Li Wei returns to his cave. The walk back is slow. The cave is quiet as he enters. The air inside is still. He sits down. His mind races. Thoughts crowd in his head.
"I'm at a significant disadvantage," he thinks. The reality of his situation weighs heavily on him. "Xue Feng is an 8th-level Qi Cultivator." This fact is clear in his mind. "I'm only at the 5th level."
He feels the stress of this realisation. It's pressing, constant. He reaches for the essence. The pouch is familiar in his hands. He opens it. He shakes it into his cup. He adds water. The water mixes with the essence. He stirs it with his finger and drinks the mixture.
The night passes slowly. He continues to consume the essence. It's more than usual. Much more. His body begins to react to the overconsumption. His bones start to ache. It's a deep, persistent pain. But he can't stop.
His mind keeps returning to Xue Feng. "Facing him directly would be suicidal," he admits to himself. It's a clear, unwelcome thought. He contemplates his limited options. There aren't many.
"Perhaps I could ask for more time," he considers. The idea forms slowly in his mind. He would have to approach Senior Huo. The thought is intimidating. But it seems necessary.
"If I face Xue Feng now, I will die. I'm not strong enough yet," he thinks, the reality of his predicament clear in his mind. The difference in their cultivation levels is not just a matter of pride or competition; it's a matter of life and death.
"If I delay without notice, Senior Huo will kill me."
"If I beg Senior Huo, he might allow me a little more time," he thinks.
"Asking for more time isn't ideal," he contemplates further. Requesting an extension from Senior Huo feels like wanting to be punished again, but Li Wei knows it's a necessary step. "But it appears to be the only viable option," he concludes.
"I need time to increase my cultivation level,"
Li Wei understands the importance of closing the gap between himself and Xue Feng. The current disparity in their strengths leaves him at a significant disadvantage, which would prove fatal in a direct confrontation. "I need to break through a few levels," he thinks, considering the monumental task ahead.
The night wears on. He consumes more essence. The aches in his bones intensify. The pain is a constant reminder of his desperate situation. A reminder of the difficult path he has chosen.
Dawn begins to break. Light filters into the cave. He has been awake all night, kept alert by the essence. His body is tired from the overconsumption. His mind is weary from the stress and contemplation. Yet, he has made a decision.
"I will ask Senior Huo for more time," he resolves internally. It's a plan, albeit a slim one. He stands up. Every movement is accompanied by an ache in his bones. He prepares to leave the cave.
The cave is silent as he steps out. The new day has begun. He steps into the light, ready to face the challenges ahead.
The path to the pill hall is familiar. He follows it.
The pill hall comes into view. He steps inside. The interior of the hall is busy. Disciples move around. The air is filled with the familiar scent of herbs and medicines.
Li Wei makes his way through the hall. His destination is Senior Huo's room. He arrives at the door and stands outside, waiting. His mind is focused on what he needs to say.
Senior Huo's voice comes from inside. "Come in. "
He pauses briefly, gathering his thoughts. Then, with a determined motion, he opens the door. He steps inside the room, closing the door behind him.
"Why haven't you been present at the pill hall?" Senior Huo asks. His voice is calm but firm. The question is direct.
Li Wei kneels. "I was recovering, Senior." His tone is respectful. He speaks carefully, aware of the importance of his words.
"Who told you to recover, you dog?" Senior Huo's response is immediate. There is a hint of sternness in his voice. The question is rhetorical, a point of reprimand.
Li Wei feels the weight of the question. He bows slightly. "Forgive me, Senior," he says. His apology sounds sincere.
Senior Huo's expression remains unchanged. "Why have you come?" he asks. The question shifts the conversation. It is an invitation for Li Wei to state his purpose.
Li Wei enters the room. Senior Huo is inside. He looks at Li Wei expectantly.
"Senior," he starts. His voice is steady. He speaks with a sense of urgency. "I have discovered that Xue Feng has reached the 8th level of Qi Cultivation."
Senior Huo listens. His expression is attentive. Li Wei continues. "I need a little more time to dispatch him, and it will be done." His request is clear. He stands still, waiting for Senior Huo's response.
Senior Huo considers Li Wei's words. He is silent for a moment. Li Wei waits. The room is quiet. The only sounds are the faint noises from the pill hall outside.
The atmosphere in the room is tense. Senior Huo speaks, his voice firm. "I don't need you to survive, dog. I just need you to attempt to kill him. Even my bone slave can do a similar job."
In the tense atmosphere of the room, as Senior Huo's words echo in his ears, Li Wei's mind races with thoughts and questions.
"Bone slave?" he thinks, perplexed. "What is a bone slave? Is it some kind of puppet or a tool higher cultivators use? The concept is unfamiliar to him, leaving him to grapple with its meaning and implications. "Is it something created through cultivation or something else entirely?"
His thoughts then turn to the purpose of Senior Huo's command. "Why does Senior Huo want me to merely attempt to kill Xue Feng? And if a bone slave can do a similar job, why send me?" The notion that it's merely about an outer disciple seems increasingly unlikely.
He also thinks about the purpose of the attempt. Why would Senior Huo want an attempt on Xue Feng's life? "It can't be as simple as targeting an outer disciple," Li Wei ponders. There must be more to it. These questions swirl in his head.
Li Wei decides to speak. "Senior Huo, forgive me, but those who offend someone as majestic as Senior Huo should not get away lightly. This Xue Feng should pay with his life." He chooses his words carefully and grasps at straws.
Senior Huo's response comes. "Hmmm.. it seems Even a dog can be right once in a while, even if its motivation is to stay alive a while longer." There is a slight change in his tone. "Fine. I originally didn't care if you lived or died, but if you kill him, it's better for me."
Li Wei absorbs these words with a relief rushing over him. Senior Huo adds, "You are released as my servant at the pill hall to focus on this task. You have two months. Succeed or fail."
The finality of Senior Huo's words hangs in the air. Li Wei understands the gravity of what has just been said. He has been given a task with a clear deadline. The consequences are evident. His role at the pill hall is over. His new focus is clear.
Senior Huo finishes, "Now, get out of my sight." It is a direct command. Li Wei rises quickly. He turns and leaves the room.
As Li Wei exits, his mind is full of thoughts.
He walks away from Senior Huo's room. His steps are automatic. His mind is elsewhere. The corridor of the pill hall is quiet as he moves through it.
Li Wei steps out of the pill hall. The outside world greets him.
Li Wei retreats into his thoughts. The realisation that he needs to rapidly improve his cultivation to stand a chance against Xue Feng presses on him. "I have to rise three levels in just two months," he thinks, grappling with the magnitude of the challenge. It's a leap from the 5th to the 8th level that usually takes years.
His mind races with plans and calculations. "How can I compress years of cultivation into mere weeks?" he ponders. The task seems almost insurmountable, but he knows there's no alternative. He must find a way.
"I need to increase my use of the essence, but how much more can I push my body?" He recalls the aches in his bones from his last intense cultivation session. The balance between rapid advancement and the physical toll is delicate. Overconsumption carries significant risks.
"I need stronger techniques that can give me an edge against Xue Feng." He considers his options for acquiring such knowledge.
"I can use the money to acquire technique manuals and anything useful," he strategises. Each decision he makes now could greatly impact his progress.
"I need to make a trip to the market," he thinks, considering the supplies and resources he needs to gather. He knows the market holds various items that could be crucial for his cultivation – technique manuals and an array of other goods.
"Then, I'll cultivate in solitude, without distractions," he decides. The importance of focused, uninterrupted training is paramount. He understands that to achieve his goal of rising three levels in such a short period, he must dedicate himself entirely to the task.
The idea of retreating into his cave for an extended period of intensive cultivation takes shape.