The Wrong Side
Ding Wei took refuge in the upper branches of a pine tree. He'd torn a strip from the front of his shirt and wrapped his shoulder tightly.
It slowed the blood loss but did nothing for the pain.
"I see drops of blood here… He must have continued this way…" A familiar voice said softly, alerting his attention.
It was a boy from Guangzhu, Fei Tian, the son of a farmer. Ding Wei had only spoken to him a handful of times but had never noticed anything sinister or cruel about him. And yet he had participated in the murder of innocent people and even thrown a party to celebrate.
Recalling the body of that innocent child, Ding Wei reached for his knife.
Fei Tian was still looking around, slowly walking forward. He must not have known exactly which way to continue. Unfortunately, he didn't look up at all or he would have seen Ding Wei stalking closer from within the treetops.
A branch snapped, his knife struck and the boy gave a pitiful gurgle.
Wei slapped a hand over Tian's mouth as he bleed out, a look of fear and recognition in his eyes. The knife was so sharp that he had barely felt any resistance when slitting the farm boy's throat.
"I only pray that your parents don't suffer needlessly over the death of a worthless son like you." Ding Wei said coolly.
Fei Tian had conspired with the enemy, willfully placing the village in a difficult situation. Not only that, but he had joined others in killing innocent people.
Ding Wei would not shed a tear over his passing and felt no guilt for ending his life.
Soon it was over.
He didn't bother to bury the body, leaving it in the open as he continued running. If one of the bandits had already found him the others were surely close. He needed to get as much distance between himself and the bandits as possible, and heading back to the village was not an option. Not all of the bandits had immediately given chase. Wei felt sure that their leader had ordered them to hide along the road to Guangzhu. It was the most likely place for him to return to, and so an obvious place to trap.
No, he could only keep going into the forest. There he would make camp and rest before deciding on the best way forward.
Only when the morning light rose did he stop, falling against a stump for support.
His legs burned with exertion and his torn clothes dripped with sweat. He didn't know how he'd kept going. Even in his best condition he didn't think he was capable of running as fast or for as long as he had last night.
Still, even as worn out as he was Ding Wei felt a sense of excitement. When he'd killed Tian he had felt the cultivation book grow warm against his skin. He'd kept the book with him it all times, fearful of someone stealing such a priceless treasure from him.
Drawing it out, he noticed that the cover had changed from circular arrays to a plain skull drawn in white. It stood starkly against the dark green leather, inspiring a sense of fear.
The book opened, revealing the yellowed pages within.
"You have proven yourself worthy - if barely. I will allow you to see the first level of knowledge contained within. Know that you are the 55th Holder of this Tome and hold all the responsibilities this entails."
The purple ink scratched in its jagged style then stilled, disappearing. Ding Wei had felt his breath pause as the writing began, feeling a distinct and powerful presence arise. The book - Tome - was clearly alive, somehow aware of him and his actions.
"What responsibilities?" Ding Wei asked the book.
The page stayed empty.
Sighing, Wei turned the page. Here there was a list of the contents, neatly labelled and adorned with symbols.
There were only three sections.
Cultivation Techniques.
Movement Techniques.
Killing Techniques.
Excited, he flicked through until he reached the Killing Techniques section. It wasn't that he was eager to start killing but that 'killing techniques' must have been another term for 'combat techniques'. And Wei had a noticeable lack in that department.
"Of course this is the first place you'd jump to. I'd almost forgotten how single-minded little boys are about finding flashy techniques. Unfortunately you are a lowly Awakening Stage and so I can only give you access to one technique. Read it carefully and practice diligently."
Ding Wei was beginning to feel that his book didn't like him very much.
Burst Blade was the name of the technique and it was very similar in practice to his movement technique. It relied on gathering energy to the meridians of an arm in specific order then releasing it all at once. When done correctly it would allow a very rapid strike several times faster than normal. The book recommended it be used with a dagger and mixed in-between normal strikes. This sudden increase in speed would catch the opponent off guard, increasing the chances of a hit.
It was very practical and not at all like the fire-enhanced techniques he'd been hoping for.
Feeling let down, he paged back to the start. If he was going to be forced into being practical then he would start with cultivation methods. After all, it was a simple breathing method that had allowed him to overcome his hopeless state and reach so far in only a few days. If he could cultivate even faster then the fight with his cousin would be a foregone conclusion!
There another great disappointment awaited him.
"What is a cultivation method? Why are there stagnant periods or barriers in ones cultivation? Why is it that one technique could propel a person rapidly but completely halt the cultivation of another? These were the questions of a great master several millennia ago, questions that most fail to ask! And so, until you give me a suitable answer to those questions you will only practice the 'Seven Inferior Cycles' until you can do it even while asleep! Read those questions each morning and evening and keep them in mind always!"
Instead of merely leaving it there the book had left the titles of dozens of cultivation methods, each with a brief description but no actual instruction. And the titles had his mouth watering.
Sun Defiance Method…
Frost Dragon Art…
Lightning Breath Technique…
'This damned book! It was clearly teasing him!'