The slaves’ gazes followed him, a silent, unnerving weight.

  Wei Zheng, the boy who had once been one of them, now seemed to be something else entirely, an anomaly walking freely through the bandit fortress.

  It was the first time they had ever seen a non-bandit, a person who still looked like a person, move through this hell without being reprimanded.

  Wei Zheng let out a soft sigh, the attention a new and uncomfortable burden. "I didn't think I would get this much attention," he murmured to himself, "but I do look cleaner…"

  His gaze drifted towards the squat, stone-lined cellars. Right, the dagger. A flicker of cold, hard resolve cut through his unease.

  Even if that bastard set me free like this, I doubt he'd hand me a weapon willingly. He's not foolish enough to trust me that much.

  He may seem psychotic on the surface, but there's more than meets the eye.

  His footsteps, now sure and deliberate, plastered against the muddy pavement as he made his way towards the cellars.

  He slipped inside the dark, foul-smelling entrance, his hand finding the loose stone with a practiced familiarity.

  He snatched the dagger, its cold, familiar weight a profound comfort in his palm. "Still here," he whispered, tucking it into the waistband of his trousers. "Now I feel slightly safer."

  A deep, cavernous rumble from his stomach reminded him of a more immediate need.

  The memory of the thin, tasteless gruel they were fed, a slop not fit for pigs, rose in his throat, and he fought back a wave of revolting nausea.

  "Isn't there real food?" he muttered, his contempt a low growl. "I doubt that even the pigs they are, they won't resort to eating grub like that."

  He made his way towards a series of long, rough-hewn tables where a group of bandits were loudly devouring roasted meat and hard bread.

  Their eyes immediately locked onto him, their laughter dying in their throats.

  "Oi, Oi! Who told you to get close? Eh?" a burly bandit demanded, standing up to face Wei Zheng, his massive frame towering over the boy.

  Before the situation could escalate, another bandit at the table shook his head, a warning in his eyes. "Calm down. Boss Yifeng has taken a liking to him."

  The first bandit’s face contorted in a sneer. "So what?! Doesn't mean I can't beat this fucker up!"

  "Don't be stupid," the other man hissed, his voice a low, urgent warning.

  "Don't you remember Boss Yifeng's words? You can take out your anger once Boss Hao Yu comes back. That's when we can see if we can do this bastard boy in."

  His eyes roamed over Wei Zheng’s small frame, and he smirked.

  A weak piece of shit like him could easily be swayed by our threats. "Listen," he said, turning to Wei Zheng, "if you don't see yourself out, we'll slam your head into the paveme—"

  A hand shot out, moving with a speed that was shocking in its ferocity.

  Wei Zheng grabbed the first bandit by the scruff of his neck and slammed his face down onto the table.

  The wood shattered with a sharp crack, and the man’s head continued its downward trajectory, hitting the stone and mud pavement with a sickening, wet thud.

  "Scum like you shouldn't boast that much," Wei Zheng’s voice was cold, each word dripping with contempt.

  The other bandits shot to their feet, their weapons raised. "What? Are you going to kill me?" Wei Zheng asked, his voice a mocking challenge.

  "Good! My death for each and every one of your lives!"

  They hesitated, the unspoken name of Hao Yifeng a tangible, chilling presence in the air.

  "If you don't get in my way, I won't get in yours." He stepped on the unconscious bandit’s face, squishing it against the pavement.

  "Go on then. Lay one finger on me. You'll be demolished by the pigs, a sight I would enjoy in the heavens."

  He kicked the man’s head away and, without a second glance, made his way to another table, snatching two large loaves of bread and a hefty piece of roasted meat.

  These bandits dare not lay a hand on me, he thought, a grim satisfaction settling in his gut.

  That Hao Yifeng must have instilled great fear in them with his words. He doesn't seem like a man to go back on his word.

  He may be scum, but his word holds up.

  He shook his head, pushing the flicker of admiration away.

  No, they're still scum. Their words hold no meaning.

  He took a large, savage bite out of the loaf of bread.

  The taste, rough and honest, was a revelation.

  It's been a while since I've eaten real food!

  His teeth sank into the crust with a satisfying crunch. It was harder than it looked.

  Clearly not baked well, but so what! It's better than the pig feed they give us

  Near the slave pens, a girl’s stomach rumbled. She gritted her teeth, staring at the plate of grub with a look of profound revulsion.

  "E-Elder sister.. I don't think I'll be able to eat anymore of that.."

  The two siblings, new arrivals, had yet to face the worst of the bandits' cruelties, but the despair was already a suffocating blanket.

  "I want to go home already.. Elder Sister..!"

  The older sibling sighed, pulling her little sister into a tight embrace.

  "Don't worry," she whispered, her own voice a fragile anchor. "I'm sure we'll find a way soon.."

  My little sister is too young, she thought, her heart aching. She does not deserve this kind of fate.

  They had been chained with heavy, Qi-suppressing links; their nascent power as Qi Sensing Realm cultivators, the very thing that might have saved them, was now their curse.

  We were just travelling through the forests… To think we'd accidentally stumble upon a village being ransacked. Such unfortunate luck.

  The younger girl looked up, her gaze falling upon Wei Zheng as he walked calmly with his stolen meal.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "H-Hey.. Why does he get special treatment?!"

  A hand flew up, gently covering her mouth.

  "Be quiet! We shouldn't bring attention to ourselves!" But it was too late. Both of their stomachs rumbled in a synchronized, traitorous chorus at the sight of the real bread and roasted meat.

  His ear picked up the sound. Wei Zheng paused, his gaze settling on the two girls.

  These girls, he thought, his own nascent Qi sense picking up the faint, suppressed glimmer of their auras.

  I can tell they can sense Qi… Just like me, but I feel like they're even better than that. He walked over, his expression unreadable.

  "Are you girls hungry?" Without waiting for an answer, he tore the large loaf of bread in half.

  The older sibling shook her head stubbornly. "We won't take handouts from scum like yo—"

  "We'll take it!" the younger sibling shot out, her hunger overriding all caution.

  "Hey! Don't accept food from him! He might be one of them!"

  "Don't be so rude, Elder Sister," the younger girl retorted, her voice a fierce whisper.

  "He's clearly not one of them, he looks ragged and dirty! He must be one of the slaves like us!"

  W-What's with this girl.. And why does that hurt..? Being called a dirty slave..?!

  Wei Zheng’s eye twitched, and he shook his head, pushing the thought away.

  "Don't worry. I was blessed with luck. The chief has taken a liking to me." He sat down on the muddy ground beside them, handing them the food.

  The older woman eyed him with a deep suspicion but ultimately took the offered bread, the savory aroma an irresistible temptation.

  "That must be worrisome for you," she said, her voice low and cautious. "It can't be good."

  Wei Zheng nodded, his expression turning serious as he stared into the distance.

  "From what I can tell, he's very.. unpredictable. I don't have any idea why he would invite me to his tent tomorrow."

  The younger girl let out a moan of pure, unadulterated pleasure. "SO good! It's better than the pig feed they give us! Mhm!"

  A chuckle, soft and genuine, escaped Wei Zheng’s lips. For the first time within this fortress, he could laugh about something so small and cute.

  "Eat up," he said, his voice softening. "There's plenty more."

  "You are too kind, little boy," the older sibling said, her voice laced with a wary caution that even the delicious taste of roasted meat couldn't entirely mask.

  She took another bite, her gaze never leaving Wei Zheng.

  He, in turn, watched them carefully, his own meal forgotten as he waited for his chance to ask about the shimmering lights that had become his world.

  They must be siblings, he observed, his analytical mind cataloging their similarities.

  The same vibrant orange hair, and not only that, their features are very similar, with bright yellow eyes and a single dimple that appears each time their mouth shapes a smile.

  "You're staring rudely, boy," the older sister, Wanxia, finally snapped, her patience worn thin by his silent scrutiny.

  The younger girl, Chenxi, gulped down a mouthful of bread. "S-Stop Elder Sis! He's already feeding us!"

  Wanxia scoffed, shaking her head. "So what? Doesn't mean anything at all."

  Wei Zheng let out an exasperated sigh, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Please, I mean no harm. I… I'm just curious if you can sense Qi."

  Both of them froze.

  The half-eaten food dropped from their hands, landing with a soft thud in the mud.

  Wanxia’s cautious gaze sharpened into one of pure, disbelieving shock. "You…" she breathed, her voice a low whisper. "That can only mean one thing…"

  Zheng nodded slowly. "It's as you've suspected. But I haven't tapped into that… 'realm' yet.

  I am merely seeing these tiny, faint lights around me. And sometimes," he added, his voice dropping with a hint of confusion, "a red, flame-like shape within my dreams."

  What does he mean? Whatever, that's irrelevant. He can sense Qi, but he can't really absorb it yet, Wanxia thought, her mind racing.

  "I see. Then are you about to ask us to teach you how?"

  Zheng’s eyes widened, a flicker of desperate hope igniting within them. He nodded eagerly.

  "Y-Yes, that's precisely right! I don't know… how. I really want to gather them and turn that light into my own strength!"

  His gaze glinted, his resolve a palpable, powerful force.

  With that kind of strength, I'll be able to take down this whole damned operation! "Does it have something to do with the red flame thing within my dream—"

  Wanxia’s hand shot out, stopping him from speaking any further.

  "First of all," she said, her tone blunt and dismissive, "that red flame thing you're talking about is just a dream. It has absolutely nothing to do with Qi."

  Zheng blinked, dumbfounded, as a hot flush of embarrassment washed over him. "I-I see… My bad."

  She let out an exasperated sigh. "Secondly, we'll definitely teach you about Qi. On two conditions." Her hand shot out, raising two fingers.

  "And that is…?" Zheng asked, leaning forward.

  "First, you protect us from any kind of harm," she stated, her gaze unwavering. "Second, you bring us real food and meat whenever we want it. Deal?"

  Wei Zheng rubbed his chin, pondering the terms.

  I can definitely do the second condition with little to no ease, but I don't know how much I can protect them from harm.

  I can't just free them; I don't know how that bastard Yifeng will react.

  I also can't keep guard every time a bandit decides he wants to…

  "I'll see what I can do," he finally said, his expression hardening with a fierce resolve.

  "I'll definitely prevent you from being in harm's way. I'll even find a way to free you from your shackles!" He pumped his chest with a fist. "Mark my words!"

  The younger girl’s eyes widened with hope. "Y-You will?! Did you hear that, Big Sis! We can definitely get out!"

  "Don't be so na?ve," Wanxia sighed. "We don't even know if he can fulfill that promise!"

  "You're right, I can't," Zheng admitted, his honesty disarming. He took a seat once more, a determined smile on his face.

  "But I will try. I'm not the type of person to turn a blind eye. I swear to you, each and every one of these bandits will get what they deserve." He squeezed his fist so tightly a faint drop of blood welled in his palm.

  Wanxia let out one last, long sigh. "We'll count on you, young boy."

  Wei Zheng looked up at them. "I'm Wei Zheng, by the way. You can just call me Zheng."

  The little sister grinned, her own dimple appearing. "Brother Zheng! I'm Xu Chenxi!" Her finger then pointed at her older sister. "And this is my too-serious older sister, Xu Wanxia!"

  Wanxia smacked her own palm against her forehead. "When did I tell you it was okay to reveal our names, Chenxi!"

  Chenxi fumbled with her fingers, her tongue sticking out. "M-My bad… But I swear, Big Sis Wanxia… he's definitely not a bad person!"

  Wanxia took one last, long look at Wei Zheng, at the grim determination in his eyes, and finally, relented. "Fine," she conceded, her voice softening almost imperceptibly. "You don't seem that bad."

  Wei Zheng nodded, his expression a mixture of desperate hope and grim determination. "So, will you teach me how to gather Qi?"

  A few hours later, after the camp's activity had died down into a drunken stupor, Zheng found a small, secluded spot behind the reeking slave pens.

  The foul odor, a familiar torment, now served as an unlikely shield, a pocket of solitude in a world of constant observation.

  “First, you must find a secluded space where you can be at peace and relax,” Wanxia’s voice echoed in his mind. He sat, the damp, cold earth a familiar feeling against his skin.

  "This should be secluded enough," he whispered to the oppressive darkness.

  “Secondly, take deep breaths. Close your eyes and feel the Qi around you.” Wei Zheng took a deep, shuddering breath, the air thick and heavy.

  He closed his eyes, and the world transformed. The faint, shimmering lights he had only glimpsed before were now a swirling, vibrant river of energy all around him. He could feel it, a tingling, electric presence on his skin.

  “Thirdly, rinse and repeat! Don't ever lose focus! Once you enter that realm, your body will slowly adapt! Until it's second nature!”

  He reached out, not with his hands, but with his will, his desperate, unyielding spirit. He tried to pull the light towards him, into him. At first, it was like trying to catch smoke. Then, he relaxed, letting go of the desperate, grasping need, and simply… invited it in. The world rushed into him.

  It was not a gentle trickle; it was a flood. A thousand tiny needles of pure energy pricked every inch of his being as a raging river of power forced its way into his untapped meridians. W-What is this.. Is this how it's supposed to be? It's overwhelming! A bead of sweat formed on his forehead, his teeth gritting against the sheer sensory overload. It's too much! Is this how Qi gets absorbed?!

  Then, he remembered Wanxia's voice again. “The tingling feels good, but it'll be a slow process.

  After all, we're just beginners in this realm.” But this wasn't slow! This was a violent, glorious invasion! The boy’s eyes fluttered, every instinct screaming at him to open them, to sever the connection before he was torn apart by the sheer volume of it.

  But he steeled his resolve, the faces of his tormentors flashing in his mind's eye.

  No! I must focus! I shall gather it thoroughly! This… is… MINE!

  The next day dawned, gray and unforgiving. Within his tent, a space of unnerving cleanliness amidst the camp’s squalor, Hao Yifeng stared at his own reflection in a polished bronze mirror.

  His gray hair was messy from a restless night, his yellow eyes holding a glint of manic anticipation.

  "With a threat like that, I have no doubts he'll come," he mused, his voice a low, confidential whisper to the man in the mirror.

  "I should have mentioned when. He could walk through that tent flap at any time. Morning, noon, afternoon, evening… or even in the deep of the night."

  His lips curled upwards into a slow, predatory grin. "I wonder if he's so brave as to keep me waiting."

  He turned away from his reflection, his gaze sweeping over the simple, almost spartan interior of his tent.

  A single, unseen string was being pulled, a complex and delicate plan he had set in motion long ago.

  The boy was just the latest, most interesting piece to fall onto his board.

  "It's all coming to life," he whispered, a profound, chilling satisfaction in his voice. "This won't fail. I'm sure of it."