Wu Meng walked beside Lian Hua in silence, his eyes darting from one shadowy corner to the next as they moved through the winding corridors of the Disciplinary Hall. Now that he wasn't in immediate danger of execution, his mind was back to being brimmed with questions—too many to contain.
The heavy atmosphere weighed on his shoulders, but curiosity got the best of him. "So... who was that voice back there?" Wu Meng asked, breaking the tense silence.
Lian Hua didn't break her stride. "I don't know," she said flatly. "Even the Disciplinary Elder seemed surprised. Whoever it is, they're high up—someone with enough authority to command an elder like that. But it's not my place to know who pulls the strings."
Wu Meng frowned. "But you must have some idea... right? Someone that powerful?"
Lian Hua glanced at him briefly, then back at the path ahead. "Speculating won't help you. Focus on what you can control, not on things beyond your reach."
Wu Meng sighed, realizing he wouldn't get much more out of her. Still, the fact that such a mysterious figure had intervened on his behalf only deepened his confusion. He decided to change the subject. "Can you tell me more about this sect, then? The Half-Phoenix Sect... it sounds impressive."
Lian Hua remained silent for a moment, as if weighing how much to reveal. Finally, she spoke. "The Half-Phoenix Sect is one of the most ancient and powerful in this region. It's been around for thousands of years, founded atop the volcano where we're built. They say the flames of ancient phoenixes still burn deep in the volcano's core, and that power fuels the sect."
Wu Meng blinked, trying to take it all in. "That's... incredible. But how does someone even join? Do people just come here and sign up?"
Lian Hua let out a quiet chuckle, though her face remained serious. "It's not that simple. Most disciples are recruited young, usually when they show signs of talent in cultivation. Some come from powerful families, others are chosen for their potential. But no one just 'walks in.' You have to pass several trials just to be considered for entry. Only the most promising make it through."
Wu Meng nodded slowly, processing her words. "And once they're in, they're just... disciples?"
"No, there are different ranks. The sect is organized into three primary levels: outer disciples, inner disciples, and core disciples. Outer disciples, like me, are the most numerous. We handle a lot of the manual labor around the sect or focus on mastering the basics of cultivation. Inner disciples have proven themselves. They receive more personal instruction from the elders and ressources from the sect. They also get access to more advanced techniques that are forbidden for outer disciples. And then there are the core disciples. They're the elites, those with the closest connections to the sect's leadership. They're usually the ones being groomed for leadership roles."
"That sounds... intense," Wu Meng muttered, feeling even more out of place.
"It is," Lian Hua confirmed, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "Everyone wants to rise through the ranks to have better cultivation ressources, but the competition is fierce. The requirements to advance are tough, and only the best make it."
Wu Meng walked in silence for a while, trying to wrap his head around everything he had just learned. "So... what about cultivation itself?" he asked after a pause. "What is it, exactly?"
Lian Hua stopped, her eyes narrowing at him. "You don't know what cultivation is?"
Wu Meng scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "Uh... not really."
Lian Hua sighed and turned to face him. "Cultivation is the process of refining your Qi, which is the spiritual energy that exists in the world and within every living being. By cultivating your Qi, you strengthen your body, mind, and spirit, gaining power and progressing toward immortality. But it's not easy. Cultivators spend years meditating, fighting, and learning techniques to master their Qi and rise through the cultivation realms."
Wu Meng nodded, though his understanding was still limited. "And... what's this Qi like? How do you get more of it?"
Lian Hua considered the question for a moment. "Qi is everywhere. It flows through the world like air or water, and cultivators draw it into themselves, refining it to grow stronger. The higher your cultivation, the more Qi you can control and store within your body. Different realms of cultivation represent different levels of mastery over Qi."
Wu Meng couldn't help but marvel at the concept. "So... the more you cultivate, the stronger you get?"
"In theory, yes," Lian Hua replied. "But it's not that simple. Each realm of cultivation comes with its own challenges. It's not just about gathering Qi—it's about understanding and refining it. Every step forward is harder than the last."
They continued walking in silence, and Wu Meng's mind raced with more questions. Everything Lian Hua told him only made him realize how little he understood about the world he found himself in.
Eventually, they reached a long, dark corridor lined with iron-barred cells. The air was cold and stale, making Wu Meng shiver slightly. Lian Hua stopped in front of an empty cell and opened the door.
"This is where you'll stay for now," she said simply. "Until the voice returns."
Wu Meng frowned. "Wait... when will they come back? How long will I be stuck here?"
Lian Hua shook her head. "I don't know. It could be days. It could be longer."
Wu Meng's stomach twisted at the thought. "And what am I supposed to do in the meantime? Just sit here?"
Lian Hua hesitated for a moment, then reached into her robes and pulled out a small scroll. "Here," she said, handing it to him. "It's a basic cultivation technique. Nothing special, but it will give you something to focus on. Try meditating and follow the steps. It'll help pass the time."
Wu Meng stared at the scroll, then back at Lian Hua. "Cultivate... okay.."
"It's not hard, but it will take practice. Just follow the instructions." she answered.
Wu Meng looked at her, suddenly feeling a sense of dependence he hadn't expected. "You'll come back, right? I mean, you'll check on me?"
Lian Hua raised an eyebrow, as if the question surprised her. "I have duties, but I'll come back eventually. Focus on cultivating."
She turned and left without another word, the door to the cell creaking shut behind her. Wu Meng watched her leave, the sense of isolation closing in on him as soon as she was gone.
Alone in the cell, Wu Meng sat down on the cold stone floor and unrolled the scroll. The writing was simple but dense, describing a process of breathing, focusing, and controlling Qi. The instructions seemed straightforward enough, but Wu Meng had no idea how to even begin.
"All right, meditate," he muttered to himself, closing his eyes and trying to follow the steps outlined in the scroll. But his mind was still spinning with questions. Who was he? What was this place? Why had that mysterious voice taken an interest in him? And how was he supposed to master something as abstract as Qi?
The minutes dragged on as he tried and failed to quiet his thoughts. Each attempt to focus on his breathing was interrupted by another nagging question or doubt. His muscles tensed, and his frustration grew.
After what felt like hours of trying, Wu Meng finally managed to calm his mind enough to focus on his breathing. He inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly, and repeated the process, just as the scroll instructed. For a brief moment, he felt something—a flicker of familiarity, as if his body remembered this process, even though his mind didn't.
But when he tried to channel the Qi as described in the scroll... nothing happened. No energy flowed. No spark ignited.
Wu Meng opened his eyes, staring at the scroll in frustration. "Maybe I'm doing it wrong... or maybe I'm just not cut out for this."
He laid back on the stone floor, staring up at the ceiling. His mind was still buzzing with questions, but now there was an added layer of doubt. How was he supposed to survive in a world where everyone around him was already leagues ahead?
As the cold of the cell seeped into his bones, a single thought echoed in his mind.
"She will be back, right?" Wu Meng whispered, not entirely sure of the answer.