Chapter 15: Shadows of Suspicion.
Part 1
Li Wei stepped out of the small training hall, the cool morning air soothing his flushed face. The breakthrough to Mortal Realm, Stage 2, had granted a surge of strength, but fatigue and low energy reminded him of the cost of his clash with Wang Zi. The Heavenly Shard and scrolls under his robe were his trump cards but also targets for suspicion. Lin Xue walked beside him, her steps silent but her gaze wary. The System displayed: Energy: 15%. Cultivation progress: Mortal Realm, Stage 2, 5%. Task "Prove your worth to the sect within three days": 25% progress.
The sect's courtyard buzzed: disciples rushed to training, and patrols doubled their vigilance after the night's chaos. Li Wei felt eyes sliding over him—rumors of his confrontation with Wang Zi were already spreading. Lin Xue broke the silence, her voice low but sharp: "Li Wei, you realize Huang won't buy your 'herbs' story without something substantial? And Wang Zi will watch your every move now. What's your plan?"
Li Wei glanced at her, assessing. Her support had saved him before Elder Liu, but her curiosity about the Heavenly Shard was becoming dangerous. The System highlighted: Chance of betrayal by Lin Xue: 12%. Recommendation: Strengthen the alliance by revealing partial truth. He decided to take a cautious risk.
"I have a plan," he replied, lowering his voice. "I found more than herbs in the forest… traces of an old temple. There could be resources to convince Huang and Liu. But I need time and a safe place to prepare."
Lin Xue narrowed her eyes, her jade pendant swaying. "A temple? You mean ruins?" She paused, her gaze sharpening. "You're hiding more than you're saying. If it's dangerous, I don't want to be involved."
"Then just keep an eye on Wang Zi," Li Wei said, steering the topic away. "Find out what he's planning. I'm not asking you to go to the ruins."
She nodded, but her eyes signaled she wouldn't drop her questions. They turned toward the herb gardens, where Li Wei hoped to find Chen Yu—his "ears" might have intel on Wang Zi's moves. The System noted: Chance of meeting Chen Yu: 60%.
At the garden beds, Li Wei spotted a familiar figure munching on fruit. Chen Yu, seeing them, choked and waved frantically. "Brother! You're alive!" He ran over, glancing around. "Heard you took down Wang Zi in the hall! Everyone's talking about it!"
Li Wei frowned, gesturing for him to lower his voice. "Didn't take him down, just survived," he corrected. "What do you know about Wang Zi? Is he plotting something?"
Chen Yu hushed his voice, his eyes darting. "Oh, brother, he's furious. Word is, he bribed a couple of guards to tail you. And…" He hesitated, "there's talk he's digging into records about ruins. Seems he thinks you hid something there."
Li Wei felt a chill. Wang Zi was closer than he'd thought. Two days until Elder Liu's deadline, and his enemy was breathing down his neck. He knew his next move had to be precise—or everything would collapse.
Part 2
Li Wei stood among the garden beds, Chen Yu's words about Wang Zi and the ruins ringing like a warning bell. Lin Xue remained silent, but her gaze was fixed on Li Wei, as if waiting for him to slip. The morning sun climbed higher, dispersing the fog, and the sect's courtyard grew busier. The System showed: Energy: 15%. Cultivation progress: Mortal Realm, Stage 2, 5%. Task "Prove your worth to the sect within three days": 30% progress. Time was tightening, and Li Wei felt the pressure mounting.
"Chen Yu," he said, lowering his voice, "who's watching me? Names, places, anything. I need to know where Wang Zi will strike."
Chen Yu glanced around nervously, fidgeting with the fruit in his hands. "Two guards," he whispered. "Huang Jia and a guy named Wei Long. They've been seen near the barracks and the forge. Wang Zi gave them spirit stones to report your every move. And…" He paused, "they say he met with someone from the inner disciples. Don't know who, but it's not just rumors."
Li Wei's brow furrowed. Inner disciples? That complicated things. If Wang Zi had secured support from the inner courtyard, his influence was growing, and Li Wei's chances of survival were shrinking. The System highlighted: Chance of inner disciple interference: 25%. Recommendation: Avoid open areas, seek a hideout for cultivation.
Lin Xue crossed her arms, her voice cold: "If Wang Zi's digging into the ruins, he knows more than you think, Li Wei. What did you find there? Don't waste my time with half-truths."
Li Wei clenched his jaw, feeling the Heavenly Shard warm under his robe. Revealing the truth risked everything, but losing her support was worse. He opted for the minimum to keep her on board. "I found traces of an old altar," he said, meeting her eyes. "There was energy that helped my cultivation. But I don't know everything. That's why I need to go back to convince Huang and Liu."
Lin Xue narrowed her eyes but nodded. "Fine. But if it's dangerous, I'm not going with you. I'll find out what Wang Zi's up to. Meet me at the forge tonight." She turned and left, her steps swift and confident.
Chen Yu exhaled, wiping sweat. "Brother, she's scary. You really going back to the ruins? There are beasts out there, and Wang Zi's probably already poking around."
Li Wei stayed silent, his thoughts circling the shard. The ruins were his only chance to find something to sway Huang—perhaps another artifact or a spirit stone. But first, he needed to restore energy and master the offensive part of Vortex of Heavenly Light. He looked at Chen Yu. "Find me a place to cultivate for an hour or two. No patrols, no Wang Zi. Can you?"
Chen Yu grinned, despite his nerves. "There's a hole behind the fields. An old dugout where workers hide wine. Not a palace, but no one goes there."
Li Wei nodded. The dugout sounded risky, but he had no choice. He followed Chen Yu, feeling Wang Zi's shadow draw closer. Two days until the deadline, and each step was like walking on thin ice.
Part 3
Li Wei and Chen Yu wove through the fields, where tall grasses hid them from prying eyes. The midday sun intensified the heat, amplifying Li Wei's fatigue, but he couldn't afford rest. The Heavenly Shard warmed his skin under his robe, and the Vortex of Heavenly Light and Stellar Wind Flow scrolls reminded him of his urgent task. The System showed: Energy: 14%. Cultivation progress: Mortal Realm, Stage 2, 7%. Task "Prove your worth to the sect within three days": 35% progress. Wang Zi and his spies were close, and Li Wei felt time slipping like sand.
Chen Yu stopped at an overgrown hill, where a low entrance to a dugout was concealed under tree roots. He pushed aside branches, revealing a wooden hatch, and grinned. "Here it is, brother. Not a palace, but dry and quiet. Just smells of wine and mold."
Li Wei squinted, inspecting the entrance. The System highlighted: Chance of danger: 10%. Recommendation: Check the dugout before entering. He descended first, ducking under the low ceiling. The interior was cramped, reeking of dampness and sour alcohol, but showed no signs of recent visitors. Shelves with dusty bottles and an old straw mattress were the only furnishings. It was a perfect hideout—or a trap if Chen Yu had misjudged.
"Stand guard at the entrance," Li Wei said, settling on the mattress. "If anyone comes, shout."
Chen Yu nodded, taking position by the hatch. Li Wei pulled out the Vortex of Heavenly Light scroll and the Heavenly Shard, beginning to breathe to the technique's rhythm. He focused on the offensive part—a swirling wave that could repel enemies. The shard amplified the flow, and Li Wei felt energy spiral in his chest, ready to erupt. The System updated: "Vortex of Heavenly Light" technique: 40%. Cultivation progress: 10%.
Cultivation went smoothly, but thoughts of Wang Zi's ruin searches gnawed at him. If Wang Zi found something valuable, it would bolster his standing with the elders, leaving Li Wei with nothing. He recalled Lin Xue's words: she'd uncover Wang Zi's plans, but her curiosity about the shard was a ticking bomb.
Chen Yu suddenly hissed, "Li Wei, hush! Someone's coming. Two, with a lantern."
Li Wei froze, hiding the shard and scroll. The System highlighted: Chance of detection: 40%. Recommendation: Prepare for escape or combat. He crept to the entrance, peering through a slit. Two figures in gray robes moved through the field, their voices low. Li Wei recognized one—Huang Jia, Wang Zi's spy. The other was unfamiliar, but his robe had a silver trim, marking him as an inner disciple.
"Damn," Li Wei whispered. An inner disciple? It confirmed his worst fears. He turned to Chen Yu. "Is there another way out?"
Chen Yu shook his head, his face pale. "Just this one. If we run, they'll see us."
Li Wei clenched his fists, feeling the Heavenly Shard heat up. Fighting was suicide, but waiting wasn't an option either. He had to either distract them or risk everything with Vortex of Heavenly Light. Time for a choice was running out with each step the figures took toward the dugout.
Part 4
Li Wei pressed against the damp wall of the dugout, listening to the footsteps of Huang Jia and the inner disciple nearing the entrance. Their lantern cast shadows through the hatch's slits, and Huang Jia's sharp, nervous voice echoed in the silence: "I'm sure he's around here. Wang Zi said Li Wei's hiding like a rat."
The inner disciple replied coldly, his tone commanding: "If you're wrong, Huang Jia, Wang Zi won't be pleased. Check quickly."
Li Wei gripped the Heavenly Shard, feeling its warmth pulse in his palm. The System showed: Energy: 12%. Chance of detection: 50%. "Vortex of Heavenly Light" technique: 42%. Chen Yu trembled beside him, his eyes wide with panic. Li Wei gestured for silence, weighing his options. Fighting an inner disciple was suicide, and escaping through the only exit meant getting caught. The System highlighted: Recommendation: Create a distraction or use probability manipulation.
Probability manipulation was on cooldown, so Li Wei scanned the dugout. The shelves of wine bottles sparked an idea. He grabbed one, whispering to Chen Yu, "When I signal, push the hatch and run to the forest. Don't look back."
Chen Yu nodded, though he looked ready to faint. Li Wei crept to the entrance, clutching the bottle. He hurled it into the dugout's far corner, and the glass shattered with a loud crash, splashing wine. The stench of alcohol filled the air, and the footsteps outside halted.
"There!" Huang Jia shouted, and Li Wei heard them rush toward the hill. He signaled Chen Yu, who shoved the hatch open and tumbled out. Li Wei followed, activating Wind Step for a quick dash. His energy dropped to 8%, but he dove into the undergrowth, hearing Huang Jia yell, "They're running! Grab them!"
Chen Yu sprinted ahead, his legs a blur of panic. Li Wei glanced back, seeing the inner disciple, his robe billowing, gaining speed. His aura was stronger than Wang Zi's—possibly Spiritual Realm. The System highlighted: Chance of escape: 45%. Recommendation: Use terrain for cover.
They plunged into the forest, where dense trees offered a chance to lose pursuit. Li Wei pushed Chen Yu into a ravine, pressing himself to the ground. The inner disciple stopped nearby, his voice cold: "Li Wei, I know you're here. Come out, or I'll find you."
Li Wei held his breath, clutching the shard. He felt its energy quiver, ready to surge through Vortex of Heavenly Light. Chen Yu whispered, barely audible, "Brother, we're done for…"
But Li Wei noticed a stream nearby. Water could mask their scent and tracks. He pointed to it, whispering, "Crawl there. Quietly."
They crept toward the stream as the inner disciple and Huang Jia searched the undergrowth. The System updated: Chance of escape: 55%. Li Wei knew this was a temporary reprieve. Wang Zi and his new ally were too close, and with two days left until Elder Liu's deadline melting away, he needed to find Lin Xue and decide how to use the ruins before Wang Zi outmaneuvered him.
Part 5
Li Wei and Chen Yu slid through wet grass toward the stream, careful not to rustle leaves. The footsteps of Huang Jia and the inner disciple echoed nearby, their lantern flickering between trees. The Heavenly Shard under Li Wei's robe warmed his skin, and the scrolls weighed down his belt, reminding him of his mission. The System showed: Energy: 7%. Cultivation progress: Mortal Realm, Stage 2, 10%. Task "Prove your worth to the sect within three days": 40% progress. Wang Zi and his inner court ally were too close, and Li Wei knew another escape was merely a delay.
They reached the stream, where cold water muffled their steps. Li Wei signaled Chen Yu to move downstream, crouching behind rocks. The System highlighted: Chance of escape: 60%. Recommendation: Use the stream to mask tracks. Huang Jia shouted from behind, "They can't have gone far! Check the forest!"
But the inner disciple's cold, confident voice made Li Wei tense: "Li Wei, I sense your energy. You can't hide."
Li Wei gritted his teeth, feeling the Heavenly Shard pulse. His energy was too low for Vortex of Heavenly Light, and Wind Step would drain his last reserves. He whispered to Chen Yu, "If they spot us, run to the forge. Find Lin Xue. I'll hold them off."
Chen Yu nodded, his face gray with fear, but he crawled on. Li Wei spotted reeds ahead, offering cover. They dove into them, pressing to the ground. The inner disciple's lantern passed a meter away, and Li Wei held his breath, praying they wouldn't be detected. The System flashed: Chance of detection: 30%.
The light moved away, and the voices faded. Li Wei exhaled but didn't relax. He knew Wang Zi wasn't acting alone now, and the inner disciple was a new level of threat. Lin Xue was supposed to uncover Wang Zi's plans, but their meeting at the forge wasn't until evening. Li Wei looked at Chen Yu, who shivered but held steady.
"Brother," Chen Yu whispered, "that inner disciple… he's not messing around. If he's with Wang Zi, you need a better plan than running."
"I know," Li Wei replied, wiping sweat. "I need to return to the ruins. There's something there to convince Huang and Liu. But first, I have to restore energy."
He pulled out the Vortex of Heavenly Light scroll, deciding to risk cultivating here by the stream. The reeds provided cover, and the water muffled sounds. He began breathing, channeling the shard's warmth into the vortex. Energy slowly climbed: Energy: 10%. "Vortex of Heavenly Light" technique: 45%. But every rustle in the forest reminded him Wang Zi was near. Li Wei knew the evening meeting with Lin Xue would be pivotal. It would either bring the key to Wang Zi's plans or force a new choice—trust her fully or head to the ruins alone. The System updated: Task "Prove your worth to the sect": 45% progress. Two days were turning into one, and Li Wei felt the noose tightening.