The sack of spirit stones in my hand felt heavier than anything I had ever held. I swallowed hard, trying to wrap my head around how to handle such a situation. But it all seemed overwhelming, beyond my expertise. Perhaps burying them somewhere and living in the forest around the mountain until I reached Qi Gathering and became an inner disciple would be the safest option.
Yet, that plan had its challenges. I would have to avoid appearing in the cafeteria too, and there were no ordinary animals on sect grounds due to the fear of them turning into Monstrous Beasts. Maybe I should focus on learning about edible plants to survive in the forest. But would the lack of nutrition and protein slow my cultivation progress?
"I suggested to the other outer elders that we keep it a secret for now. So we closed down all the channels, and no one in the outer sect knows about the rewards," the middle-aged librarian explained. "Even the inner elders agreed; they didn't want chaos in the outer sect with disciples massacring each other. But you should still be careful. Someone might have leaked information. For example, the inner disciple who delivered your reward, or perhaps one of his friends in the inner sect has a relative in the outer sect."
I winced. "This sounds like it's only going to bring trouble. It would have been better if I hadn't received a reward in this case."
"You could always stay in the library day and night," suggested the old janitor. Though his smile didn't offer much reassurance about the seriousness of the situation. He nodded towards the librarian. "No one from the outer sect would dare attack you with an elder keeping an eye here."
"I can't sleep in the library," I sighed.
"You're right. It is against the rules," the librarian confirmed.
"Doing something like that would only spread rumors that I have the spirit stones and a reason to stick around elders or secure places," I added, trying to make sense of the situation.
When that girl attacked me while throwing up, it became clear that cultivators didn't care much about honor. Even if I stayed in places like the library or the arena where others were constantly around, it was unrealistic to expect safety at all times. Someone could attack me while I was vulnerable, like when using the restroom.
"Wait, what if I instead spread rumors that I spent all the spirit stones?" I suggested, grasping for a solution.
"It might work temporarily, but people would still come after you for whatever you bought with all that money," the librarian countered.
"Also, people aren't stupid. They'll eventually see through that ruse. The only thing such rumors would accomplish is to advertise that you have something worth stealing and risking your life for," the old janitor added, dashing my hopes.
Their points were valid, and I realized my suggestion had been impulsive, and lacking thorough consideration. I needed to calm down and think things through more carefully.
"Yeah, you're both right," I conceded, rubbing my chin. Many of my other ideas were quickly dismissed for similar reasons.
I had to weigh the pros and cons of my situation. On the positive side, I had few friends and minimal interaction with others, making it less likely for anyone to suspect my time in prison. I often disappeared to train in the forest without anyone taking notice.
Well, almost no one. There was one guy in the outer sect who considered himself my friend—the overweight guy whose name I didn't know. Perhaps some others, like my dorm neighbors, had some inkling of my whereabouts, but it wasn't common knowledge.
For now, I needed to tackle one problem at a time.
"Where do you think I should hide the spirit stones?" I asked them for advice. "Because I'm definitely not keeping them on me."
These two were the least likely to steal from me; if they had wanted to, they would have done so already, and I wouldn't have been any wiser.
"You could leave it with Xin Ma here," the old janitor suggested, pointing at the librarian with his thumb.
In contrast to the old man's proposal, the librarian frowned and responded firmly, "That would be displaying blatant favoritism toward a disciple."
The old man turned to the librarian with a knowing smirk. "Oh? Favoritism? Weren't you already showing favoritism by holding his spirit stones so the inner disciple wouldn't declare it out in the open? Besides, as an elder, no one would question your actions."
Despite the old janitor's attempt to justify the request, the librarian, an outer elder, shook his head. "While I admire Liu Feng's work ethic and see parts of my younger self in him, I cannot risk jeopardizing my chances of becoming an inner elder. Displaying favoritism would not sit well with some Core Elders like Zun Gon. He is fair and expects the elders to act accordingly."
The old janitor sighed and shrugged in response. "I see your point. My apologies for putting you in an uncomfortable position. Consider it the ramblings of an old man who didn't think things through."
The librarian's demeanor softened, and a smile graced his features. He seemed more at ease when others weren't around. Their camaraderie was unexpected, even to me.
"Thank you for holding the spirit stones for me. I don't know what I would have done if word got out," I expressed my gratitude with a respectful fist and palm gesture, offering a slight bow to the outer elder.
Had it not been for the librarian's discretion, I might have found myself embroiled in fights with my dorm mates, rather than standing here in the library with an empty tea cup in hand.
"Well, until next time. I have some wealth to stash away," I announced, tucking the sack of spirit stones into my jacket. With my heart pounding in my chest, I made my way toward the library door.
Before I could make my way out, the librarian called out, "I'll sell you a spirit-suppressing talisman for one spirit stone."
"Huh?" I turned back, puzzled, while the old janitor's eyes sparked with amusement.
"Spirit Suppressing Talismans help conceal your qi signature. In your case, it could be used to mask the qi released from your spirit stones," the librarian explained.
"Disciples in the Qi Gathering Realm or at the Peak of Body Tempering can detect Qi. No matter where you hide your spirit stones, that signal will still be detectable," the old janitor elaborated, shooting a glance at the librarian and muttering, "So much for not showing favoritism."
The librarian's expression soured at the comment, but before he could retract his words, I retrieved a spirit stone and hurried to the counter. "One spirit-suppressing talisman, please."
The librarian remained silent, handing me a yellow paper inscribed with strange red symbols.
Was that blood or red ink?
I didn't dwell on it and promptly affixed the talisman to the sack of spirit stones. Rushing outside, I leaped into the moonlit forest, utilizing the Rushing Bull Step.
Through the night-shrouded forest, guided by moonbeams filtering through the dense canopy, I dashed. Each step reverberated in the silent darkness, leaves crunching beneath my feet as shadows danced on the forest floor. The air carried the earthy scent of pine and damp soil, fueling my urgency. My heart pounded in sync with the wild rhythm, branches reaching out like gnarled fingers.
In no time, I reached my training spot. A dozen broken trees and countless more bearing the marks of my fists awaited me. I swiftly dug beneath one such tree, using my hands to dig, with dirt getting under my nails.
I retrieved my sack of spirit stones, ensuring the talisman was securely attached, and buried it in the hole. I swiftly covered the hole and hurriedly left before anyone could spot me.
The tree I chose was familiar, its bark bearing the imprint of my fist from previous training sessions. While others might see it as just another training spot and move on quickly to avoid provoking stronger individuals, I was also here often enough that I could keep an eye on things.
As I rushed back toward the dorms, a sudden realization halted my steps.
Should I even return to the dorms? If word got out that I possessed spirit stones, someone would likely be waiting for me there. Perhaps even planning an ambush while I slept.
With no better option, I decided to spend the night outdoors. I found a secluded spot beside a large rock and laid on the grass. The ground was uneven, and the air carried the scent of grass, punctuated by the chirping of crickets nearby.
Though I often slept outside after training for convenience, doing so out of necessity felt markedly different. As I shifted restlessly, my mind wrestled with the uncertainties of the coming days.
...
The next morning, I entered the cafeteria with cautious steps. Scanning the surroundings for any potential threats. While altercations were rare in the dining hall, I remained vigilant, aware that tensions could escalate quickly in such environments.
The room buzzed with conversation, louder than usual, though the specifics eluded me amidst the noise. A few individuals appeared on edge, their hands hovering near concealed weapons as they cast wary glances around the room.
Of course, they would be noticed… Wait, were those the same guys who started a blood feud a while back?
After grabbing my tray of food, I scanned the cafeteria for an empty spot to sit. My eyes landed on a table where my only same-aged friend sat, enjoying his modest portion of food.
Had I overslept today, or was he here earlier than usual? I couldn't recall him arriving before me in the cafeteria. Normally, I would dismiss such a thing as a coincidence, but given that he was the only one who knew about my time in prison and the potential reward, I couldn't help but feel on edge.
Despite my apprehension, I sat next to him and offered a friendly smile. "You're here earlier than me today. Did I oversleep, or what?"
There was a palpable tension in the air. Whether it was my anxiety speaking or a genuine atmosphere, it was hard to discern.
He turned toward me and nodded, his voice somber. "Two people died in my dormitory. They had purchased some Bone Strengthening Pills, and someone noticed they had a lot of spirit stones. Apparently, every person who was in prison for a certain time was compensated based on their duration of stay."
It seemed that the elders hadn't been able to contain the information at all. The grim and paranoid atmosphere in the dining hall confirmed it. At least I hadn't spent any of my reward money, so there was no way anyone would know through that avenue. Most of the outer sect's markets were managed by students. It also became clear how tactfully the librarian had handled my reward.
If there was an opportunity in the future, I should repay him.
Also, it seemed like my chubby friend hadn't broadcasted about my time in prison. Perhaps he didn't want to draw attention to me or intended to claim all the rewards himself?
I had foreseen something like this happening if news of the rewards spread. "How many deaths have occurred in the outer sect because of… this recent news?"
"As far as I know, at least two dozen," he remarked, pushing aside his empty tray. "We have to be careful too. Who knows when someone might get the wrong idea and think we were in prison? Just suspicion might be enough for them to attack us."
His words were a warning, delicately worded so that any eavesdroppers would remain oblivious.
Still, the thought of two dozen teenagers, with their entire lives ahead of them, perishing due to others' greed... They were just kids.
I understood the cruelty of this world in certain aspects. I had even taken the life of a teenager who tried to kill me. It was a grim reality that left a bitter taste in my mouth. But there was nothing I could do about it.
The news of the rewards could have spread in numerous ways—perhaps even the outer elder's personal disciples gleaned the information from their mentors. But at this point, it hardly mattered.
The only individuals I felt I could trust were the librarian and the janitor. However, they could only serve as passive allies, ensuring my safety within the library grounds.
Now, the question loomed: could I trust my chubby companion? Thus far, he had only offered warnings, but betrayal rarely announced itself with fanfare. It crept in like a shadow, disguised behind a facade of trustworthiness.
I imagined myself in his position.
If I were intent on stealing from a friend, I'd likely work to alleviate their suspicions, just as he was doing.
He provided valuable information, and any falsehoods could easily be debunked by a visit to the library. Undoubtedly, the old man and the librarian would also caution me to be wary, even if my chubby friend hadn't.
Every person around me became a potential adversary.
Things had become considerably more complicated. It reminded me of the tedious office drama from my past life, except this time, there was death involved instead of rumors of who was having an affair.
I had always hated office drama.