Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Another Day
The first light of dawn crept through the narrow crack of a shutter, casting a trembling sliver of pale gold across the muted walls. Li Wei awoke, his limbs stiff from the hard timber beneath him. He sat up slowly from the impromptu cot, its thin wool mattress creaking in protest. The chamber remained still, almost bereft—yet for now it sufficed.
He scanned the modest surroundings: bare wooden beams overhead, a single low window to the east, a plain earthen floor covered by a few simple mats. One corner held a rough wooden chest; another, a bundle of cloaks and travel charts tied in cloth.
The faint scent of last night’s broth lingered in the air, mingling with the must of the chamber. He drew in a breath and exhaled, steeling himself for the day.
The cot itself was plain: a narrow frame of dark wood, the worn sheets taut over wool stuffing, a blanket folded at its foot as though awaiting future use. Li Wei’s gaze lingered a moment on it. ’ Soon we must depart from this refuge’, he thought. The morning sun beckons at the horizon.
His attention drifted. On the opposite wall, in a small niche by the window, a wooden table held a flickering candle, its flame quivering with a faint draft. Beside it sat a shallow bowl of water and a neatly folded clean cloth—evidence of someone’s careful preparation.
He knew who. Leng Yue, half of their little bunch, and the child she had been caring for, shared a similar abode nearby. The child’s soft whimpers and crying had stretched late into the night, a constant note in the dark silence.
Li Wei rose. His sandals felt cool on the rough planks as he moved. He approached the table, lifted the bowl and placed it on the floor beside a low stool. He sank to the stool, and dipped his fingers into the water, letting it catch the dawn’s dim glow.
Carefully, calmly, he began to wipe his face, arms, neck. Droplets gathered and fell to the floor with soft plip... plip. ~ He paused, closing his eyes to ponder the sensation—the coolness, the relief from sweat. "I should freshen myself properly," he murmured inwardly.
He washed slowly, feeling each muscle and joint awaken from the stiffness in his shoulders, to the soreness in his torso from yesterday’s exertions. All the while his mind drifted outwards, to memories of his prior life, to the incredulity of waking in this foreign realm.
A mortal in his old world, now reborn in a land of cultivators, wonders beyond imagining. ’They call this chance a boon—yet this gentle pendulum could fall apart at any moment...’ he did not know how much time he had left, thus the young man cherished every waking moment.
He straightened, wiped his arms on the cloth, then set both bowl and cloth neatly back on the table. He glanced to the window. The early light had grown, painting the lattice bars in faint shadows.
Beyond lay the buzzing village, the stir of merchants hawking items was audible even from here. He listened to the fervent metropolis. ~ The world outside was no longer draped in darkness but stirred within the daylight.
Returning to the cot, he sat upon its edge, the cloth now draped around his neck. He inhaled, preparing his mind. The operation ahead demanded concentration, he casually placed his thumb by his lower lip ’ The records buried within the Council Hall—yes, they were almost certainly worth prying open.’
Rumors abound of hidden mandates, buried edicts. ’ I cannot ignore the possibility that the answers that we seek are in our midst....’ He resolved his plan.
The young master would infiltrate the records chamber under cover of twilight, retrieve or copy whatever lies within, and uncover what lies beneath the council’s facade. But first, his physical tools had to be sharpened. He rose and strode to the floor’s central space. From a small satchel he withdrew a silver shamshir, its scabbard glinting dimly in early light.
He removed it, and grasped the hilt. He crouched low on a mat, placing one hand upon the blade’s back while his whetstone rested before him. He began to sharpen—each pass of stone over edge a careful caress, an affirmation of commitment. ’Though my blade skill yet lags, my will shall not.’ He reminded himself.
The metal sang faintly as it kissed stone. rriinnng... ~ He paused from time to time, examining the edge, drawing his thumb just lightly across it, feeling the sharp glint. Again, he resumed, until he judged the blade keen. The silver shimmered in the candlelight now stronger, the cutting edge thin and eager.
When satisfied, he sheathed the shamshir and placed it among the assortment of items—small pouches, scroll tubes, sharpened throwing stars, bamboo sticks, lockpicks—laid out on the floor in disciplined order. He knelt and adjusted them, shifting each slightly until they formed neat rows: weapons to one side, tools to another, essentials in between.
He rose and took a step back, surveying his arrangement like a general before his host. He murmured softly, "These tools may be substandard, but they shall suffice" The silence seemed to answer him. Then his gaze drifted upward to the rafters.
A single beam bore slight cracks; dust motes danced in the slanting light. Somewhere beyond, a crow called. ~ His mind returned to more worldly concerns. He considered what came next. Tang li, the head merchant, would led him to an entry point.
At midnight he would slip in, he moved over to the chest in the corner, unlatching it with a soft click. Within lay precious garments, medicine rations, formation brushes, a rolled map of the township.
He unrolled the map: the winding roads, forests, watchtowers, all marked in ink. He traced with his fingertip the route he would take at night. A forest path, a lake crossing, night patrols. He memorized the lines. ’At moon’s rise, I skirt the outer walls.’
He re-rolled the map, tied the silk cord, and tucked it into a tube. He replaced it in the chest and latched the lid. He walked to the window and pried open the sash just enough to admit air. The early breeze flowed in, carrying with it the scent of dew and salt. He inhaled deep.
Outside, sparrows chirped in the eaves. ’Huh?’ he heard a soft whimper behind him. He turned swiftly. Leng Yue stood by the doorway, standing next to the child, eyes rimmed from fatigue.
The child rubbed one eye sleepily, the soft curls tousled. Leng Yue approached him quietly, placing a gentle hand on the youngster’s shoulder. "He awoke early," she whispered before yawning, "I could barely sleep due to his tantrums..’
Li Wei chuckled slightly. "I could not sleep well either." He motioned her to the stool. "Please, sit. I shall make some tea." He lifted one of the earthenware cups from the chest and set it on the stool beside the table. Then he rose and opened a small storage pouch, bringing forth a small kettle of water and a packet of tea leaves.
He moved to the low hearth corner of the room and coaxed a flame from embers, adding tiny twigs until a flame danced. ~ Within moments, the kettle warmed, steam rising. He ladled the hot water into the cup, steeped the leaves.
He returned with the cup. Leng Yue accepted it with delicate fingers. Li Wei poured himself tea from another vessel. He moved to sit on the floor mats, cross‑legged, and spoke softly, "Tonight, I must go. The Council’s records shall yield the answers required to proceed" He stilled, watching Leng Yue’s reaction.
She set her cup aside. "You would risk your freedom for these common folk?" she asked, voice low. "You know they will likely forget about your deeds in a few years" Her hand traced the cheek of the drowsy child
He nodded. "So be it." He drew a slow breath. The young master reached over and gently laid a hand on Leng Yue’s arm. "I will return before the third watch. Keep the child safe, study the map, and trust no one." He rose.
He gathered his items, returning to the layout on the floor. He folded them each into a kit, before stuffing them in separate storage pouches. He then moved to the window, glanced out. The daylight had grown stronger; by mid morning the village beyond would stir. He would wait for an opportune time to speak with Tang Li
In one motion, Li Wei glided to the door and stepped out into the corridor beyond.