The footsteps drew closer and the sounds of footsteps sliding against the concrete floor startled him, he remained still and silent to avoid getting noticed.
His heart thundered inside his chest, sweat from his practice dripping from his temples down his jawline.
His ears shifted, concentrating on where the sound could be coming from before taking his next step as quietly as he could.
He crept closer to the walls, hiding his presence in a secluded hole in the wall. The footsteps pressed closer and stopped right in front of the doorway.
At that moment, he held his breath and hoped the faint gas from his training wasn't clear enough to be spotted.
The silhouette of the individual fell across the doorway, and they stood there for a little while. Li Wei remained quiet, his thoughts spiralling out of control.
'Who could this be and what are they doing here at this hour? Could it be one of the patrolling servants or someone else who saw me go through the door earlier?'
Then the footsteps resumed, fading down the corridor. Li Wei exhaled slowly, his muscles still tense. It felt like someone had been watching his movements recently but he still hadn't figured out who they were.
Li Wei felt a bit relaxed once the person walked further away from the training quarters, down the corridor.
'Who was that? Was it one of the guards?' He took a brief glance, peeping his head through the door to catch a back glimpse of the individual but they were long gone.
He stared at the entrance to see if they would return but there was no sign of any presence returning.
So he brushed off the thought and returned to his practice. 'Whoever it was, they're gone now. So I can calm my nerves and resume my practice in solitude'
He didn't want to be disturbed or caught during his training sessions. It would be a distraction and another way to mock him openly in front of everyone.
His practice continued until the night drew closer and the moon became full. His sweat trickled down his face, and his clothes were soaked with it.
A smile drew across his face, and he felt fulfilled nurturing his skills whenever he saw the opportunity because slowly, he knew he was growing stronger.
Even though it was not exactly noticeable, he could feel his mana increase and his toxic cultivation become more dangerous with each passing day that he spent training in these quarters.
He hurried out of the training ground, to arrive at his chambers before anyone starts noticing his disappearances. Not that he expected anyone to care but you may never know.
He slid through the doorway and shut it close quietly, he noticed some guards passing by and ran towards the corridors as quickly as he could.
"Who's there?!" One of the guards yelled, pointing the flame torch in every direction.
After a while of searching around the premises, they continued their patrol within the palace walls.
Before they left fully, Li Wei heard something, a conversation between them.
"Do you think it would work? I mean the royal family is expected to be extremely strong because of their high mana residues. Well apart from Master Li Wei of course" they chuckled at the mention of his name.
Li Wei felt insulted again and walked away, into his chambers before they realized his presence.
One of the cool fact about having low mana residues is that they cannot easily detect you because of it.
Everyone in the Royal family have high mana, and because of that no one can easily detect his mana signature in a palace full of high individuals with high mana residues.
That made him all the more invincible and easier for him to move through the palace without getting caught.
As bad as it seemed, it also had its advantages. One no one except someone like him can decipher.
He fell into a sitting position on the floor close to his bed. He didn't want to let his sweat drenched body touch his bed or he would have to manage the stench of sweat all night.
He rose his knee up and roped his hand around them, laying his back against the wooden side of the bed.
'It's the same thing everyday, I don't know why it's like that. No one sees me the way I do, yet they don't hold any malice against me.'
He stared at the full moon through his window balcony, smiling briefly before turning away. 'One day I'll be too important for them to ignore.'
He rose to his feet and went into his bathroom to have his night bath before getting some sleep for the next day.
∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆
Morning came, and the sun rose up like a thief in the night. He stayed in bed until an hour later.
His eyes fluttered open, and he glanced at his surroundings with his blurry vision. He gave his body a long, hard stretch before returning to his normal posture.
"Morning, Li Wei." He said to himself, sliding down his bed and putting on his slipper.
He walked toward the balcony to have some fresh air when he noticed the commotion on the ground.
He watched the movements of the Royal guards and they were abnormal, nothing he was used to.
'Whats happening….??' he questioned himself when he heard knocking on the door of his chambers.
He turned and rushed towards the door and open it quickly. Right outside the door were three palace maidens with a sour face.
They didn't bother to greet him like they were supposed to and he didn't bother himself with the thought of it.
He waited at the door until one of them had the confidence to finally speak out.
"Master Li Wei, you have been summoned to the chambers of his Royal highness, the Emperor." She bowed her head in respect.
"My father summoned me? But why, what's wrong? I noticed the palace guards seem disturbed this early morning."
The maidens ignored his questions with a straightforward answer. "Please follow us, it's an urgent matter!"
He didn't bother to change his garment, he went with them either ways rushing behind them as they led him towards the meeting place.
'I hope it's not something serious!!' his heart tightened inside his chest at the thought of it.