Dawn came with the gentle chiming of the compound's spiritual formation—a pleasant awakening that regulated the sleep cycles of everyone within the Lin family grounds. Moxuan opened his eyes feeling genuinely refreshed for the first time since his rebirth, his body finally beginning to adapt to the careful cultivation adjustments he had been making.
His spiritual energy had increased noticeably overnight. Not dramatically enough to raise suspicions, but sufficient to confirm that his modified techniques were working exactly as planned. The key was patience—allowing his body to naturally integrate the improvements rather than forcing rapid advancement that might damage his foundation or alert observant family members.
Two and a half weeks until the tournament, he calculated as he performed his morning stretching routine. At this rate of progress, I should reach the peak of Qi Condensation with several days to spare. The question is whether I can manage it while appearing to struggle appropriately.
A soft knock interrupted his planning. "Young Master Moxuan?" It was Xiao Mei, one of the younger servants. "Your sister requests your presence in the garden. She says it's urgent."
Urgent? Yuehua was not given to dramatics or exaggeration. If she considered something urgent, it generally was. Moxuan quickly dressed in his practice robes and made his way to the family's cultivation garden—a carefully maintained space where spiritual herbs grew alongside more mundane plants, all tended by formations that optimized qi concentration and growth rates.
He found Yuehua kneeling beside one of the spirit grass beds, her expression troubled as she examined something among the plants. Her cultivation aura was subtly agitated, suggesting she had discovered something that genuinely disturbed her.
"What's wrong?" he asked, settling down beside her.
"Look at this," she said quietly, gesturing toward a patch of Moonlight Grass—a common spiritual herb used in basic cultivation pills. "Something's been draining the plants' spiritual energy. Systematically. The formations haven't detected anything wrong, but I can sense the difference."
Moxuan's blood went cold. In his previous life, he had never learned about this incident—probably because he had been too self-absorbed to notice or care about garden maintenance. But the implications were immediately clear to his experienced perspective.
Someone else was practicing energy absorption techniques on the family property. Someone skilled enough to avoid triggering the detection formations that protected the compound.
This changes everything, he realized with growing alarm. Either there's another cultivator here with knowledge of advanced techniques, or...
"How long have you noticed this?" he asked carefully, his mind racing through possibilities.
"Three days, maybe four," Yuehua replied. "At first I thought it might be natural variation—plants go through cycles, after all. But the pattern is too consistent. Something is definitely drawing energy from them during the night hours."
Four days. Which meant the energy drain had started shortly after his own rebirth, possibly even the same night he had begun his experimental techniques. The timing was far too convenient to be coincidental.
"Have you told father about this?" he asked.
"Not yet. I wanted to be certain before raising an alarm. False accusations of infiltration are serious matters—they can damage relationships with allied families and sect partners." She looked at him with the kind of direct gaze that had always made Yuehua difficult to lie to. "Brother, you've been spending more time in the garden lately. Have you noticed anything unusual?"
She suspects me, he realized with a mixture of admiration and concern. Not of being an infiltrator, but of knowing more than I'm revealing. Her observation skills are much sharper than I ever credited her in my previous life.
This was a crucial moment. How he handled Yuehua's suspicions would set the tone for their relationship going forward. He could deflect, lie outright, or attempt a careful mixture of truth and misdirection.
"I have noticed some things," he said slowly, choosing his words with extreme care. "But I don't think it's an infiltrator."
"Then what?"
"I think it might be me."
The admission hung in the air between them like a drawn blade. Yuehua's eyes widened, but she didn't immediately respond—a sign that she was processing the implications rather than simply reacting emotionally.
"You?" she said finally. "But brother, you don't know any energy absorption techniques. The family cultivation methods are all based on natural accumulation and refinement."
Here we go, Moxuan thought. Time to walk the tightrope between truth and deception.
"I've been experimenting," he said, allowing a note of embarrassment to enter his voice. "You know how frustrated I've been with my slow progress. I found some references to supplementary techniques in the library scrolls—methods for drawing spiritual energy from environmental sources to supplement meditation."
It was a perfect blend of truth and fiction. The family library did contain references to such techniques, though they were buried in historical accounts of demonic cultivation and marked with warnings about their dangers. A desperate young cultivator might reasonably attempt to adapt them into something safer.
"Brother!" Yuehua's voice carried genuine alarm. "Those techniques are dangerous! The scrolls specifically warn against attempting them without proper supervision."
"I know, I know," he said quickly, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "But I've been extremely careful. Just tiny amounts, and only from plants that can spare the energy. I never intended to cause noticeable damage."
Yuehua studied him with the kind of intense scrutiny that made him grateful for his decades of experience in deception. Her spiritual senses were probing his emotional state, testing for signs of spiritual contamination or instability that might indicate dangerous cultivation practices.
She's more skilled than I realized, he noted with growing respect. That's not casual observation—she's performing a formal assessment of my spiritual condition. Someone taught her diagnostic techniques well above her apparent cultivation level.
"You don't show signs of qi deviation or spiritual contamination," she said finally, though her tone remained concerned. "But brother, these techniques are forbidden for good reasons. Even small amounts of improperly absorbed energy can cause foundation damage over time."
"I understand the risks," he replied. "But Yuehua, I'm seventeen years old and still at the third level of Qi Condensation. At this rate, I'll never qualify for sect training or amount to anything more than a burden to the family. Sometimes risks are necessary."
The raw honesty in his voice wasn't feigned—those frustrations were exactly what his original self had felt, and what had eventually driven him toward increasingly desperate measures. Yuehua's expression softened as she recognized the genuine emotion behind his words.
"Oh, brother," she said quietly. "Is that really how you see yourself? As a burden?"
"Isn't it obvious?" he replied with bitter self-deprecation. "Shaoheng advances steadily and earns praise from visiting elders. You breakthrough to new levels every few months and show natural talent with sword cultivation. I meditate for hours and barely manage to maintain my current level, let alone advance."
"But you have been advancing," Yuehua pointed out. "Your spiritual energy is noticeably stronger than it was a week ago. Father commented on it just yesterday."
Did he now? Moxuan filed that information away for future consideration. If Lin Tianming was paying close attention to his cultivation progress, he would need to be even more careful about the rate of his advancement.
"Some improvement, yes," he acknowledged. "But not enough to matter in the long term. The tournament is in two and a half weeks, and I need to reach peak Qi Condensation to even qualify. At my normal rate of progress, that would take months."
Yuehua was quiet for a long moment, clearly wrestling with conflicting impulses. Finally, she spoke with the kind of careful deliberation that suggested she was about to share something significant.
"Brother, can you keep a secret?"
Interesting, he thought. She's about to reveal something she hasn't told the rest of the family. This could be valuable intelligence.
"Of course," he said immediately.
"I haven't been entirely honest about my cultivation progress either," she admitted. "The breathing exercises you taught me last week? They're not just helpful—they're extraordinary. My advancement rate has nearly doubled since I started using them."
Moxuan's mind raced. The breathing exercises he had shared with Yuehua were advanced foundation techniques disguised as basic improvements—methods that should have shown gradual benefits over months, not immediate dramatic results.
"That's... more effective than I expected," he said carefully.
"Brother, where did you really learn these techniques?" Yuehua asked directly. "They're not derived from anything in our family library. I've checked. The theoretical framework is completely different from our traditional methods."
She's been conducting independent research, he realized with growing admiration. Not just practicing what I taught her, but analyzing the underlying principles and comparing them to established techniques. My little sister is far more intellectually curious than anyone in the family realizes.
"You've been investigating cultivation theory?" he asked, deflecting while gathering more information about her capabilities.
"Of course I have. Did you think I was just blindly following instructions without understanding what they were supposed to accomplish?" She gave him a look that was equal parts affection and exasperation. "I may be younger, but I'm not stupid."
No, he thought with a mixture of pride and concern. You're definitely not stupid. Which makes you potentially very useful and potentially very dangerous.
"The techniques are adaptations," he said finally. "Combinations of traditional methods with theoretical improvements I developed through study and experimentation. Some of the foundation work comes from historical accounts of ancient cultivation schools."
"Ancient schools?" Yuehua's interest was immediately piqued. "Which ones? I've read most of the historical sections in the library, but I don't remember anything that matches the energy circulation patterns you showed me."
Of course you don't, he thought wryly. Because they're derived from demonic cultivation principles that no righteous family would include in their basic library collection.
"Scattered references in multiple sources," he replied vaguely. "It took considerable cross-referencing to piece together complete techniques. That's part of why I've been so focused on my studies lately."
Yuehua nodded slowly, clearly not entirely satisfied with the explanation but willing to accept it for the moment. "Well, whatever their origin, they work remarkably well. But brother, if you're experimenting with energy absorption on top of advanced breathing techniques, you need to be extremely careful about interaction effects."
"Interaction effects?"
"Different cultivation methods can interfere with each other if they're not properly harmonized," she explained with the kind of confident authority that suggested considerable theoretical knowledge. "Especially when one involves external energy sources. The spiritual signatures might conflict and cause foundation instabilities."
She's absolutely right, Moxuan realized with growing respect. That's advanced cultivation theory—the kind of knowledge that most cultivators don't learn until Core Formation level. How does a fifteen-year-old girl at the third level of Qi Condensation know about technique harmonization principles?
"You seem to know quite a bit about advanced cultivation theory," he observed.
Yuehua looked slightly embarrassed. "I've been... supplementing my education. Old Chen has been answering questions when I help him with garden maintenance. He knows much more about cultivation principles than he usually lets on."
Old Chen again, Moxuan noted. Every conversation seems to circle back to our mysterious head servant. I need to have a more serious investigation into exactly who he is and what his true role in this household might be.
"What kind of questions?"
"Technical things. Energy circulation patterns, spiritual formation theory, the relationship between cultivation methods and spiritual root characteristics." She paused, then added quietly, "He says I have an unusual aptitude for theoretical analysis. That I should consider focusing on formation mastery or alchemical studies rather than just sword cultivation."
Remarkable, Moxuan thought. Old Chen has been providing her with advanced education while maintaining his cover as a simple servant. Which means either he's genuinely devoted to the family's development, or he has his own agenda that benefits from having well-educated young cultivators in the household.
"That's valuable guidance," he said. "Formation mastery is a rare skill that opens many opportunities."
"Yes, but it also requires extensive mathematical knowledge and theoretical study. Not the path most families encourage for their daughters." Her expression darkened slightly. "Especially with marriage negotiations likely to begin soon."
Marriage negotiations? The phrase hit him like a physical blow. In his previous life, he had been vaguely aware that Yuehua would eventually be married to strengthen family alliances, but he had never paid attention to the specific timeline.
"Soon?" he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.
"Father hasn't said anything directly, but I've overheard conversations with mother about 'suitable matches' and 'strengthening relationships with allied families.' Given my age and cultivation level, it's probably inevitable within the next year or two."
The casual resignation in her voice was heartbreaking. In his previous life, Moxuan had accepted such arrangements as natural parts of cultivation world politics—useful tools for building power and influence. Now, seeing his sister's quiet acceptance of a future that would likely end her scholarly pursuits and possibly her life, he felt something he hadn't experienced in either lifetime: protective fury.
Not if I can help it, he decided with cold determination. This time, Yuehua gets to choose her own path. Even if I have to reshape the entire political landscape to make it possible.
"You don't have to accept whatever arrangement they propose," he said quietly.
"Don't I?" she replied with a sad smile. "Brother, we're a minor branch of a secondary family. Our value to more powerful groups comes primarily through marriage alliances and political connections. Individual preferences are luxuries we can't afford."
"Maybe not yet," he admitted. "But circumstances can change. If our family's position improved significantly—if we gained resources or influence that made us valuable partners rather than dependent clients—then individual preferences become much more relevant to negotiations."
Yuehua studied him with the kind of sharp attention that made him wonder how much of his true thoughts were visible to her perceptive gaze. "Brother, you're talking about major changes in our family's standing. That kind of advancement would require either extraordinary cultivation achievements or significant political maneuvering. Probably both."
"Probably," he agreed. "But not impossibly. The tournament is an opportunity to make connections and demonstrate capability. Success there could open doors to resources and training opportunities that don't currently exist."
"And you think you can achieve that level of success?" she asked directly. "Even with your experimental techniques, reaching tournament-competitive cultivation in two weeks seems... optimistic."
If you only knew, he thought with internal amusement. But you're right to be skeptical. From your perspective, what I'm proposing does sound impossibly ambitious.
"Maybe not this tournament," he admitted. "But success doesn't always mean winning. Sometimes it means performing well enough to be noticed by the right people, or making connections that prove valuable later."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, both lost in thought. The morning sun had climbed higher, warming the garden and bringing out the subtle fragrances of the various spiritual herbs. It was the kind of peaceful moment that Moxuan had never taken time to appreciate in his previous life.
"Brother," Yuehua said finally, "whatever techniques you're using, whatever risks you're taking—please be careful. I don't want to lose you to cultivation deviation or spiritual contamination."
"I'll be careful," he promised, meaning it more than she could know. "And Yuehua? Whatever happens with marriage negotiations or family politics—you're not powerless. Keep studying, keep improving, and when the time comes, we'll find a way to ensure you have real choices."
She looked at him with surprise and something that might have been hope. "You really mean that, don't you?"
"I do."
"Then I have a proposal," she said with sudden decisiveness. "If you're going to continue experimenting with dangerous techniques, let me help. I can monitor your spiritual condition for signs of contamination, and I might be able to suggest harmonization methods to reduce the risks."
Absolutely not, was his immediate instinctive response. Too dangerous, too likely to expose secrets that would raise uncomfortable questions.
But then he reconsidered. Yuehua had already demonstrated remarkable perception, theoretical knowledge, and investigative skills. She suspected him of experimental cultivation techniques anyway. Most importantly, she had genuine expertise in areas where his own knowledge was limited—his demonic cultivation background had focused on power accumulation rather than the kind of careful foundation work that prevented long-term damage.
She could be valuable as an ally, he realized. And working together would give me better opportunities to guide her development and ensure her safety.
"That's... actually a very good idea," he said slowly. "But Yuehua, if we're going to do this, we need to be extremely careful about operational security. No one else can know we're experimenting with non-standard techniques."
"Of course," she agreed immediately. "This stays between us until we're certain the methods are both safe and effective."
My fifteen-year-old sister just agreed to become my cultivation research partner, Moxuan thought with a mixture of amazement and affection. In my previous life, I never realized how extraordinary she actually was. This time, I'm going to make sure she has every opportunity to reach her full potential.
"Then we have an agreement," he said formally. "Partners in advancing our cultivation and improving our family's circumstances."
"Partners," Yuehua agreed, extending her hand in the traditional gesture of alliance formation.
As they shook hands, Moxuan felt the subtle resonance of spiritual energy that indicated a genuine commitment on both sides. His little sister had just become his first real ally in this new life—and possibly the most important relationship he would build in either existence.
Two and a half weeks until the tournament, he reminded himself as they began walking back toward the main house together. But now I have help in preparing for it. And more importantly, I have someone else who's invested in ensuring our family's future success.
The game was becoming more complex, but complexity had never intimidated Lin Moxuan. If anything, having a partner who could match his strategic thinking while bringing complementary skills made victory seem more achievable than ever.
This time, he thought as Yuehua began enthusiastically discussing theoretical approaches to technique harmonization, I won't be fighting alone.