My SSS-Rank Skill and System is too OP in Modern Cultivation world-Chapter 163: White Sabre in the Rain

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Not loud, polite, two taps. Kent's muscles tightened. He crossed the foyer, peeked through the lattice. A Nexus and Watcher courier in a storm cloak waited, scroll tube under one arm, small crate under the other. The badge on the clothes was watcher.

Kent opened the door with a handspan. "Morning."

"Message from Nexus. Signature required," the courier said. Raindrops ran down his hood.

Kent signed a slate. Courier bowed, turned down the lane, melted into drizzle.

He locked the door, set the crate on the low table. Tube carried Jade's seal; the crate bore Princess Louis's wax crest, stylized moon lily. Auri fluttered over, curiosity bright.

Kent opened the scroll first. Jade's stark stroke read:

Watch for a tall man in white sabre coat, named He Bao. Local watchers deploy late afternoon. Hold ground until then. —J.M.

Kent exhaled. "Okay. A Saber man likely shows up before lunch."

Next, the wooden crate. Louis's wax snapped with a neat crack. Inside: a flat envelope of thick violet paper, a small bronze disc half the width of his palm, and a folded parchment map.

He opened the envelope; Louis's handwriting danced across lilac stock:

Dear Kent,

Last night was fun. Here are three favors in one bundle:

The bronze token it's the symbol of my family. Use it wisely.

Map marks a quiet lake I like, a good fishing place. Come if you have some free time.

A prepaid courier account number, so you can send me carrots and vegetables from your garden, just like you promised me.

Repay me when the stars feel right; I am patient.

—Louise.

Kent barked a soft laugh. "She's unpredictable."

Auri chirped, licking a raindrop from the window. Kent pocketed the disc and map in his inside coat. The bronze token might become leverage if the He Clan pressed too hard.

With rain still light, Kent slipped into rubber boots and stepped outside. Field rows shimmered under mist, tiny carrot leaves collected droplets. Xian Yu already moved along row five, straw hat bowed, muttering blessing chants to seedlings.

The old man waved. "Good morning, kid. The rain carries the thunder essence from last week. Sprouts love it."

Kent jogged over, told him about Jade's warning.

Xian Yu's eyes sharpened. "Then let us add small surprises by the fence. How dare they eyes at my disciple."

They worked side-by-side for the next hour. Kent drove slim copper stakes at ten-meter intervals along the perimeter. Xian Yu painted each tip with quick-drying ink made of crushed lightning-ant thoraxes and charcoal. Simple ward array: any intruder crossing would trigger a non lethal but startling spark, enough to scare, and might hurt a little bit.

Nima emerged mid-work, rubbing her eyes. "What's with the new fence poles? What's going on?"

Kent kept it simple: "Extra plant defense. Big bugs hate sparks." She accepted with shrug, hurried inside to fry morning eggs.

Last pole hammered, Kent wiped rain from his brow. Bacterial tank alert flicked in the corner of vision, everything was stable, SP flowing. "Good." He turned to find Xian Yu kneeling at the south gate, tracing the last rune.

"Grandpa Xian Yu," Kent said quietly, "if He Clan sends a level-B sabre cultivator… can you make sure Nima is safe."

Xian Yu smiled beneath hat brim. "I'll greet him first. Old bones still hold a spark. Don't worry about some level-B Cultivator. Your master is Level-A, did you forget?"

"I know." Kent relaxed a fraction. Auri landed on Xian Yu's hat apex like a hat ornament; the old man chuckled, "let's resume our work."

Late morning. Rain eased the drizzle. Nima practiced footwork with wooden staff near the persimmon tree; Auri cheered her. Kent knelt by the Sun-Disk on a padded bench under porch roof, comparing its slots to his coin with magnifier lens.

"Perfect fit… no doubt."

Hoofbeats clopped up the lane. Slow, deliberate. Kent's neck hairs pricked. Nima froze mid-spin; staff lowered.

Through the open gate came a tall man riding a sleek black spirit-horse. Rain beaded on his white sabre coat; a long scabbard rested across the saddle. Three younger riders followed, uniforms of He Clan: gray tunics with silver shark emblem. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Leader dismounted, boots crunching gravel. He removed straw hat, revealing an angular face, cold eyes. He ignored carrots, ignored other vegetable seedlings, and walked straight toward the porch.

Kent stood. Xian Yu appeared silently from behind a row, rake in hand like a halberd. Nima retreated to Kent's side, staff ready; Auri flapped higher, sparking itching.

The man spoke, voice smooth but edged. "You must be Kent, yes? I am He Bao. My father lost a precious array disk last night. I come for exchange, coin for coin."

Kent kept voice calm. "Disk sold fairly to Princess Louis. I don't own it. Nor am I a seller. Why did you come to me?"

He Bao's gaze flicked to Nima, then to Sun-Disk on the bench. Rain gleamed on the crystal surface. His thin smile widened. "Yet here lies the prize."

Kent cursed himself, he'd left it outside for comparison. He stepped sideways, half blocking the view. "Gifted to me legitimately. Not your clan property. Leave my property."

He Bao rested hand on the sabre hilt. "Clan law outweighs chance gifts. Offer it to the He clan, and we will leave politely. Refuse, and… I will burn your house and fields."

Flames of anger licked Kent's gut but he forced a steady tone. "These fields have already burned once. Reborn now. You won't touch them. Otherwise, you will be sorry."

A sound like ripping cloth cracked across the yard, Xian Yu planting rake haft into mud, lightning essence sparking along tines. The old man's voice rumbled, "Threaten my student, answer to me."

He Bao's smile thinned. "Elder, your cultivation smells… recent. But Level-A or not, I fight you, the field still suffers collateral damage."

Kent's mind raced. Fight would wreck seedlings, bacteria tanks and maybe his house. He needed non-destructive deterrence, pain without impact.

Idea sparked. "Demonic disciples on standby." He tapped a subtle rune on the belt, signal whistle without sound; in void domain pain-seals flickered.

Across the outer lane, shadows spilled from the alley: three robed figures, disciples 02, 04, 07 come out with hoods hiding their body. They glided over mud with eerie grace, stopping behind He Clan horses.

He Bao sensed, turned. His juniors stiffened. One disciple exhaled a low moan; sickly purple smoke seeped from his sleeve. The nearest He rider inhaled, eyes bulged, terror punched his gut.

Kent felt emotional spike across system overlay:

+999 SP copied from xxx (Fear)

+999 SP copied from xxx (Confusion)

But notifications stayed silent, pooling to his bacteria reserve per instruction.

Rider dropped reins, backed away. Another disciple extended a finger, releasing the illusion of ghostly sabres swirling around the victim's head, pure show.

He Bao snarled, swung real sabre halfway out. Disciple 04's eyes flashed crimson; the rain behind He Bao shaped into a towering face of watery skull. More fear flared.

Kent stepped onto the porch step, voice ringing: "Mr He Bao, these guests enforce my field wards. They do not kill, but they punish trespass with nightmares lasting weeks. Are you certain your clan will risk humiliation for a broken artifact already lost in open bidding?"

He Bao hesitated. Water-skull loomed, his jaw dripping with water drizzling around his shoulders. Xian Yu's rake sparked again, twin manifestations of blue swords dancing around him.

Nima, brave but edgy, twirled the staff, barked, "Go home, white coat! Carrots bite harder than sabres!"

He Bao's upper lip curled. He weighed the cost: reputation damage if illusions crippled his juniors, unknown elder maybe Level-A, plus royals involvement. Calculations tipped.

He sheathed sabre with a click. "Very well. But coin designs belong to world heritage. He Clan will pursue rightful study." He mounted a horse in one fluid vault. "We will meet again."

He flicked the reins. Horses backed, turned. Rain cloaked their retreat; disciples faded into alley, returning to void domain. Kent exhaled long.

System logged last bursts:

+999 SP copied from he bao (Humiliation)

+999 SP copied from he bao (Resentment)

Kent whispered thanks to invisible disciples, then dismissed them. Sparks at fence poles died down.

Kent's seedlings were untouched. Only shallow hoof dents in the outer path. Kent wiped damp hair. Nima bounced triumphantly. "Field one, bullies zero!"

Xian Yu chuckled, patted Kent's shoulder. "Quick brains saved soil." He lifted the rake, returned to rows as if drama were nothing.

Kent carried Sun-Disk inside, set it on thick felt in study. He replaced the coin into a pocket; pairing tests would wait until security was stronger.

He brewed hot ginger tea for everyone. Nima slurped hers, still wired. Auri preened, proud of his light show sparks.

Kent thanked the disciples mentally, and re-sealed the whistle. He set an additional rule: if He Clan intrudes again, intensify illusions without physical harm. System confirmed.

Afternoon rain stopped; clouds parted. Kent finally sat at desk with a clean notepad.