The Laws of Cultivation: Qi = MC^2

I watched Lei freeze under my gaze, like a deer stuck in headlights. Seeing him with his injuries and torn clothes made me feel how stark the contrast had been from the arrogant bully the boy had been during my time in the sect.

I wasn’t sure what to say. Conflicting emotions swirled within me, and somehow, I could see the same happening within the boy. I’m sure he must’ve seen a lot of things change, after our battle. To him, to all of the cultivators, strength was the utmost value and virtue. Especially to someone as self-important and arrogant as the twins. To have lost that was clearly a blow.

“So, what brings you here?” I asked. Lei clearly didn’t seem willing to talk on his own.

My words seemed to snap the boy out of whatever thought he had been stuck in, as his eyes drifted down for a moment, before moving back up to me again.

“I have a message. For Yan Yun.”

“Or so I’ve been told,” I said, keeping my eyes on Lei. It took me a moment to realize something. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Lei, I didn’t, but I wasn’t worried either. It was Elder Yan who I didn’t trust. This could be just one more of the many tricks he seemed to be playing.

“It’s not a lie,” Lei said, misunderstanding my stare to be an attempt at intimidation. I didn’t correct him.

“I’m sure it isn’t,” I said. “But it could also be just a half truth.”

Lei looked at me, as if unsure about what I meant. That was not what I’d expected, guilty perhaps, or just a lack of expression. But confusion seemed like a strange response.

“Who sent you here? And why you?” I asked, deciding to take a direct approach. I wasn’t an interrogation master, this method suited me just fine.

The boy diverted his gaze for a moment, a reaction that would’ve made sense for my previous question but only further made me curious that it came on this one.

“Li,” he said at last.

I stared at Lei. His brother had sent him? Why? I wanted to ask just what this message might be, but I decided my attempts would be more fruitful with the person in question around.

I sent a pulse of Chi, and Yan Yun walked into the chamber a moment later. Lei stared at her, first in confusion, then in shock. His gaze turns back towards me, almost accusing me of something, but they died the moment his eyes met mine.

There was a monster that looked at him from within me. I was well aware of what I’d done and what kind of impression I’d left. But right now, I only felt a bitter taste to know that, at that moment, I’d been no better than any other cultivator I so easily mocked, no matter how righteous or deserved my actions may have been.

“Why? What is there possibly left to say?” Yan Yun asked in my stead.

Lei looked down for a moment, before he glanced back up at Yan Yun. “Grandfather has called the Alchemy halls. They will be here any day, and then this entire village will be reduced to nothing.”

Yan Yun stared in horror. I lacked the understanding needed to know just how bad the news was, but I had an idea. The Alchemy halls worked under the Emperor himself. If they came, there would not be a good way to resist their authority outside of outright rebellion. I couldn’t risk that.

I saw Yan Yun looked at me in worry, but her focus returned to Lei. “What does Li of all people gain from telling us that?”

“He wants revenge. To restore his lost honor. He can’t have that if the halls imprison or kill Lu Jie. He thinks you’ll run back to Grandfather to save everyone, and make him change his mind,” Lei replied.

Yan Yun pursed her lips, for a moment almost considering the thought.

“Well, I appreciate the message, regardless of what the intention behind it was,” I said to Lei, patting Yan Yun’s shoulder. “And you’re not going to your grandfather."

“But—”

I shook my head before Yan Yun could protest further. “We’re all going. Not just you,” I said.

Yan Yun looked at me in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You know how conflict was sorted within the sect right? Say if someone had a grudge, revenge, or anything of that sort?” I asked Yan Yun.

“They would either talk it out, or request a duel…” Yan Yun froze as she caught on to my train of thought. “Are you serious?”

I nodded. “We’ll duel him. Them, even. Whoever they bring out. It doesn’t matter. They cannot refuse the request, not if I make the Lord preside over it. The judgment and trial will happen under his watch.”

“I don’t mean to doubt you, Lu Jie, but… your strength is unpredictable,” Yan Yun said.

“Yeah, I know,” I said, a bitter smile. “But I guess better late than never. Might as well train a little, see how things work out. No?”

Yan Yun didn’t say anything further, so I turned to Lei.

“You can rest here, you will not be harmed in this place, you have my promise on that. But when you return, take a letter with you. Cao Chen will take you to the sect.”

Lei looked at me in silence, and I turned, ready to leave.

“Wait!” Lei said.

I regarded the boy in confusion, wondering if he had finally come up with some snide remark to throw in at my plans.

Lei looked at me, hesitating for a moment. A second later, he slowly dipped his head.

“I…I want to apologize. For what my brother and I did. To you and your spirit.”

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. For a moment I just looked at Lei, unsure of how to take the news. Despite everything I had never actually expected an apology. His change in attitude had been striking enough, this though? I wasn’t sure what to make of this. I almost didn’t want it. The thought that he could change would mean that perhaps Elder Yan could change too, and it made me gain the desire to try and change him.

I had fights to win, and people to protect. Becoming burdened with the idea that, perhaps these horrible people I hated on the best of days were people too and could change, made that harder.

The hypocrisy of my thoughts was apparent to me. But that’s how it was for now. I could live with it.

“I forgive you,” I said. I felt surprised that I meant it, too. But after what I had done, I did not feel the need to have any lingering anger or resentment towards either of the twins. Especially if they no longer tried to hurt my loved ones.

Lei looked up at me, his eyes were shocked. He certainly hadn’t been expecting that.

I didn’t linger any further in the chamber, simply letting the boy stew in his thoughts as I made my way out with Yan Yun.

I had a letter to write, and battle plans to make.

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