Night had fallen over the Slumbering Flame Sect with a false calm, like those bedsheets that look clean until you look closely and… well, they have more stains than Elder Guan's reputation.
The spiritual stone lanterns flickered with a faint glow, illuminating the paths of the lower complex where the outer disciples lived. Among the shadows, someone walked with slow, sure steps.
Li Wei.
Right, I'm no longer blind. This place is divided into layers like a rotten onion.First layer: the outer disciples—cannon fodder, bucket carriers, professional victims.Second layer: inner disciples—some with real talent, most with connections.Third layer: affiliated clans—those who truly pull the strings in this sect. Zhang, Copper, Wu… and probably some who don't even show themselves.And then there are… the monsters. Those who don't need to speak to command respect.
Xue Lan. Bai Zhong. And perhaps that Serene Sword girl.
If I want to survive—no, to prosper—I have to navigate these waters like a fox among sharks.
He stopped in front of a small, worn wooden cabin. He knocked gently.
"Sun Jie?"
The door opened a few seconds later. The young man who had confronted the bully in the previous scene blinked, still with a bandage over his eyebrow and a spiritual ice pack in his hand.
"Did they hit you so hard you're seeing ghosts?"
"No. But if you want, I can come back later."
Sun Jie barely chuckled. He motioned him inside.
The interior was as austere as any outer disciple's dormitory: a hard mat, a shelf with two books, a water pitcher, and a candle that smelled of dampness.
"What do you want, Li Wei, right? I saw you earlier near the courtyard."
"Correct. Observing. Learning. And now... connecting."
Sun Jie looked at him with suspicion.
"Connecting?"
"I want to know if you have more brains than ego," Li Wei replied with a smile. "And if you're willing to listen to something that could benefit us both."
The young man nodded slowly and sat down. Li Wei settled in front of him, crossing his legs.
"I saw what you did today. Noble. Stupid. And useful."
"Useful?"
"Yes. You showed that not all clan-less people are cowards. And more importantly… that there are others who are fed up with the named and privileged trash."
"And what makes you think I'm not just another one who's going to give up as soon as I break another rib?"
Li Wei shrugged.
"Because if you were… you wouldn't be listening to me right now."
Touché. Point for the fox.
"What are you planning?" Sun Jie asked, lowering his tone.
"Not a riot. Not a rebellion. Nothing stupid. At least not yet. I just want information. Who controls what. Who distributes resources. Who fears whom."
"And why?"
"Because knowing that will give me something more valuable than muscles: real power. And because if you also want to survive with your head on straight… you're going to need something more than noble punches."
Sun Jie looked at him in silence. Then, he sighed.
"There's a network. The Zhang, Copper, and Wu clans divide authority among the inner disciples. They control the supply of pills, training assignments, even access to the advanced cultivation manuals."
"And the Elders allow that?"
"As long as it doesn't affect their pockets or their reputation… they don't care."
Li Wei nodded.
Just as I imagined.Corruption at the base. Pyramidal dominance.The typical system where what matters isn't how well you can cultivate, but who you know or how many coins you can hand out.Perfect.Because that can be broken… from within.
"So, what then?" Sun Jie asked. "Do we ally against them?"
"Not yet. First, I need to get noticed. But not by force," Li Wei said, pulling a small hidden flask from his robe. "By knowledge."
Sun Jie watched him as he uncorked the flask.
"What is that?"
"A spiritual absorption catalyst. Very basic. Actually, it's just mineral water with a touch of Qi salt… but enough to simulate a temporary improvement in cultivation speed if used in meditation."
"And what's the point of pretending you're cultivating faster?"
Li Wei smiled.
"To attract attention. Suspicion. Discomfort. And then… admiration."
"You want to pretend you cultivate fast?"
"No. I want them to believe I'm someone who knows something they don't."
Because nothing awakens more greed than a secret.
And nothing makes a bully more nervous… than a nobody who rises too fast.
"Besides," Li Wei added, standing up. "I have to start cultivating for real. I just won't be doing it with this sect's basic techniques."
"And with what then?"
Li Wei smiled as he walked towards the door.
"With an ancient formula I just 'found' in a forgotten manual from the storage room. Technically it's trash… but if I modify it a bit, it could be useful."
"You invent your own techniques?"
"Not yet. But improvising… is an art. And chaos, a canvas."
I have no power. No allies. No resources.But I have a plan.I have eyes. And I have an advantage that none of them understand:I come from a world where those who think… dominate those who only fight.And in this world, I just need a push……for everyone to start playing my game.