Next, he moves to the legs. The process is similar, but the joints are larger, and the task is slightly more demanding. He starts with the left leg, grasping it firmly. Again, he locates the knee joint, feeling the contours of the bone beneath the cold skin. His blade finds its mark, cutting through the softer tissue before reaching the joint.
With a firm twist, he dislocates the knee, exposing the joint further. His blade moves with precision, carving through the remaining connections. The leg comes free with a final cut, and he places it beside the arms.
The right leg follows, the process now familiar. The resistance of the joint, the tearing of flesh, and the eventual release of the limb become a rhythm that Li Wei follows.
With the limbs removed, he focuses on gutting the torso. He slices through the abdominal wall, the blade cutting through skin and muscle with ease. The smell of blood and opened viscera, a metallic and primal scent, fills the air. He removes the internal organs, setting them aside. His hands, stained with blood, move with purpose.
Next, Li Wei strips off as much muscle and flesh from the bones as possible. The dagger moves in his skilled hands, separating flesh from bone. The sound of the blade scraping against bone echoes in the quiet cave. Each strip of flesh is methodically removed, revealing the skeletal structure beneath.
Li Wei glances at the sacks brimming with herbs, a thought crossing his mind. He needs containers to transport the dismembered remains, and these sacks, already in abundance, are perfectly suited for the task. He approaches them, each one filled to the brim with various herbs.
Li Wei begins to empty the sacks. He tips each one over, spilling the herbs onto the cave floor. The piles of herbs grow, forming small mounds on the stone surface, their colours and textures creating a patchwork of natural elements. The emptied sacks now lay hollow and open, their previous contents discarded for a different cargo.
Li Wei arranges the now-empty sacks, spreading them out on the floor. The large sacks are ready to be filled with the dismembered body parts. Their size and sturdiness make them ideal.
Li Wei methodically places the dismembered limbs into the sacks. Each limb, still covered in patches of flesh and sinew, feels heavy and unwieldy in his hands. The butchering process has left the bones mostly clean, but fragments of muscle and skin stubbornly cling to them.
He moves next to the torso. Though gutted, it retains a significant weight, the bulk coming from the remaining muscles and the now-exposed rib cage. Manoeuvring the torso requires both hands, its awkward shape demanding careful handling. He lowers it into a separate sack, noting how the fabric strains slightly under its weight.
Li Wei secures the sacks with deliberate care, tying each one tightly to contain their gruesome contents. The knots are firm and precise, designed to withstand the journey back to his cave. The sacks, now laden with the remnants of Xue Feng, bulge unevenly, their shapes distorted by the human remains inside. Li Wei gives each sack a final check, ensuring everything is as secure as possible before transporting them back.
"No one must see me with this." He reflects on how dismembering the body has drained most of the blood. "Good," Li Wei muses, "less risk of leaving a trail." He knows the importance of not leaving a blood trail.
"Even if deaths among Qi cultivators are common, one can't be too careful". His actions, though necessary for survival, must be shrouded in secrecy. He thinks about the possibility of Xue Feng having allies or friends within the sect. "Can't afford to be careless," he thinks.
Li Wei prepares to hoist the sacks, each containing parts of Xue Feng's body. He carefully ensures they are secured and concealed, minimising any sign of their gruesome contents. As he lifts them, he feels their weight. He adjusts his grip, finding a balance that allows him to move without drawing attention to the sack's contents.
"Alright, just move quickly and keep it natural. If anyone spots me, they'll just think I'm hauling back some resources or personal items. Disciples rarely cross paths here unless absolutely necessary. The risk of conflict, of drawing a blade over the slightest provocation, keeps most isolated in our caves, focused on cultivation."
"These sacks, though... heavy and awkward. Need to keep them close, make it look like any other load. Good thing there's no blood dripping; that would've raised too many questions. Dismemberment might have been grisly work, but at least it was thorough."
Li Wei sets off with a final look around to ensure no one is watching. His steps are careful and calculated to avoid detection.
Li Wei's return journey from the south slope to his cave on the north slope reverses his earlier route, but it carries a sense of urgency and weight, both physical and psychological. As he starts the trek, he's keenly aware of the burden on his back, the sacks filled with the dismembered remains of Xue Feng.
He retraces his steps, beginning with the descent from the higher elevations of the south slope. The path, which had earlier risen steadily, now slopes downwards. The descent requires careful navigation as the sacks shift with each step. Li Wei's pace is quick, focusing on maintaining balance and avoiding missteps on the rocky terrain.
As he moves, the sparse vegetation of the upper slopes gradually gives way to slightly denser foliage. The lower he descends, the more the landscape transforms. The harsh, exposed terrain of the mountain's peak becomes a memory as he enters the more familiar territory of the north slope.
The air grows warmer as he descends, and the sounds of the sect begin to reach his ears - distant at first, then growing clearer. The path he treads becomes more populated as he approaches the areas where other disciples reside. Li Wei remains vigilant and cautious to avoid drawing attention to himself and his cargo.
Eventually, he reaches the familiar surroundings of the north slope. The terrain here is less rugged and more accustomed to the daily activities of the sect's members. His cave comes into view. It starkly contrasts the grander dwellings of the south slope, yet it represents safety and solitude.
Li Wei approaches his cave with a sense of completion.
Reaching his cave, Li Wei sets down the heavy sacks with a soft thud, echoing in the quiet space.
Standing at the entrance of his cave, Li Wei inhales deeply, his mind processing the day's events.
"The real work begins now," he thinks, feeling the weight of the sacks in his grasp.
Li Wei decides to use the same burial spot as Shi Tou. "Why bother with more work when the soil here is already loose?".
He sets the sacks down near the previously disturbed earth and kneels beside the grave. Pulling out his dagger, he starts to loosen the dirt. The recently turned soil gives way more easily than it had during his first digging. He removes the soil, methodically creating a space next to Shi Tou's grave.
As he digs deeper, the fresh air of the cave is gradually replaced by the musty odour of decay. He finally reaches the depth where Shi Tou's body lies. The sight of the few days old corpse is stark — the onset of decomposition is evident. The skin has started to bloat and discolour, and the smell is a pungent mix of earth and decay, an unmistakable sign of a body returning to the elements.
"Brought you a companion, Shi Tou. Thank me later."
Li Wei steeled himself against the odour. He opens the sacks containing Xue Feng's remains and begins to empty them into the grave, placing them next to Shi Tou's decaying form. The sounds of the body parts hitting the ground are soft thuds.
Once all the remains are in the grave, he covers them back up. He scoops the soil back into the grave, each movement burying the remnants of the two men deeper. The soil covers the decomposing flesh, and the fresher remains, mingling them in their final resting place.
With the task complete, Li Wei stands back and observes his work. The grave is a humble mound of earth, a stark and final testament to the lives of the two men buried beneath. He takes a deep breath, the smell of fresh earth mingling with the faint odour of decay.
Li Wei turns away from the graves, and the deed is done.
Li Wei lies on his bedding, his eyes closed in an attempt to rest, but his mind is active, replaying the day's events with a clinical detachment. "Senior Huo's task is done," he acknowledges, feeling accomplished.
A fleeting sense of embarrassment surfaces as he thinks back to the ambush. "Striking from behind... not exactly the mark of a great warrior," he admits to himself with a hint of disdain. But this feeling quickly dissipates. "It was the most efficient method. Why risk a direct confrontation when you can guarantee success?"
His breathing remains steady and even in the quiet of the cave. "In this world, it's about being smart, not honourable. " The notion of honour in combat seems irrelevant to him, almost an archaic concept unsuited for the ruthless reality of the Bone Ash sect.
The memory of Xue Feng, unsuspecting before the attack, doesn't evoke guilt or sympathy in Li Wei. Instead, he views it as a necessary step in his journey. "He would have done the same in my place. "
As Li Wei finally drifts into sleep. His sleep is untroubled, filled with thoughts of his next moves and plans for gaining more power.