Morning arrived without ceremony.
Li Fan left his quarters early, before most outer disciples stirred. The path toward the inner courtyard training grounds was quiet, stone tiles still cool beneath his feet.
Chen Yu caught up to him halfway.
"You walk like you already own the place," Chen Yu said.
Li Fan replied, "Ownership is irrelevant. Control is not."
Chen Yu sighed. "That answer again."
They continued in silence for a while.
Then Chen Yu spoke more seriously. "People are talking."
"They always do," Li Fan said.
"No," Chen Yu insisted. "This time it is different. Inner disciples are asking about you."
Li Fan nodded once. "Expected."
"Some are curious," Chen Yu continued. "Some are irritated."
"Both are manageable," Li Fan replied.
---
The restricted pavilion stood at the edge of the inner courtyard. Two stone lions guarded the entrance. An elder sat cross legged nearby, eyes closed.
Li Fan stepped forward and bowed.
The elder opened one eye. "Name."
"Li Fan."
The elder examined him briefly. "Outer disciple candidate."
"Yes."
The elder flicked his wrist. "Jade slip."
Li Fan presented it.
The elder scanned it, then nodded. "Three hours. No copying. No removal."
"Understood."
As Li Fan entered, Chen Yu whispered, "I will wait outside."
"No," Li Fan said. "Go train."
Chen Yu hesitated. "You are sure?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu exhaled and left.
---
Inside the pavilion, rows of shelves stretched into shadow. Manuals floated slightly above their rests, bound by simple restriction arrays.
Li Fan walked slowly.
He did not rush.
"Foundation Stabilization Method," he murmured. "Too shallow."
"Breath Circulation Art," he said. "Incomplete."
Then he stopped.
His eyes rested on a thin manual with faded markings.
"Quiet Meridian Alignment," he read.
Li Fan reached out and placed his hand on it.
The restriction reacted gently.
"Acceptable," Li Fan said.
He sat and opened it.
---
Hours later, Li Fan exited the pavilion with calm expression.
Outside, the elder glanced at him.
"You finished early."
"I took what I needed," Li Fan replied.
The elder nodded. "Efficient."
Li Fan bowed and left.
---
At the archives, the girl sat behind a wooden desk, carefully reorganizing scrolls.
She looked up when Li Fan entered.
"You came," she said.
"Yes."
She lowered her voice. "I found something."
Li Fan walked closer. "Speak."
She hesitated. "Not here."
He nodded. "Then later."
Her shoulders relaxed.
"People ask about you," she added. "They think you are strange."
Li Fan replied, "Strangeness attracts less envy than brilliance."
She smiled faintly. "You always explain things like they are calculations."
"They are," Li Fan said.
---
Later that afternoon, Li Fan gathered Chen Yu and Zhao Min in a quiet corner of the training field.
Zhao Min looked nervous. "Senior, am I in trouble?"
"No," Li Fan said. "You are being repositioned."
"For what?" Zhao Min asked.
"Observation," Li Fan replied. "You hear things others ignore."
Zhao Min straightened. "I can do that."
Chen Yu crossed his arms. "And me?"
"You will cultivate," Li Fan said. "Aggressively but not recklessly."
Chen Yu frowned. "That sounds contradictory."
"It is not," Li Fan replied. "I will guide you."
Chen Yu nodded slowly. "I trust you."
Li Fan looked at both of them. "Do not speak my name unnecessarily."
Zhao Min nodded quickly.
Chen Yu hesitated, then nodded as well.
---
That night, Li Fan returned to his room.
He sat and circulated qi.
The Quiet Meridian Alignment method worked exactly as he predicted.
His qi grew denser.
More obedient.
He stopped before advancing further.
"System," Li Fan said.
[Status Stable]
[Current Realm: Qi Condensation Level Three]
[Hidden Progress: Above Average]
Li Fan asked, "Outer variables?"
[Multiple]
"Name the most relevant."
[Inner Disciple Lu Yan]
Li Fan opened his eyes.
Lu Yan.
He remembered the name.
Talented. Ambitious. Impatient.
"Observe only," Li Fan said.
[Understood]
---
Two days later, Lu Yan approached him directly.
"You are Li Fan," Lu Yan said.
"Yes."
Lu Yan smiled thinly. "You move quickly."
Li Fan replied, "Movement is relative."
Lu Yan laughed softly. "I like your confidence."
"I do not rely on it," Li Fan said.
Lu Yan studied him. "Join my group."
"No."
Lu Yan blinked. "You refuse?"
"Yes."
Lu Yan's smile faded slightly. "You should reconsider."
Li Fan met his gaze. "You seek control. I seek autonomy. Our goals conflict."
Lu Yan's eyes narrowed. "You are bold."
Li Fan replied, "You are impatient."
Lu Yan turned and left without another word.
Chen Yu exhaled after he was gone. "You just offended an inner disciple."
"Yes."
"On purpose?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu shook his head. "You are inviting trouble."
"No," Li Fan said. "I am defining boundaries."
---
That evening, the girl approached Li Fan again.
"I found a record," she said quietly.
"About what?"
"About a woman," she replied. "A cultivator from decades ago. Very strong."
Li Fan's attention sharpened. "Name."
She whispered it.
Li Fan nodded slowly.
"I suspected as much," he said.
She frowned. "You already knew?"
"Not fully," Li Fan replied. "But this confirms it."
She hesitated. "She disappeared mysteriously."
"Yes."
"She left behind a legacy," the girl continued. "But it was never claimed."
Li Fan looked at her. "You resemble her."
Her eyes widened. "That is impossible."
"Blood remembers," Li Fan said. "Even when people forget."
She swallowed. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because your future matters," Li Fan replied. "And because aligning with you benefits me."
She laughed nervously. "You are honest."
"It saves time," Li Fan said.
She looked at him carefully. "Then what do you want from me?"
Li Fan answered without pause. "Trust. Patience. Discretion."
She nodded slowly. "I can do that."
---
From a distance, Lu Yan watched the interaction.
Beside him, another inner disciple whispered, "He is building something."
Lu Yan replied coldly, "Then we will see how strong his foundation truly is."
---
Back in his room, Li Fan reviewed the day.
Connections formed.
Boundaries set.
Information gained.
He sat quietly, eyes closed.
The sect continued as usual above him.
But beneath it, threads tightened.
And Li Fan held several of them already.
(Chapter Ended)