Morning training felt easier than it should have been.
Kai's body, which had struggled terribly just yesterday to keep up with basic exercises, now moved with surprising smoothness. The shadow energy moving through his meridians made his physical actions more efficient, even without true cultivation advancement. He was not stronger yet, but he was more precise. Every movement counted, with no energy wasted.
"Brother Kai, you are looking better today," Lin Wei commented as they practiced sword forms together. "Did you finally get some good sleep?"
"Something like that," Kai replied, performing a downward slash that felt much cleaner than his attempts yesterday. "I did some meditation last night. It helped."
"In the eastern caves?"
Kai nodded, keeping his face neutral. "The quiet helped me focus."
Lin Wei's expression turned worried. "Just be careful there at night, Brother Kai. I know I said it before, but I mean it. Disciples have disappeared from those caves. Promise me you will be cautious."
"I will, Brother Lin. Thank you for worrying about me."
[RELATIONSHIP UPDATED]
[LIN WEI: Friendly → Trusted Ally]
[LOYALTY ASSESSMENT: Genuine friendship developing]
Senior Disciple Chen Yun walked past, watching them practice. When he reached Kai, he stopped.
"The farm boy's form has improved. You actually trained last night like you said you would?"
"Yes, Senior Disciple Chen Yun. This junior spent several hours practicing."
Chen Yun studied him for a long moment, then gave a slight nod. "Good. Keep it up. Maybe you will not be completely useless after all."
It was the closest thing to praise Kai had received from the senior disciple. As Chen Yun moved on, several nearby disciples looked at Kai with new interest. In a sect where status was everything, even small recognition from a senior disciple mattered.
But Kai also noticed another person watching him. Zhao Ming stood across the training ground with Liu Jian and Wang Shu. His expression had shifted from simple amusement to something more thoughtful and calculating.
[THREAT ASSESSMENT UPDATED]
[ZHAO MING: Increased interest detected]
[WARNING: Target noticing your improvement]
[RECOMMENDATION: Maintain careful balance. Be strong enough to be interesting, but weak enough to still seem vulnerable.]
The rest of morning training passed without trouble, but Kai felt Zhao Ming's attention like a physical weight. During the meditation part, while other disciples successfully circulated qi, Kai once again went through the empty motions. His shadow cultivation could not be practiced here, surrounded by celestial qi that fought directly against death energy.
To anyone watching, he was still just the farm boy who could not cultivate properly. It was perfect.
After training, Kai joined Lin Wei's group for midday practice. Besides Lin Wei and Mei Ling, there were three others. Zhang Hu, a solidly built young man from a merchant family. Feng Yu, who was quiet and serious. And Little Chen, who was ironically the tallest of them all.
"Brother Kai, Sister Mei and I were talking about the monthly evaluation," Zhang Hu said as they took a break between sword drills. "The format changes every time, but it is always a test of combat ability and cultivation level. Last month it was one on one matches. The month before that, they made us hunt a spiritual beast."
"What happens if you fail?" Kai asked, though he already knew the basic answer.
Feng Yu, the quiet one, spoke up. "It depends how badly you do. A poor performance means you stay an outer disciple. Complete failure means you get reassigned. To the mines, to servant work, or they just send you away from the sect."
"And some disciples just disappear," Little Chen added in a dark tone. "Everyone knows it happens, but nobody talks about it officially."
Mei Ling nodded. "That is why we watch out for each other. A group has better chances than individuals. If one of us struggles, the others help. That is how we have all survived this long."
[SOCIAL DYNAMICS ANALYSIS]
[LIN WEI GROUP: Mutual protection alliance]
[STRENGTH: Collective survival strategy]
[WEAKNESS: Limited individual power]
[ASSESSMENT: Useful alliance, but cannot defend against serious threats]
It was a smart strategy in a world of limited resources and constant competition. But Kai also saw its limits. If a truly powerful disciple targeted one of them, the group could not help. They provided safety in numbers against other weak disciples, and that was all.
Still, having allies was better than having none.
"I appreciate you including me, brothers and sisters," Kai said. "I am still learning, but I will help however I can."
"Just do not die before the evaluation," Zhang Hu said with a grin. "We have a bet going on who will advance first. I put my money on Brother Lin."
They all laughed, and the talk turned to lighter topics. Sect gossip, complaints about Senior Disciple Chen Yun, guesses about inner disciple politics. Kai listened and learned, storing away information about who held power and how people were connected.
As afternoon approached, a servant arrived with a message.
"Outer Disciple Kai Chen, you are summoned to the punishment cells. Senior Disciple Chen Yun requires your assistance with a disciplinary matter."
The practice area went quiet. A summons to the punishment cells was never good news.
Lin Wei's face tightened with concern. "Brother Kai, do you want us to come with you?"
"No need, Brother Lin. If Senior Disciple Chen Yun summoned me, I should go alone." Kai kept his voice calm, but his mind was racing. What was this about?
[ALERT: UNUSUAL SUMMONS]
[DEATH SENSE ACTIVE]
[SCANNING PUNISHMENT CELL AREA]
[DETECTING: 4 life signatures, 2 showing signs of severe trauma]
Kai followed the servant through the sect grounds toward a low, wide building near the eastern edge. It was ironically not far from his cultivation caves. The punishment cells were built partly underground, with only small windows letting in light.
Inside, the air carried the smell of blood and fear.
Senior Disciple Chen Yun stood in the main corridor, his arms crossed. Behind him, two cells held disciples who had been beaten badly. Kai did not recognize either of them, but his Death Vision showed their spiritual energy flickering weakly.
"Farm boy," Chen Yun said without any greeting. "These two outer disciples were caught stealing from the sect's medicine pavilion. Normally, they would be kicked out immediately, but the sect has decided they can work off their debt through hard labor. You are going to help transport them to the mines."
It was clearly a test. To see how the farm boy reacted to violence and punishment.
"This junior understands, Senior Disciple Chen Yun."
Chen Yun studied him. "No questions? No feeling sorry for your fellow disciples?"
Kai met his gaze directly. "They broke sect rules, Senior Disciple. They face the consequences. This junior has no objections."
Something changed in Chen Yun's expression. It was not quite approval, but a new assessment. "Practical. Good. The cart leaves at sunset. Make sure they are loaded and secured properly."
As Chen Yun left, Kai approached the cells. The two disciples inside looked at him with dull, hopeless eyes. One had a badly broken arm. The other had signs of internal injuries.
[DEATH SENSE ANALYSIS]
[DISCIPLE ONE: 70% chance of death within 48 hours from internal injuries]
[DISCIPLE TWO: 40% chance of death within 7 days from infection]
[ASSESSMENT: Both unlikely to survive mine labor]
This was a death sentence disguised as punishment. Everyone involved knew these disciples would not live long enough to work off their debt. The sect was just getting rid of thieves in a way that looked proper.
Kai felt... nothing. No pity, no anger. Just a cold analysis of the situation.
These disciples had chosen to steal, had been caught, and now faced the results. That was how power structures stayed in control. Through predictable punishment that scared others from doing the same.
"Please," one of the disciples whispered. "Help us. We just needed medicine for sick family members. We were not going to sell it."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[PLEA FOR HELP DETECTED]
[MULTIPLE RESPONSE OPTIONS AVAILABLE]
[OPTION 1: Assist disciples - High risk, no reward]
[OPTION 2: Ignore plea - Neutral outcome]
[OPTION 3: Accelerate their deaths to harvest energy - 100+ Death Points potential]
Kai looked at the two dying disciples and made his choice based only on efficiency.
"I am sorry, brothers. There is nothing I can do. The sect has made its decision."
He was not going to risk his own position for strangers who were already condemned. But he was also not going to hurt them himself, not right now. If they died naturally during the trip or in the mines, he could harvest that energy. Actively killing them required a reason he did not yet have.
The last bit of hope died in the disciples' eyes, replaced by empty acceptance.
Kai spent the next few hours getting the transport cart ready and securing supplies. As sunset got closer, other outer disciples arrived to help load the prisoners. The two thieves were chained up and put on the cart like baggage.