One week had passed since the meeting at the Winter Palace.On the plateau of Four Rivers Mountain—
"We're almost there. Come on," Wang Tao said, hopeful.
In front of him, Wei Lian was sitting with his back turned.His dark hair, longer than most disciples', was damp with sweat and stuck to his forehead from intense concentration. His slender body trembled slightly—not from weakness, but from the excess Qi he was struggling to control.
Wang Tao watched in silence.
He had always found it curious how Wei Lian seemed… undefined.It wasn't just his delicate build, nor his features that were too soft to be called rough. It was as if he existed somewhere between the categories people insisted on using.
Wel...Wei Lian was… Wei Lian.
And at that moment, he was about to become a cultivator.
Qi gathered intensely around him.The pressure rose.His body trembled.
And then… crack.
"Finally!" Wei Lian stood up, delighted.
After a long week, he had finally caught up to his fellow disciples of the sect.He had entered the Qi Absorption Realm. He was officially a cultivator.
"Congratulations, little brother Wei," Wang Tao said with a smile.
Moments with his fellow disciples made him forget the torment in his mind.There were still four days until the assassination, and only in moments like this could he truly relax.
"I owe it to you, senior brother Wang." Wei Lian bowed as usual, though he couldn't hide the excitement in his voice.
Since Sai's last lesson, both Yan Li and Wei Lian had been trying to open their nine chakras.
Yan Li had been the first to break through, the very next day after the lesson. Since then, she had spent her time either painting or studying the manual she had been given.
Wei Lian had struggled more. New to the world of cultivation, he had to read and reread the basic Qi theories to reassure himself that he could do it.
It really wasn't easy… he thought, as he calmed his emotions.
If the sect's disciples could hear his thoughts right now, their jaws would drop.Opening all nine chakras in a single week was absurd in any world—calling it "difficult" didn't even come close.
"Now… I have a question, little brother Wei." Wang Tao tilted his head, curious."Yan Li offered to help you open your last chakra earlier, but you refused. Why did you specifically ask for my help?" he asked, a little suspicious.
Earlier, he had been in his cave developing a new type of poison using the manual Master Sai had given him when Wei Lian came asking for help.
Wang Tao had been trained never to lower his guard. The more focused he was, the more aware he remained of his surroundings.So even while working on poison, he had overheard the conversation.
Wei Lian scratched the back of his head.
"Ah… well, I noticed you've been acting strange these past three days. I don't really know what changed, but… I wanted to know what happened," he replied, with no social filter whatsoever.
Wang Tao blinked.
For a moment, he forgot all the prepared answers he had learned over the years.Forgot the trained lies.Forgot the control.
"Strange…?" he repeated, forcing a smile. "Me?"
Wei Lian tilted his head slightly, thoughtful.
"You've been… quieter. And when you're quiet, it feels like you're far away." He made a vague gesture with his hand."Like your mind is somewhere else. Maybe… planning something?" he asked, innocently.
Wang Tao felt an uncomfortable tightness in his chest.
He had always been good at hiding things.But he had never thought someone could notice… without even knowing what to look for.
He didn't know why, but little brother Wei suddenly felt frightening.
"You're overthinking it," Wang Tao said naturally. "I'm just focusing more on cultivation. That's all."
Wei Lian frowned slightly.
"That's all?"
"That's all," Wang Tao replied without hesitation.
Because if there was one thing he had learned well, it was how to lie when the truth would put others in danger.
If he was bound to a filthy fate, then he would bear it alone.He would not drag anyone else into the mud of the Invisible Hand.
Wei Lian stared at him for a few seconds.
Then… he smiled.
But it wasn't a confident smile.It was crooked. Half disbelieving.
"Uh-huh… sure."
Wang Tao raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Nothing." Wei Lian shrugged. "I just think you're terrible at lying."
"Hey—"
Before he could retort, a voice cut through the air.
"Hey! What are you two doing standing around over there?!"
Yan Li appeared from the side path of the plateau, practically bouncing, her eyes shining with excitement.
"I learned something new!" she announced, already forming a strange hand seal. "Master Sai said it's still unstable, but I managed to make it work!"
"Yan Li, wait—" Wei Lian started.
Too late.
She stomped her foot.
A light tremor ran through the plateau, and in front of them, the earth rose as if it were breathing. Small roots burst from the ground, intertwining and forming a kind of stone step covered in fresh moss.
"See?!" she said proudly. "Earth spell! He said it's good for stabilizing your foundation!"
Wang Tao blinked.
"You almost knocked us off the mountain."
"Details!" she shot back, crossing her arms. "What matters is that it worked!"
Wei Lian laughed in relief.
"It worked, yeah… but next time, please warn us first."
Yan Li pouted for half a second, then smiled again.
"Fine, fine… but what were you two talking about, huh?"
Wang Tao opened his mouth to answer.
Wei Lian spoke first.
"About how brother Wang has been acting mysterious."
"What?!" Yan Li's eyes went wide. "Really?! You're hiding things from us now?!"
"I'm not hiding anything," Wang Tao replied—too quickly.
Both of them stared at him.
Silence.
"…You two are really noisy," he muttered, looking away.
Yan Li laughed.
"Hahaha! See, Wei? I told you he'd get embarrassed if we pressured him!"
Wang Tao sighed.
But while the two of them argued excitedly, he watched in silence.
Laughing.Living.Planning the future.
And he strengthened the decision in his heart.
No matter what happens to me…their fate will not be tied to mine.