The old crone's words drew several heads around her at once.
One of them was the Twelfth Sister.
Feeling the murderous weight of her gaze, Gao Yang hurried to explain, "Master told me to hold it in my mouth—I didn't know how it got swallowed."
The crone soothed him, "Don't worry. Even Master probably didn't expect you to actually swallow the Immortal Pill."
She had coveted the Immortal Pill for a long time but had never had the chance to touch it. No alchemist could resist the pill's lure.
Until now.
Her eyes glittered. "Junior brother, remember that Blood-and-Qi Pill? I gave it to you. I have a small request for you—would you agree?"
When Gao Yang learned that the Fifth Senior Sister was an alchemist, he had already guessed she was the one who'd given him the Blood and Qi Pill.
He only didn't know why.
Grateful for having been given something, he agreed without hesitation. "Say it, Sister. If it's within my power, I'll do my best."
The woman covered her mouth and chuckled.
If a beautiful young woman laughed like that, it would have been a very different charm. But when it came from a heavily lined, sixty-year-old face, the sound lost its grace.
The Fifth Senior Sister seemed unaware. "I don't ask for much—just a little of your blood."
Of course.
Gao Yang rolled up his sleeve. "Tell me when and I'll give it."
Her fingers rested lightly on his arm, voice suddenly soft as if she were a girl of sixteen. "Then tonight—you come to my room."
Her touch, her eyes, her voice were all those of a newly come-of-age maiden. Only the face belonged to a woman in her sixties.
A chill rose along Gao Yang's skin. He masked his discomfort and was about to answer when the Twelfth Sister took a step forward.
"No!"
She planted herself between them, hostility and suspicion in her eyes. "Sister, he's coming to my room tonight—he promised me."
The Fifth Senior Sister's gaze flicked between them.
She said with thin amusement, "Thirteenth Disciple, you're still young. Twelve, don't tell me you've set your sights on him?"
The Twelfth Sister straightened her small chest and owned it. "So what if I have?"
The Fifth Senior Sister couldn't help but scold, "You've got no shame!"
Yuan Qing walked past the three, his eyes skimming Gao Yang. "Little Wu, let's go—don't make us miss morning lessons."
The Fifth Senior Sister bristled. "Second Brother, I—"
Catching Yuan Qing's look, she reluctantly followed.
Yuan Qing asked quietly, "You want his blood?"
She licked her lips. "He swallowed the Immortal Pill. At his level, he cannot possibly endure its power. Whatever reason he's still alive, that pill must remain inside him. His blood is literally immortal medicine."
Yuan Qing's pupils narrowed. "Master's Immortal Pill—he ate it?"
"I couldn't miss it," the Fifth Senior Sister said. "When Master took out the Immortal Pill, that was the scent I smelled—on him."
Yuan Qing whispered, "No wonder Master isn't here today. She must have gone to invite the Daoist Dan Yang."
The Fifth Senior Sister didn't catch the last words. "What?"
"Nothing." Yuan Qing's voice turned cold. "Be patient. You'll get his blood."
The Fifth Senior Sister glanced at him suspiciously. "Did he offend you?"
Yuan Qing didn't answer.
They entered the main hall, where thirteen meditation mats were laid out on the floor and the disciples sat one by one.
Gao Yang took the very last seat.
He looked up and saw a stone statue of an immortal crane three zhang high; its upper half swallowed by darkness so its features could not be seen.
He widened his eyes and concentrated.
His gaze seemed to pierce the dark, to pass through the cavern roof and reach the far end of the gloom.
He saw a snow-white crane, wings feathered and stained with blood, bowing its head to feed.
He couldn't make out what the crane was eating.
As he tried to sharpen the vision, the crane suddenly sensed something, lowered its head, and met Gao Yang's eyes—looking down at him from on high.
"Ah!"
A sting burned behind Gao Yang's eyes. He squeezed them shut as hot, bloody tears streamed down his face.
The dwarf sneered with cruel satisfaction. "Hah—daring to look upon an immortal! You're brazen. You're lucky you didn't go blind."
Gao Yang kept his eyes tightly shut; it took a long time for the pain to subside.
The First Senior Brother explained, "Thirteen, you must not stare at the immortals. They may not be discussed or profaned. Since this is your first offence, we will let it pass, but next time it will be three days' confinement."
Gao Yang covered his face and stared at the floor.
What had he seen just now?
The First Senior Brother finished and didn't look at Gao Yang again.
He announced loudly, "Master is out today, so I will give the lesson. Before morning class begins, we must congratulate Thirteen—he's successfully completed Foundation Building!"
The dwarf stared at Gao Yang in astonishment.
The other disciples wore the same shocked, ghostlike expressions.
The First Senior Brother continued, "Thirteen has come up from behind—those of you who haven't completed Foundation Building must work harder. Today's lesson will be on using qi.
Qi isn't only for strengthening the body; it can be emitted outward, like this."
He spread his gaunt hand and aimed his palm at the floor.
Bang!
Though his hand never touched the ground, a force sprang out and struck the floor with an explosive crack.
The First Senior Brother looked up at Gao Yang. "Thirteen, did you see that clearly?"
Gao Yang nodded thoughtfully.
The elder went on, "Emitting qi is something anyone can learn with practice. Those who haven't completed Foundation Building—after the time you've spent cultivating, you should have at least opened some meridians, yes?"
All the disciples nodded.
"Once you know how to emit qi, you can learn martial techniques. Martial arts and Dao techniques are linked and complement one another. Second Brother, demonstrate for everyone."
Yuan Qing rose, drew the broken sword at his waist, and in the blink of an eye a blade of sword-qi shot directly for Gao Yang's heart.
Gao Yang instinctively gathered his breath and rose to dodge.
A neat little hole appeared in his meditation mat.
The Twelfth Sister sprang up. "Second Brother, what do you mean by that?"
Yuan Qing said coolly, "He's completed Foundation Building. If he can't even dodge an attack like that, he might as well die."
Gao Yang's face went ashen. "Second Brother, have I offended you?"
Yuan Qing smiled and sheathed his broken sword, returning to his mat.
The First Senior Brother made no issue of it. "Alright—sisters and brothers, you can see now. This sword-qi is an example of emitted qi, a form of martial technique. It's been mixed with Dao arts to sharpen it and make it lethal."
He continued the lesson, "Qi can also be used to—"
Gao Yang kept his eyes fixed on Yuan Qing's back.
He had noted this provocation.
Seeing the Twelfth Sister fuming at his side, Gao Yang tugged her sleeve. "It's fine. Sit down."
She ground her tiny teeth in anger. "Bastard. One day I'll cut him down!"
She looked at Gao Yang and explained, "I'm not doing this for you. You still owe me a Foundation Pill. You can't die."