Chapter 3: The Whisper of Power
Night had swallowed the Mud Lotus District, but the streets were no less alive. Lanterns flickered dimly in windows, casting long shadows over the alleyways where the desperate prowled. Conversations were murmurs here, muffled by the weight of secrets and schemes. The brothers moved through the darkness with practiced ease, their footsteps quiet and deliberate.
Li Jian's hand hovered near the hilt of his dagger, his senses on high alert. Every sound, every shuffle in the darkness, was a potential threat. Even in their familiarity with these streets, he knew better than to let his guard down. A moment of carelessness could cost them their lives.
Li Xuan, walking just behind him, was lost in thought, his mind racing. Old Kai wasn't to be trusted—everyone in the district knew that. But he also knew more than most. Information was his trade, and in a place where survival depended on knowing who was after you and who might slit your throat, people were willing to pay any price for a scrap of knowledge.
But the real question was: What would Old Kai ask in return for the knowledge they needed?
As they approached Kai's shop, a figure stepped out of the shadows. A thin, ragged man with sunken eyes and clothes that hung loosely from his bony frame. Jin Hu, a beggar the brothers knew well, though not for the reasons most might expect.
"Li brothers," Jin Hu said, his voice a raspy whisper. "You've been busy."
Li Jian eyed him warily, his grip tightening on his dagger. Jin Hu was no ordinary beggar. He dealt in secrets, trading information for scraps of food or, if he was lucky, a coin. He always seemed to know more than he should, lurking in the shadows, listening.
"We've been getting by," Li Jian said cautiously, his tone flat. "What do you want, Jin?"
Jin Hu's lips cracked into a crooked smile. "Nothing, nothing. Just thought I'd let you know—heard some things." He leaned closer, his voice dropping even lower. "The Iron Eagle Gang is sniffing around. Looking for you. Heard they've put out word to a few... less savory types."
Li Xuan's stomach tightened. This was worse than they had thought. It wasn't just Lu Feng and his lackeys. The Iron Eagle Gang was casting a wider net, bringing in outsiders.
"And how much did you sell that information for?" Li Jian asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Jin Hu shrugged, the smile never leaving his face. "A man's gotta eat. But I wouldn't worry too much. They don't know exactly where you are yet. Thought I'd let you know before it gets worse."
Li Jian stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "You telling us this out of the kindness of your heart?"
Jin Hu's smile widened. "Kindness doesn't keep you alive in the Mud Lotus, Li Jian. But... sometimes it helps to have friends in low places."
Li Xuan watched the exchange closely. Friendship wasn't something that existed here—not in the way most people thought of it. It was an exchange, a temporary alliance formed out of necessity, dissolved the moment it became inconvenient. Jin Hu's words might be genuine now, but tomorrow he could just as easily sell them out for a few more coins.
"Thanks for the warning, Jin," Li Xuan said, his voice calm but cautious. "We'll keep that in mind."
Jin Hu nodded, fading back into the shadows as easily as he had appeared. "Take care, boys. The district's getting dangerous."
As they continued on their way, Li Jian spat in disgust. "Rat. He'd sell us for half a meal if it came down to it."
Li Xuan didn't disagree. "Doesn't matter. He told us something we needed to hear. The Iron Eagles are moving faster than we thought. We need to get ahead of this."
Li Jian grunted in agreement, his jaw tight with frustration. "We can't stay in this part of the district much longer. If we don't get strong enough soon, they'll corner us."
"We won't stay weak forever," Li Xuan replied quietly, though he knew his words offered little comfort. Strength was elusive, especially for those without formal training, and they were barely scraping by with what they had. But tonight, they were betting on Old Kai's knowledge to change that.
Old Kai's shop was as decrepit as ever, its cracked wooden beams and sagging roof looking no sturdier than the last time the brothers had visited. The faint light from within cast long shadows that danced along the walls, and the familiar scent of cheap tea hung in the air. As the brothers stepped inside, the old man was seated behind his counter, a knowing smile already on his lips, his sharp, narrow eyes observing every customer who entered with the same calculating gaze. He was a man who had learned that knowledge was far more valuable than wealth, and he traded in it like others might trade in silk or grain.
"Li brothers," Old Kai greeted them as they entered, his voice a low rasp. "What brings you here tonight? I assume it's not the tea."
Li Jian smirked. "When's the last time anyone came here for the tea, Kai?"
Old Kai chuckled, a dry, hollow sound. "Fair enough. What do you need?"
"We need to know more about cultivation. The basics. We found an old scroll, but we're struggling to make any progress."
Old Kai's eyebrows rose ever so slightly, but his smile didn't waver. "Cultivation, eh? Didn't think you boys had it in you."
Li Jian bristled at the remark, his hand twitching toward his dagger, but Li Xuan gave him a small shake of the head. Not yet.
"We don't have time for games," Li Jian growled, his voice low. "Just tell us what you know."
Kai chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "You know, cultivation's a tricky thing. Most people who aren't born into sects don't ever touch it. Not because they don't want to, but because it's like trying to catch a breeze with your bare hands. You need the right... foundation."
"Foundation?" Li Jian asked, his frustration clear. "What kind of foundation?"
Old Kai tapped his fingers on the counter, his eyes never leaving the brothers. "Spiritual roots, of course. Without them, you won't be able to sense the Qi in the air, let alone gather it. And even if you do have spiritual roots, they might not be strong enough for cultivation. That's why the sects are so careful about who they let in."
Li Xuan frowned. "So how do we know if we have these spiritual roots?"
Kai's smile widened, the sharp glint in his eyes betraying his amusement. "You don't, not until you start to feel the Qi. Some people are born with strong roots and can start cultivating early. Others, well... they never feel it, no matter how hard they try."
Li Jian cursed under his breath, but Li Xuan remained focused. "You said there were... other methods. Risky methods. What did you mean by that?"
Old Kai's smile didn't waver. "Ah, yes. There are ways to... force the issue, so to speak. Techniques and rituals that can draw out the latent potential in your body, even if your spiritual roots are weak. But like I said, it's dangerous. More often than not, it leaves the person broken. Or worse."
Li Jian's eyes darkened. "And you know how to do this?"
Kai chuckled, his voice a dry rasp. "I've seen it done. But you'll need more than my words to make it work. You'd need... resources. And those aren't easy to come by."
Li Xuan's heart sank. Resources. It always came down to that. They barely had enough to survive, let alone enough for some mystical ritual that might or might not work.
"What kind of resources?" Li Xuan asked, though he already knew the answer would be beyond their reach.
"Rare herbs, blood from a high-level cultivator, and a catalyst—usually a powerful artifact or a Qi-infused gem," Old Kai said, ticking off the list on his fingers. "And that's just to start. You'd need someone skilled enough to perform the ritual without killing you in the process."
Li Jian turned away, his fists clenched at his sides. "Great. So we're back to square one."
But Li Xuan wasn't ready to give up. "What about shortcuts, Kai? Is there any way we can start cultivating without all the extra risk?"
Old Kai's smile softened, just for a moment, before the sharpness returned. "There are always shortcuts, Li Xuan. But they come at a price. A steep one."
The brothers exchanged a glance, knowing that any shortcut in the Mud Lotus District would demand more than they could pay.
"We'll think about it," Li Xuan said, his voice steady. "But we're not paying you until we know more."
Old Kai's eyes glimmered with amusement. "Of course. Come back when you're ready. But don't wait too long, boys. Time isn't a luxury you have."
The streets were quieter when they left the shop, the slums settling into the uneasy stillness that came with night. The brothers walked in silence for a while, each lost in their thoughts.
"You don't actually believe any of that, do you?" Li Jian asked finally, his voice low and tense.
Li Xuan sighed. "I don't know. But we don't have many options. We need power, and if this is the only way to get it..."
Li Jian's face twisted with frustration. "That old snake is just waiting for us to get desperate enough to pay him whatever he asks. He'll bleed us dry before we even have a chance to try anything."
"I know," Li Xuan replied, his voice quiet. "But he might be right about one thing. If we can't sense Qi, we're stuck."
Li Jian fell silent, his mind clearly racing with thoughts of their next move. He hated being trapped like this—cornered by circumstances he couldn't control. But there was no denying the truth. They needed power. And they needed it fast.
"We'll keep looking," Li Xuan said after a long pause. "Maybe there's another way. We just need more time."
Li Jian grunted, though he didn't argue. Time was running out, but they hadn't hit the wall yet.
As they reached the threshold of their hovel, the dark, oppressive weight of the Mud Lotus District hung heavier than ever. It felt like a noose tightening around them, drawing closer with every passing day.