บท 5: Ember
Li Wei exited the alchemy room, closing the door softly behind him.
The journey back to his cave was a quiet one, the pathways of the sect dimly lit by the occasional lantern. His thoughts were on the day's events, the mistakes he made, and the unexpected kindness he'd received.
Once back in his cave, he settled down with the book Zhang Jie had given him. The manual was thick, its pages filled with detailed drawings of herbs, their names written in neat script alongside. Li Wei turned each page carefully, absorbing the shapes and shades of the leaves and petals, the patterns of the stems, and the descriptions of their properties and uses.
He studied through the night, his eyes straining in the low light, his mind focused on memorizing each plant. The knowledge was vital, and he knew he could not afford another mistake. The herbs began to take root in his memory, their images clear even when he closed his eyes.
As dawn approached, the first light of morning filtered into the cave, and Li Wei could hear the sect stirring to life. He hadn't slept, but he felt energized by what he had learned. With the book under his arm, he made his way back to the Pill Hall for another day, the paths now familiar and the early morning air crisp against his face.
The hall was already bustling with activity when he arrived, disciples moving about with purpose. Li Wei stepped inside, and his senses were immediately filled with the scents of different herbs and the low murmur of concentrated work.
Li Wei waited by Senior Brother Huo's door, the morning light casting long shadows across the Pill Hall's stone floor.
The door creaked open, breaking the silence. Senior Huo emerged, his presence commanding and measured. In his hand was a fresh list, the characters for various herbs and quantities written in a swift but precise hand.
"Fetch these," Senior Huo said, extending the list towards Li Wei. His voice was firm, the command implicit in the simplicity of the task set before the young disciple. Li Wei reached out, taking the list with both hands, a sign of respect.
With the list in hand, Li Wei bowed slightly. "Yes, Senior Huo," he replied.
He clutched a scroll with a new list of herbs to gather. The names on the list were no longer strangers to him, as he had studied them thoroughly the night before. Today's list required him to find three stalks of Purple Vein Root, a handful of Moonshade Petals, six bulbs of Crimson Clove, two ounces of Heart Leaves, a quarter pound of Ironback Herb, five pieces of Sun Sprout Grass, seven Mystic Fern fronds, and twelve strands of Silver Whisper Vines.
As he moved through the herb storage area, Li Wei still had to manually check each cupboard, but the task was far easier now. He found the Purple Vein Roots in a drawer lined with dark velvet, their indigo streaks vibrant against the soft material. The Moonshade Petals were next, their luminescent surfaces casting a pale glow in the dim light. He continued with practised precision, selecting the Crimson Cloves, their rich scent filling the air, and then measuring the Heart Leaves, noting their sharp edges.
The Ironback Herb was exactly where he remembered it being, its rigid texture a stark contrast to the delicate petals and leaves of the other plants. The Sun Sprout Grass and Mystic Ferns were nestled in a nearby shelf, and the Silver Whisper Vines were draped elegantly in a corner unit, their silvery threads glistening subtly.
With each herb he placed into his basket, Li Wei committed the location to memory, knowing that this knowledge would serve him well in the future. He felt a quiet satisfaction in his growing familiarity with the Pavilion's layout and the herbs it contained. His movements became more confident, his selections more assured, and by the time he had gathered all the herbs on the list, he had also gathered a new sense of competence and independence.
Li Wei returned to Senior Brother Huo with the basket arranged neatly.
Li Wei stood before Senior Brother Huo, his basket of herbs held out with both hands, an offering of his diligence. Senior Huo's eyes scanned the contents, a brief nod the only sign of his approval.
"Good," he said succinctly, and with that, he turned his attention back to the parchments on his desk. "Wait outside," Senior Huo instructed without looking up again, his voice firm, leaving no room for discussion.
Li Wei retreated from the room, his movements quiet and respectful. He found a spot just outside the door, the stone beneath him cool and hard. He settled into the wait, his body still but his mind active, replaying the steps of his herb gathering, ensuring he remembered each detail for future tasks.
The minutes stretched out, each one slow and deliberate, like the drip of water in the quiet halls of the Pavilion. Li Wei's patience was a silent sentinel, guarding the tranquillity of his small vigil.
Finally, the door creaked open, and Senior Brother Huo emerged. His presence was like a shift in the air, a change in the room's very atmosphere. "Go clean," he said, the command simple, as though cleaning were the most natural and expected thing in the world.
Li Wei rose, his limbs unfolding gracefully from his seated position. He bowed his head in acknowledgement.
Inside the alchemy room, the air was thick with the residue of potent concoctions. Li Wei's gaze was drawn to the pill furnace, its surface still radiating a faint warmth from the day's work. Underneath, nestled within the ash, white flames flickered quietly – remnants of the Bone Fire that had not yet succumbed to slumber.
These pale flames, a rare and precious tool for any cultivator, danced with an energy that seemed almost sentient. Li Wei stood motionless for a moment, observing the subtle play of light and shadow they cast upon the stone floor.
Li Wei's heart pounded in his chest, a rhythm almost in sync with the quiet crackling of the white flames. He glanced around the room once more, ensuring that he was indeed alone, with only the dying light of day seeping through the cracks of the windows.
Moving closer to the furnace, he felt the warmth of the white flames on his skin, a gentle heat that belied the power within. His hands, slightly trembling with a mix of fear and excitement, reached for the hem of his robe. He tore a small piece of the cloth, rough and frayed at the edges.
He hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with thoughts of punishment and the severe consequences should he be caught.
Crouching down, Li Wei extended the cloth towards a coal that still held a core of white fire. The fabric of his robe was humble, not meant for handling such energies, but it was all he had. Carefully, he scooped the coal into the cloth, the heat seeping into the fibres and his palms.
The coal was wrapped swiftly, a bundle of potential now hidden within the folds of his robe. With one last look at the furnace, Li Wei tucked the concealed ember into his sleeve, a precious contraband against his skin.
His movements were quick but meticulous, every action deliberate to avoid any sign of disturbance. Once the coal was secured, he straightened up, a mask of calmness plastered over his anxious features.
Li Wei's hands moved with urgency, sweeping and tidying with a briskness that betrayed his inner panic. Particles of dust swirled in turmoil, mirroring the storm of anxiety within him. His thoughts were dominated by the concealed coal, the warmth against his body a reminder of the theft he had committed.
His usual attention to detail was abandoned in favour of speed, his motions a blur of necessity. The broad strokes of the broom were inefficient, leaving behind half-cleared surfaces and incomplete work. He gave the furnace only a fleeting check, the dying embers left unattended as he focused solely on finishing his task and escaping.
As the final remnants of dirt were hastily gathered, the sound of footsteps echoed. The sudden return of Senior Huo sent a spike of dread through Li Wei's core. His hands, now trembling uncontrollably, clung to the broom as a lifeline.
He bowed deeply, his head bowed so low to hide the fear that must have been visible in his eyes. The possibility that Senior Huo might have detected his theft was hanging over him, a shadow of doom that threatened to engulf him.
With every moment under Senior Huo's scrutiny, Li Wei felt as though he was standing on the precipice of death. He stood rigid, ready for a reprimand or, worse, a punishment that might end his life as he knew it. His mind raced with desperate plans of defence, each more futile than the last.
Senior Huo's eyes finally lifted from the scrolls on his desk, fixing upon Li Wei with a gaze that seemed to peer into his very essence. "Your name," he began, his voice carrying the weight of authority, "and your cultivation level?"
Li Wei swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling the words cling to his tongue before managing to speak them out. "Li Wei, Senior. Second level Qi cultivation," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
"When is your sect assessment due?" Senior Huo inquired, his eyes narrowing slightly as if calculating Li Wei's worth at that moment.
"In 20 days, Senior Brother," Li Wei responded, his heart pounding so fiercely he feared it might burst forth from his chest.
Senior Huo's scrutiny intensified as he looked at Li Wei. "How do you intend to advance two levels in twenty days?" he asked, a rhetorical edge to his question. "Dead man walking," he murmured under his breath, almost to himself.
A moment passed, the silence stretching out uncomfortably before Senior Huo reached within his robes and drew out a single silver coin. He tossed it to Li Wei with a flick of his wrist. The coin spun through the air, catching the light, before Li Wei caught it, feeling its weight in his hand.
"This might buy you mortal ash or a bone pill," Senior Huo said, his voice devoid of warmth. "Use it wisely. It might just keep you from the bone yard."
Li Wei's heart raced with a mixture of fear and gratitude. "Thank you, Senior Brother," he said quickly, not daring to meet Senior Huo's eyes. "I will make good use of this generosity."
Li Wei clutched the silver coin tightly, a symbol of unexpected mercy. "I won't disturb you any longer, Senior Brother," he said with a bow, his voice a murmur of respect and backing away from Senior Huo's presence.
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