As Li Wei squats in the dank cave, each minute drags like a curse. His thoughts are a violent whirlwind of plotting and raw, seething anger.
"What the fuck is my next move?" he mutters under his breath, his stare burning into the erratic flames of the bone fire. "Sitting on my ass isn't an option."
He aggressively stirs the fire, each jab forceful and pointed, a way to channel the deep, gnawing pain and the rage boiling inside him.
Li Wei pauses, his mind a battleground of strategy and caution. "Can't just dive headfirst into revenge like some goddamn idiot."
"Need patience. More power. Then I'll have my revenge."
As darkness envelops the cave, Li Wei's resolve solidifies. "I'll get stronger, play the game as the unambitious servant. But when the time comes, anyone standing in my way is dead."
"Senior Huo, you've unknowingly fucked yourself," Li Wei mutters with a dark grin. "But I won't come at you in a blind fury. When I strike, it'll be with such precision and power that you won't know what hit you."
"I'll play the piss boy, the obedient disciple, for now," he decides. "Keep my head down, stay under the radar."
Li Wei slumps against the cold wall of his cave, a wave of dejection washing over him. "Oh, who the fuck am I kidding," he mutters to himself, his voice tinged with bitterness, "this is all just a damn pipe dream."
He sighs, feeling the weight of his reality. Foundational Establishment seems like a distant, unattainable dream, an insurmountable barrier in his current state.
"I just need to get away from Senior Huo," he concedes, a sense of urgency creeping into his tone, "or at least find a way to escape from him if things go south."
"Taking on someone even a single level higher is a huge risk, but a whole realm? That's suicide," he muses.
He ponders the depth of his own cultivation. "I'm at the 5th level, but that's nothing compared to where I need to be. I can't let anger blind me. Charging headfirst into a battle I can't win is idiocy."
Li Wei sits alone in his cave, the air thick with his heavy breaths. He speaks to himself, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
"I need to kill Xue Feng. It's the only way I'll survive. Becoming Senior Huo's servant... it's not the worst option. If you look past the fact that he took my ear," he says, his hand unconsciously moving to the side of his head where his ear once was.
He continues, his voice steady, "I've gained a lot from him, the bone fire and the gold. No doubt about it."
"What choice do I have anyway?" he whispered, the words laden with a sense of helplessness. His eyes darted nervously around the cave, expecting someone to overhear his thoughts. He knew he couldn't refuse Senior Huo's orders; the consequences were too dire to contemplate.
"Senior Huo can kill me like a bug," he admitted with a shudder. The memory of Senior Huo's power and the fear it instilled in him was still fresh in his mind. "I'm already lucky he didn't kill me for stealing the bone fire. "
He nods to himself, a determined look on his face. "This is the path. Stay unnoticed, collect what I need, and wait."
Li Wei sits back down, his gaze fixed on the dwindling fire. "It's all about timing. And patience. I've got to be smart about this. No rash moves."
He leans back, his eyes on the cave ceiling. "One step at a time. First, Xue Feng. Then, I gather strength and resources."
He looks back at the fire, its glow casting shadows on his face. "This is the way of the sect. The strong survive. I'll be one of them."
The fire's persistent crackle serves as a reminder of the slow, methodical approach required.
"First things first, I've got to heal, get back to peak condition," he muses with a hardened edge. "Then, the real work begins. Scrounging for cultivation techniques, essence, anything to give me an edge." His plan is forming, rooted in cold patience and shrewd strategy.
"Li Wei! You there?" Jia Long shouts, his voice echoing in the cave. "Got more bone ash!"
"Come on, Li Wei. This is top-grade stuff. Can't find better around here."
Li Wei gets up and heads to the cave entrance, where Jia Long waits.
"Wow, Li Wei, what the hell happened to you? You look fucked," Jia Long exclaims, his eyes widening at the sight of Li Wei's condition.
"Just a slight disagreement," Li Wei replies, trying to downplay the situation. "The other guy didn't get off so lightly as this."
Jia Long raises an eyebrow but doesn't ask further questions.
"Anyway, how much ash have you got?" Li Wei quickly steers the conversation towards his needs.
"Got five pouches on me," Jia Long replies, holding up the pouches for Li Wei to see.
"Twenty coppers each, huh?".
"Yeah, it's a fair price," Jia Long adds.
Li Wei thinks for a moment, then nods. "Alright, I'll take all of them. Wait here." He returns to the cave to retrieve Senior Huo's pouch.
Jia Long, upon seeing the coins, expresses concern. "Woah, Li Wei, I know you bought five last time, but be careful. Every time you use this stuff, it's a risk. Too much can be deadly."
Li Wei places his hand on Jia Long's shoulder and injects a burst of Qi.
Jia Long, taken aback, starts to say, "Li Wei, how..." but then corrects himself respectfully, "No..... Senior Brother."
"I need you to do something for me, Junior Brother," Li Wei says, turning to Jia Long. "Go to the market and buy a mortar and pestle, a metal pot, and a hammer."
He hands Jia Long three silver coins for the purchase, ensuring he has enough to cover the costs. "Make sure you get good quality ones," he adds, emphasizing the importance of the items.
Jia Long nods, understanding the significance of the task. "You can count on me, Senior Brother," he replies
Jia Long reaches into his robe and carefully retrieves five pouches. "Here, Senior Brother," he says, holding them out to Li Wei. His movements are careful, showing the importance of their contents.
Li Wei takes the pouches, feeling their weight.
"Remember, Junior Brother," Li Wei adds sternly, "Don't even think about running off with my money. If you do, I'll find you, and you won't like what happens next." His voice carries a serious threat, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
Jia Long swallows hard, nodding quickly. "Understood, Senior Brother. I wouldn't dare," he assures Li Wei, the seriousness of the warning clear in his eyes.
Satisfied with Jia Long's response, Li Wei watches as he leaves to complete the errand.
With the task's urgency, Li Wei begins to refine the bone ash like before. He pours a portion into the ceramic cup, carefully leaving space for the Bone Fire to work magic. The flames eagerly consume the impurities, purifying the essence. He meticulously adds more ash, ensuring each addition undergoes the same transformation.
As he repeats the process, the cup gradually fills with pure, white bone essence. His focus remains unwavering, driven by the need to maximize the Bone Fire's potential. Finally, after refining all five pouches, Li Wei is again left with one and a half potent bags of pure essence.
The sound of laboured footsteps and heavy panting echoes around Li Wei's cave, breaking the silence. Jia Long reappears, visibly burdened by the weight of his load. Sweat beads on his forehead trickle down his face, evidence of his strenuous effort.
He carries a heavy, solid mortar and pestle, its stone surface smooth but significant in weight. In his other hand, he clutches a hammer, its wooden handle damp with sweat from his firm grip. Under his arm, he awkwardly balances a metal pot, its practical build adding to the overall heft of his load.
Jia Long's steps are careful and strained as he approaches the cave. His breathing is short and sharp, each step a challenge against the weight he carries.
Hearing the approaching footsteps and the laboured breathing, Li Wei moves to the cave entrance. He sees Jia Long's figure struggling towards him, sweat-soaked and laden with the items.
Upon reaching the cave entrance, Jia Long sets down the mortar and pestle with a grunt of relief, the stone thudding heavily against the ground. He then presents the hammer and metal pot, his arms shaking slightly from the effort.
"I got what you asked for, Senior Brother," Jia Long says, holding the items for Li Wei to inspect.
Li Wei examines each item carefully.
"Good job," Li Wei nods in approval, taking the items from Jia Long. He hands over the agreed payment, counting out the coins meticulously.
"Thanks, Senior Brother," Jia Long says, pocketing the coins. "Anything else you need?"
"That's all for now," Li Wei replies, his mind already on the tasks ahead. Jia Long nods and leaves, leaving Li Wei to his work.