bsp; tuì yī wàn bù shuō ， jiù suàn zuì hòu dǎ bù guò ， yě yào cháng shì yī fān cái zhī dào jié jú shì shén me ， zǒng zhī yǐ lín xuān rú jīn de shí lì ， suī rán yě chéng rèn jiàn hú gōng fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， dàn bìng bù rèn wéi tā jiù zhēn de wú fǎ zhàn shèng le 。
bsp; 退一万步说，就算最后打不过，也要尝试一番才知道结局是什么，总之以林轩如今的实力，虽然也承认剑湖宫非同小可，但并不认为它就真的无法战胜了。
---
Let's assume for a moment that even if he couldn't defeat them in the end, trying would at least reveal the outcome. After all, with Lin Xuan’s current strength, while he admitted that Sword Lake Palace was formidable, he didn’t think it was truly invincible.
shì zài rén wéi ， yún yǐn zōng suī rán ruò xiǎo ， dàn yě yǒu yíng de jī huì 。
事在人为，云隐宗虽然弱小，但也有赢的机会。
It comes down to human effort; although the Cloud Concealment Sect is weak, they still have a chance of winning. It just depends on whether his group could seize this opportunity. Ambushing their main headquarters would be an excellent choice.
jiù kàn zì jǐ zhè xiē rén néng bù néng bǎ wò ， ér tū xí duì fāng de zǒng duò huì shì hěn hǎo de xuǎn zé 。
就看自己这些人能不能把握，而突袭对方的总舵会是很好的选择。
The debate ended without a satisfactory conclusion. Lin Xuan stuck to his decision throughout, while the silver-eyed girl and the Dragon-named youth thought it was too risky.
zhēng lùn zuì zhōng méi yǒu yí gè lìng rén mǎn yì de jié guǒ ， lín xuān zhì shǐ zhì zhōng jiān chí zì jǐ de xuǎn zé ， ér yín tóng shào nǚ yǔ lóng xìng shào nián zé rèn wéi tài mào xiǎn le 。 . .
争论最终没有一个令人满意的结果，林轩至始至终坚持自己的选择，而银瞳少女与龙姓少年则认为太冒险了。 . .
But since Lin Xuan had to do this, they naturally couldn't stop him either. They could only wish for his safe return as a Master.
bù guò lín xuān yí dìng yào zhè me zuò ， tā men zì rán yě bù néng zǔ zhǐ shén me 。
不过林轩一定要这么做，他们自然也不能阻止什么。
---
zhǐ néng zhù fú ， xī wàng lín shī dì néng píng ān guī lái le 。
只能祝福，希望林师弟能平安归来了。
Time was of the essence. Given Lin Xuan's nature, once he decided on an action, there was no interest in lingering any longer. He would be going alone into Sword Lake Palace’s main headquarters, so no preparation or coordination was necessary.
……
……
Thus, after concluding their discussion, Lin Xuan returned to his cave dwelling. He sat and meditated briefly before lying down to rest properly.
shì bù yí chí ， yǐ lín xuān de xìng gé ， jì rán yǐ jīng jué dìng zhè me zuò ， dāng rán méi yǒu xìng qù ， jì xù zài nà ér màn màn dān gē 。
事不宜迟，以林轩的xìng格，既然已经决定这么做，当然没有兴趣，继续在那儿慢慢耽搁。
Nothing happened overnight.
fǎn zhèng zì jǐ shì dān qiāng pǐ mǎ qù chuǎng duì fāng de zǒng duò ， yě bù xū yào shén me zhǔn bèi ， shén me pèi hé 。
反正自己是单枪匹马去闯对方的总舵，也不需要什么准备，什么配合。
The next morning, Lin Xuan's spirit energy had fully recovered. Since he had already made a decision the previous day, there was no need for him to greet anyone again.
gù ér děng shāng yì jié shù ， lín xuān zhí jiē jiù huí le zì jǐ de dòng fǔ 。
故而等商议结束，林轩直接就回了自己的洞府。
A faint green glow enveloped his body as he left Cloud Concealment Mountain like a flying object from another world. A few flashes later, he vanished without a trace. The entire process was extremely secretive; even the sect’s disciples were unaware that their senior elder had departed.
shāo shì dǎ zuò ， rán hòu jiù tǎng zài chuáng shàng hǎo hǎo xiū xī le 。
稍事打坐，然后就躺在床上好好休息了。
Lin Xuan's low profile had its reasons. With the two major sects at odds, while Cloud Concealment Mountain’s main headquarters had activated its prohibitions, making it like a fortress of steel and iron, there were still too many eyes watching. If he left in plain sight, it would be hard to keep it secret.
yī yè wú shì 。
一夜无事。
If word leaked out by accident, Sword Lake Palace's defenses might become even tighter. Although Lin Xuan was confident in his strength, there was no need to make this mission more difficult than necessary. Thus, leaving quietly became the best choice.
dì èr tiān qǐ lái ， lín xuān jīng qì shén dōu huī fù dào le diān fēng ， yóu yú zuó tiān yǐ jīng zuò chū le jué zé ， lín xuān yě bù xū yào chóng xīn zài dǎ zhāo hū 。 . .
第二天起来，林轩jīng气神都恢复到了巅峰，由于昨天已经做出了抉择，林轩也不需要重新再打招呼。 . .
Even if a wall has no leaks, the other party would have little time to react once they got the news. To secure victory in this conflict required not only overwhelming power but also cleverness and strategy.
hún shēn qīng máng yì qǐ ， jiù lí kāi yún yǐn shān xiàng tiān wài fēi qù 。
浑身青芒一起，就离开云隐山像天外飞去。
---
jǐ gè shǎn shuò ， yǐ xiāo shī le zōng jì ， zhěng gè guò chéng yǐn mì yǐ jí ， běn mén dì zǐ ， shèn zhì gēn běn bù zhī dào tā zhè wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo yǐ jīng lí qù 。
几个闪烁，已消失了踪迹，整个过程隐秘以极，本门弟子，甚至根本不知道他这位太上长老已经离去。
The Dragon Realm was one of the smaller interfaces within the Spirit World, vast in area. The distance between Sword Lake Palace and Cloud Concealment Mountain was beyond a million miles. Due to the great distance, it would be quite troublesome for Sword Lake Palace to attack Cloud Concealment Mountain; they had to gather manpower and travel long distances.
lín xuān rú cǐ dī diào ， zì rán shì yǒu dào lǐ ， rú jīn liǎng dà zōng mén jiāo wù ， yún yǐn zōng zǒng duò ， suī rán yǐ jiāng jìn zhì kāi qǐ ， yǒu rú tóng qiáng tiě bì ， rán ér bì jìng rén duō yǎn zá ， zì jǐ rú guǒ dà yáo dà bǎi de lí kāi kǒng pà nán yǐ bǎo mì 。
林轩如此低调，自然是有道理，如今两大宗门交恶，云隐宗总舵，虽然已将禁制开启，有如铜墙铁壁，然而毕竟人多眼杂，自己如果大摇大摆的离开恐怕难以保密。
Conversely, this was also true from their perspective. However, Lin Xuan did not bring any disciples or companions on this mission. He went alone, making his actions more convenient.
rú guǒ yí bù xiǎo xīn ， zǒu lòu le xiāo xī ， jiàn hú gōng de fáng yù ， kǒng pà huì gèng shàng yí gè děng jí 。 lín xuān suī rán duì zì jǐ de shí lì xìn xīn shí zú 。 dàn yě méi yǒu bì yào gù yì zēng jiā cǐ xíng de nán dù 。
如果一不小心，走漏了消息，剑湖宫的防御，恐怕会更上一个等级。林轩虽然对自己的实力信心十足。但也没有必要故意增加此行的难度。
While he didn't mention the speed of his遁光 (a form of teleportation), with such abundant resources, passing through various cities and using teleportation arrays to save time, Lin Xuan wouldn’t hesitate to spend whatever crystal stones were needed.
gù ér qiāo qiāo lí kāi jiù chéng le zuì jiā xuǎn zé 。
故而悄悄离开就成了最佳选择。
Ending the conflict sooner would mean less loss for Cloud Concealment Mountain. The importance of this was clear to Lin Xuan; a few crystal stones weren't significant to him either.
suī shuō shì shàng wú bù tòu fēng de qiáng ， dàn zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng ， duì fāng jiù suàn dé dào xiāo xī ， shí jiān kǒng pà yě lái bù jí 。
虽说世上无不透风的墙，但这种情况，对方就算得到消息，时间恐怕也来不及。
Thus, what had been a long journey became a short one as he approached Sword Lake Palace’s main headquarters in just a few days.
xiǎng yào qǔ dé zhè yī cì zhēng dòu de shèng lì ， bù jǐn xū yào jué qiáng de shí lì ， cōng míng cái zhì yě shì bì bù kě shǎo dì 。
想要取得这一次争斗的胜利，不仅需要绝强的实力，聪明才智也是必不可少地。
---
……
……
It was a calm evening when the sun hadn’t yet set behind the hills. The clouds at the horizon were dyed golden by the setting sun, and birds still chirped among the branches without returning to their nests. The atmosphere around was serene and peaceful.
nài lóng jiè zuò wèi líng jiè pái míng kào qián de xiǎo jiè miàn zhī yī ， miàn jī guǎng bó wú bǐ 。 jiàn hú gōng jù lí yún yǐn zōng hé zhǐ qiān wàn lǐ 。
鼐龙界做为灵界排名靠前的小界面之一，面积广博无比。剑湖宫距离云隐宗何止千万里。
The distant mountains stood majestically under the afterglow of the sunset, stretching far into the distance. This area was within Cloud Concealment Mountain’s territory, but there were no signs of cultivators patrolling the skies. Despite the enmity between the two sects, their strengths were vastly different, and Sword Lake Palace never imagined that Cloud Concealment would dare to take the initiative against them.
yóu yú jù lí tài yuǎn ， jiàn hú gōng xiǎng yào gōng jī yún yǐn zōng qí shí pǒ wèi má fán ， guāng shì diào jí rén shǒu ， yǐ jí gǎn lù jiù yào huā fèi jīng lì wú shù 。
由于距离太远，剑湖宫想要攻击云隐宗其实颇为麻烦，光是调集人手，以及赶路就要花费jīng力无数。
However, if one thought they could be complacent, they would be gravely mistaken. While there might not be visible patrols in the sky, it was merely a facade of relaxation concealing strict measures. The sect’s legacy traced back to ancient times; its main headquarters’ prohibitions and array formations were formidable indeed, like a wall of copper and an iron fortress.
fǎn guò lái ， dào lǐ qí shí yě xiāng chà fǎng fú 。
反过来，道理其实也相差仿佛。
As time passed and the sun began to set, the light grew dimmer. Suddenly, a cloud slowly drifted over. It appeared ordinary, moving at a seemingly slow pace, but that was merely an illusion. In reality, it had moved incredibly fast; one moment it was far off in the distance, and the next, it was right before his eyes.
rán ér lín xuān zhè cì dòng zuò ， bìng méi yǒu dài mén rén dì zǐ 。 zhǐ shì yí gè rén ， xíng dòng xiāng duì ér yán ， zì rán yào gèng jiā fāng biàn 。
然而林轩这次动作，并没有带门人弟子。只是一个人，行动相对而言，自然要更加方便。
The cloud remained aloft as a faint green light emerged from within.
dùn guāng xùn sù zàn qiě bù tí ， yǐ tā shēn jiā zhī fēng fù ， fán shì lù guò xiān chéng ， yǒu chuán sòng zhèn kě yǐ yòng yú gǎn lù ， bù lùn yào huā fèi duō shǎo jīng shí ， lín xuān dōu bú huì lìn sè 。
遁光迅速暂且不提，以他身家之丰富，凡是路过仙城，有传送阵可以用于赶路，不论要花费多少晶石，林轩都不会吝啬。
After a short while, the light faded, revealing a young man’s face.
néng gòu zǎo yì diǎn jiāng chōng tū jié shù 。 yún yǐn zōng de sǔn shī xiāng duì lái shuō 。 zì rán yào shǎo shàng nà me yì diǎn 。
能够早一点将冲突结束。云隐宗的损失相对来说。自然要少上那么一点。
At first glance, he appeared to be no more than twenty years old. He wore a simple green robe, with an unremarkable appearance. His body emitted no trace of spiritual pressure; his aura was restrained and subtle. Lin Xuan's strength had reached such a refined state that it seemed like just another ordinary person.
zhè zhōng jiān shú qīng shú zhòng lín xuān qǐ huì bù qīng chǔ ， hé kuàng zhè diǎn jīng shí 。 duì lín xuān lái shuō ， yě gēn běn suàn bù liǎo shén me 。
这中间孰轻孰重林轩岂会不清楚，何况这点晶石。对林轩来说，也根本算不了什么。
"Is this where Sword Lake Palace’s main headquarters are?"
jiù zhè yàng ， yuán běn yáo yuǎn de lù tú ， lín xuān jǐn jǐn huā fèi le shù rì de gōng fu ， jiù jiē jìn le jiàn hú gōng zǒng duò 。
就这样，原本遥远的路途，林轩仅仅花费了数rì的功夫，就接近了剑湖宫总舵。
Lin Xuan flicked his sleeve, sending out a pair of jade eyes to compare them with the map inside. He must have found the right place.
……
……
Relieved, Lin Xuan’s expression showed a hint of joy. However, he did not release his divine sense.
zhè shì yí gè píng jìng de bàng wǎn ， tài yáng shàng wèi là xià shān pō ， tiān biān de yún cǎi bèi xī yáng yìng zuò le jīn huáng zhī sè， niǎo ér shàng wèi guī cháo ， yī jiù zài zhī tóu chuān suō ， jī jī zhā zhā de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， sì zhōu de qì fēn níng jìng ér xiáng hé 。
这是一个平静的傍晚，太阳尚未落下山坡，天边的云彩被夕阳映做了金黄之sè，鸟儿尚未归巢，依旧在枝头穿梭，叽叽喳喳的声音传入耳朵，四周的气氛宁静而祥和。
Although there was still some distance from Sword Lake Palace's main headquarters, given his extensive experience in cultivation, he guessed that traps and prohibitions were likely set up nearby.
yuǎn chù de dà shān zài xī yáng de yú huī xià gèng xiǎn páng bó ， wān yán qǐ fú ， yán zhǎn xiàng tiān biān jí yuǎn zhī chù 。
远处的大山在夕阳的余晖下更显磅礴，蜿蜒起伏，延展像天边极远之处。
He didn’t want to alert the enemy; otherwise, they might be prepared, making it harder for him to breach their defenses. Such a mistake would not be something Lin Xuan would make.
zhè lǐ yǐ jīng shì yún yǐn zōng de shì lì fàn wéi le ， rán ér tiān kōng zhī zhōng ， què bú jiàn xiū shì xún luó ， suī rán yǔ yún yǐn zōng jiāo wù ， dàn shuāng fāng de shí lì ， bì jìng bú shì yí gè děng jí ， jiàn hú gōng gēn běn méi yǒu xiǎng guò ， duì fāng gǎn fǎn kè wéi zhǔ ， tú móu tā men de zǒng duò 。
这里已经是云隐宗的势力范围了，然而天空之中，却不见修士巡逻，虽然与云隐宗交恶，但双方的实力，毕竟不是一个等级，剑湖宫根本没有想过，对方敢反客为主，图谋他们的总舵。
Fortunately, with his methods, even without using divine sense, there were still other ways to probe.
dàn ruò shì yǐ wéi jiàn hú gōng máng mù zì dà ， sī háo zhǔn bèi yě wú ， nà kě jiù dà cuò tè cuò ， biǎo miàn shàng huò xǔ kàn bú jiàn xiū shì xún luó ， dàn nà jǐn jǐn shì wài sōng nèi jǐn bà le 。
但若是以为剑湖宫盲目自大，丝毫准备也无，那可就大错特错，表面上或许看不见修士巡逻，但那仅仅是外松内紧罢了。
Lin Xuan took a deep breath, silver light flickering in his eyes as he activated the Heavenly Phoenix Divine Eye and gazed into the distance.
gāi pài chuán chéng zì shàng gǔ ， zǒng duò de jìn zhì zhèn fǎ yòu qǐ huì shì shǎo shù ， shuō tóng qiáng tiě bì dōu méi yǒu fēn háo kuā zhāng zhī chù ， zhǐ bù guò yì bān de xiū xiān zhě ， biǎo miàn shàng ， gēn běn jiù nán yǐ kàn chū duān ní bà le 。
该派传承自上古，总舵的禁制阵法又岂会是少数，说铜墙铁壁都没有分毫夸张之处，只不过一般的修仙者，表面上，根本就难以看出端倪罢了。
Sure enough, various light halos appeared before him. The seemingly calm air was actually filled with prohibitions of all kinds.
suí zhe shí jiān de tuī yí ， tài yáng kāi shǐ màn màn là xià shān pō ， guāng xiàn yuè fā de hūn àn le ， tū rán ， yī duǒ yún cǎi màn màn de piāo le guò lái 。
随着时间的推移，太阳开始慢慢落下山坡，光线越发的昏暗了，突然，一朵云彩慢慢的飘了过来。
These prohibitions released no detectable mana fluctuations; they were weak and had little defensive effect. However, for vigilance, they were sufficient.
nà yún cǎi kàn shàng qù ， pǔ tōng yǐ jí ， piāo dòng de sù dù sì hū yě yì diǎn dōu bù kuài ， rán ér nà jǐn jǐn shì biǎo miàn ， huò zhě shuō cuò jué ér yǐ 。
那云彩看上去，普通以极，飘动的速度似乎也一点都不快，然而那仅仅是表面，或者说错觉而已。
Lin Xuan sighed. His prediction turned out to be correct. Sword Lake Palace hadn’t been careless; it maintained a facade of relaxation while keeping strict measures hidden. These prohibitions must have been set up recently to guard against Cloud Concealment’s sudden attack.
qí shí kuài dào le jí diǎn ， kāi shǐ hái zài tiān biān ， yī huǎng yǎn ， jiù yǐ jīng fēi dào le jìn qián 。
其实快到了极点，开始还在天边，一晃眼，就已经飞到了近前。
A good plan, but it was ineffective in front of him. Lin Xuan smirked slightly at the thought.
suí hòu yún cǎi yī jiù piāo zài tiān kōng ， yī dào bù qǐ yǎn de qīng máng què cóng lǐ miàn fēi le chū lái 。
随后云彩依旧飘在天空，一道不起眼的青芒却从里面飞了出来。
However, he looked at the sky and decided not to rush into Sword Lake Palace's main headquarters immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged in a hidden spot.
shǎo qǐng guāng máng shōu liǎn ， yí gè shào nián xiǎn lù chū le róng yán 。
少顷光芒收敛，一个少年显露出了容颜。
Most would think that acting at night would provide better cover due to darkness, but with prohibitions in place, it made no difference whether it was day or night. If his guess was correct, the nighttime defenses might even be tighter.
---
Let's assume for a moment that even if he couldn't defeat them in the end, trying would at least reveal the outcome. After all, with Lin Xuan’s current strength, while he admitted that Sword Lake Palace was formidable, he didn’t think it was truly invincible.
It comes down to human effort; although the Cloud Concealment Sect is weak, they still have a chance of winning. It just depends on whether his group could seize this opportunity. Ambushing their main headquarters would be an excellent choice.
The debate ended without a satisfactory conclusion. Lin Xuan stuck to his decision throughout, while the silver-eyed girl and the Dragon-named youth thought it was too risky.
But since Lin Xuan had to do this, they naturally couldn't stop him either. They could only wish for his safe return as a Master.
---
Time was of the essence. Given Lin Xuan's nature, once he decided on an action, there was no interest in lingering any longer. He would be going alone into Sword Lake Palace’s main headquarters, so no preparation or coordination was necessary.
Thus, after concluding their discussion, Lin Xuan returned to his cave dwelling. He sat and meditated briefly before lying down to rest properly.
Nothing happened overnight.
The next morning, Lin Xuan's spirit energy had fully recovered. Since he had already made a decision the previous day, there was no need for him to greet anyone again.
A faint green glow enveloped his body as he left Cloud Concealment Mountain like a flying object from another world. A few flashes later, he vanished without a trace. The entire process was extremely secretive; even the sect’s disciples were unaware that their senior elder had departed.
Lin Xuan's low profile had its reasons. With the two major sects at odds, while Cloud Concealment Mountain’s main headquarters had activated its prohibitions, making it like a fortress of steel and iron, there were still too many eyes watching. If he left in plain sight, it would be hard to keep it secret.
If word leaked out by accident, Sword Lake Palace's defenses might become even tighter. Although Lin Xuan was confident in his strength, there was no need to make this mission more difficult than necessary. Thus, leaving quietly became the best choice.
Even if a wall has no leaks, the other party would have little time to react once they got the news. To secure victory in this conflict required not only overwhelming power but also cleverness and strategy.
---
The Dragon Realm was one of the smaller interfaces within the Spirit World, vast in area. The distance between Sword Lake Palace and Cloud Concealment Mountain was beyond a million miles. Due to the great distance, it would be quite troublesome for Sword Lake Palace to attack Cloud Concealment Mountain; they had to gather manpower and travel long distances.
Conversely, this was also true from their perspective. However, Lin Xuan did not bring any disciples or companions on this mission. He went alone, making his actions more convenient.
While he didn't mention the speed of his遁光 (a form of teleportation), with such abundant resources, passing through various cities and using teleportation arrays to save time, Lin Xuan wouldn’t hesitate to spend whatever crystal stones were needed.
Ending the conflict sooner would mean less loss for Cloud Concealment Mountain. The importance of this was clear to Lin Xuan; a few crystal stones weren't significant to him either.
Thus, what had been a long journey became a short one as he approached Sword Lake Palace’s main headquarters in just a few days.
---
It was a calm evening when the sun hadn’t yet set behind the hills. The clouds at the horizon were dyed golden by the setting sun, and birds still chirped among the branches without returning to their nests. The atmosphere around was serene and peaceful.
The distant mountains stood majestically under the afterglow of the sunset, stretching far into the distance. This area was within Cloud Concealment Mountain’s territory, but there were no signs of cultivators patrolling the skies. Despite the enmity between the two sects, their strengths were vastly different, and Sword Lake Palace never imagined that Cloud Concealment would dare to take the initiative against them.
However, if one thought they could be complacent, they would be gravely mistaken. While there might not be visible patrols in the sky, it was merely a facade of relaxation concealing strict measures. The sect’s legacy traced back to ancient times; its main headquarters’ prohibitions and array formations were formidable indeed, like a wall of copper and an iron fortress.
As time passed and the sun began to set, the light grew dimmer. Suddenly, a cloud slowly drifted over. It appeared ordinary, moving at a seemingly slow pace, but that was merely an illusion. In reality, it had moved incredibly fast; one moment it was far off in the distance, and the next, it was right before his eyes.
The cloud remained aloft as a faint green light emerged from within.
After a short while, the light faded, revealing a young man’s face.
At first glance, he appeared to be no more than twenty years old. He wore a simple green robe, with an unremarkable appearance. His body emitted no trace of spiritual pressure; his aura was restrained and subtle. Lin Xuan's strength had reached such a refined state that it seemed like just another ordinary person.
"Is this where Sword Lake Palace’s main headquarters are?"
Lin Xuan flicked his sleeve, sending out a pair of jade eyes to compare them with the map inside. He must have found the right place.
Relieved, Lin Xuan’s expression showed a hint of joy. However, he did not release his divine sense.
Although there was still some distance from Sword Lake Palace's main headquarters, given his extensive experience in cultivation, he guessed that traps and prohibitions were likely set up nearby.
He didn’t want to alert the enemy; otherwise, they might be prepared, making it harder for him to breach their defenses. Such a mistake would not be something Lin Xuan would make.
Fortunately, with his methods, even without using divine sense, there were still other ways to probe.
Lin Xuan took a deep breath, silver light flickering in his eyes as he activated the Heavenly Phoenix Divine Eye and gazed into the distance.
Sure enough, various light halos appeared before him. The seemingly calm air was actually filled with prohibitions of all kinds.
These prohibitions released no detectable mana fluctuations; they were weak and had little defensive effect. However, for vigilance, they were sufficient.
Lin Xuan sighed. His prediction turned out to be correct. Sword Lake Palace hadn’t been careless; it maintained a facade of relaxation while keeping strict measures hidden. These prohibitions must have been set up recently to guard against Cloud Concealment’s sudden attack.
A good plan, but it was ineffective in front of him. Lin Xuan smirked slightly at the thought.
However, he looked at the sky and decided not to rush into Sword Lake Palace's main headquarters immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged in a hidden spot.
Most would think that acting at night would provide better cover due to darkness, but with prohibitions in place, it made no difference whether it was day or night. If his guess was correct, the nighttime defenses might even be tighter.