A Temporary Haven

"The one on the left," Lu Yuan said briefly, walking towards the empty room.

The door hinges creaked. The room was cleaner than expected; the bamboo bed, wooden table, and low cabinet against the wall were all covered with a thin layer of dust. The window frames were covered with old hemp paper. Lin Xiao followed him in and closed the door behind him.

Neither of them spoke.

Lu Yuan pulled open the low cabinet. Inside were two sets of coarse cloth quilts, with ceramic bowls and wooden spoons at the bottom. He shook one of the quilts, and dust and lint rose up.

"This old man..." Lin Xiao sat down against the wall, his right arm still in a sling, "He did prepare some things."

"Teacher Shen has already given his regards." Lu Yuan walked to the window and pushed it open halfway. The valley breeze blew in, carrying the fresh scent of herbs.

Lin Xiao stared at the medicinal herb garden outside the window. Several kingfishers hopped on the fence.

"Can they really stay?"

"For now." Lu Yuan finished making the bed. "Senior Qingzhu is observing. We need to prove our worth, at least without causing trouble."

Lin Xiao scoffed.

As evening fell, Qingzhu arrived. He carried a steaming earthenware pot in one hand and a small cloth bag in the other.

"Medicinal soup," he placed on the table. "Drink it to dispel dampness, cold, and stagnation from your body. The cloth bag contains an external herbal ointment; apply it to the injured area every night."

Lin Xiao leaned closer and sniffed it, then frowned. "Bitter."

"Good medicine tastes bitter." Qingzhu glanced at him. "Your right arm, although the bones have been set, the Soul Power is blocked in the meridians. If it's not cleared, its flexibility will be reduced in the future."

These words hit the nail on the head. Lin Xiao fell silent, picked up the bowl, and took a big gulp, his face contorting in pain.

Lu Yuan took the medicinal soup. The soup was dark brown in color and had a pungent yet sweet aroma. He took a small sip, quietly circulating his Soul Power to sense the direction of the medicinal effects. A warm current spread from his stomach.

Qingzhu saw it all but said nothing.

After the two finished drinking, he spoke, "There are natural barriers around the valley, so ordinary Soul Beast can't get in. There's a small waterfall pool behind the eastern cliff where you can wash and get water. Don't go too deep into the forest on the west side."

He paused.

"For food, there's rice, noodles, and pickled vegetables in the shed behind the stone house. Make your own. I usually stay in the herb garden or the main house; just knock on the door if you need anything."

After giving his instructions, he turned to leave.

"Senior," Lu Yuan called out to him.

The Qingzhu turned its head.

"Regarding that waterway..." Lu Yuan carefully chose his words, "May I ask you again about the question you raised earlier?"

Qingzhu's eyes flickered.

What do you want to ask?

"The ecology of the Nether Waterway is abnormal," Lu Yuan said. "There are no fish or insects, little moss, and the rock walls are bare. But Blood-Eyed Bat can inhabit it. I suspect that there may be some kind of periodically changing 'field' or water-soluble substance in the waterway that inhibits most life forms, but has formed a special symbiosis with the Blood-Eyed Bat."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "If it's convenient for you, senior, could you please tell me about the conditions deeper into the waterway?"

Qingzhu remained silent for a long while.

"You're quite persistent." He shook his head. "However, now is not the time. First, heal your injuries and make sure you walk steadily on the path ahead."

He tapped the ground with his bamboo cane and left.

Lin Xiao let out a sigh of relief.

"That old man, he always only says half of what he means."

"He's already revealed quite a bit." Lu Yuan walked to the low cabinet, took out a ceramic bowl, and said, "Let us stay, give the medicine, and warn us of the danger. As for the waterway... that's probably even more complicated."

He set the bowls out.

"Take care of the immediate situation first."

***

Over the next few days, time flowed slowly through the valley.

Lu Yuan gets up early every day to fetch water from the waterfall pool to the east. He comes back to cook porridge and cut some pickled vegetables. Lin Xiao usually wakes up around this time, yawning as he sits down at the table.

After the meal, Lu Yuan helped Lin Xiao change his dressing. The herbal ointment was dark green Sisi when applied to the swollen area of his right arm. Lin Xiao grimaced, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Bear with it." Lu Yuan's technique was steady. "Your Soul Power should follow the medicine's effects; don't try to tough it out."

"I know," Lin Xiao squeezed out through gritted teeth.

After applying the medicine, Lu Yuan began his studies.

He sat at the wooden table by the window, spreading out the blank notebook he had brought from Nuoding City —the paper was almost gone. He dipped his fingertips in water and sketched symbols on the table.

Mo Chen's knowledge of Soul Tool, the Soul Power characteristics of strange fruits, the ecological balance case of the Qingzhu Herb Garden... fragments surged in his mind.

A line is needed.

Lu Yuan closed his eyes. He withdrew his Soul Power perception inward and sank it into his sea of consciousness.

What is the essence of Soul Power?

In this world, it is the foundation of cultivation. But Lu Yuan saw something deeper—it is an observable and interactive form of energy. It can combine with matter, guide and change the state of life, and can also be constrained and utilized by specific structures.

The key lies in "interaction".

He opened his eyes and traced lines on the table with his fingertips.

Strange fruits can directly replenish Soul Power. Mo Chen's Soul Tool guides Soul Power through the recorded "soul path". The Golden Thread Grass in the Qingzhu Herb Garden is a life system formed by the combined effects of Soul Power, water and soil, and the energy field of neighboring plants.

So, is it possible to establish a basic model to describe the interaction rules between Soul Power and matter, and between Soul Power and life?

Once the thought arises, countless possibilities explode.

Lu Yuan breath, forcing himself to calm down. He started with the simplest thing—the attenuation of Soul Power transmission in inert matter.

He got up and picked up several stones of different materials from outside: bluestone, shale, and a fragment that looked like chalcedony. He returned to the table and summoned the Blue Silver Grass.

The blades of grass were thin and delicate, but their Soul Power perception was already sharp enough.

He controlled a wisp of Soul Power and injected it into the bluestone. The Soul Power spread and weakened rapidly like water seeping into sand, disappearing without a trace after three breaths. The shale was similar, weakening even faster. When it came to the jade marrow fragments, the Soul Power actually flowed slowly through them three times before gradually fading away.

interesting.

Lu Yuan noted down the phenomena. Material density, Soul Power affinity, internal structure... there were too many variables, but at least he had a starting point.

As the afternoon sun began to set, he continued his calculations.

Lin Xiao stepped out of the house and stretched his right arm. The herbal medicine had worked remarkably well; the swelling had subsided considerably. He walked to the open space in front of the house and took a deep breath.

The Martial Soul quietly possessed him.

A faint light flashed, and a translucent claw outline extended from the fingertip. But this time, the edges of the claw trembled slightly, and the fluctuations of Soul Power were more active than before.

Lin Xiao frowned. Ever since he ate that Origin Spirit Fruit, his Martial Soul had been acting strangely. It felt stronger, but occasionally it would become uncontrollably restless.

He tried to guide his Soul Power, following the path passed down in his family.

The moment his Soul Power surged, the tendons in his right arm suddenly twitched. A sharp pain exploded within him, and he groaned as the claws vanished instantly.

I broke out in a cold sweat.

Lin Xiao gritted his teeth, his amber pupils contracting. He tried again, this time even slower. His Soul Power flowed slowly through the meridians of his arm like a stream.

The claws reappeared.

But its form has changed—what was originally just a sharp claw blade now has fine, scale-like dark patterns appearing on its edges, and a faint, ghostly light flows around the claw tip.

Lin Xiao was stunned.

This is not how the Hell Spirit Cat should appear according to the family records.

He tried to swing it. The sharp claws sliced through the air, leaving a faint black trail that lasted for half a breath before dissipating.

A surge of power.

He quickly withdrew his strength. The instant his Soul Power receded, his right arm meridians were pierced by a sharp pain, as if they were being pricked by countless fine needles.

Lin Xiao staggered and grabbed the fence for support. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"Can't control yourself?" a voice came from behind.

Lu Yuan was standing at the doorway, a notebook in his hand. His gaze fell on Lin Xiao's right arm, then shifted to the lingering, distorted remnants in the air.

"A little." Lin Xiao took a breath, "After eating that fruit, my Martial Soul... seems to have changed."

"It's not a change." Lu Yuan approached, observing the lingering aura of Soul Power on his arm. "It's that your original traits have been enhanced. The natural Soul Power contained in the Origin Spirit Fruit may have activated some kind of potential deep within your Martial Soul."

He paused.

"The cultivation technique passed down in your family was designed according to the standard Hell Spirit Cat. However, your Martial Soul has mutated, and the technique is incompatible. In addition, the fruit's stimulation is like trying to divert floodwaters through a narrow channel."

Lin Xiao remained silent.

This statement cut to the chase.

"What to do?"

Lu Yuan didn't answer immediately. He went back into the house, and came out a moment later, holding a charcoal pencil and a piece of rough-edged paper.

"Stop circulating your Soul Power when you feel it's about to get out of control."

Lin Xiao glanced at him and did as he was told.

Soul Power surged once more, sharp claws appeared, and dark patterns flowed. The pain intensified.

"Now, don't think about controlling which meridian it flows through," Lu Yuan said calmly. "Feel the 'inclination' of the Soul Power itself. Where does it want to go?"

Lin Xiao closed his eyes.

Pain interfered with his senses, but he forced himself to focus. His Soul Power surged within him, indeed with a vague "flow"—it yearned to extend, to tear apart, to... hide in the shadows.

He suddenly opened his eyes.

"It wants to disperse, yet it also wants to stay stagnant at its claw tip. It's a contradiction."

"Not contradictory." Lu Yuan quickly sketched on the scrap paper, "It's possible that two traits are awakening simultaneously. Your mutation direction may simultaneously include 'extreme sharpness' and 'shadow affinity'."

He drew a simple diagram.

"Traditional cultivation methods use linear guidance. But your Martial Soul might require... Netlike Channeling. Soul Power is divided into multiple streams: one part enhances attack, one part integrates with shadow attributes, and another part stabilizes meridians."

Lin Xiao stared at the picture.

"Can you do that?"

"We need to try," Lu Yuan put down his charcoal pencil, "And I need your cooperation. Whenever you feel you're losing control, stop and tell me the specific sensations of your Soul Power."

Lin Xiao was taken aback.

"I'll give it a try."

***

Two days later, Lin Xiao's right arm had basically recovered.

After examining the body, Qingzhu nodded. "The blockages in the meridians have been cleared, and the bones are healing well. For the next month, avoid using overly powerful Soul Skill."

He looked at Lu Yuan.

"Any progress on your calculations?"

Lu Yuan was organizing his notes. Over the past few days, he had developed a rough model of how Soul Power is conducted and attenuates in common substances. It was very basic, but it provided a framework.

"It's just getting started," he said truthfully. "The interaction between Soul Power and matter involves a great many variables."

Qingzhu picked up a piece of scrap paper covered with symbols and curves.

He stared at it for a long time.

"Your thinking is clear." Finally, he put down the paper. "But the direction is too broad. The path of Soul Power is as vast as the sea. If you try to figure out all the rules from scratch, you might not be able to do it even if you spend your whole life."

Lu Yuan nodded.

"This junior understands. Therefore, I will only choose the most pressing issue at hand—how to utilize Soul Power more efficiently and stably."

A hint of appreciation flashed in Qingzhu's eyes.

"Pragmatic. However..." he changed the subject, "You're only temporarily staying here. The Hundred Refinements Pavilion won't be without clues forever. What are your plans for the future?"

The air went still for a moment.

Lin Xiao stood by the door, saying nothing.

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment.

"First, restore your strength and perfect your own system. Once your Soul Power is stable and the hidden dangers in Lin Xiao's Martial Soul have a controllable path, then we can make further plans." He paused, "Does Senior have any suggestions?"

Leaning on Qingzhu cane, I gaze at the distant mountains.

"The Hundred Refinements Pavilion's main influence is in the northwest of the Star Luo Empire. If you head east and enter the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire, their reach will be somewhat diminished. However, crossing borders is not easy."

He turned around.

"In her Girl Shen mentioned that she had an old friend who taught at the ' Morning Star Academy ' on the border of Heaven Dou. The academy was remote and not well-known, but it might offer her a place to stay. However, that's a matter for the future."

He took a small wooden box from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Yuan.

"Inside are three ' Origin Consolidation Pill.' They're not particularly precious, but they can solidify your Soul Power foundation and help you break through your current bottleneck. Consider it... a small token of my appreciation."

Lu Yuan accepted it and thanked him solemnly.

Qingzhu waved her hand, turned around and went back to the main house. But when she reached the door, she stopped.

"Regarding that waterway," he said in a low voice, his back to the two men, "I will tell you some clues before you leave. Knowing it now will only do you harm."

The bamboo door closed gently.

Lin Xiao walked over and glanced at the wooden box.

"That old man isn't a bad person."

Lu Yuan carefully put the wooden box away.

"He's observing us, weighing his options." He walked to the window. "This place is peaceful, but not a place to stay for long. We need to prepare quickly."

Outside the window, dusk was gradually settling in.

***

For several days in a row, Lin Xiao was trying out the "Netlike Channeling" method proposed by Lu Yuan.

The process was extremely painful. The Soul Power was divided and circulated, requiring precise control; the slightest carelessness would cause chaos. He often had to stop halfway through his practice due to excruciating pain.

But progress is also evident.

The dark patterns on the claws were becoming clearer. The number of times his Soul Power went out of control was decreasing, although the pain from the backlash was more intense each time he lost control.

Lu Yuan then focused on perfecting the model. He realized that simply recording the phenomena was not enough; mathematical tools were needed. However, there were no computing devices like those from his previous life, so he had to rely on mental calculations.

He attempted to symbolize parameters such as the frequency of Soul Power fluctuations and the material Soul Tool Department, and establish simple relationships. Progress was slow, but with each step forward, his understanding of Soul Power deepened.

Sometimes, late at night, he would still be at his desk working on calculations. The candlelight flickered, and the scrap paper was covered with dense calculations.

Lin Xiao woke up and saw that he was still there.

Aren't you tired?

"I'm tired," Lu Yuan rubbed his temples. "But we don't have much time."

He looked out the window at the dark valley.

Peace is temporary. We must act quickly.

Before they knew it, they had lived in the valley for half a month.

Lin Xiao's right arm has fully recovered, and his Soul Power channeling is gradually getting on track. Lu Yuan's Soul Power model has taken initial shape. After taking the Origin Consolidation Pill, the accumulation of Soul Power has accelerated significantly.

One afternoon, Lin Xiao was trying out the newly comprehended Soul Power circulation in the open space behind the house.

The sunlight was blinding.

He focused his mind, Soul Power surged forth in three streams. One gathered at the tip of his claws; one dispersed into the flesh of his arm; and the last one attempted to merge with the light and shadow around him.

Claws appeared, their dark patterns flowing like those of a living creature.

He took a deep breath and swung his claws forward.

laugh--

A soft sound of air being torn apart. Three intersecting black streaks remained in the air, lasting for a moment before dissipating. Where the claw marks passed, the light distorted slightly, and his figure seemed to blur for a fleeting instant.

Success?

Lin Xiao was overjoyed.

But at that moment, his Soul Power suddenly went out of control.

The three streams of Soul Power suddenly intertwined and surged wildly towards his arm. A sharp pain exploded, and the claws grew uncontrollably, with ghostly flames blazing at their edges.

He let out a low growl and slammed his arm down onto the ground.

Boom!

The rocks crumbled, leaving three claw marks more than half a foot deep. Rock fragments flew everywhere.

Soul Power surged wildly within his body. Lin Xiao knelt on one knee, his face deathly pale, cold sweat instantly soaking through his clothes.

Lu Yuan rushed out of the house.

He saw the claw marks, Lin Xiao's trembling arm, and the chaotic, eerie light in those amber pupils.

He didn't immediately step forward. Lu Yuan stopped a few steps away, his gaze quickly sweeping across the scene.

After a moment, he suddenly spoke.

Your problem might not be about control.

Lin Xiao struggled to lift his head.

Lu Yuan approached, squatted down, and stared at the lingering aura of Soul Power on his arm.

"It's about guidance, and also about symbiosis." He spoke steadily, but every word was clear. "Your Martial Soul might be more 'thoughtful' than you think. It's not rebelling against you; it's using this method to tell you what kind of environment it needs."

Lin Xiao was panting, his throat dry.

"What's the meaning?"

Lu Yuan reached out and hovered his hand above Lin Xiao's right arm. The Blue Silver Grass quietly spread, and the tips of the grass leaves glowed faintly.

"Before you lost control, did you try to merge your Soul Power into the shadows?"

"... yes."

"Was that portion of Soul Power the final source of the loss of control?"

Lin Xiao recalled... it seems so.

He nodded.

Lu Yuan withdrew his hand, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"I have a guess," he said slowly, "Your Martial Soul Mutation may be developing in the direction of generating preliminary 'spirituality' or 'specialty domain.' Shadow affinity is not a passive attribute, but a 'domain' that needs to be actively constructed. Forcibly guiding it with linear cultivation techniques is like forcing living water into an iron pipe."

He paused.

"Perhaps, we should change our approach. Instead of suppressing it to follow your path, we should... build a framework and let it grow freely within the scope you define. You provide Soul Power and will, and it provides traits and feedback. Symbiosis."

Lin Xiao was completely stunned.

He had never imagined this angle.

His family taught him to control and conquer. But Lu Yuan was talking about... cooperation? Cooperation with his own Martial Soul?

absurd.

Yet, I have a vague feeling that perhaps this is the right thing to do.

He looked at his still trembling right hand. The claws had been retracted, but beneath his skin, his Soul Power still stirred restlessly, like a trapped beast.

Perhaps, it really is "speaking".

He just never learned to listen.

A breeze rose in the valley, scattering the dust. In the distance, in the medicinal garden, Qingzhu stood silently by the fence, watching this side.

He gently tapped the ground with his bamboo cane.