After successfully refining his first meridian, Lin Fei felt a profound transformation coursing through his body. For the first time in his life, he truly understood what it meant to control the flow of true qi. His body felt lighter, his mind clearer, and his senses sharper than ever before. Sitting on the hospital bed, he clenched his fists, feeling the newfound strength surging through his veins.
A wide grin spread across his face. "Finally, I've taken my first real step," he thought. He couldn't wait to test his newfound power. However, before leaving the hospital, he wanted to meet Su Qing. She had promised to visit him in the morning, and Lin Fei looked forward to seeing her cheerful face.
The nurse soon arrived with his lunch, a simple yet nourishing meal. She placed the tray on the bedside table and gave him a kind smile before leaving. Lin Fei thanked her and quickly dug into the food, feeling a strange sense of calm as he ate. Once he finished, he leaned back on the bed, his gaze shifting to the window. The sun was already high in the sky.
"She should be here by now," he muttered to himself, glancing at the clock. It was already past noon. Su Qing's absence puzzled him. This was the first time she had broken a promise. Lin Fei tried to reassure himself. "She's probably busy with classes or something important," he thought. Deciding to wait, he crossed his legs and began cultivating the breathing technique.
As Lin Fei entered his meditative state, he directed his focus to the minor progress he'd made in the skin-tempering stage. Refining the first meridian had an unexpected benefit his skin had begun inhaling and exhaling traces of true qi. Though faint, the sensation intrigued him. This time he channel all the true qi he absorbed into tempering his skin.
The moment he started, a sharp pain erupted across his body. It felt as though countless needles pricked his skin from the inside out. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and endured. This was the path he'd chosen one of pain and perseverance.
Time passed slowly as he concentrated. Soon, tiny beads of impurities began to ooze from his pores. The smell was foul, like rotting garbage, but Lin Fei's determination didn't waver. He continued tempering his skin, pushing through the pain until he felt his progress stabilize.
When he finally opened his eyes, the room was dimly lit by the orange glow of the setting sun. He looked down and noticed his body was covered in a thin layer of black, sticky substances. The stench made him gag.
"What the..." he muttered, quickly jumping off the bed. He rushed to the bathroom, desperate to wash away the impurities. Under the warm spray of the shower, he scrubbed himself clean, marveling at how smooth and resilient his skin felt. It was as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his body.
Freshly cleaned and wearing a set of hospital-issued clothes, Lin Fei returned to his bed and checked the time. It was already evening, yet Su Qing still hadn't shown up. His heart sank slightly. For all her cheerful energy and reliability, Su Qing had never once failed to keep a promise.
"Maybe something urgent came up," he reasoned, trying to push away the nagging feeling in his chest. Deciding not to overthink it, Lin Fei climbed back into bed. This time, he didn't cultivate. Instead, he let his body rest, his thoughts drifting as sleep overtook him.
As Lin Fei drifted into sleep, he suddenly felt his consciousness being pulled. It was as though a giant force was sucking him into a void. Everything around him turned black, and he found himself floating in endless nothingness. Fear gripped his heart.
"What's happening?" he thought, struggling to make sense of his surroundings. The pulling sensation finally stopped, and an eerie silence enveloped him. Then, out of nowhere, a voice echoed through the void.
"You have finally stepped onto this path," the voice said, deep and resonant.
"Which path?" Lin Fei asked, his voice trembling.
"You have a great destiny. To live a happy life, you must become more powerful. This is the only way," the voice continued without answering him .
"What destiny? I don't understand," Lin Fei said, confused.
"You are destined to become a great master, but the journey will not be easy. You must work hard, very hard, because only you can..." the voice trailed off.
"Who are you?" Lin Fei asked, his fear turning into curiosity.
"You will find out soon. For now, you don't need to know who I am. You only need to know that you must work hard and become stronger. Time is on your side but not for long," the voice warned.
Lin Fei tried to ask more questions, but the voice continued. "The Heavens Core Bead has chosen you. It will aid you on your martial path. To awaken it, you must first refine all twelve meridians and reach the Dantian Formation stage. Only then can its true power be unleashed."
"How do I refine my twelve meridians?" Lin Fei asked, eager for guidance.
"Stay safe and work hard. Work hard. Work hard," the voice echoed, fading into the void. A strong pulling force enveloped Lin Fei again, and before he knew it, he was back in his hospital bed, wide awake. His heart pounded as he processed the encounter.
"There's something big going on," Lin Fei thought, his mind racing. "I can only get answers after awakening the Heavens Core Bead. For now, I have to refine my meridians completely."
He glanced out the window and noticed the sun was already high in the sky. It was afternoon. Checking the clock, he realized Su Qing still hadn't come. Disappointment welled up inside him.
"She didn't come today either," he muttered, his mood souring. Determined to move forward, Lin Fei decided it was time to leave the hospital. He got out of bed, freshened up in the bathroom, and gathered his belongings.
As he stepped out of his hospital room, he froze. Standing in front of the door of the opposite room was a woman. She was petite and carried a delicate beauty. Her features, though matured, bore a faint resemblance to Lin Fei's own face. She wore fashionable clothes, exuding an aura of elegance that didn't belong in a hospital corridor.
Lin Fei's breath caught in his throat. His mind raced as recognition struck him like a lightning bolt. It was her. The woman who had walked out of his and his father's lives, leaving nothing but endless pain in her wake. Lin Qingchen was the one who had chosen wealth and comfort over her family. He still remembered that day vividly—her leaving in an expensive car, promising through tears that it was for his sake.
Lin Fei had cried at the door of their home, waiting and hoping. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and yet she never returned. Even as his father's health deteriorated and Lin Fei faced despair, she remained absent. His hope had extinguished long ago, replaced by bitterness and emptiness.
Now, four years later, she stood before him.
Her eyes widened in shock, clearly recognizing him despite the years that had passed. She took a tentative step forward, her lips parting in disbelief. "Lin Fei?" she said softly. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took in his grown figure and the bandages on his hand.
"What are you doing here? Where is your dad?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Lin Fei's expression hardened, his gaze cold and unfeeling. "What does that have to do with you?" he replied, his tone devoid of emotion.
Her face fell, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Lin Fei, watch your words! I'm still your mother," she said, her voice tinged with anger and sorrow.
"No, you're not," Lin Fei said, his voice sharp and cold. He shook her hand off with a force that made her stagger slightly.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she stood frozen, hurt by the wall of rejection in his words. Lin Fei turned and began walking away. Just as she moved to chase after him, calling his name, the door of the room behind her opened. A young girl stepped out, looking concerned.
"Mom, what happened?" the girl asked, her voice soft but filled with worry.
Lin Fei and Lin Qingchen both stopped in their tracks, their gazes snapping to the girl. Lin Fei's heart skipped a beat, and his mind went blank as he recognized her. The girl was none other than Su Qing.
For a moment, everything froze. Lin Fei stared at her, the realization crashing down on him like a tidal wave. He realized something but didn't want to accept the thought forming in his mind. He couldn't believe it.
As Su Qing looked at him, she hesitated, then spoke. "Hi, Lin Fei. I'm sorry for not coming to meet you when I promised. It's just that... my dad came to the city to meet me and my grandparents, and he got into an accident on the way to the airport. I'm really sorry. I just didn't have the time to come and meet you."
Lin Qingchen, looking surprised, asked, "You know him?"
"Yes, I know him. He's Lin Fei. He got into an accident because of me—the boy I told you about," Su Qing said, then turned to Lin Fei and added, "Lin Fei, meet my mother, Lin Qingchen."
Lin Fei, as if not hearing her, stood blankly. His thoughts had just been proven true. The man whom Lin Qingchen had left him and his father for was Su Qing's father. He started laughing hysterically.
"Oh, so she was your mother," he said coldly.
"Yes," Su Qing replied.
Lin Qingchen's expression grew pale as she overheard their conversation. "Lin Fei...", just as Lin Qingchen was about to call him, he ignored them turned and began walking towards the elevator.
"Just be careful of her. She is no good woman," he said, his voice as cold as ice.
This was the first time Su Qing felt such coldness from him. He ignored her completely and entered the lift, looking at them as the doors closed.
"Lin Fei, stop! Let me explain!" Lin Qingchen cried, running towards the lift, tears streaming down her face after hearing his words.
End of Chapter 7.