The days following Li's duel with Zhu Yan were filled with relentless training and cultivation. He channeled his frustration and unanswered questions into focus, working hard to sharpen his skills and push his limits.
Li also became quite popular as a result of the duel. Other disciples usually ignored him but after the duel, they started acknowledging him with either a nod or smile. Li didnt care for whichever and just went about his duties as usual.
Zhang Wei as a sparring partner was not a soft person as he always pushed Li to do better. Li himself always had his challenge to Bai Chen acting as a motivator pushing him to do better. Li knew he had to work harder in both cultivation and swordplay in order to be able to defeat Bai Chen when the time came.
Zhang Wei often observed from the sidelines, occasionally stepping in to correct Li's form or provide a few pointers. But more and more, Li trained alone, although there were always other inner disciple members in the field also, especially when Zhang Wei had other responsibilities.
On one such morning, Li was training diligently as usual until he felt the presence of someone behind him. He swung his sword backwards in a defensive motion and took an attack stance as he turned around, fearing that Bai Chen or one of his lackeys was out to sneak attack him.
'Easy, easy' said a tall boy of about ten or eleven years wearing inner disciples robe as he held up his wooden sword in a surrendering stance.
'Sorry, I thought you were someone else' Li replied as he brought down his sword but still wary. None of the other disciples had ever voluntarily spoken to him except sent by the Sect master or an elder to get him, so he was wary of the sudden friendliness from the boy.
'I am Jiang Ming' said the boy, stretching forth his hand to give Li a handshake.
Li hesitated but then also extended his own hand too and the two boys shook hands.
'Can we be friends please? Jiang Ming asked
Li was surprised by the request but Jiang Ming appeared to have an innocent look without any guile. His face was an open book as his eyes shone merrily.
'Okay' he replied with a sigh. He was glad to have someone he could talk to and be friends with. The solitude of the past four months that he had been in the sect was another thing driving him crazy on a daily basis.
From that day unwards, the two boys would train together and always walk to the cafeteria together. Jiang Ming was from a merchant family and was the only cultivator in his family. His family therefore treasured him and he always had plenty of money with him. He was in the eight stage of the Qi controlling realm and was much stronger than Li. His talent was however, inferior to Li so he used to train hard for his advancement he had.
The section of the training yard where Li and Jiang Ming practised was alive with the clinking of swords and the laughter of disciples teasing one another. Li, sword in hand, was sparring with Jian Ming, who was known to be good-natured and witty.
"You know, Li," Jian Ming said, grinning as he circled, "people are starting to talk about you. I heard someone say you're secretly a prodigy hiding among us mere mortals."
Li rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "I think you're confusing me with someone else."
"Don't be modest," another disciple in their inner circle, Lin Hua, chimed in. "We all saw you take down Zhu Yan. That was no fluke."
"Fluke or not, he's got a long way to go," Jian Ming teased, lunging forward with a quick strike.
Li parried with ease, countering with a thrust that forced Jian Ming to step back. "Careful," Li said, a slight smirk on his face. "You wouldn't want to lose to someone with such a 'long way to go.'"
The group laughed, and Jian Ming shook his head. "All right, all right. You're improving fast, I'll give you that."
It was true. In just four months, Li's progress had been remarkable. His swordsmanship had become more fluid, his strikes faster and more precise. The once-clumsy novice now moved with confidence and control, earning nods of approval from even the senior disciples who occasionally passed by.
When Zhang Wei returned to oversee training, he was visibly impressed. After one particularly intense sparring session, he clapped Li on the shoulder. "You're getting there," Zhang Wei said, a rare smile breaking his usually stern expression. "Keep this up, and you'll surpass me before long."
Li bowed slightly, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
His cultivation had also advanced significantly. Through grueling effort and late nights of focus, he had opened two more meridians, bringing his total to five. He was now at the peak of the fifth level of the Qi Controlling Realm, a level most disciples took months, if not years, to reach.
Additionally, his mastery of the Qi Concealing Technique had reached the fifth realm. This allowed him to mask his cultivation level so effectively that only those two realms or higher could discern his true strength. This newfound ability gave Li a strange sense of security—and yet, it also added to his unease.
The dreams hadn't stopped. Each night, the same visions plagued him: the red dragon, its fiery gaze, the glowing motes of blood. Sometimes, he could feel the dragon's power coursing through him even after he woke, leaving him disoriented and conflicted.
The dreams about the mighty warrior who annihilated himself and his enemies were also a constant. Li was sure that both dreams were connected but try as he might, he couldn't figure out the connection between them. This caused a nagging worry in him and a niggling hidden fear deep inside of him.
"Why me?" Li whispered one night, staring at the ceiling of his chamber. The question lingered, unanswered, as he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
One afternoon, as Li and his friends rested under the shade of a tree after a long training session, Jian Ming nudged Li with his elbow. "You've been awfully quiet lately. What's on your mind?"
"Just... trying to stay focused," Li said, not meeting his friend's eyes.
Lin Hua frowned. "Come on, Li. You can't fool us. Something's clearly bothering you."
Li hesitated. He wanted to tell them about the dreams, the red dragon, the motes of blood, the warrior. But how could he explain something he didn't fully understand himself?
"It's nothing," he finally said, forcing a smile. "Just a lot on my plate."
Jian Ming exchanged a look with Lin Hua but didn't press further. "Well, if you ever need to talk, we're here," he said.
"Thanks," Li said softly, grateful for their support even as he kept his secrets to himself.
As the weeks passed, Li found himself standing at the entrance to the sect master's quarters more than once, debating whether to go in. Each time, he turned away, the weight of his doubts and fears holding him back.
One day, he even went as far as knocking on his master's door and entering upon being called in.
'Li greets master' he said with a bow as he entered the now familiar room which he has come to discover was his master's study and office.
'Li, how have you been? The sect master asked
'I have been coping master' Li replied
'I hear glowing reports from Zhang Wei about your sword prowess and saw you hold your own in a fight with a disciple of higher cultivation than you. That is very good' praise sect master.
'Thank you master'
'I see you've advanced to the fifth realm and have even advanced in the Qi concealing technique. Good, good'.
'Yes, master' Li replied
'Can I help you with something? You hardly come to my quarters except I send for you. Is anything the matter? His master asked in curiosity.
'I-I-I-I' Li faltered and suddenly went blank, unable to say anything.
'You what? The sect master asked as he stared intently at Li, causing his heart to beat faster in his chest
'Nnnnothing master. Li only came to check on master' he lied
'Are you sure' the master asked with all seriousness.
'yes, yes. Master, Li will now take his leave' he replied hurriedly as he made for the door
The sect master watched him scramble out of his quarters and heaved a sigh. 'I hope he knows he can trust me with whatever he is going through. I see a red aura around him and know something troubles him'
Li ran back to his quarters in panic, missing the opportunity to open up to the sect master. It was as if something or a force was stopping him from opening up.
One evening, after a particularly vivid dream, he resolved to go back and speak with his master the next day. But when morning came, his resolve crumbled.
"What would he think of me?" Li muttered, pacing his chamber. "What if he sees me as a threat? The warrior mentioned a curse."
The questions swirled in his mind, and they remained unanswered. Instead, Li threw himself back into his training, determined to grow stronger—strong enough to face whatever truths lay hidden in his blood.