Master Lian walked through the outer courtyard, his hands clasped behind his back, brows slightly knitted. Elder Ah Gu’s words echoed in his mind like a slow drumbeat. Timing. Loyalty. No mistakes.

  Just as he reached his office, he noticed a familiar figure standing quietly outside the door. Chen Mo stood straight, expression calm, neither anxious nor impatient, as if he had been waiting for some time.

  Master Lian’s steps paused for a brief moment. His eyes narrowed slightly, then a faint smile appeared on his face. He raised his hand and gestured lightly.

  “Come.”

  Chen Mo cupped his hands. “Master.”

  Without saying anything more, Master Lian turned and pushed the door open. Chen Mo followed closely behind, and the two entered the office one after another.

  The door closed softly.

  Master Lian moved to his seat and gestured for Chen Mo to sit, his gaze lingering on the boy a fraction longer than usual, as if trying to see through flesh and bone.

  “You came early,” Master Lian said casually. “What is it?”

  Chen Mo took a breath, his posture respectful yet steady. “Disciple came to report something to Master.”

  Master Lian’s eyes flickered with interest. “Oh?”

  Chen Mo raised his head slightly, meeting Master Lian’s gaze. “Last night, disciple… broke through.”

  For a heartbeat, the room went silent.

  Master Lian’s fingers froze mid-motion. Slowly, he leaned forward, his eyes sharp as blades.

  “Say that again.”

  Chen Mo spoke clearly, without hesitation. “Disciple has entered the Skin Refining realm.”

  A long moment passed. Then Master Lian laughed. Not loudly, but deeply, the sound rolling in his chest like distant thunder.

  “Good… very good.”

  His gaze toward Chen Mo was no longer merely approving. It was calculating, burning, and filled with unmistakable satisfaction.

  “So,” Master Lian said slowly, “you truly did not disappoint me.”

  Master Lian continued, his tone relaxed yet unmistakably pleased.

  “It has only been a month since you sensed qi. I truly did not misjudge you. You are an unpolished gem, one worthy of the school’s investment.” He laughed softly. “Even that brat Li Yuxie needed two full months to break through. Hahaha.”

  The laughter faded, replaced by a more serious expression.

  “But do not become complacent. Now that you are officially a martial artist, you must understand that the road ahead only grows harsher. Every minor bottleneck is harder than the last, and major bottlenecks…” He shook his head slowly. “They can trap a person for years.”

  His gaze drifted, tinged with bitterness.

  “Take me for example. My aptitude was not poor, yet I spent twenty years in the Skin Refining realm. In the end, I still failed to overcome the final hurdle and step into Muscle Refining.”

  For the first time, Master Lian’s shoulders seemed a little heavier.

  Chen Mo seized the opening. “Master, what exactly are these bottlenecks? Why are they so difficult?”

  Master Lian exhaled. “That is not easy to explain. Martial arts are not merely about accumulation or resources. Comprehension is just as important.” He tapped the table lightly. “Overcoming a bottleneck is like a sudden flash of enlightenment, a shortcut carved through endless grinding. Without it, no amount of effort is enough.”

  He looked at Chen Mo intently. “That is why talent matters.”

  “You have immense potential, boy.”

  Chen Mo cupped his hands. “Thank you for Master Lian’s guidance.”

  Lowering his head slightly, Chen Mo’s expression remained respectful, but inwardly he scoffed.

  Bottlenecks? With the panel, what are bottlenecks anyway? A bad joke.

  Master Lian straightened, his demeanor shifting from mentor to schemer.

  “Now, since time is tight and you have not disappointed us, there are things you must know.” He spoke plainly. “The Alchemy Department has its own experts overseeing various industries. One of them is responsible for the storage and transportation of herbs used to concoct medicinal bath powders and recovery pills.”

  He continued without pause. “Herb gathering and processing are handled elsewhere. What concerns you is the storage and transport facility on the eastern edge of the city.”

  Chen Mo’s ears perked up.

  “The steward there is retiring soon,” Master Lian said slowly. “We need a replacement. Someone trustworthy.”

  His eyes locked onto Chen Mo.

  “And that,” he said, voice heavy with implication, “is where your opportunity lies.”

  Master Lian leaned forward, fingers interlaced. “If you take this position, the department will double its investment in you. More resources for your cultivation, medicinal baths, recovery pills, everything.” A faint smile appeared. “On top of that, a fixed salary of fifteen taels of silver per month.”

  He chuckled softly. “You will not find such treatment anywhere else.”

  The room fell silent once more, the weight of silver, power, and unseen chains hanging thickly in the air.

  Chen Mo’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mind racing even as his face remained calm.

  “Is there anything specific you wish to entrust me with, Master Lian?” he asked carefully, probing without revealing his caution.

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  A shrewd smile curved Master Lian’s lips. “It’s nothing too complicated. You just follow instructions, do everything by the book. Tally the storage prepared for transportation every week, seal the document with the steward’s seal…” He paused, letting the words sink in. “…and, of course, you will need to seal the additional documents we provide as well. That’s all. Just do your job and don’t think too much about the rest.”

  Chen Mo’s face remained neutral, but inwardly he cursed. Fuck… those bastards are mooching off the school’s resources and want to dump all the responsibility onto me. But I can’t back down now… they’re not ordering me, they’re enticing me with benefits. Damn it.

  “I will follow your instructions, Master Lian,” Chen Mo said with calm resolve.

  Master Lian’s approving smile widened. “Good. You are a smart boy. With our support, your future will be limitless.” He stood, brushing his hands together. “Alright, come with me now. We will meet Master Ah Gu and then register your new information in the Internal Hall.”

  Chen Mo nodded, masking the whirlwind of thoughts inside. Every step he took alongside Master Lian was measured, calculated; he was walking willingly into a web, but with eyes wide open.

  It didn’t take long before both of them arrived at Master Ah Gu’s office. Master Lian knocked sharply, waiting until he received permission to enter.

  Ah Gu glanced up from his papers. “You’re here again? Is something urgent?”

  Master Lian cupped his hands respectfully. “Master Gu, the problem you entrusted me with is already solved.” He gestured toward Chen Mo standing behind him. “This is Disciple Chen Mo.”

  Chen Mo stepped forward, cupping his hands and bowing. “Disciple Chen Mo greets Master.”

  Ah Gu’s gaze flicked from Chen Mo to Master Lian. Lian didn’t pause and began explaining. “Chen Mo is the disciple I recruited a month ago. Fortunately, he did not disappoint and broke through today to the Skin Refining realm.”

  Ah Gu raised an eyebrow, impressed. “One month…” He paused, letting the weight of that sink in, then nodded. “Good, good. Such a prodigy. Well done.”

  He picked up a document, scribbled a few notes, and handed it to Chen Mo. “Go now, register your information and present this document. You will get your quota doubled as a reward.”

  Chen Mo received the paper, bowed slightly, and said, “Thank you, Master. I will be in your care from now on.”

  Ah Gu smiled faintly. “Go now.” He gestured to Lian to stay behind.

  Once Chen Mo had retreated, Ah Gu leaned back, his eyes sharp as he looked at Lian. “Do you trust him?”

  Lian’s expression was calm. “Don’t worry, Master. He is an orphan from an impoverished village half a day away from the city… he will depend on us for everything.”

  Ah Gu let out a quiet sigh. “It’s a pity such a talent… if the Law Enforcement had gotten him first, he might have become a dangerous figure.”

  Lian shrugged. “Perhaps, Master, but we cannot be sure. Many geniuses get stuck at bottlenecks. Even so, with our guidance and resources, we can nurture him. By the time he grows, he will be tightly bound to our cause.”

  Ah Gu nodded slowly, a hint of relief in his voice. “That’s good. I will handle the documents for his transfer with Lord Feng.” He exhaled, finally relaxing.

  Chen Mo made his way to the Internal Affairs office first. The process was smooth and efficient; he presented his documents and received a new uniform marked with two green stripes, the insignia for skin refining experts. The attendants handled everything professionally, without a hint of surprise or questions.

  Next, he went to the Resources Office. Again, the procedure was seamless. Presenting his papers, Chen Mo received two packets of medicinal powder and ten recovery pills. He knew that a single packet was enough for three medicinal baths, and the supplies would be crucial for accelerating his cultivation.

  In both offices, the attendants treated him with the expected deference. With his new identity token and official document, there was no need for explanations—his status alone was enough to grant him access to these resources. Chen Mo noted this quietly, realizing how much power and leverage the formal recognition of the school conferred, and he tucked his new supplies carefully, already planning how to maximize their use.

  Deep within the City Lord’s mansion, Sect Master Han Zhen sat upright, his posture perfectly straight, hands folded lightly around a delicate porcelain cup. Steam curled gently from the tea, filling the quiet room with its fragrant warmth.

  He sipped slowly, each movement deliberate, as he waited patiently for the City Lord’s arrival. The afternoon sun filtered through the latticed windows, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor. Outside, the usual bustle of servants and guards was subdued in respect of the gathering about to take place.

  Han Zhen’s calm demeanor belied the weight of the discussion to come; every word with the City Lord mattered, and he had prepared himself for the delicate balance of persuasion and diplomacy that awaited.