Chapter 2: The Mountain's Edge
The private quarters of Elder Enoch were silent. Heavy silk curtains swayed slightly from the morning breeze, the faint scent of incense lingering in the air. Liang Wei stepped inside, his expression calm, measured, but beneath it lay the simmering storm of his past life.
He had been granted this place long ago—a secluded mountain retreat where he could cultivate without distraction. In his previous life, Mei Lian had ensured he never came here, whispering excuses and planting doubts that kept him below the valley, slowing his progress. Every day he had lost without realizing it, every pill, every technique wasted. And now, reborn, he saw it all clearly.
Enoch looked up from his desk, brow furrowed in surprise. "Liang Wei… so soon?" he asked, voice calm but tinged with caution. "I had prepared this retreat for your cultivation. You need not rush…"
Wei's lips pressed into a thin line. He inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. "I… see, Master," he said softly. His tone was polite, but the aura around him had shifted. There was no hint of the obedient, timid disciple who had once lingered in these halls. The sharpness in his gaze, the subtle tension in his shoulders, it all signaled something new, something colder.
Enoch's eyes lingered on him, trying to read the boy's temper. It was subtle at first, but he noticed it: the restraint, the quiet confidence, the faint aura of danger that had never been there. He said nothing, though, choosing to observe. There was wisdom in silence, and sometimes the boy's transformation spoke louder than words ever could.
Wei's eyes fell on Enoch's sword, resting elegantly in its stand—a masterpiece of craftsmanship, light but lethal. He reached out slowly, lifting it and testing its weight. Every movement was deliberate, precise. His aura, faint but undeniable, pulsed like a coiled spring, ready to strike.
Enoch's gaze sharpened. Even with the deadly precision in Wei's stance, the elder did not speak, only observing. Wei's mind raced, recalling the events of his previous life—the betrayal, the assassination attempt, and the mistakes that had cost lives, including Enoch's own near-death on that very day.
A flash of thought crossed his mind. If I can show mastery of the soft cutting technique… if I make it look intentional and harmless… it could serve multiple purposes.
He moved to the curtain that separated part of the private quarters, drawing the sword with a practiced flick. With a precise, fluid motion, he sliced the silk, the blade whispering through the air with a faint, deadly hiss.
Whoosh.
Blood spattered faintly on the floor, catching the light in a horrifying arc. Wei's heart thumped sharply, not with fear, but with recognition. This was the scene of the previous life's tragedy—the day Enoch had been mortally threatened. Only now, the details crystallized: the assassin's blade had grazed the elder's shoulder; the timing, the chaos, everything had been near-fatal.
Wei knelt instinctively, checking the motion of the blade, the angle, the result. He noted every detail, every potential hazard, every opportunity. This was not just a test—it was preparation.
Enoch's reaction was subtle but instantaneous. His hand twitched toward the sword at his side, but he held back. His eyes narrowed slightly. The boy is not recklessly attacking. There is intent… control… restraint…
Wei straightened, lowering the sword. "Master," he said smoothly, his tone light, "I wished to demonstrate mastery of the soft cutting technique. To show that I can strike precisely without harming the target, even in close quarters."
Enoch studied him carefully, eyes lingering on the blade, then back to Wei's calm face. He said nothing of the blood or the previous life's shadows. Instead, he inclined his head slightly, as if granting silent approval. "I see," he said. "Your control is… precise. Very well."
Inside, Wei allowed himself a brief, almost imperceptible smile. No one must ever know the truth of what I remembered, or what I felt. Every action, every word had to maintain appearances. Enoch would never suspect that Liang Wei's rebirth had reshaped his very purpose.
The tension in the room relaxed slightly, though the undercurrent remained. Enoch gestured toward the window, the mountains visible beyond. "Come. I will personally escort you to your retreat. The mountain's air and isolation will suit your training better than the valley below."
Wei followed silently, noting the precision of every step, the subtle shift in Enoch's aura. Even now, the elder's movements betrayed slight unease, though he hid it well. Wei did not comment. He did not need to. The silence carried meaning enough.
Outside, the wind tugged at Wei's hair as they ascended the mountain path. Sunlight flickered through the trees, the air crisp, the world quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves. He noted every detail—the angles of the cliffs, the stability of the steps, the potential vantage points for observation. Every memory, every calculation, served the singular goal: to rise stronger than he ever had in the past life.
From below, Zhao Rui watched. The older brother's eyes narrowed as he observed Wei and Enoch's close proximity, the elder personally guiding his younger disciple. Rage flickered across Zhao Rui's features. He stormed toward Mei Lian, his expression stormy, fists clenching. "You—how could you let him go there?!" he demanded, voice sharp, trembling with both fury and disbelief.
Mei Lian's eyes widened, mouth opening in a gasp. "I… I didn't—"
But Zhao Rui would not wait for an explanation. The anger in his steps, the tension in his shoulders, left no room for words. His fury was palpable, charged, and inevitable.
High on the mountain, Wei did not notice. His mind was focused, the system humming faintly in his chest, guiding him toward observation, calculation, and preparation. This path was his alone, and nothing in the valley below could touch him.
System Notification:Task Update: Begin secluded cultivation training. Observe rivals. Prepare for strategic advantage.
Rewards: Accelerated cultivation, insight into human behavior, tactical mastery.
Wei's lips curved into a faint smile, cold and calculated. The path ahead was clear. The mistakes of the past life, the betrayals, the near-death of his master—all would serve as fuel. Every step, every movement, every breath would be measured, precise, and directed toward one goal: mastery, revenge, and dominion over all who had wronged him.
The mountain stretched before him, silent and eternal, and for the first time since his rebirth, Liang Wei felt the full weight of the system's promise. This was not a game of chance. This was strategy, patience, and power crystallized into reality.