Before Thale leaves, Mei warns him to keep this a secret. She also advised him to grow a backbone and be more competitive. Either he will get the resources and get stronger or others will.
Thale nods and leaves the cave, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. He can finally breathe comfortably and his head no longer aches. As he exits the cave, he turns around to thank Mei, but she is nowhere to be found. He shrugs and starts to make his way back to the sect.
As he walks, he can't help but think about the little girl and her mysterious powers. He has never heard of anyone being able to curse someone before, and he can't believe she was able to remove it so easily. He starts to think about the potential benefits of being her disciple. He could learn how to defend himself against curses, and possibly even become more powerful than he ever thought possible.
