An outer disciple, a man of average height with the sect's standard garb hanging loosely on his frame, paused in his tasks. His eyes, sharp and discerning, caught the darkened skin on Li Wei's cheek, a stark contrast to the otherwise unblemished complexion of youth.
He walked over, his gait steady and purposeful, with the quiet authority of someone well-versed in the sect's hierarchies. As he neared Li Wei, his expression softened slightly, an unspoken understanding of the harsh realities faced by those lower in the sect's pecking order passing between them.
"Junior Brother," he called out, the cultivator said, his voice calm and measured. "I don't believe we've met. I am Zhang Jie, fourth level of Qi Cultivation."
There was a moment's pause, a courteous space for Li Wei to introduce himself in turn.
Li Wei stopped, looking up to meet Zhang Jie's gaze. "Li Wei," he replied, his voice steady despite the throbbing in his cheek. "Second level of Qi Cultivation."
His approach was not menacing nor overtly friendly, but there was an undertone of concern that seemed genuine. He stood there, awaiting Li Wei's response, a silent offer of assistance in his presence.
"That looks like a painful lesson. What brings you to this end of the Pavilion?"
Li Wei's hand hesitated above the rim of his robe, fingers brushing against the coarse fabric as he considered his next words. The list, a scroll of daunting characters, felt like a weight in his pocket.
"My master," he began, "gave me this list of herbs to collect. But," he paused, the soreness in his cheek a stark reminder of his mistake, "I don't know much about them."
He drew the list out and offered it to Zhang Jie, who took it with a careful touch, his eyes scanning the contents.
"I sought help," Li Wei continued, his voice a notch lower, "but the disciple I asked... he led me to the wrong herbs." There was a quiet frustration simmering beneath his words, a mixture of embarrassment and the sting of betrayal.
Zhang Jie's expression shifted subtly, a look of realization dawning. "From what you've described, it sounds like your master might be Senior Huo," he said carefully, choosing his words to remain respectful. "One must always speak of their elders with reverence, but it is widely known that Senior Huo has... exacting standards, to put it mildly." His eyes darted around, ensuring their conversation remained private, before returning to Li Wei with a look that suggested there was more he wished he could say.
A small sigh escaped Zhang Jie, his expression turning reflective. "As for you being tricked, that's not uncommon here," he admitted. "Some of us... we didn't get much help starting out. It breeds bitterness and rivalry among the outer disciples. Everyone's fighting their own battle, trying to climb up. But we low-level Qi Cultivation realm disciples should look out for one another."
Zhang Jie reached into his robe and pulled out a worn book, its cover faded from use. "This," he said, presenting it to Li Wei, "is something your master should have given you on your first day." He handed over the book, its pages filled with detailed illustrations and descriptions of herbs. "It's a guide to herb identification. I've long since committed it to memory, so now it's yours."
Li Wei took the book, his fingers brushing against the rough paper. He opened it, the pages creaking slightly, revealing rows upon rows of sketched herbs with annotations in tiny, neat script. He looked up at Zhang Jie, his eyes wide with a mix of relief and gratitude.
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Li Wei said earnestly, the weight of the book in his hands grounding him. "I'll study it closely." He tucked the book under his arm, a newfound determination settling in his chest. With the book in hand, Li Wei turned to face the wall of drawers once more. Zhang Jie gave him a nod, a silent wish of luck, before walking away. Alone again, Li Wei opened the book to the first page and began to match the sketches and descriptions with the names on his list.
He moved along the shelves, pulling open drawers and peering inside, comparing the contents to the illustrations in his guide. The process was slow; each herb had to be checked and double-checked to ensure accuracy. He would find a drawer with promising contents, take a pinch of the herb, and scrutinize it against the book's details, sometimes finding a match, other times moving on.
Li Wei approached the scales with a measured step, each foot placed deliberately on the cold stone floor. He could feel the weight of the basket in his hand, the herbs nestled within like precious cargo. At the scales, he set the basket down with care.
He started with the Star Mallow Leaves, their sharp edges catching the light as he laid them on the scale. The balance tipped and settled as he added leaves until the needle pointed directly to the two-ounce mark. He then packaged them in a small cloth pouch, tying it securely with a piece of twine.
Minutes ticked by, turning into half an hour as Li Wei painstakingly worked his way through the list. The book was a lifeline, but it did not replace the need for careful observation and the trial-and-error of learning.
Finally, after what felt like an age, he placed the last herb into his basket. His eyes were tired from the close study, and his back ached from bending over the drawers, but the task was complete. Li Wei could not help but feel a surge of pride; this was his work, guided by the book but completed by his own growing knowledge and determination.
Li Wei stood before the door to Senior Huo's chambers, his heart thumping in his chest. He raised his hand and knocked, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet corridor. After a moment, a voice from inside granted permission to enter.
Pushing the door open, Li Wei stepped inside. The room was filled with the scent of herbs and the subtle aroma of tea. Senior Huo was seated at a low table, a delicate cup in his hand, steam rising from the freshly brewed tea.
Senior Huo's eyes lifted from his cup to Li Wei, who was already kneeling on the floor, a position of respect and submission. Li Wei presented the basket of herbs with both hands extended, his head bowed.
"Is this correct, Senior Brother?" Li Wei's voice was tentative but clear.
Senior Huo placed his tea down and leaned forward to sift through the contents of the basket. His fingers, practiced and precise, moved through the herbs, examining Li Wei's selections.
After a brief silence, Senior Huo leaned back and nodded, "It's correct. But you need to be quicker next time." His voice was calm; the hint of a command threaded through the words.
Li Wei remained kneeling; his relief at not having made a mistake was palpable, but he also took note of the critique. "Yes, Senior Huo. I will improve," he responded, his voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in his belly.
"Good, wait outside," Senior Huo said before waving a hand dismissively, signaling that Li Wei was to leave. Li Wei rose, bowing deeply once more before retreating from the room, the door closing softly behind him.
Li Wei stood just outside Senior Huo's chambers, his body rigid, his mind alert. Senior Huo's instructions were clear and simple: "Wait here." So Li Wei waited, the minutes stretching into hours, his legs growing stiff and his mind wandering. He found a quiet corner where he wouldn't be in the way and settled down to wait.
He pulled out the herb manual Zhang Jie had given him, its pages new to him but worn from use by its previous owner. Li Wei opened the book and began to study, the illustrations and descriptions capturing his full attention. He committed to memorizing the shapes of leaves, the hues of petals, and the textures of stems. Each herb had its place in the manual, and Li Wei's task was to etch that place into his mind.
The corridor was mostly silent, the hushed sounds of the sect barely reaching him. Disciples passed by occasionally, but Li Wei remained focused on the manual, absorbing the knowledge it held. Time seemed irrelevant, the passing of it marked only by the slow turning of pages.
After what felt like an eternity but was only two hours, the door to Senior Huo's chambers creaked open. Senior Huo stepped out, his presence commanding the space around him. He glanced at Li Wei, who was quick to close the manual and stand up, alert and ready for instructions.
Senior Huo's voice was brief, "Clean up the mess inside." There were no thanks for waiting, no acknowledgment of the time passed, just a new command to be followed.
Li Wei bowed his head in acknowledgment. "Yes, Senior Huo," he said, his voice betraying none of the weariness he felt.
Li Wei watched as Senior Huo's figure receded down the corridor, leaving behind a silence that seemed to fill the room. He turned his attention to the task at hand, the cleaning. The room was cluttered, remnants of alchemical experiments scattered about. Vials, flasks, and parchment covered the workbench, each item placed without care.
As he moved about the room, tidying and organizing, his eyes caught a faint glow from beneath the pill furnace. The White Fire was not fully extinguished. Stray embers glinted beneath the ashes, their light a secretive dance. Li Wei's heart skipped. It was clearly bone fire like the system described, and here it was, waning but still alive.
For a fleeting moment, Li Wei contemplated scooping up the embers. The heat from the White Fire tingled in his fingertips. But as he hesitated, the glow dimmed. The fire died out, leaving behind nothing but cold ash.
Resigned, Li Wei continued his cleaning, sweeping the floors and wiping down surfaces. The room held many treasures that any disciple would covet, but Li Wei dared not touch them. He understood the value of these items and, more importantly, the consequences of overstepping. The room was a treasure trove, yet for him, it might as well have been a dragon's lair, where even the slightest misstep could mean peril.
He worked meticulously, ensuring that every corner was free of dust, every surface clean enough to reflect the dim light from the lanterns. As he worked, he maintained a careful distance from the pill furnace and its now extinguished fire, respecting the sacred tools of the alchemist's trade.
Once finished, Li Wei took a moment to look over the room. It was spotless, the order restored.