The sun hung high. Heat pressed down like a heavy hand. Huoyan wiped sweat from his brow. The scar stung under the salt.
Patrol ended at noon. Fatty Wang clapped him on the shoulder. Hard enough to jolt.
"Good work, new guy. No incidents. Elder Wang might not whip you today."
Huoyan nodded. Voice even.
"Appreciate it."
Fatty Wang grinned. Yellow teeth. "Lunch break. One hour. Mess hall or your bunk. Don't be late for afternoon shift. West wall this time."
Huoyan watched him waddle off. Then turned toward the mess hall.
Crowd thicker now. Disciples in lines. Outer guards mixed with them. Bowls clinked. Steam rose.
He joined the queue. Bowl in hand. No rush. Observed.
Server was an old woman. Wrinkled hands. Sharp eyes. Ladled rice. One scoop. Sometimes two if you smiled nice.
Huoyan didn't smile. Just held the bowl steady.
She scooped. One portion. Paused. Looked at the scar. The red hair. Eyes narrowed.
"New face. Don't cause trouble."
Huoyan met her gaze. Calm.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
She huffed. Added a second scoop. Small one. But extra.
He took it. Walked to a corner table. Sat alone.
Rice hot. Grains plump. Qi pulsed faint in each bite. He ate slow. Savored. No hurry.
Around him chatter. Disciples complained about elders. Guards bragged about small fights. One girl laughed loud. Voice like bells. Huoyan glanced.
Not Mei Ling. Another. Round face. Bright eyes. Blue robes loose. Laughing with friends.
Jade beauty: 7/10. Easy target maybe. Later.
He finished. Bowl clean. Qi settled warm in dantian.
[Spirit Rice Consumed: +0.12% toward Layer 2. Total progress: 0.35%.]
Better than nothing.
He stood. Left the hall. Headed toward west wall. But not direct.
Detour. Small path behind the herb garden. Shaded. Quiet.
Huoyan walked slow. Boots silent on dirt. Eyes scanned.
Women's quarters ahead. High walls. Illusion mist. But from this angle – a gap. Low hedge. Steam rising over it.
Bathhouse.
Water sounds. Splashes. Soft voices. Female. Giggling.
Huoyan stopped behind a thick tree. Trunk wide. Covered him.
He leaned out. Just enough.
Steam curled up. White. Thick. Forms moved inside. Silhouettes. Curves. Long hair wet. Robes hung on racks outside. Blue silk. Damp.
One girl stepped out. Towel around body. Hair dripping. Skin pale. Glowing from hot spring qi.
Huoyan watched. Breath slow.
Lee cataloged: Mid-teens. Outer disciple. Average build. Face hidden by hair. But body – promising.
She disappeared back in.
Another emerged. Taller. Slim. Mei Ling?
No. Different. Sword scar on arm. Probably fighter type.
Huoyan stayed still. Heart steady. No rush of blood. Just cold calculation.
Entry points: side gate locked. Window high. Hedge climbable. But formations. Probably alarm if crossed wrong.
He noted weak spot. A loose board near the hedge. Small gap. Enough for eyes. Maybe hand.
Later. Night. When guards thin.
For now – watch.
Voices floated.
"...Elder said the river qi is stronger this month..."
"...Junior Sister Mei is breaking through soon..."
Huoyan smirked. Mei Ling breakthrough. Good timing. Weakness during tribulation. Opportunity.
A twig snapped behind him.
Huoyan turned slow.
Little Chen from the herb garden. Basket in arms. Eyes wide. Face pale.
"Y-you... Huoyan Shagua?"
Huoyan stepped away from the tree. Casual.
"Herb picking?"
Little Chen swallowed. Nodded frantic.
"Moonflower needs shade. I... I didn't see anything."
Huoyan looked at him. Long moment.
Then smiled. Scar twisted.
"Good. Keep it that way."
Little Chen nodded faster. Bolted past. Basket shaking.
Huoyan watched him go.
Blackmail material? Maybe. Kid scared easy.
He turned back to the path. Afternoon shift starting soon.
West wall. More patrol. More boredom.
But the seed planted.
Bathhouse scouted.
Plans forming.
He walked on. Red hair catching sun. Lemon-green eyes sharp.
Grind continued.
But the fun edged closer.
Huoyan reached the west wall just as the afternoon bell rang. Deep tone rolled across the sect. Guards already in position. Spears glinting in sunlight.
Fatty Wang waved him over. Sweat rings under arms. "You're late by two minutes. Lucky Elder Wang is napping."
Huoyan took his spot. Back against stone. Spear borrowed from the rack – plain iron. Heavy. But balanced.
"West wall quieter," Fatty Wang said. "No river view. Just trees and outer fields. Boring. But safe."
Huoyan nodded. Eyes forward. Scanning.
The wall curved gentle. Low sections here. Vines crept up stone. Formations weaker on this side. Blue lines faint. Flickering like dying candles.
He noted it. Easy climb if needed. Escape route. Or entry.
Patrol started. Slow walk along the top. Boots thudded on wide stone path. Wind hot. Dust in mouth.
Disciples below trained in open field. Sword forms. Palm strikes. Qi flashes. Small bursts. Layer 2, Layer 3 mostly. Nothing impressive.
Huoyan watched one boy. Thin. Sweaty. Sword swung wide. Missed the dummy. Fell on ass.
Fatty Wang chuckled. "That's Little Zhao. Been stuck at Layer 3 for two years. Pills too expensive. Talent too low."
Huoyan said nothing. Talent. Pills. Resources. The real game.
They passed a guard tower. Small. Wooden. One guard inside. Dozing.
Fatty Wang kicked the door. "Wake up, Old Liu!"
Old Liu jolted. Drool on chin. "What? Nothing happened!"
Fatty Wang laughed. "Keep it that way."
Huoyan glanced inside. Small cot. Table. One jade slip glowing. Communication talisman maybe.
File it. Could be useful.
Patrol continued. Sun dipped lower. Shadows lengthened.
Halfway around, a small side path branched off. Toward the women's quarters again. Hedge visible. Steam still rising faint.
Huoyan slowed pace. Let Fatty Wang pull ahead a few steps.
He leaned over the wall edge. Just a look.
More silhouettes now. Afternoon bath time. Girls washing hair. Splashing. Laughter clearer.
One stood up in the shallow pool. Water to waist. Towel loose. Back turned. Long hair wet. Skin smooth. Glowing from spirit spring qi.
Huoyan stared. Lee assessed. Body perfect. Curves right. Face hidden. But posture – confident. Inner disciple level.
She turned slight. Profile caught. Mei Ling.
Yes.
Hair pinned half-up. Lips parted in laugh. Talking to friend.
Huoyan felt the pull. Not lust exactly. Calculation. Breakthrough soon. Weak during it. Dual cultivation if timed right. Qi boost massive.
Or poison. Steal her pills. Whatever worked.
Fatty Wang called back. "Oi! Huoyan! Don't daydream. Move!"
Huoyan pushed off the edge. Caught up.
Fatty Wang squinted. "You staring at the bathhouse?"
Huoyan shrugged. "Scouting. Anomalies."
Fatty Wang barked laugh. "Anomalies with tits? Careful. Last guard who peeped got castrated by Elder Mei. Literally."
Huoyan smirked. "Noted."
They kept walking.
Sun lower. Orange light. Shadows deep.
No incidents. No beasts. No thieves.
Just heat. Sweat. Slow grind.
Qi circulated passive with each step. Inhale. Exhale. Meridians warm.
[Passive Qi Gathering: +0.06%. Total toward Layer 2: 0.41%.]
Small. But climbing.
Shift ended at dusk. Bell rang again.
Fatty Wang clapped shoulder. "Good day. Rest up. Night shift tomorrow for you. Alone. Test of character."
Huoyan nodded.
Walked back to barracks. Alone this time.
Courtyard lamps lit. Soft yellow. Disciples heading to evening classes. Some to baths.
Huoyan paused near the hedge path. Looked.
Steam thinner now. Voices quieter. Last bathers leaving.
He filed the timing. Evening best. Less people. Guards rotating.
He continued to dorm.
Bunk waiting. Mat thin. But familiar now.
He sat. Cross-legged. Breathed deep.
Qi flowed. Dantian warmer. Red tinge faint under skin.
Plans turned in head.
Bathhouse tonight? Too soon. Risky.
Wait. Build more.
But the itch was there.
Grind slow.
Fun building.