Li Wei pressed himself against the barracks wall, barely breathing. The footsteps were getting closer—heavy, deliberate, and accompanied by the faint clinking of metal. The shadow on the wall stretched long and tall—clearly not a disciple. Li Wei silently summoned the system, praying for guidance. Nothing. Wind Step was ready, but running now would only expose him. He held his breath, praying not to be seen.
The figure turned the corner, and Li Wei saw him—a man in azure robes, a sword at his hip. His face was stern, marred by a deep scar across one eyebrow, and his aura radiated like searing heat. The system finally responded:
Wang Shen – Inner Disciple, Night Patrol Officer
Cultivation Level: Spiritual Realm, Stage 5
Li Wei swallowed. This man could crush him with a single finger.
Wang Shen halted, scanning the courtyard with narrowed eyes. Li Wei sank deeper into the shadows, sweat trickling down his spine.
"So strange..." Wang Shen muttered. "I thought I saw something."
Li Wei silently thanked his luck—or the remnants of his Probability Manipulation. The inner disciple stood still for a moment longer, then turned and walked away, his steps fading into the night.
Li Wei exhaled shakily, his legs trembling. Too close. Way too close.
Once the courtyard fell silent again, he made his way toward the center of the Outer Court, relying on the scattered memories inherited with this body. If they were right, the sect's library stood alone—surrounded by a plum blossom garden. In the distance, he spotted a dark silhouette with a tiled roof and headed toward it, staying to the shadows.
The courtyard was quiet, but Li Wei remained alert. This world had already shown him how danger lurked in every corner—from beasts to bullies like Zhang Ho. Reaching the garden, he finally saw the library: a single-story building with carved wooden doors adorned with runes. The windows were shut tight, and above the entrance hung a wooden plaque:
"Azure Wind Knowledge Hall."
Li Wei smirked. Jackpot.
But the grin faded when he spotted two guards in gray robes stationed at the entrance. The system chimed:
Outer Court Disciples — Mortal Realm, Stage 4
Not as dangerous as Wang Shen, but still way out of Li Wei's league. He crouched behind a tree, studying the layout. A direct approach was suicide—but on the side, partially hidden by branches, was a narrow window.
The system blinked again:
New Quest: Infiltrate the library undetected
Reward: Access to beginner technique scroll
Penalty: –50 Reputation if caught
Li Wei clenched his jaw. The risk was high—but the reward was worth it.
He decided to act.
---
Li Wei studied the window carefully, measuring his chances. The plum tree's branches provided partial cover, and the glass looked old—cracked at the edges. If he could open it without a sound, he might slip inside. The guards at the entrance stood casually, chatting in hushed voices, but their eyes still swept the courtyard now and then. One wrong move and he was done.
He opened the system to check his options. Wind Step was off cooldown—he could use it to reach the window quickly. But with the skill on a one-minute timer, he'd be on his own for the escape. Probability Manipulation was still locked.
Guess it's down to caution... and guts.
Li Wei picked up a small pebble from the ground and waited for the right moment. When the guards looked distracted, he tossed the pebble into the far corner of the garden. It struck a tree with a muffled thunk.
"What was that?" one guard muttered, hand drifting to the short sword at his belt.
"Go check it out," the other replied, but stayed in place.
Li Wei didn't wait.
He activated Wind Step. The world blurred. His body felt weightless. In a blink, he was beneath the window, pressed flat against the wall. The skill wore off, leaving his chest heaving slightly—but the distraction had worked. The roaming guard had moved away, and the other faced the opposite direction. Luck was holding, for now.
He gently pulled at the window frame. It creaked—a thin, brittle whine that made his heart leap. He froze. But the guards didn't react. Carefully, inch by inch, he opened it just wide enough to slip through.
The scent of old paper and dust filled his nostrils. He swung one leg over the sill, then the other, careful not to disturb the branches, and landed softly on the wooden floor.
System update:
Quest Progress – Library infiltration: 50%
Find the technique scroll within 10 minutes
Chance of detection: 20%
Li Wei scanned the room.
The library was spacious, filled with towering shelves stacked with scrolls and books. Pale moonlight filtered through cracks in the shutters, highlighting dust motes dancing in the air. Somewhere in the distance, a clock ticked—counting down the minutes he had left.
He moved quickly down the aisles, scanning labels: "Basics of Cultivation", "Herbs of the Celestial Dome", "Sect History"—none of it useful in a fight.
Then, in the far corner, he spotted a small cabinet with a glowing rune-lock. The system lit up:
Contains Beginner-Level Combat Techniques
Requires key or magical bypass
Li Wei frowned. No key. And he didn't know rune-breaking. But retreat wasn't an option.
On a nearby desk lay scattered tools—quills, ink, a paper knife. Maybe that could help?
Outside, footsteps approached. He froze. The patrol's back? Or someone else?
Time was running out, and Li Wei knew one thing—this moment could define everything.
---
Li Wei crouched behind a shelf, listening to the footsteps outside. They were light, not the heavy stomp of the guards, but it still made his heart race. Whoever was out there meant trouble. The system was silent, but the quest timer was ticking down:
Quest Progress: Library Infiltration – 50%
Find the technique scroll within 10 minutes
Chance of detection: 30%
Li Wei clenched his fists. He couldn't afford to fail now. The scroll was right there, but the lock was glowing with faint magical energy. It would take too long to learn how to break the rune properly. But there was another way.
His fingers closed around the paper knife on the desk. It was a delicate tool—more for decoration than function. But if he could channel his energy through it, maybe...
He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the warmth in his lower abdomen—the faint spark of energy from Azure Stream. It was weak, but it was enough. He began to guide the energy from his core through his arm and into the paper knife.
At first, nothing happened. The knife remained still, the rune on the lock glowing as brightly as before. But Li Wei didn't give up. He focused harder, pulling the energy up through his chest and out into his hand, guiding it like the delicate stream of water he had learned to control with his breath.
The knife began to hum softly in his hand, a faint vibration that sent a chill up his spine. Then, the rune on the lock flickered.
Li Wei held his breath.
The rune blinked again, then faded. The lock clicked open with a soft snap.
System Update:
Quest Progress: Library Infiltration – 75%
Found Technique Scroll: "Dancing Leaf" – Beginner-Level Combat Technique
Li Wei let out a relieved breath. He reached into the cabinet, pulling out the scroll. It was tied with a silk ribbon, and the light from the nearby lamp made the characters on the scroll glow faintly.
His hands trembled as he untied the ribbon and began to unroll it. The technique was written in elegant script, describing how to use spiritual energy to create a sharp, leaf-like attack—swift and precise. It required focus, controlled breathing, and precise hand movements.
System Update:
Technique Acquired: "Dancing Leaf" – Beginner-Level Combat Technique
Warning: Requires Basic Mastery of Spiritual Energy
Li Wei was about to read further when he heard footsteps again—this time closer. His stomach dropped.
System Update:
Quest Progress: Library Infiltration – 100%
Chance of Detection: 40%
Warning: Detection Imminent
He had no time to waste. He stuffed the scroll into his robes and turned toward the window. He needed to leave—now.
But just as he was about to climb back through the window, the door creaked open.
---
Just as Li Wei reached for the window, the wooden door behind him groaned open. He froze, heart slamming against his ribs. A narrow beam of lantern light swept across the library shelves, chasing away the shadows.
A voice followed—soft, cold, unmistakable.
"I know you're in here. Come out, or it'll be worse for you."
Li Wei's breath caught. He knew that voice.
Lin Xue.
His mind raced. How did she find me? And more importantly—why was she here?
He pressed himself against the shelf, frantically calculating his odds. Wind Step was still on cooldown. The scroll Dancing Leaf was tucked safely beneath his robe. If she turned him in now, it could be the end of his place in the sect. Or worse.
The system flickered:
Chance to Avoid Detection: 40%
Recommendation: Engage in dialogue or create distraction
Li Wei cursed under his breath. No time for tricks. He remembered their earlier conversation—her disdain for injustice, her curiosity. Maybe, just maybe, he could appeal to that.
He stepped out from behind the shelf, hands raised in mock surrender.
"It's me," he said calmly. "No need to shout."
The lantern light froze on his face. Lin Xue narrowed her eyes.
"Li Wei?" she said, her voice cool but edged with surprise. "What in the heavens are you doing in the library at this hour? Do you even realize you could be expelled for this?"
Li Wei gave her a helpless shrug, keeping his tone light.
"I'm aware. But I wasn't stealing anything valuable. Just… looking for a way to survive. You know what it's like—being stuck at the bottom."
Lin Xue didn't move, her gaze sharp and searching. He could tell she wasn't convinced, but she wasn't calling for guards either. Encouraged, he pressed on.
"You said you hate injustice," he said, lowering his voice. "Zhang Ho and his friends are planning to humiliate me tomorrow. Without something—anything—I don't stand a chance. I'm not asking for much. Just let me walk away."
She stepped closer, and Li Wei instinctively tensed, ready to bolt. But she stopped a few paces away, folding her arms.
"You've changed," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "You used to be… empty. Now you look like someone else entirely. Why?"
His heart skipped. She was sharp. Too sharp. He couldn't tell the truth—but lying would only dig the hole deeper.
System Update:
Chance to Gain Lin Xue's Favor: 65%
Recommendation: Partial honesty
"Maybe I just got tired of being worthless," he said, looking her in the eye. "This world's cruel. I want to prove I can be more than a target. Help me—or turn me in. Your choice."
Lin Xue stared at him for a long moment. Then she sighed.
"Go. Now. And don't get caught again. If the elders find out, I won't cover for you."
Li Wei nodded, tension draining from his shoulders.
"Thanks," he said sincerely, already moving toward the window.
He slipped outside, landing softly in the garden. But when he glanced back through the shutter, he saw her still watching—her expression unreadable.
Something had shifted between them.
---
Li Wei crept through the plum garden, clutching the Dancing Leaf scroll beneath his robe. The night air was sharp, and every rustle in the branches made him glance over his shoulder. Lin Xue had let him go—but she didn't seem like someone who would forget easily. Her gaze lingered in his mind, as did her words.
The system chimed softly:
Quest Completed: Infiltrate the library undetected
Reward Acquired: Technique Scroll "Dancing Leaf"
Reputation: Unaffected
He made it back to the barracks, slipping through the darkened courtyard. The path was empty—no guards, no Zhang Ho, no eyes watching. A dog barked in the distance, and Li Wei quickened his pace until he finally reached his room. He shut the door quietly behind him, then collapsed onto the straw mat, exhaling the tension that had coiled in his chest all night.
He pulled out the scroll and unrolled it beneath the dim moonlight spilling through the window. The silk ribbon slipped off, revealing a series of intricate diagrams and sharp brushstrokes.
Dancing Leaf—an offensive technique using spiritual energy to generate a swift, slicing blow like a falling leaf. It required precise timing, breath control, and internal energy to channel the force into one's palm or weapon.
Li Wei furrowed his brow. My Azure Stream barely gives me enough energy to warm my toes, let alone strike like a blade.
Still, he had to try.
He stood and positioned himself as the scroll instructed—feet shoulder-width apart, one hand extended, the other drawn to his chest. Closing his eyes, he synchronized his breath with the rhythm of Azure Stream, guiding the energy toward his hand.
Nothing.
He tried again. A faint tingle. A weak pulse of heat.
System Update:
Technique Progress – "Dancing Leaf": 5%
Note: Improve spiritual energy through further cultivation
He sighed. Figures. In novels, heroes mastered techniques in a night. But in reality? It was like trying to learn martial arts from YouTube without internet.
Still, five percent was five percent. Enough to matter. Especially tomorrow.
He hid the scroll beneath his mat and lay down, staring at the dark ceiling. Tomorrow's training would be his first real test. Zhang Ho would come for revenge. The other disciples would watch, ready to mock or cheer. Lin Xue might be there too.
Focus, he told himself. You have one night to prepare.
He closed his eyes, preparing to spend the remaining hours cultivating. But just before sleep took him, a thought lingered:
Lin Xue could've turned him in. She didn't. She said he'd changed.
And she wasn't wrong.
That night didn't just change his chances in the sect—it changed something deeper.
And tomorrow, the shadows of that night would follow him into the morning.