A voice calling, "Senior Brother!" echoes at the cave entrance, breaking the silence. Li Wei's eyes, sharp and discerning, instantly recognise the voice as Jai Long's. Without a word, he stands, his movements fluid and graceful, a testament to his cultivation. He reaches into the sack, his fingers deftly selecting ten pills. These are the first ones he made, their surfaces slightly less glossy and drier to the touch.
Carrying the pills, Li Wei strides toward the cave entrance. The light from the cave's interior spills out into the surrounding darkness, revealing Jai Long standing at the threshold. Jai Long's posture is one of respect and anticipation, his eyes wide and hopeful.
As Li Wei approaches, he extends his hand, revealing the pills. Jai Long's eyes immediately light up at the sight, a glimmer of excitement and gratitude flashing across his face. "Thank you, Senior Brother," Jai Long exclaims with a bow, his voice filled with sincere appreciation. "Thank you. I knew I could trust you."
Li Wei nods, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Yes, yes, that's enough," he responds in a steady, calm voice. He hands the pills to Jai Long, who receives them with both hands, treating them with utmost care.
"Is our business here concluded?" Li Wei asks, his tone indicating a finality to their transaction.
Still cradling the precious pills, Jai Long looks up, his expression of deep respect. "Yes, Senior Brother, of course," he answers eagerly. "If you need anything in the future, don't hesitate to ask."
With a final nod of acknowledgement, Li Wei watches as Jai Long turns and disappears into the night, his figure gradually swallowed by the darkness outside the cave. Li Wei then turns back, the light from the cave casting his shadow long and deep. He retraces his steps, his figure blending into the warm glow of the cave, the sacred space where elements are transformed and destinies are shaped.
Having concluded his business with Jai Long, Li Wei turns his attention to rest. In his sparsely furnished cave, the only concession to comfort is a pile of linen for bedding. He steps towards it, each footfall resonating softly against the stone floor. The cave's natural chill contrasts with the day's activities, now winding down into the calm of night.
He reaches the linen, its folds haphazard, untouched since he rose from it this morning. Standing beside it, he pauses, allowing a moment of stillness. His hands begin a familiar routine, straightening and smoothing the linen efficiently. The fabric shifts under his touch, the layers aligning, preparing to receive him.
Slowly, Li Wei lowers himself to the ground, his body aligning with the linen. The fabric, though simple, contours to his form, a crude comfort in the starkness of his surroundings. His eyes close, the darkness behind his lids indistinguishable from the dimness of the cave.
Outside, the faint sounds of the night permeate the cave's entrance – a distant rustle of leaves, the soft whisper of wind. Inside, Li Wei's breathing deepens, each breath a rhythm, syncing with the quietude of his environment. In this unadorned space, he finds his rest, the day's events receding into the embrace of sleep.
"Senior Huo might see me as a loose end now," he thinks. "It's best to be prepared, to stay one step ahead." His mind is clear, focused on self-preservation and the path forward.
"I'll look at the bone spire manual tomorrow," he resolves.
"I'm sure the system will be of no help again, so best not to get hopes too high," he thinks.
"Hopefully, at least the technique will be something decent." This thought offers a semblance of comfort.
Li Wei contemplates his next move. "It's a new year, time for a new sect mission," he muses.
"Perhaps I could bribe to take a task away from the sect," he considers. The idea forms slowly, a seed taking root. "Something far away from the sect. A chance to cultivate in peace for a while." The words resonate in the stillness, a private ambition spoken aloud.
"Four years in the sect and already at the 8th level," he thinks with pride. "My progress should be unmatched." He considers the possibility of others rising as quickly as he has but dismisses it.
His thoughts then turn to the night. "Sleep now, act tomorrow," he decides. The cave is quiet as he settles down, the darkness enveloping him. His breathing slows, and he drifts into sleep, his mind already planning the steps he'll take once he awakens.
In his slumber, Li Wei is a figure of determination and foresight, always planning and preparing for the next challenge. The cave, his sanctuary, is a silent testament to his relentless cultivation and strategic planning journey.
Li Wei's eyes snap open, the sound of footsteps breaking the stillness of his sleep. He lies motionless for a fraction of a second, his senses heightening, attuned to the unexpected disturbance. The cave, usually a haven of solitude and calm, now echoes with the intruding sound. Each step resonates against the stone floor, deliberate and hollow.
He rises swiftly, his body moving with ease. His hand reaches instinctively for the dagger nearby, a silent companion in these secluded quarters. The cave's dimness, barely penetrated by the faint moonlight seeping through the entrance, does little to hinder his vision.
Into the cave steps a skeleton, its presence as startling as incongruous. Bones, bleached a dull white, click against each other with each movement. The skull, devoid of flesh, still carries a menacing air, its empty eye sockets seemingly fixed on Li Wei. The ribs form a hollow cage, and the skeleton's hands, bone fingers curled slightly, seem almost expressive in their skeletal form. It moves with an eerie grace, an unnatural life animating its otherwise lifeless form.
"BLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"
The talisman, affixed near the entrance, reacts as the skeleton enters the cave. The small, unassuming object, usually dormant, bursts into action. A loud, piercing alarm erupts from it, the sound blaring and shrill, slicing through the silence like a sharp blade. The noise reverberates off the cave walls, a harsh and jarring intrusion in the otherwise tranquil space.
Li Wei stands, poised and alert, his eyes fixed on the skeleton. The dagger in his hand is steady, ready to defend against this unexpected threat. His mind races, calculating the best course of action, while his practice as a cultivator keeps his body tensed and prepared.
The skeleton, a stark assembly of bones, halts its advance at the sound of the talisman. It turns, its skull pivoting on its bony neck with a fluid motion towards the source of the disruption. The empty eye sockets, devoid of any gaze, seem to lock onto the talisman near the entrance, its script flickering with a fading glow.
With a deliberate stride, the skeleton approaches the talisman. Each step is a soft clack of bone meeting the stone floor, a rhythm in the otherwise silent cave. It reaches out, the bones of its fingers elongated and precise. The skeleton grasps the paper talisman between its bony digits swiftly, almost carefully.
In a single, fluid movement, the skeleton tears the talisman. Once imbued with qi, the paper rips easily, the script's light extinguishing as the pieces flutter. The shrill alarm, so loud and penetrating moments ago, dies abruptly, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
Li Wei watches, his stance ready for combat, yet he holds back, observing. The skeleton's calculated, and specific actions remind him of bone constructs from the sect assessment. The uncertainty of the creature's intent keeps him alert, considering his options.
"Could bone shot be effective against this?" he questions internally. The thought lingers, mingling with a mix of tactical consideration and a trace of doubt. The technique, honed for combat, now faces a potential test against an adversary made entirely of bone. The effectiveness of such a technique in this unique scenario is an uncertainty that occupies his thoughts.
"Why did it come here?"
The skeleton, having neutralised the talisman, pauses. It stands still, surveying its surroundings with an eerie sense of awareness. Li Wei maintains his defensive posture, ready to respond to any threat.
During this tense standoff, Li Wei notices something held in the skeleton's other hand – a piece of paper. After a moment of stillness, the skeleton extends its arm, offering the paper to Li Wei. The gesture is deliberate, seemingly intentional.
Li Wei's eyes narrow slightly, his caution mingling with intrigue. The paper, a simple, mundane object, appears out of place in the grasp of this skeletal entity.
Remaining vigilant, Li Wei steps forward cautiously, his focus unwavering from the skeleton's skull. The silence of the cave is now punctuated only by the sound of his footsteps. He reaches out to accept the paper, his senses heightened, prepared for sudden movement or attack.
The skeleton, having delivered its cargo, turns away from Li Wei. Its movements are swift, the clatter of bone against stone starkly contrasting its previous deliberate approach. The skeleton moves with urgency now, each step quick and purposeful. It retraces its path, exiting the cave with the same eerie grace with which it entered.
Li Wei watches the skeleton's departure, his stance relaxed but his mind swirling with questions. The cave, once again, is enveloped in silence, the echo of the skeleton's steps fading into the darkness. "What the fuck was that?" he mutters to himself, the situation as baffling as it is sudden.
Li Wei focuses on the words written on the paper, each character forming a message. The letter is unmistakably from Senior Huo. The handwriting is recognisable, each stroke carrying the essence of its writer.
"Well done," the letter begins, the words almost begrudging. "To be honest, I didn't think you could do it."
The letter continues, "You've proven to be a worthy servant to me." While recognising Li Wei's capabilities, this acknowledgement is also a reminder of his subservient position to Senior Huo. The words 'worthy servant' resonate with a sense of obligation and hierarchy.
"As promised, I have the rest of your reward," the letter states.
"Come to Cave 129 on Mount MoYu," the letter concludes. This directive, precise and clear, sets the path for Li Wei's following action. The specific mention of Cave 129 on Mount MoYu transforms the letter from a mere message into a summons that Li Wei cannot ignore without consequence.
"This guy again," he thinks with irritation and resignation.
"He's like a jealous ex-girlfriend,"
"Why can't he leave me the fuck alone?"