"Pass the other manual and a chicken."
Lu Huan, quickly located the requested items. He handed a thick manual and a plump, white-feathered chicken to Li Wei.
Li Wei feels the warmth of the chicken's body in his hands. The open field around them is silent except for the occasional rustle of grass in the wind. The manual lies on the ground, pages fluttering gently. The chicken's heartbeat is rapid under his fingers. He closes his eyes, focusing on the sensation.
His finger rests on the chicken's breast. He releases a breath, extending his finger until a bone fragment emerges from the tip. The fragment is hard, an extension of his own body. He directs it into the chicken's flesh, feeling the resistance of the muscle. The chicken flinches but remains in his grip.
Li Wei's mind is clear, the connection between him and the bone fragment intense. He feels every movement as if it were his own limb. He begins to navigate the fragment through the chicken's body. His movements are slow, deliberate, each shift of the bone a careful exploration. He maps the internal landscape, aware of the fragility of the tissues.
The chicken's breathing is rapid. Its eyes are wide, feathers ruffled. Li Wei moves the bone fragment with utmost care, avoiding major blood vessels. He feels the textures inside, each one distinct under his mental touch. The experiment is progressing well, the chicken still alive, its body still warm.
Li Wei's focus intensifies. He directs the bone fragment deeper, maintaining a delicate balance. His concentration is absolute, the outside world fading away. The connection between him and the bone fragment is all that exists. He manoeuvres it gently, the process intricate and demanding.
A sudden noise disrupts the silence from inside the woods. An animal call? Li Wei can't tell. Li Wei's focus wavers. The bone fragment moves too quickly. He feels the change immediately, the resistance increasing sharply. The chicken's body tenses, its wings flapping once, twice. The fragment has pierced something vital. Blood flows around the bone, warm and wet.
Li Wei's eyes snap open. He withdraws the bone fragment, but the damage is done. The chicken's convulsions slow, then stop. Its body goes limp in his hands. He holds it for a moment, feeling the life drain away. The field is silent again, the rustle of grass the only sound.
Li Wei hurls the chicken to the ground, its lifeless body landing with a dull thud. The wound where the bone fragment entered is gaping, blood oozing out, darkening the grass beneath. He wipes his hands methodically, the warmth of the chicken's body lingering unpleasantly on his skin.
The experiment had provided crucial information. The strong connection had been severed by a moment's lapse. He inhales deeply, the fresh air mingling with the metallic scent of blood. Ready for the next attempt, he acknowledges the failure as merely a step toward mastery.
Li Wei picks up the manual, flipping through the pages. He studies the diagrams, making notes in the margins. His mind is already working on improvements, adjustments to avoid the same mistake.
The field is quiet.
He turns to Lu Huan and says, "Another." Lu Huan, eyes wide with fear, fetches another chicken from the cage nearby. He brings it to Li Wei, hands shaking.
Li Wei takes the chicken. Its body is warm in his hands, the rapid heartbeat palpable. He focuses on his finger, feeling the familiar sensation as a bone fragment emerges. He presses the fragment just beneath the surface of the chicken's skin, shallow this time. He releases the fragment, pulling his finger back.
Li Wei throws it up in the air and steps back , it flys a bit then lands, watching the chicken closely. It clucks and moves a few steps away. He closes his eyes, concentrating on the fragment inside the chicken. He can still feel it, the connection faint but present. The chicken moves further away, the distance stretching the connection.
Li Wei feels the connection weakening. He focuses harder, trying to maintain it. The chicken takes a few more steps, the connection fading. He tries to move the fragment within the chicken, testing his control. The moment he exerts force, the chicken collapses, lifeless.
The bone fragment shoots out of the chicken, propelled by the sudden release of tension, flying out of Li Wei's control radius. He feels the connection sever as it leaves his range.
He turns to Lu Huan, who stands frozen, watching the scene. Li Wei's expression remains calm. He walks over to the chicken. He inspects the body, noting the point of entry and the fatal wound.
Li Wei wipes his hands clean. He looks at the manual lying open nearby, pages still fluttering. He makes a mental note of the experiment's outcome, thinking of adjustments for next time. He knows the process, the delicate balance required.
Li Wei turns his gaze to Lu Huan. The air is thick with tension, the scent of earth and grass mingling with the weight of the moment. Li Wei steps closer to Lu Huan, who stands trembling, eyes wide with fear.
Li Wei reaches out, his hand steady, his expression unreadable. "Hold still," he commands. Lu Huan hesitates but doesn't move, his breath coming in shallow, rapid bursts. Li Wei's finger extends, the bone fragment emerging with a soft, almost imperceptible sound.
He places his finger on Lu Huan's chest, just below the collarbone. The tip of the bone fragment touches the skin, and with a deliberate, controlled motion, Li Wei inserts it just beneath the surface, shallow enough to function but deep enough to be disastrous to remove. The fragment slips in easily, a thin line of blood marking its path. Lu Huan winces, a low gasp escaping his lips, but he remains still.
Li Wei withdraws his finger, leaving the bone fragment embedded in Lu Huan's flesh. He steps back, his eyes locked onto Lu Huan's. The connection is immediate, Li Wei can feel the fragment inside Lu Huan, the faint echo of his own heartbeat in the shard.
"Don't ever betray me," Li Wei says, his voice low and steady. "You've seen what will happen."
Lu Huan's eyes dart between Li Wei's face and the spot where the fragment is lodged. He nods quickly, his fear palpable, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Serve me well," Li Wei continues, "and I'll remove it."
Li Wei thinks of the carrot and the stick
The wind rustles the grass around them, but neither man moves. Li Wei maintains his stare, ensuring his words sink in. He feels the connection to the fragment, a constant reminder of the control he holds.
Lu Huan swallows hard, his throat dry. "I understand," he says, voice trembling.
Li Wei nods once, satisfied. He turns away, the matter settled for now. He feels the fragment within Lu Huan, a constant presence, a silent reminder of his command. The field around them is quiet again, the tension lingering but the immediate confrontation passed.
With the sky darkening, Li Wei and Lu Huan head back to the house. The path is clear, no bandits in sight. The house offers a temporary sanctuary, a place to regroup and plan the next step. Inside, the air is still, heavy with unspoken threats and the promise of future success.