The journey back to the Xiang Sect was tense. The boy, still unconscious, lay draped across the back of one of the cultivators, his small frame lifeless against the swaying movements of the forest path. The group trudged on, their minds burdened with unspoken thoughts. Every now and then, Zhang Wei glanced at the boy, his face unreadable.
They carried the carcass of the boar slung over a makeshift pole, its weight shared by Xian Yu and Luo Ji. The wild boar would serve as a useful offering to the sect's provisions, but it also stood as a reminder of the danger they had narrowly escaped.
Li Mei walked beside the youth carrying the boy, her brows furrowed in concern. She kept sneaking glances at his unconscious form, as if trying to discern something from his fragile, dirt-covered face. The silence that enveloped the group was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the crunch of their steps on the forest floor.
Xian Yu, ever the skeptic, was the first to speak. "We're taking a risk," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the sounds of the forest. "This boy could be trouble."
"Senior Brother Xian," Li Mei shot back, her tone sharper than intended, "you don't know that. He's just a child."
"A child left in the middle of a dangerous forest?" Xian Yu countered. "That doesn't strike you as odd?"
Luo Ji, walking a step behind them, interjected. "We already agreed to bring him back. What's the point of questioning it now?"
Xian Yu's gaze flickered to Luo Ji, his jaw tightening. "The point is that we need to be vigilant. We can't let our guard down, not even for a second. This might seem like an act of kindness, but kindness can be a blade turned against us."
"Enough," Zhang Wei said firmly, his voice cutting through the brewing argument. He didn't look back as he spoke, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "The decision has been made. If the boy is a threat, the elders will deal with it."
Li Mei sighed but said nothing more. The group pressed on, the weight of Xian Yu's words lingering in the air.
By the time the towering gates of the Xiang Sect came into view, it was already dusk. The sect's towering pagodas loomed in the distance, their ornate designs a testament to the sect's ten's of thousand-year-old history.
As they approached, a pair of outer sect disciples standing guard stepped forward, their curious eyes scanning the group respectively.
"Senior Brother Zhang, welcome," one of them called out, noticing the strange bundle slung over his senior brother's back. "Who's that?"
"A boy we found in the forest," Zhang Wei replied curtly. "He's unconscious."
The guards exchanged glances, their brows knitting in confusion. "A boy? In the forest? What was he doing there?"
"That's what we're about to find out," Zhang Wei said, his tone leaving no room for further questioning. "Step aside."
The guards hesitated but eventually moved aside, allowing the group to pass through the gates.
The inner courtyard of the sect buzzed with activity. Disciples moved about, some sparring in open training grounds, others meditating under the shade of ancient trees. The presence of the boy quickly drew attention. Murmurs rippled through the crowd as the cultivators made their way to the Medicine Pavilion which also happens to be the sect leader's pavillion, the boy's limp form drawing curious stares.
Inside the Medicine Pavilion, the air was thick with the scent of herbs and incense. Shelves lined with jars of dried roots and powders stretched from floor to ceiling. An elderly man, his long beard streaked with white, looked up from his work as the group entered. His eyes narrowed as they fell on the boy.
"Elder Han," Zhang Wei said, bowing respectfully. "We found this boy in the forest. He's unconscious, and we're unsure of his condition."
Elder Han approached slowly, his keen gaze sweeping over the boy. "Place him on the table," he instructed, gesturing to a low wooden platform in the center of the room.
Li Mei stepped forward, gently laying the boy down. Elder Han examined him in silence, his fingers pressing against the boy's pulse points, his expression unreadable. After a long moment, he straightened, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"He's severely malnourished," Elder Han said. "His body is weak, but his life force is surprisingly resilient. It's almost as if…" He trailed off, his eyes narrowing.
"As if what?" Xian Yu pressed, his tone suspicious.
"Never mind' Elder Han said, his gaze shifting to Zhang Wei. "You say you found him in the forest?"
"Yes, Elder," Zhang Wei replied. "He was surrounded by wild boars when we arrived. We managed to kill one, chase the others away and bring him back."
Elder Han's expression darkened. "The forest is no place for a child. How he ended up there is a mystery, but it is not one we can solve tonight."
"Can he be healed?" Li Mei asked, her voice tinged with hope.
Elder Han nodded slowly. "With time and care, he should recover. But there's something… unusual about his energy. I will need to observe him closely."
Zhang Wei exchanged a glance with Xian Yu, who looked as though he was about to voice another objection. But before he could speak, Elder Han raised a hand.
"Enough questions for now," the elder said. "Leave him here. I will ensure he is cared for. Return to your quarters."
The group hesitated, their gazes lingering on the boy. Finally, Zhang Wei nodded. "Thank you, Elder Han."
As they turned to leave, Li Mei cast one last look at the boy. His fragile form seemed so out of place in the grand, imposing halls of the sect. She couldn't shake the feeling that this child, whoever he was, would bring change—not just to their lives, but perhaps to the sect itself.
Immediately the youths left the hall, a handsome young looking figure, cloaked in dim light appeared right behind Elder Han
"Sect Leader' he said respectfully while bowing
"What did you sense about the boy? The sect leader asked 'you were saying something before the youths. As if what?
"As if something is sustaining him," Elder Han replied respectfully, probing the boy with his inner energy but still unable to discover anything
'I see you've probed him. I also did immediately he was brought him and although I can sense the boy's energy, there seems to be something blocking further probing. But it doesn't seem to be harmful' replied sect master
'Feed him a seven-tier healing pill. That should heal him of all internal injuries as well. Once he's fully recovered, send him to my quarters' he instructed, then disappeared.
Later that night, Zhang Wei and the others gathered in his quarters. The room was sparsely furnished, with a low table and cushions scattered around. The air was heavy with tension as they recounted the events of the day.
"I still don't trust it," Xian Yu said, his arms crossed over his chest. "Elder Han may have agreed to take him in, but that doesn't mean we're out of danger."
"You've made your point, Senior Brother Xian," Luo Ji replied, his tone exasperated. "But it's done. The boy is in the sect now."
"And what happens when he wakes up?" Xian Yu shot back. "What if he's hiding something? What if he's—"
"What if he's just a boy?" Li Mei interrupted, her voice cutting through the argument. "What if he's just a lost child who needs help?"
Xian Yu fell silent, though his expression remained stormy.
Zhang Wei, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "We'll keep an eye on him. If he's a threat, we'll deal with it. But for now, he's under the care of the elders. It's no longer our concern."
The others nodded reluctantly, though the unease in the room was palpable.
As the group dispersed, each lost in their own thoughts, none of them could have guessed the truth about the boy they had brought back.
For Li, though unconscious and unaware of the events unfolding around him, was no ordinary child. And his presence in the Xiang Sect would soon ripple across the mortal and celestial planes, setting the stage for a destiny that would change their world forever.