Fourth Level

There were only a few days left before Ding Wei faced his elder cousin infront of the village.

A buzz had settled into the village, whispers and speculation were widespread as the inhabitants found something interesting to talk about. There was a feeling of anticipation in the air. Though he had fallen far from grace, Ding Wei was a very well known figure in the village. His handsome features and steadfast character made him a popular figure with many of the young girls, to the dismay of their parents. They had taken to cheering him on or crying with worry whenever he appeared.

On the other side were the supporters of Chen and the Ding Clan, now lead by his Uncle Fang. These were the suck-ups or those who felt his cousin had more potential. There were also reasonable people who had no real reason to prefer either party, but who didn't believe that a First Level cultivator could beat a Fifth Level. Wei didn't have a problem with those people since the news of his new cultivation level had yet to spread and most didn't take anything that Fatty Wan or Han Jin said about cultivation too seriously.

The people he did have a problem with were those who had sided against him only because there were so many girls who liked him.

They were the most annoying of the bunch, constantly pestering him or looking like he had done them some serious wrong. Didn't they understand? It wasn't his fault that he had been born so handsome! If they wanted to blame anyone they should blame his gorgeous mother and possibly his father too, that rotten absentee bastard!

Why take it out on him, the innocent party? All of this had become a bit much.

Instead of dealing with all the arguments, questions and proclamations of undying love, Ding Wei had jumped head-first into his training. He had holed up in his shack and the forest, training for most of the day. Fatty Wan and Han Jin insisted on getting him everything he needed, even building additions onto his shack whenever he let them disappear from his eyesight for more than a few hours.

"I can't believe them. Don't they know that you're the savior of this place!" Han Jin had complained previously.

But they didn't know. Only a few people had known of the bandit attacks in the first place and spreading that information around now would only cause panic.

Now that they had been dealt with there was no need to mention anything further. Wei had even warned Jin and Fatty Wan to keep it to themselves. Bringing it up might even cause some people to claim that he was seeking attention or to ask for proof. Even if they did believe him all it would do was bring unnecessary attention.

They had readily agreed, idolizing him ever since his return. As soon as the duo had seen him, Fatty Wan and Han Jin had been glued to his side. Ding Wei saw them at his shack when he rose in the morning and he had to force them to leave in the evening when he wanted to continue his practice in peace.

They hovered nearby even now, as he meditated with the Seven Inferior Cyclic Method. Though he enjoyed having the two around and they were good conversation, even he needed some time to himself...

He felt a rush of energy flowing through his meridians as he cultivated, an unusual sensation that spread out towards his pores. Then there was an incredible pain emanating from his skin, a burning sensation that seemed to go on forever. After a moment it turned cool and he suddenly felt energetic. He wanted to get up and start running, doing exercises, climbing trees.

He had done it! Though it had taken longer than he expected after the sharp rise to the Third Level, he had finally passed into the Fourth Level!

"Brother Wei! W-what's that smell?"

A black sludge oozed from his skin, coating his new silk garment. It was a beautiful thing, a brilliant white silk robe with dark embellishments that looked like feathers. The leather cuirass hung from straps on his shoulders, mainly covering his stomach and leaving his torso open. Ding Wei had never smelled anything as bad, not even the time when he'd cleaned the latrines at the Ding Compound could compare.

It smelled of rot and filth, a scent so bad it was impossible to ignore.

"Impurities! It's really impurities! Look, Jin! It's exactly like the older boys described it, a black sludge that smells worse than sh*t!"

Fatty Wan examined the thick slime with a look of intense interest, excitement plain in his eyes. He pointed at the filth covering his new clothes and looked to Jin.

"I'll take care of it, Brother Wei!" Han Jin said "I do the laundry for my whole family, there's no stain I can't get rid of!"

The blonde seemed to be taking the stained garment as a challenge. How strange. But, if he could save this robe that would be best. It was a beautiful piece of clothing and he had grown rather fond of it. Without a care, Ding Wei immediately pulled off the robe, revealing his almost-naked body.

He had grown slightly less emaciated in these past weeks. The silvers donated to him by the Coiled Serpent Gang were more than enough for him to eat well. He had even been able to treat himself to meat each day.

It had barely made a difference to his coin purse which still felt heavy with coin.

He passed the stinking garment to Jin who held it away from himself, scrunching his nose. "I'll head out right away!"

"I'll go with you, I need to get some rice from the market for our dinner." Fatty Wan told Jin.

Ding Wei waited for a few minutes after their footsteps disappeared, making sure that they were too far gone to hear him.

"I know you're out there." he announced to the empty clearing.

Though he could not see any energy floating around besides that of the surrounding plants, he could sense a presence hovering in the clearing. It didn't feel malicious or carry any negative intent, but it stared at him with a piercing intensity. Ever since he'd returned from defeating the Coiled Serpent Gang he had begun to sense the presence watching him. For hours every day it watched him, and the weight of it's gaze was uncomfortable. There was no clear proof of its existence, nothing he could point to.

But it felt real and in that forest he had begun to lean on his intuition. Without it he would not have returned to the village, alive. No, he would not be deceived.

There was definitely somebody watching him.