I stand in a dark alley, my hand pressed against my wound. My body cultivation is keeping me alive and slowing the bleeding, but without treatment, it's only a matter of time.
''Sigh, I was overconfident.''
I look at the wound on my chest with regret.
''Ultimately, I didn't even need to inflict the wound on myself, thanks to my terrible martial arts.''
Forget it. Dark Qi envelops me once again as I make my way toward the doctor.
In the pharmacy, the doctor is organizing herbs, medicine, and various other powders neatly on the shelves.
Once finished, he blows out the candles and makes his way toward his bed.
Before he reaches it, a shadow flickers in the corner of the room.
''Hey.''
I break the silence, my voice low and cold.
[You've gained 2 points of Fear.]
''..!!!''
Startled, he quickly turns toward me, his eyes drifting toward my wounds.
''I-impressive endurance. Are you p-perhaps a body cultivator?''
Despite the fear in his voice, he asks curiously.
''I am.''
I slowly walk toward him, dark Qi making it impossible to recognize any of my features.
''Heal me. I'll pay you.''
I throw my pouch on the table next to us, the pouch making a heavy sound as it lands.
THUD!
No need to make an enemy out of a doctor. I'd rather he helps me voluntarily.
The doctor's eyes shift toward the pouch, then back to my wound.
''Of course. This will need many stitches. But with your physique, recovery should be fast.''
He says with a professional smile as he leads me to the bed.
A misty shadow can be seen running through the forest again; however, it's much slower than before.
'Remember, don't put strain on your body until the wound closes.'
The doctor's words etched into my mind as I make my way back toward the carriage.
As I get closer, the black mist that surrounds me disperses, leaving no traces behind.
I slowly climb into the carriage, my attention immediately on Yuexin.
She's laying in the same position as I left her... Good.
I slowly sit on my seat, the soft cushions sinking my body deeper in.
''This won't do. I need to learn martial arts.''
I close my eyes and slowly drift to sleep.
The morning sun enters the carriage through the windows. My eyes open slowly, the pain from my wounds almost making me groan.
This will take a while to heal. I need to hide it from Yuexin.
Speaking of her...
I glance over at her, our eyes meeting for an awkwardly long time.
''You...''
She continues,
''You put me to sleep, didn't you?''
Cat's out of the bag, I guess.
''Yes, Lady Yuexin. The painkiller available at the doctor's office wouldn't be effective on a cultivator.''
My smile polite, tone gentle as I continue,
''So, I went with the doctor's recommendation.''
Her lips part as if she wants to argue, but she closes them again, her gaze drifting down.
''…I see.''
Awkward silence takes over the carriage, only the spinning wheel and hooves can be heard from the outside, until-
SCREEECH!
The sharp cry of a bird interrupts the silence. A crimson-feathered hawk, its wings slightly burning with red Qi, descends through the window.
Yuexin opens the window, the bird immediately moving to her lap. Its talons are gripping what appears to be a tiny scroll.
Her hands tremble as she takes it, breaking the seal. The hawk vanishes into a flicker of spiritual fire, leaving only a handful of ash.
Her eyes scan the lines, her expression worsening with each second.
''The Xu family has declared open war against the Lan family... My family...''
Her voice is hollow, unbelieving, as she begins to read aloud,
''The Lan have dared collude with outsiders. For this crime, and the humiliation, the Xu hereby sever all ties. From this day forth, we meet only in blood.''
She lowers the scroll, her hands shaking violently, the scroll nearly slipping from her grip.
''And… and the Han family… they've announced their 'support' for the Lan.''
Her voice low, hands clenched into fists.
Silence returns to the carriage.
''Lady Yuexin.''
She snaps her gaze toward me, eyes burning with resentment.
''We need to take a detour.''
''Due to your family, my family got involved in a war.''
I lean forward, my eyes staring deeply into hers.
''If we want our families to survive, we must combine our forces.''
Before my next words land, I release a little bit of my dark, misty Qi.
[You've gained 1 point of Fear.]
''And crush the Xu family.''
.
.
.
[STATUS]
[Name: Han Ye]
[Age: 18]
[Cultivation: Terror Manifestation Realm - Early Stage ▸ Foundation establishment - Early Stage▸ +]
[Fear Points: 32]
[Fear Points needed for the next stage: 1500]
[Techniques: Shadowless Step, Thousand Faces Arts (incomplete), Silent Pulse Breathing]
Authors note: If you're enjoying the novel so far, please add it to your collections! Every single one goes a long way. Honest review will be Great too!
Powerstones: If we can reach 70 power stones in a week, I will make one more chapter a day for 1 week. Let's do it!