Risk

A week has passed since the battle and He Le was still lodging out at Shim Ok-Ryeon's place. Giving each other a short nod was the total extent of their communication. Conversely, Nak So-Wol and He Lei had been getting along a little more. It began during their combat training in the morning.

"Junior sister, trying doing it a little slower and move your left foot three inches to the right." Not a single movement escaped his vision. "It will be uncomfortable, but you'll notice that the momentum builds up faster. Once you successfully finish the martial art, I'll write down some exercises to further enhance your physique and lower your discomfort."

She tiredly glanced at him in acknowledgment and wiped the sweat off her forehead. "I understand," she muttered out.

Shing! Shing! Shing!

Ending with it a spinning diagonal slash, the energy built up released in the direction Nak So-Wol intended it to and destroyed the target.

Feeling the drain on her internal energy, she panted as she used the sword to keep her steady. "I...did it."

Her physical fatigue caught up to her and her adrenaline ran out. Catching her by her back, he slowly laid her down and gave her one of his vitality pills. Only after a minute did she open her eyes and took in the sight.

"Good job," he praised. "I'm glad you have completed the move and once you master it, you'll have to learn how to be flexible in your technique rather than your body."

Groaning at his words, she weakly waved her hand to let him continue. "And?"

"That way, you won't be predictable. The point of your art is that you master it and then unleash its prowess at any time, anywhere, at any position, and will." He Lei poked her left cheek. "Doesn't that sound great?"

"Mhm." Nak So-Wol ignored the finger. "The clouds look like meat today..."

"Is that what you're mind is at?" He Lei smirked in a mocking manner that resulted in gaining her ire. "Seems like my little monster is hungry."

A little red blossomed on her cheeks. "Do not call me that. Besides, if I'm a monster, then what are you?"

"Supreme."

Nak So-Wol couldn't take him seriously by how relaxed he was when he said that. "Wow. No hesitation on that answer huh?"

"Of course not. I know what I'm going to be in the future." He smiled at his temporary disciple. "Since you worked so hard today and completed the first move of Plum Blossom Sword Barrage Arts, I'll make you dinner."

Her eyes widened as her lethargic form regained all its energy. "Really? Do you promise?! You better not lie to me! I'll fight you to the death!"

Chuckling at her response, he patted her head. "I promise I will make you a dish. Meat sounds like a great option for dinner."

Satisfied with his answer, her momentary stamina escaped her body. "Worth it," she said as she grabbed his arm to keep standing. The vitality pill's main effect was enhanced regeneration and recovering stamina was a small side effect.

Being the growing, curious girl she was, she couldn't help give an extra squeeze to feel out his muscles. He Lei ignored it purposefully to not embarrass the girl, but he had to stop her soon as he was getting a death glare. Picking her up into a princess carry, he brought her to the house despite the weak protests of Nak So-Wol. She was tired enough to not care about what he was doing and it helped that he was warm and smelled good. At the last thought, she buried her face into his chest and used her sword to hide her face.

"Aren't you disgusted by carrying me? My clothes are soaking."

"I'm not disgusted. I sweat a lot too, so I think I'm okay. You do smell a little."

She gave him a small glare that had no heat behind it. "Do you have no delicacy? Why would you say that to a girl?"

"Because you asked?" Nak So-Wol had no answer to that.

Leaving her to her devices after he dropped her off, he secretly left the sect and entered the forest. It was a surprisingly easy task to escape and he questioned it. sense anyone in the area and He Lei relaxed because of it. He was giving Deli his full faith to not screw him over.

Requesting the orbs, it opened its bag and gave him the items. With a chirp. it disappeared, leaving He Lei by himself. Two days ago, he questioned Deli on how to use them and it showed him.

It was really simple. Draw out a large star on the floor and put the orbs on the location of each tip. Starting from the very top and going clockwise, it was red, brown, silver, white, and green. Two of each orb would be used for...something while the last ones directly absorbed into him for something else. Yeah...Delibird was very vague during the explanation.

He Lei followed the directions to the letter and sat in the middle, waiting for something to happen. Eventually, the orbs started floating around him at slow speeds and began melting. A more accurate description would be that they were turning into a powder. Mixing in the air, it created a small sphere of five colors around him and suddenly dived into him.

Every pore in his body was invaded. The powder entered through his eyes, nose, skin, hair, ears, everything. It was like being violated and yet not having any power to gain back control. Imagine the Mind Flayer entering Will during season 2; it's a similar experience. Soon, the five-colored sphere vanished, leaving He Lei to have a seizure on the grass.

Once he fully assimilated the stuff, he stopped shaking crazily. His breath was silent, almost as if it was blending in with Nature's tune. The Sun blessed him with light as the plants in the area bathed in the energy He Lei was producing. Animals settled down and laid next to him protectively. Among them were the prey of some predators that reluctantly joined the forming group.

All shared the energy that He Lei was unconsciously exuding to their benefit. Only when He Lei woke up did the animals of all colors of the rainbow stand up and vacated the area.

"What the hell happened?" The sudden appearance of the animals and their lack of action confused him. "Is someone building Noah's Ark? Why are they not killing each other? Wait. That doesn't make sense. They weren't in pairs." Shaking his head after a while, he filtered those thoughts and brought back his attention to his body. "I'm not going to do that again unless I ever need to." He shuddered at the fresh memory. "I hope I don't."

Taking out the rest of the orbs, he ate them in the same order he set them down on the star. Each one evaporated on contact with his tongue and a sugary sweetness went down his throat. He would've been happier at the taste if not for the sudden jolts pain shooting through his insides. His inner organs; something was happening to them.

Some experienced burning sensations, others felt like it was being shredded, another felt like it had water in it, there was an unknown one he couldn't explain, and then a feeling of having a hard, solid rock being forcefully digested in his stomach. He had trouble breathing at one point and the lack of oxygen began to harm him. However, since there was so much going on simultaneously, He Lei was extremely overwhelmed. He regretted it; he was too impatient for power.

'Am I going to die?'

His vision was becoming darker.

'I had so much to do...'

His motions were slowing down.

'I have to make up with Master...'

His mind was slowly crumbling away.

'I...live...'

Darkness.

It completely swallowed him. No sound, no sight. Simply...nothing.