The days following Mei Ling's departure were a blur for Liang Wei. He couldn't stop thinking about her—the way her hand had felt on his chest, the warmth of her Qi, the intensity of her gaze. But more than that, he couldn't ignore the strange energy that now coursed through his body. It was as if a dormant part of him had been awakened, and he didn't know how to control it.
Old Man Zhang noticed the change. "You've been distracted lately, boy," he grumbled one evening as Liang Wei served drinks to the inn's patrons. "If you're not careful, you'll spill wine all over someone important, and then where will we be?"
Liang Wei mumbled an apology, but his mind was elsewhere. He needed answers, and he knew he wouldn't find them in Qinghe. The village was too small, too isolated. If he wanted to understand his abilities, he would have to leave—something he had never dared to consider before.
That night, as the moon hung high in the sky, Liang Wei made his decision. He packed a small bag with what little he owned—a change of clothes, a few coins he had saved, and a dagger he had found in the woods years ago. He left a note for Old Man Zhang, thanking him for his kindness, and slipped out of the inn.
The road out of Qinghe was eerily quiet, the only sound the crunch of gravel beneath his feet. Liang Wei had never traveled beyond the village, and the vastness of the world ahead filled him with both excitement and fear. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he had to keep moving.
By dawn, Liang Wei had reached the edge of the Whispering Woods, a dense forest rumored to be home to bandits and rogue cultivators. He hesitated at the tree line, the stories of travelers who had vanished within its depths echoing in his mind. But before he could second-guess himself, a voice called out from the shadows.
"Lost, are we?"
Liang Wei spun around, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at his side. Standing a few feet away was a girl—no older than him—with short, tousled hair and a mischievous grin. She wore a patchwork of leather and cloth, her outfit practical yet oddly stylish. A pair of daggers hung at her hips, and her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Who are you?" Liang Wei asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"The name's Xiao Lan," she said, stepping closer. "And you, my friend, look like someone who's in over his head."
Liang Wei tightened his grip on the dagger. "I'm not looking for trouble."
Xiao Lan laughed, a sound as light and carefree as the wind. "Trouble has a way of finding people like us, whether we're looking for it or not. But don't worry—I'm not here to rob you. Not today, anyway."
She circled him, her gaze appraising. "You've got a strange aura, you know that? Like you're holding back a storm. What's your story?"
Liang Wei hesitated. He didn't know if he could trust her, but something about her playful demeanor put him at ease. "I... I don't know what's happening to me," he admitted. "I've been feeling this energy inside me, and I don't know how to control it."
Xiao Lan's grin widened. "Ah, so you're one of those. A late bloomer, huh? Well, you're in luck. I happen to know a thing or two about Qi. For a price, of course."
"What kind of price?" Liang Wei asked warily.
She leaned in, her face inches from his. "How about a favor? You help me with something, and I'll teach you the basics of cultivation. Deal?"
Liang Wei swallowed hard. Her closeness was overwhelming, and he could feel his heart racing. There was something intoxicating about her—a wild, untamed energy that drew him in. "Deal," he said before he could think better of it.
Xiao Lan led him deeper into the woods, to a small clearing bathed in moonlight. She sat cross-legged on the grass and motioned for him to join her. "Close your eyes," she instructed. "Focus on the energy inside you. Feel it flowing through your body, like a river."
Liang Wei did as she said, and to his surprise, he could feel it—the Qi, swirling and pulsing within him. It was chaotic, as Mei Ling had said, but there was a rhythm to it, a pattern waiting to be discovered.
"Good," Xiao Lan said, her voice softer now. "Now, imagine that energy gathering in your core. Picture it as a ball of light, growing brighter and brighter."
As he focused, Liang Wei felt the energy condense, the chaos giving way to order. It was a strange, exhilarating sensation, like unlocking a door he hadn't known existed.
"Not bad for a beginner," Xiao Lan said, her tone teasing. "But you've got a long way to go. Cultivation isn't just about controlling Qi—it's about understanding yourself. And from the looks of it, you've got a lot to learn."
Liang Wei opened his eyes to find her smirking at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.
She leaned back on her hands, her expression playful. "Let's just say you're not the only one with secrets. But don't worry—we've got plenty of time to figure each other out."