When Lin Ye woke, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar room.
The room was small, simply furnished, and very clean.
He tried to move. Agonizing pain shot through his entire body. The bones in his left shoulder and chest felt as though they had been shattered and forcibly pieced back together. Every breath brought a tearing pain.
"Don't move around." Chen Feng's voice came from the doorway.
He walked in carrying a bowl of medicine. It was dark brown and gave off a strong bitter smell mixed with the stench of blood.
"This is Bone-Knitting Muscle-Regenerating Soup. I got it from the Alchemy Hall." Chen Feng helped Lin Ye sit up and held the bowl to his lips.
He took the bowl and drank it all in one go.
The medicine flowed into his stomach, then surged through his limbs like a warm current. It concentrated around his wounds, where it felt as if countless bugs were crawling over him, itching and tingling.
"How long was I unconscious?" Lin Ye asked, his voice hoarse.
"Three days." Chen Feng took the empty bowl. "You were badly hurt. Four ribs were broken, your left shoulder blade was shattered completely, your meridians were damaged, and you lost too much blood."
"What about Zhao Liang?"
"His body's in the cave. It collapsed, so no one will find it for now." Chen Feng looked at him. "But Zhao Liang was a distant nephew of Elder Wang from the Inner Sect. He'll investigate this thoroughly."
"Have they traced it back to me?"
"Not yet." Chen Feng shook his head. "Someone saw you head to the back mountain that night. The Law Enforcement Hall has already begun investigating in secret."
Lin Ye fell silent. He had killed Zhao Liang because he had no choice. If he hadn't, he would have been the one to die.
"Why are you helping me?" He looked at Chen Feng.
Chen Feng walked to the window and gazed at the bamboo grove outside. His figure seemed a little indistinct in the mottled light and shadow.
"I owe you my life," he said slowly. "Back at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, you could've left me to my fate."
"That's the only reason?"
"Not entirely." Chen Feng turned to look at him. "Lin Ye, do you know what kind of place the Qingyun Sect is?"
"A place to cultivate."
Chen Feng smiled, his tone laced with scorn. "It is a place to cultivate, but it's more like a chessboard. We're all pieces, casually moved around by those who stand high above us."
"So?"
"So I want to work with you." Chen Feng met Lin Ye's gaze. "A true partnership, not an exchange of benefits. Allies. On this chessboard, we'll support each other and fight our way to survival."
Lin Ye looked at him without speaking.
The only sound in the room was the soft rustle of wind through the bamboo leaves.
After a long while, Lin Ye spoke. "What do you want to do?"
"Work hard to grow stronger—strong enough that no one dares treat us like chess pieces." Chen Feng enunciated each word. "Then flip the board."
"Flip the board?" Lin Ye laughed.
"Can we do that? Two Body Tempering cultivators?"
"We can't now. That doesn't mean we never will." Chen Feng's gaze was firm. "You have talent, skill, and guts. I have cards you don't know about. If we join forces, we might have a chance."
"Your cards are the people backing you?" Lin Ye asked.
Chen Feng's pupils contracted slightly. "You know?"
"Zhao Mingxuan warned me to stay away from you. He said there was a lot going on behind your back."
"Zhao Mingxuan..." Chen Feng's expression turned cold. "He's no good. He tried to recruit you only to use you as a chess piece, then toss you aside when he was done. He definitely knows about Zhao Liang, but he won't get involved. In his eyes, you're not worth the trouble of protecting."
"I know. I never expected him to."
Lin Ye tried to sit upright. The pain brought sweat to his brow, but he gritted his teeth and endured it. "Tell me your plan."
"First, we get through the crisis in front of us." Chen Feng said, "Elder Wang will definitely trace Zhao Liang's disappearance back to you. Even without evidence, he'll find another way to deal with you. The Outer Sect Competition is a good opportunity."
"Make a move during the competition?"
"The competition is public, so Elder Wang won't dare attack you openly. He'll arrange for someone to 'accidentally' cripple you during a match, or even kill you. What we need to do now is grow strong enough to handle any danger that comes our way in the competition."
"And after that?"
"Then we enter the Inner Sect." Chen Feng said, "Only then will we truly enter the heart of the Qingyun Sect. There are more resources and opportunities there. It's also the only place where we can grow stronger quickly."
"Once I'm in the Inner Sect, Elder Wang will be even less likely to let me go."
"That's why we need to find someone to back us." Chen Feng said, "Zhao Mingxuan won't do. He's too calculating."
"Have you got someone in mind?"
"The master of Green Bamboo Peak in the Inner Sect, Qin Lie. He's a martial arts fanatic, straightforward by nature, and hates scheming more than anything. He also has a grudge against Elder Wang. If we can become his disciples, Elder Wang will have to think twice."
Chen Feng lowered his voice. "The Outer Sect Competition is our chance. If we stand out enough, we'll draw attention. Even if he won't take us in, we can find a way to approach him."
Lin Ye fell silent for a moment, then said, "Let's get through the competition first."
"How long will it take you to recover from your injuries?"
"Seven days," Lin Ye said. "I also need some cultivation techniques."
"Techniques?"
"My current technique isn't enough." Lin Ye didn't elaborate.
"I'll find a way." Chen Feng said, "I'll give you an answer in seven days. For now, stay here and recover. Don't go anywhere. This place is well hidden. Almost no one comes here."
"By the way, I've already spoken to Zhao Xiaosi. I told him you were in seclusion. He won't say anything to Zhou Bapi."
Chen Feng opened the door and left.
Lin Ye gazed at the bamboo grove outside, his eyes deep and unreadable.
He didn't know how much of what Chen Feng had said was true.
But he knew he really did need allies right now.
"Chess piece..." he murmured, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Let's see who's the piece and who's the player."
Lin Ye put the matter aside and began examining his injuries. The Bone-Knitting Muscle-Regenerating Soup was quite effective, and with his own recovery rate, he should be able to recover seventy to eighty percent within seven days.
"I'll break through to the ninth level of Body Tempering first," Lin Ye thought.
At the ninth level of Body Tempering, the body would undergo a transformation and its recovery would greatly improve. That might speed up the healing of his injuries.
But he was badly injured now. Forcing a breakthrough would be too risky.
"Heal first, then cultivate."
Lin Ye sat cross-legged and began circulating the Azure Origin Technique.
At the same time, he recalled the battle that night.
"The gap between the True Qi Realm and Body Tempering is enormous." Lin Ye's heart tightened.
With true qi, strength, speed, and defense all increased dramatically. True qi could be released to attack or defend, and it could also enhance martial techniques, multiplying their power.
Lin Ye calmed his mind and focused on healing.
The days passed.
With the combined effects of the Bone-Knitting Muscle-Regenerating Soup and the Azure Origin Technique, his injuries healed quickly.
Seven days later, he had recovered more than eighty percent. Only a faint ache remained in his chest, and it barely interfered with cultivation.
Chen Feng came by at dusk that day.
He brought a bundle.
"The things you asked for." Chen Feng set the bundle on the table.
Inside were ten Blood Origin Pills, which could replenish his qi and blood and speed his recovery; five True Essence Pills, which could help with breakthroughs in Body Tempering; and three cultivation manuals.
The Vajra Indestructible Body was a low-grade, superior-level body-tempering technique. Practicing it greatly increased the body's defense.
The Wind Chasing Steps were a low-grade, superior-level movement technique. They were faster than the Flowing Cloud Steps, but slightly less agile.
The Thunderbolt Sword Technique was a low-grade, superior-level sword art. It was fierce and domineering, more powerful than the Thirteen Swords of the Clear Wind, but more demanding.
There was also a map.
Before you continue