The blind Senior Brother pushed the door open, the faint creak echoing through the quiet room.
His hollow, black sockets turned toward Gao Yang. "I heard Master personally helped you with your Foundation Building today. It seems you succeeded."
Gao Yang rose and cupped his hands respectfully. "Third Senior Brother."
The blind man tilted his head slightly. "My name is Liu Sheng."
The simple statement hung in the air. For a moment, Gao Yang froze, then asked with mild surprise, "After entering the Azure Mountain Sect, aren't we supposed to forget our names?"
Liu Sheng smiled faintly. "And you — have you forgotten yours?"
Gao Yang said nothing.
Liu Sheng strolled lazily about the room, his empty gaze turning toward the rainbow-colored spider perched above the desk. "Tell me, what does this room look like to you?"
Gao Yang replied, "A bed, a table — simple and clean."
Liu Sheng lifted his forefinger and middle finger, curling them toward the hollow pits where his eyes had been. "My eyes are gone. They say that after one builds their Foundation, they can see the truth of the world — yet I see less than before. Master dug out my eyes and told me to use my heart instead. Guess what I saw?"
Gao Yang stayed silent. He knew better than to answer carelessly.
Liu Sheng didn't seem to mind. Hands folded behind his back, he continued softly, "I can see everyone's fixations. Master's obsession is immortality. Senior Brother's is cultivation. The Twelfth Sister's — vengeance. But you…"
He turned, a faint smile on his lips. "I can't see yours. That makes me curious. Who are you, really?"
Gao Yang's heartbeat spiked. He couldn't hide it.
Liu Sheng's ear twitched. He chuckled lightly. "So I was right."
Gao Yang's eyes narrowed. He was already calculating his odds — if this turned into a fight, could he win?
Even the Immortal Mistress hadn't seen through him. For this blind man to do so was unsettling.
Liu Sheng waved his hand dismissively. "No need to be so tense. If I meant you harm, I'd be talking to Master, not to you."
Gao Yang muttered, "Master can hear—"
Liu Sheng raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Not now. This is my ability — I can slip myself out of the range of others' five senses. No one knows I'm here. No one will hear or remember what I say. Just listen."
Gao Yang gave a short nod.
Liu Sheng said, "You've hardly spoken since I came in. Smart. But here, being clever isn't enough. I sent you a notebook. Did you read it?"
Gao Yang hesitated, then shook his head before giving a faint nod.
Liu Sheng understood. He stepped closer and spread his fingers, pressing them against Gao Yang's head.
Gao Yang tried to resist — but couldn't move.
Liu Sheng's voice softened, carrying a strange warmth. "Don't be afraid. I'm only showing you something."
As he chanted a mantra, Gao Yang's vision split apart.
The sensation was familiar — disturbingly so.
He saw the Immortal Mistress standing before her disciples. Yet aside from the Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Liu Sheng, and the Twelfth Sister, every other figure was a pale, writhing worm with a human face.
Even though he'd braced himself, Gao Yang's complexion still shifted.
Liu Sheng's voice thundered in his mind: "See it, and remember. Cultivation is the refinement of self — not reliance on external power. Resist shortcuts. Walk steadily. Only with clear ears and open eyes can one reach immortality."
Gao Yang's vision snapped back to reality.
Liu Sheng was gone.
Even the door was closed, as though no one had ever entered.
Gao Yang's body trembled as cold sweat drenched his clothes. His breathing came rough and fast, Qi surging wildly within him.
When Liu Sheng left Gao Yang's quarters, he went straight to the Senior Brother's room.
Pushing open the door, he saw four people gathered. He smiled. "Good, everyone's here."
The Senior Brother rose. His skin darkened to pitch black, his body stretching and thinning until he loomed like a paper silhouette, enclosing the room. "I can hold this form for only one cup of tea. Speak."
Liu Sheng said evenly, "Thirteen succeeded in Foundation Building. He's one of us now — but I found no trace of worms inside him. Strange."
The Second Senior Brother, Yuan Qing, barked, "Impossible! Without worms, Foundation can't succeed. Human Dantians aren't suited for cultivation — or we'd never have become…"
"Yuan Qing," the Senior Brother warned sharply.
Yuan Qing fell silent.
Liu Sheng continued, "I'll keep investigating."
Yuan Qing shook his head. "No. Too dangerous. Four of us are enough."
The Senior Brother reminded him quietly, "Master's Tribulation is approaching."
The Twelfth Sister snorted. "Three of us are half-crippled. What do you plan to fight with — that broken sword?"
Yuan Qing's tone grew heated. "Thirteen not only took the Foundation Pill, but Master helped him herself! How do we know she didn't tamper with him?"
The Twelfth Sister sneered. "If Master knew of our plans, do you think we'd still be alive to talk about them?"
The Senior Brother's shadowy body shuddered. "Enough. Time is short. Speak plainly."
Liu Sheng said, "Another ally means another chance. I'll uncover Thirteen's truth. For now, stay apart. The next time we meet will be when the plan begins."
Yuan Qing muttered darkly, "I don't trust him. Last time he fought Old Six, he used Seven Fiends. If he leaves the Sect, he'll bring calamity. When this is over, I'll kill him."
After a moment's pause, the Senior Brother said, "Agreed."
The Twelfth Sister sighed, smiling faintly. "Shame. I rather liked him."
Liu Sheng frowned. "We'll discuss that later. Dismissed."
When the others left, the Senior Brother's shadow dissolved. His face looked pale and strained. He took a sip of water, then sat cross-legged to steady his breath.
A rustle.
He opened his eyes — and froze.
Someone else stood in the room.
Startled, he quickly bowed. "Master."
The Immortal Mistress spoke calmly. "I will be away from the Sect for a few days. You'll conduct tomorrow's lesson."
Then she vanished, dissolving into the air like a drifting breeze.
—
The next morning arrived.
Gao Yang joined the others on their way to morning class. Along the path, he saw the Fifth Senior Sister — a hunched old woman leaning on her cane.
He quickened his steps and greeted her. "Fifth Senior Sister."
The old woman sniffed the air and frowned. "Why do you smell so fragrant?"
Gao Yang sniffed himself. "Fragrant?"
Her eyes brightened with a strange hunger. She moved closer, inhaling deeply. "So sweet… what pill did you take recently?"
Gao Yang hesitated, then said, "The Blood and Qi Pill."
She shook her head. "Impossible. The Blood and Qi Pill could never smell like this. You've taken something else, haven't you?"
Her excitement grew feverish — her breathing quickened as if she could barely contain herself. "Tell me! Tell me! The scent is driving me mad!"
Her tongue shot out — long and wet like a frog's — and licked across Gao Yang's cheek.
Her face twitched with wild pleasure as she burst into manic laughter. "I know what it is! It's the Immortal Pill! Master gave her Immortal Pill to you!"