Chapter 5: The Best Rewards Come to Those Who Wait
Lian Yue… that name was no mere coincidence. Li Wei knew it. That young woman was the bearer of the Celestial Lotus Physique, a legendary constitution that, if used properly, could rebuild shattered meridians and grant the cultivator who possessed it the coveted Pure Yang Veins. Fate had placed before him the key to escape misery and rewrite his path… but that key was hidden behind a thousand locks.
The faint morning light filtered through the paper panels of the corridor, illuminating specks of dust that floated in the air. The faint perfume of incense thickened the silent atmosphere of the small isolation room, barely furnished with a tatami mat and a few cushions. Li Wei sat motionless in a corner, observing the scene with the cold calm of a strategist.
The young woman, unaware of his thoughts—or perhaps pretending to be—moved her hands with a natural grace as she wiped away the dust that had gathered in the room. The sound of the cloth sliding over the wood mingled with the faint aroma of the incense burning in a corner. There was a calculated order in each of her movements, as if even the placement of a bowl or the folding of a blanket followed a secret pattern only she knew. Li Wei noticed that quiet discipline; even in something as simple as cleaning, Lian Yue's determination showed through.
From his spot on the tatami, elbows resting on his knees, Li Wei watched her. His gaze wasn't that of a distracted man, but of a hunter studying the behavior of his prey. He recalled the words of his former mentor: "The hunter doesn't strike until he can foresee the prey's next step." He could not act rashly. The Celestial Physique was not a gift that could be claimed by force; it required time, precision, and above all, the will of its bearer. Forcing her would only destroy everything before it even began.
Fragments of the Kai clan's ancient chronicles echoed in his mind. Among them, the story of a patriarch, five centuries past, who had used a bearer of the same physique to reach the Ascendant Realm in less than a decade… and how that same man had fallen, betrayed by her at the height of his glory. Power and danger intertwined in a single body. The warning was not lost on him: any misstep with such a force could turn against the one who wielded it. He had to remember that always.
Lian Yue lifted her gaze and met his eyes. It was only an instant, but enough for Li Wei to see something more: a veiled distrust, like an invisible wall he would have to dismantle brick by brick.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm just trying to get to know you," he replied, his calm concealing far more than it revealed. "After all, you'll be taking care of me for three weeks."
She tilted her head slightly, as if weighing whether to believe him, then returned to her work. Li Wei smiled inwardly. Three weeks… more than enough to plant the seeds he needed, to make her approach him of her own will. He had lived too long feeling the threat of others; now he would invest his patience in a strategy of seemingly innocent trust.
He knew it would be difficult—perhaps more so than surviving the Blood Struggle. In the past, he had learned that great rewards always demanded sacrifice and perseverance. He expected nothing different in the days ahead. But he had never sought the easy path.
He averted his eyes and closed them as if meditating, but his mind was working with surgical precision. The sun was beginning to decline, and only the crackle of the braziers could be heard outside. He needed more than polite words or gestures—he had to construct a bond that seemed genuine… and at the same time, a hidden path to absolute control.
In the shadows of his memory, the answer surfaced: the Black Lotus Dream. A forbidden art of mental control which, according to forgotten texts, had been used by ancient sects to manipulate generals, concubines, and even patriarchs. With this technique, he could plant ideas, emotions, and desires into a person's mind while they slept, shaping their will without the victim ever realizing it. It wasn't mere illusion—it was a deep, invisible wound to the soul.
The problem was that the technique could not be found in the clan's open libraries. The few records that mentioned it pointed to the Pavilion of Shadows, a secret archive deep within the Ancestral Hall, accessible only to elders in charge of intelligence and the dark arts. Entering it was impossible… unless someone with the proper permissions did it for him.
His thoughts returned to Lian Yue, who at that moment was arranging a few blankets with ceremonial precision. Around her, the silence seemed denser. A plan began to take shape in his mind, as clear as a map:
First, win Mo Shang's trust enough to gain access to ancient texts under the pretext of seeking methods to strengthen his mind before the Blood Struggle.
Second, locate within those texts any fragment that could lead to the forbidden formula.
Third, secure the materials for its activation: withered lotus petals, powdered spiritual quartz, and ashes from the bones of high-level cultivators—rare, closely guarded ingredients.
He remembered a story he had heard as a child: a clan elder, more than a century ago, had used the technique to alter the will of a rival in a succession dispute. The victim lived and died never knowing that every choice he'd made had not truly been his own. That was the level of subtlety Li Wei needed.
"What are you thinking?" Lian Yue asked suddenly, noticing the persistence of his gaze.
Li Wei allowed himself the faintest of smiles, as if the question hadn't pulled him from any deep thought.
"About how to make the most of every day I have left."
She watched him a moment longer, searching for the true meaning behind his words, but soon returned to her task. Li Wei, however, kept his eyes on her. He suspected that in those few words she had already sensed something: trust was something to be cultivated carefully, but every minute mattered. Before the Blood Struggle began, he would not only train his body and nurture his meridians—he would also learn to walk in his prey's dreams, to shape her will and seal her fate. In a world of blades and poison, his weapon would be a whisper in the dark.
That night, after Lian Yue withdrew to the adjoining room and the guards closed the doors, the corridors fell into a deep silence. Li Wei remained seated, feeling the day's weight in every muscle, yet refused to give in to fatigue. The incense smoldered in the small oil lamp, its medicinal scent staining the shadows. He did not lie down to rest; instead, he closed his eyes to visualize a method he had perfected over countless hours in Celestial Dominion.
In the darkness, he relived the figure of his virtual character, mentally repeating each movement with the precision honed in that simulated world. Every breath was a memory of those late-night training sessions that had once become routine. In that virtual world, the technique had turned a weak character into a feared killer in mere weeks. Now, in the real world, it could mean the difference between life and death in the arena.
It required no vast reserves of spiritual energy—impossible in his current state—but instead used the residual flow that still moved through his damaged meridians. They called it the Iron Serpent Tempering. Simple but relentless: subject every muscle fiber to controlled tension, combining deep breaths with short bursts of force, all synchronized with the heartbeat. It wasn't immediate power he sought, but the fortification of tendons, joints, and bones until they became unbreakable.
The risk was obvious. Overexertion could destroy what little remained unbroken in his meridians. But Li Wei did not dwell on risks—only on rewards.
He rose slowly, feeling the weight of his own body as a reminder of how far he was from his former strength. He began the first set: slow, precise push-ups, inhaling deeply as he lowered his body, guiding energy through secondary channels as he pushed upward. Sweat soon dampened his forehead, yet his breathing remained steady.
As he lowered himself again, a sharp pain shot through his left shoulder, recalling an old injury. Li Wei clenched his teeth and stifled a sound, surprised by the intensity of the burn. From beyond the half-open door came the sound of a guard's footsteps, and a moment later Lian Yue appeared in the doorway carrying a pot of hot tea.
"Are you alright, Li Wei?" she asked, setting the pot gently on the floor. "It seemed like you were pushing yourself too hard."
"Yes…" he lied smoothly, "just a bad angle. Nothing important. I'm fine."
She frowned faintly, but soon nodded.
"Alright. Then rest for a moment. I'll bring water and herbs for your shoulder."
"That's not necessary," Li Wei replied quickly, straightening with care. "I can continue."
She seemed to hesitate, but eventually gave a small, resigned nod and left without another word. Li Wei dipped his head in silent thanks and relaxed the tense muscles in his arm. After a few seconds, he forced himself back into position. As he trained, his mind was already calculating: muscle tonics, rare herbs, incense… all useful for recovery, all perfect for the Black Lotus Dream. Mo Shang, eager to see him improve, would not ask too many questions if he requested them.
Three weeks… a fleeting breath. And he did not intend to waste a single moment.
When the tingling in his fingers became constant and sweat fell from him in heavy drops, he knew the method was waking dormant fibers. He stopped, drew a deep breath, and allowed himself the faintest smile.
Physical training was only the first layer.
The true strike would come in dreams—where no one could defend themselves.