Seven days had passed since Chen Wei awakened in Liu Mei's body, and he had spent every moment of those days establishing routines that would keep him safe and unnoticed. The morning sun filtered through the paper windows of his rented room just as it had that first day, but now he moved through his morning preparations with practiced efficiency, having adapted to the differences of his new form with the discipline of a soldier adjusting to new terrain.
The body still felt strange to him, like wearing clothes that fit perfectly but belonged to someone else. Each morning, he would wake before dawn and spend the first hour simply meditating, not on cultivation techniques but on accepting the reality of his situation. The female form he now inhabited responded differently to everything - the way fabric felt against skin, the way weight distributed when walking, even the way people looked at him when he ventured outside. These differences were neither good nor bad in his mind, simply facts to be acknowledged and adapted to, like a soldier learning to navigate unfamiliar territory.
Chen Wei had established a careful routine for leaving his room. First, he would stand by the door and listen for at least five minutes, ensuring the hallway was empty. Then he would crack the door open just enough to peer out, checking both directions twice before stepping into the corridor. His movements were always deliberate and quiet, habits formed from years of trying to avoid the attention of prison guards who enjoyed tormenting inmates they noticed.
On this particular morning, the seventh since his rebirth, Chen Wei made his way to the boarding house's small dining area. He had learned that arriving exactly thirty minutes after the breakfast service began was ideal - early enough that the food was still fresh, but late enough that most of the other guests had already eaten and left. Madam Wang had grown accustomed to his peculiar timing and always saved him a corner table that was partially hidden behind a decorative screen.
"Good morning, Miss Liu," Madam Wang greeted him with her usual mixture of politeness and wariness. The elderly woman had run this establishment for decades and had developed an instinct for which guests to leave alone. Something about the way Chen Wei carried himself - Liu Mei's body moving with unusual caution and deliberation - had marked him as someone who valued privacy above all else.
"Good morning, Madam Wang," Chen Wei replied, having finally grown somewhat comfortable with the musical quality of his new voice. He had practiced speaking in his room, working to modulate the tone to be pleasant but forgettable, neither too high nor too low, neither too sweet nor too cold. "The usual breakfast, if you please."
As Madam Wang bustled off to prepare his meal, Chen Wei settled into his corner and observed the other patrons. There were three other cultivators present this morning, all of them more advanced than Liu Mei had been. He had developed a sense for reading cultivation levels based on the subtle pressure they exuded, though he was careful never to stare long enough to draw attention.
The first cultivator was a middle-aged man with a scarred face who wore the robes of an independent warrior. He ate with mechanical precision, his eyes constantly scanning the room for threats. Chen Wei recognized the behavior of someone who had survived violence and expected more to come. They had inadvertently made eye contact once during the week, and both had immediately looked away, recognizing a kindred spirit who wanted no trouble.
The second was a young woman who couldn't have been older than twenty, wearing the elaborate hairpins that marked her as a member of a merchant cultivation family. She picked at her food while reading what appeared to be a ledger, occasionally making notes with a spiritual brush that wrote with glowing ink. Chen Wei had overheard her discussing spirit stone exchanges with other merchants and had filed the information away as potentially useful.
The third cultivator made Chen Wei unconsciously tense every time he appeared. He was a handsome young man with an easy smile and friendly demeanor who claimed to be a wandering scholar. But Chen Wei had noticed how his eyes were always watching, how his questions were always probing, how he seemed to appear wherever interesting conversations were happening. In the prison, Chen Wei had learned to recognize informants and spies, and this young man set off every warning instinct he had developed.
"Such a beautiful morning," the suspicious scholar said loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Perfect for cultivation practice, wouldn't you agree, Fellow Daoist Liu?"
Chen Wei looked up briefly, offering a small nod before returning his attention to the breakfast Madam Wang had just delivered. He had learned that completely ignoring other cultivators could be seen as rudeness that might provoke confrontation, but engaging too much invited unwanted familiarity. A brief acknowledgment followed by obvious disinterest usually convinced people to leave him alone.
The scholar seemed about to say more when a commotion from outside drew everyone's attention. Through the window, Chen Wei could see a procession of cultivators in elaborate robes passing through the street. Unlike the Azure Cloud Sect disciples from his first day, these cultivators moved with genuine authority rather than borrowed arrogance. Their robes bore the insignia of a golden phoenix, marking them as members of the Imperial cultivation forces.
"Imperial Investigators," the scarred cultivator muttered under his breath, and Chen Wei noticed how everyone in the dining room had gone very still. "Someone important must have died or gone missing."
The young merchant woman had gone pale, her hands trembling slightly as she closed her ledger. Even the suspicious scholar had lost his friendly smile, watching the procession with calculating eyes. Chen Wei filed away all of these reactions, understanding that Imperial Investigators were people to be avoided at all costs.
As the procession passed, Chen Wei caught a glimpse of what they were escorting - a prison wagon reinforced with glowing formations that suppressed spiritual energy. Inside, he could barely make out a figure in torn robes, bloodied and broken. The sight triggered memories of his own imprisonment, and he had to grip the edge of the table to keep his hands from shaking.
The hourglass pendant grew warm against his chest, and suddenly Chen Wei's vision shifted. He saw himself - Liu Mei's body - walking down a street three days from now. In the vision, he turned a corner and came face to face with one of the Imperial Investigators, who looked at him with sudden recognition. The vision showed the investigator calling out, Chen Wei trying to run, being caught and questioned about where he had been a week ago, about why Liu Mei's spiritual signature had changed so drastically...
The vision faded after five seconds, leaving Chen Wei with the taste of copper in his mouth and the knowledge that he needed to leave this town before the investigators finished their current business and began asking broader questions. His rebirth had apparently left some kind of detectable change in Liu Mei's spiritual presence that someone specifically looking for anomalies might notice.
But he couldn't leave immediately - that would be suspicious, especially with Imperial Investigators in town. He needed to prepare carefully, gather supplies, and most importantly, wait for them to move on before he made his own departure. The vision had shown him being caught three days from now, which meant he had a narrow window to act.
After finishing his breakfast with forced calm, Chen Wei returned to his room and began making preparations. From Liu Mei's memories, he knew of three other towns within reasonable traveling distance. The closest was Green Willow Town, a day's journey to the east. It was smaller than this one but had a reputation for minding its own business. The second option was Jade River City to the north, larger and with more opportunities but also more dangerous for someone trying to avoid notice. The third was Mountain Gate Village to the west, isolated and poor but probably the safest option for someone wanting to disappear.
As he considered his options, Chen Wei heard voices from the room next door. The walls in the boarding house were thin, and cultivators had naturally enhanced hearing. He had learned to tune out most conversations, but something about this one caught his attention.
"The Bloodstone Cult is growing bolder," a man's voice said grimly. "They say they've taken over three small sects in the northern provinces just this month."
"The righteous sects are too busy with their own power struggles to stop them," a woman replied with disgust. "The Azure Cloud Sect and the Heavenly Sword Pavilion have been at each other's throats over those new spirit stone mines. They don't care if demonic cultivators slaughter mortals as long as their own interests aren't threatened."
Chen Wei absorbed this information while pretending to study one of Liu Mei's cultivation manuals. The cultivation world was clearly experiencing upheaval, with conflicts erupting on multiple fronts. Wars between righteous sects, the rise of demonic cults, Imperial investigations - all of it painted a picture of a world where staying neutral and unnoticed would be increasingly difficult.
The manual in his hands described basic water element cultivation techniques, and Chen Wei forced himself to focus on it despite the distracting conversation next door. Liu Mei's memories provided context for the technical terms, but actual practice was another matter entirely. He had been extremely cautious about attempting any cultivation during his first week, remembering that Liu Mei had died during a breakthrough attempt.
According to the manual, cultivating water element techniques required a calm mind and flowing movements, adapting to circumstances rather than forcing one's will upon the world. This philosophy appealed to Chen Wei's current mindset, though he understood that such passive cultivation methods were part of why Liu Mei had been considered a weak cultivator. The strong in this world took what they wanted through force, while the weak could only flow around obstacles like water around stones.
A knock at his door interrupted his reading, causing his heart rate to spike as it always did at unexpected sounds. Seven years of torture had left him with reflexes that might never fully fade, no matter what body he inhabited.
"Miss Liu?" It was Madam Wang's voice, sounding unusually nervous. "There's an Imperial Investigator downstairs asking to speak with all the cultivator guests. He says it's routine questioning, nothing to be concerned about."
Chen Wei's mind raced through possibilities. The vision had shown him being caught in three days, but perhaps that timeline assumed he would follow a certain course of action. If he faced the investigator now, in a controlled setting with other witnesses present, perhaps he could avoid suspicion that would otherwise build over time.
"I'll be down shortly," Chen Wei replied, proud that his voice remained steady despite the fear coursing through his veins. He quickly checked his appearance in the bronze mirror, ensuring nothing about his presentation would draw special attention. The white hair was distinctive, but he had taken to wearing it in a simple style that many female cultivators favored. His green eyes were unusual but not unheard of in the cultivation world where bloodlines could produce all manner of exotic features.
The hourglass pendant pulsed again, showing him a brief vision of the immediate future. He saw himself walking downstairs, answering basic questions with simple truths, being dismissed as unimportant. The vision gave him confidence as he made his way to the common room where the other guests had already gathered.
The Imperial Investigator was a woman who appeared to be in her thirties, though with cultivators, apparent age meant little. She wore robes of deep purple with golden phoenix embroidery, and her presence filled the room with subtle pressure that made Chen Wei's skin prickle. Her eyes were sharp and intelligent, scanning each person present with the intensity of someone who had spent years learning to read deception.
"I am Inspector Ming of the Imperial Bureau of Mystical Crimes," she announced in a voice that carried absolute authority. "A significant spiritual disturbance was detected in this region seven days ago. We are investigating all unusual occurrences from that time period. Each of you will answer my questions truthfully. Attempting to lie to an Imperial Inspector is punishable by immediate imprisonment."
Chen Wei kept his expression neutral while internally calculating risks. Seven days ago was exactly when he had awakened in Liu Mei's body. The spiritual disturbance was almost certainly related to his reincarnation, but he had no idea how much the investigator could actually detect.
The inspector began with the scarred cultivator, asking basic questions about his movements and whether he had noticed anything unusual. The man answered tersely but honestly, admitting he had been sleeping off a drinking binge that night and noticed nothing. He was dismissed quickly.
The young merchant woman was next, and she nervously explained that she had been reviewing accounts in her room all evening and had only sensed a brief fluctuation in spiritual energy that she had assumed was someone breaking through to a new cultivation level. The inspector made a note but seemed satisfied.
When the suspicious scholar's turn came, Chen Wei noticed how his entire demeanor had changed. Gone was the friendly mask, replaced by careful neutrality as he claimed to have been meditating in the town's park that evening. He admitted to sensing the disturbance but said it felt like a natural phenomenon rather than human cultivation. The inspector questioned him more thoroughly than the others, but eventually moved on.
"Miss Liu Mei," the inspector finally turned to Chen Wei, and he felt the full weight of her attention like a physical pressure. "Where were you seven nights ago?"
"In my room, Inspector," Chen Wei answered truthfully, meeting her eyes briefly before looking down in a show of nervousness that wasn't entirely feigned. "I had been attempting to break through to the next stage of Qi Condensation but failed. The backlash left me unconscious for several hours."
This was close enough to the truth - Liu Mei had indeed been attempting a breakthrough when she died, and Chen Wei had been unconscious in a sense when his soul entered her body. The inspector's eyes narrowed slightly, and Chen Wei felt a subtle probing at the edges of his consciousness, like fingers testing a locked door.
"Your spiritual signature seems unstable," the inspector noted with professional interest. "Breakthrough failures can cause such disruptions. Have you experienced any unusual symptoms since then? Memory loss? Personality changes? Strange dreams?"
Chen Wei allowed a bitter smile to cross his face, drawing on Liu Mei's memories of countless failed attempts at advancement. "Inspector, I am a rogue cultivator with three spiritual roots trying to practice without proper guidance or resources. Unusual symptoms and strange dreams are my constant companions. The failure seven nights ago was merely the latest in a long series of disappointments."
Something in his tone must have rang true because the inspector's expression softened slightly. She had probably seen countless struggling cultivators like Liu Mei, talented enough to begin the journey but not gifted enough to progress far without help.
"Show me your cultivation base," the inspector commanded, and Chen Wei obediently circulated what little spiritual energy he had managed to accumulate over the past week. It was pitifully small, barely enough to be called early-stage Qi Condensation. He had been too cautious to practice seriously, and it showed.
The inspector observed for a moment before nodding dismissively. "Breakthrough failure confirmed. Your meridians show recent damage consistent with energy backlash. You may go, but I suggest finding a proper teacher before attempting another breakthrough. The next failure might be fatal."
Chen Wei bowed respectfully and returned to his seat, internally celebrating his successful deception while maintaining an expression of humble disappointment. He had learned in prison that the best lies were mostly truth, and his explanation had been truthful enough to pass inspection.
The questioning continued with other residents of the boarding house, including some mortal guests who could only report that they had felt uneasy that night without understanding why. Through it all, Chen Wei observed and learned, noting how the inspector's techniques worked and filing the information away for future use.
One piece of information particularly caught his attention. The inspector mentioned that similar disturbances had been detected in other locations across the empire over the past few months, always isolated incidents with no clear pattern. This suggested that Chen Wei might not be the only person who had been reincarnated or transported to this world recently, though he had no way of knowing for certain.
After another hour of questioning, Inspector Ming seemed satisfied that nothing criminal had occurred at the boarding house. However, her parting words sent a chill down Chen Wei's spine.
"The Imperial Bureau will remain in town for the next week to conduct a thorough investigation. Anyone planning to leave should register their intended destination with the town guards. Attempting to leave without registration will be viewed as suspicious behavior warranting immediate detention."
This complicated Chen Wei's plans significantly. The vision had shown him being caught in three days if he remained in town, but now leaving would require official documentation that would make him easier to track. He was caught between two bad options, a familiar feeling from his years in prison where every choice led to suffering and the only question was which suffering was more bearable.
As the gathering dispersed, Chen Wei noticed the suspicious scholar watching him with renewed interest. Their eyes met briefly, and something passed between them - a mutual recognition that they were both hiding something, both playing roles that didn't quite fit. The scholar gave him a slight nod, as if acknowledging a fellow player in a game whose rules neither fully understood, before turning away.
Back in his room, Chen Wei sat in meditation position and tried to think through his options logically. The Imperial investigation would make staying dangerous, but leaving would create an official record of his movements. He needed a third option, something that would allow him to avoid scrutiny while not triggering suspicion.
The hourglass pendant remained warm against his chest, but no new visions came. Perhaps the future was too uncertain, too dependent on choices not yet made. Or perhaps the pendant only showed glimpses when the danger was immediate and specific. Either way, Chen Wei would have to rely on his own judgment, hard-won through years of surviving in impossible circumstances.
As afternoon faded into evening, he made his decision. He would register his intention to leave for Mountain Gate Village, the poorest and most isolated of his options. But he would not go there directly. Instead, he would use his knowledge of Liu Mei's occasional herb-gathering expeditions as cover to spend several days in the wilderness before eventually making his way to Green Willow Town by a roundabout route. It wasn't a perfect plan, but it gave her chance.
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