Chapter Four: The Winding Path of Cultivation

As night fell, a shadowy figure slowly appeared outside the East Wing. Under the faint moonlight, his features were indistinct, but one could vaguely make out a silhouette strikingly like that of an owl. The owl-like figure, with eerie green eyes, swept his gaze repeatedly over Su Fan's room within the courtyard, where all was silent and even the oil lamps had been extinguished. Su Fan had long since drifted into sleep.

In the blink of an eye, the owl had arrived at Su Fan’s door. His movements were so swift that the shadow crouched on the opposite rooftop was taken aback, yet the figure there was prudent and made no sound. The owl raised a hand and, with a gentle wave, caused Su Fan’s door to open soundlessly. From the rooftop, the shadow whispered in a low, gravelly voice, “Sir, what brings you to Su Fan’s room so late?”

As a faint breeze passed, the door quietly closed again. Curiosity gnawed at the watcher on the rooftop, who stealthily slipped down, landing silently as a cat, and crept to Su Fan’s door to peer inside through a crack.

By moonlight, the owl’s mouth was curled into a faint smile, his green gaze chillingly strange. He formed a seal with his fingers, then his body rose and floated above Su Fan, crossing his legs to sit in the air. After a moment, the owl drew from his robe a small red banner.

On both sides of the banner were printed pale skulls, and the cloth’s red seemed stained with blood. As the owl formed another seal, drops of blood fell onto the banner; he caught three drops with his hand and quickly stowed the flag away.

Next, the owl’s form sank swiftly until he hovered three inches above Su Fan’s chest. He cupped the blood in one hand and, with the other, bit his own finger, letting his blood drip into the cupped palm.

At once, his hand shone with a fierce red light. He flung his palm wide and pressed it towards Su Fan’s brow. A withered, blood-red human face, as thin as paper, floated towards Su Fan.

It was an uncanny sight. The watcher outside trembled all over, his face ghostly pale, one hand clamped tightly over his mouth, knowing that a single sound would mean certain death.

Just as the red face was about to reach Su Fan’s brow, the owl’s face twisted into a victorious smile. Suddenly, the smile froze, and his green eyes stared fixedly at Su Fan below.

Following his gaze, the red face had halted an inch from Su Fan’s brow, unable to move further. From that spot, a faint blue glow emanated—weak, but to the owl, it felt as though heavenly might had descended.

There was a tense standoff; then the red face recoiled, flying straight back at the owl. He tried to flee, but his hesitation cost him—the red face slapped onto his own visage.

His features, already fierce, became even more terrifying. Yet he made no sound, merely staring at Su Fan, the thoughts behind his green eyes unreadable.

Outside, the watcher was so shocked by this sudden turn that fear overwhelmed him. He spun around to flee, but froze in place; before him floated two dim eyes, and by moonlight, the owl’s face could be seen barring his path.

Just as the watcher was about to cry out, the owl swept his sleeve, whisking the man into Xiao Lin’s room.

“Xiao Lin, since you’ve seen this, don’t blame me for what follows,” the owl said, voice deliberately lowered.

The watcher was, in fact, Xiao Lin. Unable to sleep, he had climbed onto the rooftop, intending to steal a glance at Lin Ling, whom he’d admired for some time. Yet Lin Ling’s family was wealthy and well-guarded, and he’d found no opportunity. What began as a foolish errand had led him to uncover Xiao Chen’s secret.

Struggling to master his terror, Xiao Lin said, “Sir, you have nothing to fear. You raised me—I would never reveal this.”

Xiao Chen let out a hoarse, sinister laugh, ignoring Xiao Lin’s words. He raised his hand, aiming for Xiao Lin’s brow.

Xiao Lin suddenly cried, “Sir, if you kill me and my brother comes looking for me, what will you say?”

The hand paused. Xiao Chen recalled a cultivator at the eighth stage of Qi Refinement who, years ago, had brought Xiao Lin to the academy, paying with four low-grade spirit stones for his upkeep. Yet, all these years, the cultivator had never returned.

Seeing the hand had not fallen, Xiao Lin pressed on, “Sir, you wanted to absorb Su Fan’s soul tonight, but were blocked. I suspect Su Fan possesses a treasure. I can help you obtain it.”

Xiao Chen’s venomous expression softened as he thought, That cultivator never returned for Xiao Lin, but if they were not closely connected, why spend four spirit stones? Perhaps the man is stuck at a bottleneck and will come for Xiao Lin once he breaks through. If I kill Xiao Lin now and cannot account for him, disaster will follow.

Softly, Xiao Chen replied, “Let this matter rest. Not a single word of it must be spoken.”

In truth, Xiao Lin had never met that cultivator before. He didn’t even know the man’s name. He had been an orphan, once beaten for stealing a chicken in a village, and had been rescued by the cultivator, who eventually brought him here.

Inwardly, Xiao Lin sneered, thinking, If so, this old man will kill me sooner or later.

He said quietly, “Sir, your cultivation is profound. Why not teach me as well? Perhaps I can help you find Su Fan’s treasure more quickly.”

Xiao Chen reasoned that, given what had just occurred, Su Fan surely possessed something valuable. Xiao Lin and Su Fan got along well; using him would make things easier. Once the treasure was his, he could kill Xiao Lin and join the Heavenly Origin Sect.

With a smile, Xiao Chen said, “Since you wish to learn, I will teach you the method of cultivation.”

He drew a thread-bound book from his sleeve and handed it to Xiao Lin, then left the room.

In the dim light, Xiao Lin watched the book with excitement. He quickly lit the oil lamp and began to read.

The book detailed the basics of cultivation, methods for reaching the first three stages of Qi Refinement, how to absorb spiritual energy from the world, temper one’s body, and channel energy into the meridians.

By dawn, Xiao Lin had read the entire book and practiced its teachings, finding, to his surprise, that he learned quickly and mastered all of it.

He wondered if Xiao Chen had deceived him. Yet, regardless, with such a short time to cultivate, Xiao Chen would kill him soon anyway. Better to pass the method to Su Fan and perhaps join forces against Xiao Chen.

A subtle smile appeared on Xiao Lin’s lips. He slipped into Su Fan’s room.

Su Fan was already awake, reading a book at his desk. He had read these many times before; his mother had taught him their contents, saying his father had left them behind when he departed.

Suddenly, the door opened and Xiao Lin entered. After checking the room, he quietly closed the door, approached Su Fan, and whispered, “Don’t bother with these. Study this instead.”

He handed over the cultivation manual and murmured, “Remember—don’t let Sir find out.” With a mysterious smile, he darted out.

Su Fan frowned at the book in his hands, set it on the table, and paid it little mind.

By midday, the academy was silent. After a morning of study, the students were resting. Su Fan sat on his bed, silently watching Xiao Lin.

Lowering his voice, Xiao Lin asked, “Why aren’t you reading the book I gave you? I told you, it’s a manual for cultivating immortality.”

Su Fan replied, “I’ve already told you, my body isn’t suited for cultivation.”

Xiao Lin’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “Then do you know why Sir questioned you this morning?”

Su Fan recalled how Xiao Chen had asked if he’d experienced anything strange, found any odd objects, or wore anything unusual.

He hadn’t paid it much mind, but Xiao Lin’s reminder made him suspect there was more to it. “Why?” he asked urgently.

Xiao Lin’s eyes gleamed as he whispered in Su Fan’s ear, “Do you know why so many students here seem lifeless, as if walking corpses?”

Su Fan had noticed, but being taciturn, spoke little to anyone besides Xiao Lin and Lin Ling.

Xiao Lin continued, “It’s because of Sir. He’s actually a cultivator who, each night, absorbs students’ souls to enhance his power. Then, through secret arts, he makes them appear alive when in truth, they are dead.

Last night he tried to absorb your soul, but was blocked by a mysterious force. I happened to see it. Now I’ve obtained this cultivation manual. I want you to learn it, so that together we can escape from here. But you refuse.”

Hearing this, Su Fan realized it must be due to the jade pendant he wore—the only strange item he owned, given to him by Old Wang, whose whereabouts were now unknown.

Thanks to Xiao Lin’s words, Su Fan became certain of the pendant’s power. He knew well that “a man’s wealth is his own undoing.” Carefully, he picked up the cultivation manual and began to read.

Xiao Lin smiled faintly and left, saying, “Don’t tell anyone about this—it concerns both our lives.”

In his room, Su Fan’s hands trembled as he held the book, thoughts of immortal cultivation swirling in his mind. On the edge of life and death, he took his first step into the world of cultivation.