“What does Lao Gongren want from me?” Chang Bolin asked, following his henchman into the woods.

“I don’t know, but he said it was important,” the henchman replied stiffly.

“Are you alright? You look pale,” Chang Bolin replied.

The henchman mopped his face. “I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s late, that’s all.”

Chang Bolin peered at him for a second, then shrugged, dismissing him. “I bet he’s come to tell me there’s a mistake, and I was chosen after all. I can’t wait another second. I’ve already spent way too long languishing in this dead-end outer sect. I don’t want to end up as a lowly servant for the real cultivators forever!”

“R…right,” his henchman agreed. He turned the corner, leading Chang Bolin into a bamboo grove. Past the grove, a cliff marked the edge of the mountain.

“Lao Gongren is a disciple of Cao Liang, right? Jade Garden Peak. Ugh, I’m not interested in plant cultivation. Sure, our Jade Garden Peak is one of the more unique peaks of Starbound Sect when it comes to similar-sized sects, and rare herb cultivation is an important source of resources for the sect, both in using and selling them, but it’s not my path. I’m more of a sword cultivator. I’d rather get picked up by Starbound Peak.”

He paused, then waved a hand. “No matter. I can work my way over there after I’m in the inner sect. Anything to get me out of this hellhole.”

Silently, the henchman nodded.

“I wonder who chose me? Lao Gongren, maybe? He’s on the verge of forming his golden core, so he should be eligible to take on disciples soon. Or maybe I caught Peak Lord Cao Liang’s eye? That wouldn’t be too ba—”

A rope coiled around his ankle and flung him through the air. Taken by surprise, Chang Bolin hurtled helplessly after it. He bounced to a stop. The world swirled all around him, and it took him a few moments to catch his bearings.

He dangled off the edge of a cliff from a rope looped around his ankle. The rope coiled around a young, green tree that grew out over the cliff, a tree still bobbing gently from the force of flinging him over the cliff. His robes fell in his face, revealing his trousers. Frustrated, Chang Bolin kicked, trying to free himself. When that didn’t work, he drew a knife from under his robes.

A rock smashed into his hand. He released the knife on instinct, then shouted and reached for it. Before he could catch it, someone yanked the rope, sending him bobbling away from the knife. It tumbled into the treetops far below, glimmering once before it vanished entirely.

“Who dares? I’ll kill you!” Chang Bolin shouted.

“Save your threats for the living,” Weiheng Hui replied in a low voice.

Chang Bolin turned, his blood running cold.

A ghastly sight awaited him. Standing off-kilter, one shoulder higher than the other, Weiheng Hui held the other end of the rope on the cliff’s edge. Dried blood stained his lips and chin and soaked into his blue robes. Matted to his body, his black hair laid limp. His robes hung in disarray, showing horrible bruises underneath.

Chang Bolin’s blood ran cold. I felt the qi leave his body. He’s dead.

Don’t tell me…

Hui smiled, revealing bloodstained teeth. “You killed me, Chang Bolin. You did. Apologize for your misdeeds!”

“I did nothing wrong! You were a waste of space!” Chang Bolin shouted. “They never should have brought you to the sect! If you want to blame someone, blame Lao Gongren for picking you up in the first place!”

“Wrong answer.” Hui let the rope slip through his hands.

Chang Bolin plunged toward the trees below. He braced himself for impact.

Hui caught the rope again, pulling him short. A sharp pop echoed over the forest. Chang Bolin screamed and grabbed his leg. It stretched oddly at the hip, yanked out of place.

“I’m not stronger than you. I can’t beat you physically. But for all that you’ve trained your muscles… have you trained your ligaments and tendons?” Hui laughed.

“You—you monster!” Chang Bolin bit out, panting. His face burned red with pain. Sweat ran down his face and soaked into his hair. He grabbed for his leg again, then winced and fell back as the motion set him swinging.

“You killed me,” Hui replied flatly. Or tried to, anyways. Ah, what a pity that this poor little disciple is so merciful that I can’t bear to kill you in return! No fear, though, my friend. This poor disciple here isn’t afraid to dish out a little pain. How do you like the taste of my old debt collectors’ techniques? I couldn’t walk for months after this one!

“I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you again, and shred your soul to bits, scatter your energy to the four winds so you can’t be reincarnated ever again!” Chang Bolin shouted.

“All that, over a little bit of pain? You really are a fragile kid. No wonder no one’s chosen you for the inner sect yet. They’ve all seen you for the brat you are.” Tutting, Hui tied the rope off on the tree beside him.

“L—let me down!” Chang Bolin cried.

“So you can kill me again and scatter my soul to the winds, or whatever you said? I think you’re better off taking a little nap out here. Don’t worry. Someone should find you when the sun rises… probably.”

Laughing evilly, Hui vanished into the forest. His henchman will probably let him down as soon as I’m out of sight. Not that I mind. If he was going to learn a lesson, he’s learned it. If he wasn’t… at least I satisfied myself.

Staggering, he tripped and fell against a tree. Ah… I’m tired. I hope elder sister Mei is still in the cafeteria when I get there. With effort, he pushed himself off the tree and staggered onward. Wait for me, my beloved high-quality spiritual rice congee…