’s face darkened.

”Fondly?” Elder Mo repeated. ”You advance through disruption and opportunism, then stand here and speak lightly in front of the pavilion. Do you believe the assessment is a marketplace for your temperament?”

”I believe the rules reward the winner,” Lin Feng said. ”I won.”

The jade tablet elder finally looked up.

”His result stands,” that elder said. ”The match was supervised. Pan Qing was forced outside the boundary. There is no basis for reversal.”

Elder Mo was clearly unhappy with that fact. His fingers tapped once against the armrest of his seat.

”Record it,” he said coldly. ”But also record this, Lin Feng remains under observation. Continuous disturbances, public mockery of opponents, and repeated association with conflict are to be noted. If he causes a formal incident during the later rounds, the Enforcement Hall does not need to wait until the assessment ends.”

The Enforcement disciple answered immediately.

”Yes, Elder.”

Lin Feng’s eyes lowered slightly, then lifted again.

So a win was still a win.

But the leash had been shortened.

Elder Mo leaned forward just a little.

”You are fortunate this is an evaluation and not a disciplinary hearing. Learn restraint. Next time, a clever result may not protect you.”

Lin Feng nodded once.

”I will remember the elder’s guidance.”

He said it properly.

His face did not look properly obedient.

Elder Mo stared at him for another full second, then flicked his sleeve.

”Remove him.”

The Enforcement disciple gestured sharply. Lin Feng cupped his fists, turned, and followed him back down the steps. Behind them, he could still feel Elder Mo’s gaze pressed between his shoulder blades like a blunt nail.

Only when they were halfway back toward the plaza did the Enforcement disciple speak again, voice low.

”You should be more careful. Elder Mo already disliked your name before today’s match. Winning in that fashion did not help you.”

Lin Feng looked ahead at the sunlit platforms.

”If people only advance in fashions elders like, the bracket would be very peaceful.”

The Enforcement disciple glanced at him, seemed to decide conversation was not worth the effort, and left him at the boundary of the waiting area.

Lu Cang nearly launched himself from a bench.

”What did they do? Are you docked points? Are you removed? Are we sweeping spirit beast pens for the rest of our lives?”

”They recorded my win,” Lin Feng said. ”And reminded me that I am still under observation.”

”That’s sound like a threat!”

Lin Feng sat down, rolled his shoulder once, and opened the system screen.

[Current Rage Points: 1,426 ]

[Milestone Progress: 8/10]

[Status: Under Observation – Attention Elevated]

[Note: Host continues to leave strong impressions on elderly authority figures]

He almost smiled at the system line.Elevated attention from above was troublesome. It meant fewer free chances to push people in public. It also meant every later match would be watched more carefully. Fine. That only made better timing more valuable.

Around the plaza, the assessment had continued without him. Names were being called. Winners advanced. The earlier messy energy of the first rounds was thinning into something tighter. Disciples remaining in the bracket carried themselves differently now. Fewer jokes. More calculation.

Lin Feng leaned back and watched the board update from a distance.His name was still there ans that was enough for now.nA burst of noise rose from one of the far platforms as another match ended. Moments later, an Enforcement disciple’s amplified voice rolled across the grounds:

”Next round pairings will be finalized after the current matches! Remaining disciples, stay ready!”

Lu Cang looked like he wanted to sink into the stone.

Lin Feng’s gaze moved across the surviving names in the bracket, past the denser crowd, and toward the place where stronger opponents were waiting for the field to narrow.

The elders had recorded him and the enforcement Hall was watching more closely.

His room to play around had shrunk.Which meant the next time he made someone lose control, it would have to count.