A sudden noise startles Li Wei awake. It's a sharp, abrupt sound that cuts through the silence from the cave next door. Lying still for a moment, he listens, trying to make sense of the sounds in the darkness. Confusion and alarm spread through him. His hand instinctively reaches out, fingers curling around his bone knife's cool, hard base. He rises and steps cautiously towards the entrance of his cave. Peering into the thick darkness, he searches for any hint of movement, silhouette, or shadow that might explain the unsettling sounds. But the opaque blackness offers no clues, swallowing both the source of the wails and his sense of security.
As the wailing ceases, silence floods the cave once more. Li Wei stands motionless, his breath shallow, tension gripping him. He's unsettled, fear pricking at his consciousness. The bone knife is his only weapon; he has no other cards up his sleeve. Survival instincts take over; he stays put, alert and watchful, determined to see the night through from the relative safety of his own space.
He hears footsteps going away from him.
The silence after the footsteps is almost as jarring as the noise that preceded it. Li Wei, heart still pounding, leans against the cool wall of his cave, bone knife in hand. "What's that about?" he mutters, his voice a low whisper barely stirring the air. He glances at the darkness outside, a frown creasing his brow. "Could be thieves... or worse."
He knows all too well the lengths to which desperation can drive fellow disciples. In the shadows of the night, an outer disciple's life is cheap, and their belongings and bones are a tempting prize for those willing to take risks. "No way am I heading out there," Li Wei decides his words, a puff of breath in the cold cave. "Not for some fool who got himself caught in trouble."
The knife feels heavy, the little security he possesses. He knows it's not much, but it's all he has. "Dying like a dog for someone else's fight? That's not my path," he murmurs, conviction hardening. He retreats further into the safety of his cave, the darkness folding around him like a cloak.
Having adjusted to the absence of light, Li Wei's eyes scan the meagre possessions in his dwelling. The thought of losing everything to some night thief or a desperate peer leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. "Survive first," he affirms to the empty cave, "then worry about the rest."
As he settles down, the bone knife still within reach, Li Wei can't help but replay the night's events in his mind.
With the adrenaline slowly ebbing from his veins, the cave feels colder now, the stone beneath him harder. He lies down, but sleep, he knows, will be a reluctant companion tonight. Li Wei finally closes his eyes, letting the cave's silence lull him into a restless slumber.
Li Wei wakes up in the grey light of dawn. He washes his face with cold water from his bucket, the chill pulling him fully into wakefulness.
Li Wei mutters, "Got to hide these bones; can't have them out in the open, not after what happened." He glances around the dim cave, "Right here, at the back, nobody would poke around here."
Li Wei selects a secluded corner at the back of his cave, where the shadows are dense, and the foot traffic is nil. He crouches down, feeling the cold, hard earth beneath his fingers. He scoops out the dirt with determined digs, creating a small pit deep enough to conceal the sack. The sound of the soil being displaced is soft, almost hushed.
Once satisfied with the depth, he gently places the sack into the hole. It lands with a muffled thud, the bones inside clinking quietly. He then retrieves the excavated dirt, scattering it back over the sack precisely, ensuring every inch is covered. He pats the soil down, restoring the surface to an undisturbed state.
As he covers the buried sack with moss, he reassures himself, "This will do; it'll look untouched, just another patch of cave floor. Safe."
Li Wei has now spent four years within the walls of the sect. The previous two years were marked by stagnation for the former occupant of his body, who remained trapped at the second level of Qi refinement, unable to progress. This lack of advancement was a dangerous state in a place where growth is demanded for survival and status. Li Wei has inherited this body, along with the silent warning of the previous occupant's failure. He knows that to avoid a bad fate, he must push beyond the fourth level, a challenge he has now successfully met.
He steps out; the path to the pill hall is quiet, and he walks alone, his footsteps a soft pattern on the floor.
Arriving at the pill hall, he pauses outside Senior Huo's door, as is customary. Other disciples hustle by, starting their tasks, paying him no mind. He waits, the silence around him stretching on. Then, Senior Huo's voice cuts through the stillness, sharp and clear. "Come in."
Li Wei enters, bowing deeply. Senior Huo barely acknowledges him. He gestures towards a large sack in the corner. "I need you to crush these herbs," he says, returning to his work.
Li Wei heads straight to the station designated for outer disciples, a section set apart for those of lower cultivation and status within the sect. He finds the mortar and pestle neatly arranged on the sturdy wooden workbench. The mortar, carved from grey stone, bears the marks and stains of rigorous use.
He begins his task. He opens the sack, and the sharp, bitter scent of the herbs hits him. He takes a handful, feeling the dry leaves crumble slightly in his palm, and places them into the mortar.
He works the pestle in a circular motion, the grinding sound a constant rhythm in the room filled with the day's murmurs and movements. The herbs break down slowly, becoming a fine, green powder. Dust from the herbs coats his hands, working its way into the lines of his skin.
Li Wei continues this way for hours, the monotony of the task allowing his thoughts to drift. He carefully keeps the pressure consistent to ensure the herbs are crushed to the exact texture Senior Huo requires.
At times, Senior Huo passes by, inspecting the work without a word, his scrutiny causing pressure. Li Wei responds with only greater focus, determined to meet the expectations.
As the pile of crushed herbs grows, so does the ache in Li Wei's arms. He pushes through, knowing that this work, though humble, is a step towards his goals within the sect.
By the time the sack is empty and the last herbs are reduced to powder, the light coming through the windows has begun to wane.
He gently funnels it back into the coarse linen sack, ensuring none of the precious material spills. With the sack tied securely, he lifts it, feeling the weight of its contents. He carries it through the pill hall's corridors, the muffled sounds of other disciples at work around him. Reaching Senior Huo's room, he stands momentarily, gathering his composure before knocking respectfully on the sturdy wooden door, ready to deliver the fruits of his diligent effort.
Li Wei presents the fruits of his labour to Senior Huo, who gives a curt nod of approval.
"Clean this up," Senior Huo instructs, gesturing to the remnants of the day's work. Li Wei cleans thoroughly, ensuring no trace remains on the table or tools.
His duties were complete; Li Wei bowed to Senior Huo again and exited the pill hall. The sun has begun to dip below the horizon, another day's end marked by the coolness returning to the air. Li Wei's body is weary, but there's a steadiness to his step as he returns to his cave.
Li Wei rests in his cave, muscles aching from the day's labour. The quiet is broken by Jia Long's voice, "Li Wei! You in there?" Li Wei goes to the cave entrance, where Jia Long stands hopeful. "Need any bone ash?" Jia Long asks. Li Wei sighs, "No, I'm poor again." Jia Long nods in understanding
"Heard about last night?" Jia Long asks as Li Wei meets him at the entrance.
Li Wei nods, rubbing his tired shoulders. "Heard a struggle," he admits.
"A third-level disciple was robbed and killed," Jia Long explains with a sombre look. "They say thieves were after his body, for the bones. At our level, bones are steeped in Qi—valuable on the black market."
"How'd you come by that so fast?" Li Wei asks, a frown creasing his forehead.
"Customers," Jia Long replies with a shrug. "They talk while they trade. News travels fast."
"You'd know too if you weren't holed up here all the time," Jia Long chides with a half-smile.
Li Wei gives a small, conceding nod. "Maybe so," he admits.
"Did you know the guy?" he asks.
Li Wei shakes his head. "Never knew him."
"It's just how it is when the sect assessment rolls around."" Jia Long agrees, "makes people desperate, do crazy things."
Li Wei's gaze is steady. "What's your cultivation level now?" he inquires.
"Still at the fourth," Jia Long responds with a hint of frustration.
Li Wei nods, understanding the unspoken pressure they both face. "And you?" Jia Long asks.
"Fifth level," Li Wei answers, a mix of pride and weariness in his voice.
Jia Long's eyes widen. "Fifth? Well done. Guess I should call you Senior Li Wei now."
Jia Long, eyeing Li Wei, probes, "You've been here four years too, right?"
"Yeah," Li Wei confirms, his response measured.
"Same here. We're lucky, aren't we? Money makes it a bit easier," Jia Long muses, a note of envy in his voice.
Curiosity gets the better of him, and he asks, "How'd you climb levels so fast? You take all the bone ash?"
Li Wei hesitates, not keen on revealing too much. "Just lucky, I guess," he replies, keeping his tone neutral.
They share a moment of silence, each contemplating their fates in the sect. Jia Long eventually breaks the quiet. "I should get going. Take care, Senior Li," he says with a teasing tilt of his head before turning to leave.
Li Wei watches him go, then retreats into the safety of his cave.