Gathering Storm
The sparring ground rang with the clash of practice swords.
Wang Ben circled to his right, blade held in a middle guard, watching Zhao Yu's footwork. The older boy was moving better now, five weeks of recovery having restored most of his strength. His ribs had healed cleanly, and the physicians had cleared him for full training three days ago.
He was also getting predictable.
"You're telegraphing again," Wang Ben said, deflecting a thrust that he'd seen coming two heartbeats before it launched. "Your shoulder drops before power strikes."
Zhao Yu grunted and disengaged, resetting his stance. "I know. I can't seem to stop it."
"It's muscle memory. Your body learned bad habits before anyone corrected them." Wang Ben lowered his blade slightly. "Try initiating the strike from your core instead of your shoulder. The power should flow up, not down."
[COMBAT PARTNER ANALYSIS: ZHAO YU] Physical Recovery: 94% baseline Technical Execution: 71% optimal (improved from 64%) Combat Instinct: Continues to display anomalous threat prediction Note: Subject's "Battle Soul" phenotype manifesting in subconscious reactions Recommendation: Continue joint training. Subject's instincts complement Host's analytical approach.
Zhao Yu tried the adjustment. His next strike came faster, smoother, without the telltale shoulder dip. It still wasn't perfect, but it was better.
"How do you notice these things?" Zhao Yu asked, not for the first time. "I've been training since I was eight. You've been serious about it for five weeks. But you see things I've never noticed."
"Different perspective." Wang Ben sheathed his practice blade. "When you've done something a thousand times, you stop thinking about the individual movements. I'm still thinking about every step, every angle. Fresh eyes catch what practiced eyes miss."
It wasn't a lie. It just wasn't the whole truth.
They walked to the edge of the training ground where a water barrel sat in the morning shade. Zhao Yu drank deeply, then splashed his face, water running down his neck.
"Three more days," he said.
Wang Ben didn't need to ask what he meant. The auction was all anyone talked about in his household. His father's hope. His father's desperation.
"Three more days," Wang Ben agreed.
"Do you think you'll win the bidding?"
"I don't know." Twenty-two mid-grade spirit stones. It sounded like wealth beyond imagining, but Wang Ben had heard the rumors. The Blood Wolf Company was interested. So were representatives from at least two other clans. A Grade 8 Meridian Restoration Treasure was rare. Competition would be fierce.
"My father says your father was the best alchemist Redstone City ever produced." Zhao Yu's voice was quiet. "Says it was a tragedy what happened to him. That if he'd been given a fair chance, he might have reached heights no one in this city has seen in centuries."
Wang Ben said nothing. He didn't trust his voice.
"I hope you win," Zhao Yu finished. "He deserves it."
The afternoon sun slanted through the windows of Wang Ben's room as he examined the corrupted beast core.
It sat in a jade box lined with spirit-dampening silk, a precaution against the residual energies still swirling within. The core itself was the size of a small plum, its surface marbled with veins of purple-black that pulsed faintly in the light. Beautiful, in a poisonous sort of way.
[MATERIAL ANALYSIS: JADE SNOW WOLF CORE] Status: Corrupted Contamination: Poison Marsh Serpent venom (63.7% saturation) Spiritual Energy: Degraded but present Standard Assessment: Unusable for conventional pill refinement Cross-Reference: Searching Chen Database...
A knock at the door interrupted his examination.
"Come in."
His father entered, moving with the careful economy of someone used to protecting damaged meridians. Wang Tian's eyes found the beast core immediately, and something flickered across his face. Professional interest warring with paternal concern.
"You kept it," his father said.
"You said the clan didn't want it. That no one would buy a corrupted core."
"They wouldn't. The contamination makes it worthless for standard refinement." Wang Tian crossed the room and sat on the edge of Wang Ben's bed, studying the core with the eye of an alchemist. "May I?"
Wang Ben handed him the jade box.
His father lifted the core carefully, turning it in the light. His fingers moved with the precision of long practice, despite everything. "Interesting. The corruption pattern is unusual. The serpent venom didn't just poison the spiritual energy. It merged with it. See these striations?" He pointed to the purple-black veins. "In a normal poisoning, the toxin would be separate from the core's natural energy. Fighting it. But here they've almost... fused."
[CROSS-REFERENCE COMPLETE] Chen Database Entry: "Integrated Toxin Phenomenon" Occurrence: Rare (< 0.3% of beast core poisonings) Significance: Creates unique compound with properties of both elements Potential Application: Body tempering via controlled toxin exposure Historical Precedent: "Poison-Refined Body" cultivation technique Note: Technique considered dangerous but effective
Wang Ben's heart beat faster. "What does that mean?"
"It means the core can't be purified. Standard methods would destroy both the energy and the toxin, leaving nothing useful." His father set the core back in its box. "If this were a normal case of contamination, I could extract at least some value. But this? The only use would be as a research curiosity, and even then..." He shook his head. "You should have sold it with the rest of the materials. Even a few copper would be better than nothing."
"What about tempering pills?"
His father blinked. "What?"
"Body tempering pills. I read about them in the library. They use beast cores to strengthen the body through controlled energy exposure." Wang Ben kept his voice casual, curious rather than leading. "Could a corrupted core be used for that?"
Wang Tian was quiet for a long moment. "You've been doing your reading," he said finally. "Yes, body tempering pills exist. Grade 9 versions use Rank 1 cores and produce modest improvements. Grade 8 versions use Rank 2 cores and can significantly enhance physical cultivation." He paused. "In theory, a Jade Snow Wolf core would be excellent for this purpose. Ice and wind affinity would complement Body Refinement nicely, strengthening the flesh while sharpening reaction speed."
"But?"
"But the corruption makes it impossible." His father's voice carried the weight of professional certainty. "The serpent venom is unpredictable. If I tried to refine a tempering pill from this core, the toxin would either destabilize during refinement, causing a failure, or it would integrate into the final pill in ways I couldn't control. Anyone who consumed such a pill would be gambling with their life."
[ANALYSIS] Father's assessment: Accurate by conventional standards Chen Database addendum: "Integrated toxin" phenomenon enables controlled incorporation Requirement: Precise temperature management during refinement Requirement: Deliberate integration rather than attempted purification Note: Father possesses necessary skill but lacks unconventional knowledge Recommendation: File for future reference. Do not pursue currently.
Wang Ben nodded slowly, accepting his father's judgment. "I understand. I'll keep it anyway. Maybe someone will want it for research eventually."
His father rose to leave, then paused at the door. "Ben'er. The questions you're asking, the reading you're doing... it's good. Knowledge matters." He turned back, something complicated in his eyes. "But don't let it consume you. The auction is in three days. Whatever happens there, we'll face it together. As a family."
"I know, Father."
After Wang Tian left, Wang Ben sat alone with the corrupted core and the knowledge burning in his mind.
Not now, he thought. But later, when he's healed, when he can refine Grade 8 pills again...
He had a plan. He just needed the pieces to fall into place.
That evening, the family gathered for a quiet dinner.
Wang Tian was distracted, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. He'd spent the afternoon making inquiries about the auction, about who else might be bidding, about what treasures might be available. The answers hadn't been encouraging.
"The Blood Wolf Company is definitely interested," he said, pushing food around his plate. "I heard from Elder Chen this morning. Three of their mercenaries were injured in a contract dispute last month. They're looking for healing treasures."
"Mercenaries," Li Mei's voice carried an edge. "They'll earn more coin in a week than we've saved in a decade."
"We have twenty-two mid-grade stones," Wang Ben said. "That's not nothing."
"It's not nothing," his father agreed. "But if a Grade 8 Meridian Restoration Treasure appears, and if the Blood Wolf Company wants it..." He shook his head. "We need to hope for luck. Or for alternatives."
Wang Ben set down his chopsticks. "Father, I've been meaning to show you something. Something I found in the library."
Wang Tian looked up, curiosity breaking through his worry. "What kind of something?"
"A scroll. Old, incomplete, probably forgotten. It talks about a technique for strengthening meridians using temperature changes. Thermal shock therapy, it called it."
Something sparked in his father's eyes. Professional interest, despite everything. "Thermal shock therapy. I've heard of the concept. Dangerous, if done wrong. The temperature differentials can rupture the very channels you're trying to strengthen."
"That's what the scroll said. But it also mentioned specific herbs that could survive the temperature extremes. Anchor the process, the text called it."
"What herbs?"
"It didn't name them specifically. Just described their properties. Extreme yin affinity. Ability to survive severe temperature fluctuations without losing potency." Wang Ben paused, as if thinking. "I don't know if such herbs even exist."
Wang Tian was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Such herbs exist. Several, in fact. Though matching all those properties together..." His voice had changed, becoming more focused, the worry momentarily forgotten. "Show me this scroll. Tonight, if you can. I want to see what this technique actually proposes."
Wang Ben nodded, hiding his satisfaction. "I'll get it after dinner."
The seed was planted. Now he just needed to wait for the auction to provide the missing piece.
The Reports
The next morning, Wang Ben reported for patrol duty at the outer herb fields.
The atmosphere had changed since his last shift. More guards. Tighter formations. Nervous energy that crackled through the air like lightning waiting to strike.
"Three Rank 2 beasts spotted within five kilometers of the walls this week," Squad Leader Chen said during the morning briefing. "Two Ironback Boars and something the scouts couldn't identify. Large. Fast. Gone before they could get a good look."
Murmurs rippled through the assembled guards.
"The Patriarch has authorized increased patrols and early warning protocols. No one goes beyond the inner perimeter without backup. No exceptions." Chen's scarred face was grim. "We've also received reports from the other clans. Huo, Xue, Dao. They're all seeing the same thing. Beast activity is up across the entire forest edge."
[BEAST TIDE ANALYSIS: UPDATED]
Time Since Wolf Incident: 5 weeks
Data Points: 127
Trend Analysis:
- Week 1-2: 6 Rank 1 sightings near walls
- Week 3-4: 15 Rank 1 sightings, 2 Rank 2 sightings
- Week 5: 23 Rank 1 sightings, 3 Rank 2 sightings (ongoing)
Pattern: Accelerating exponential increase
Historical Correlation: 94.7% match with documented pre-tide behavior
Assessment: Beast tide highly probable within 2-4 weeks Confidence:
HIGH Recommendation: Accelerate preparation. Consider early warning to authorities.
Wang Ben's stomach tightened. The System's confidence had jumped from moderate to high. Two to four weeks.
The auction was in three days. His father's treatment would take time. And then the tide would hit.
We're running out of time.
The patrol itself was uneventful but tense. Every shadow seemed to hold threat. Every rustle in the underbrush made hands reach for weapons. By the time they returned to the city, the sun was setting and Wang Ben's nerves were frayed.
He found Zhao Yu waiting for him at the clan compound's eastern gate.
"I heard the reports," Zhao Yu said, falling into step beside him. "Rank 2 beasts five kilometers out. That's never happened before."
"It happened five years ago," Wang Ben said quietly. "Before the last tide."
Zhao Yu was silent for a moment. "My father told me about that. Said he lost three friends in the fighting. Good men, all of them. The city held, but barely."
"This one might be worse."
"You sound certain."
Wang Ben caught himself before he said too much. "Pattern recognition," he said instead. "The beast activity is following the same curve as five years ago, but it's escalating faster. Whatever's driving them out of the deep forest, it's more urgent this time."
Zhao Yu studied his face. "You've changed, you know. Since the wolf. You talk like someone who's seen more than fifteen years of life."
"Nearly dying will do that."
"You always say that. But it's more than survival instincts, isn't it?" Zhao Yu's voice was quiet, not accusatory. "The way you read situations, the things you notice, the connections you make... it's like you're operating from a different set of rules than the rest of us."
Wang Ben said nothing.
"I'm not asking for answers," Zhao Yu continued. "Whatever happened to you, whatever you're hiding, I trust you. You saved my life. That's all I need to know." He paused. "But if you ever need help, if you ever need someone to watch your back without asking questions, I'm here."
"Training partners," Wang Ben said.
"Partners." Zhao Yu clasped his shoulder briefly. "Whatever comes next, we face it together."
The Watcher
Elder Liu stood at his window, watching the sunset paint the compound in shades of red and gold.
His hands itched. They always itched now, a constant irritation that had spread from his palms up to his wrists. The rash had worsened over the past week, angry red welts that cracked and bled if he scratched too hard. The clan physicians were useless, suggesting diet changes and herbal compresses that did nothing.
He knew the real cause. The serpent eggs. The pheromones that had soaked into his skin despite his precautions.
It will fade, he told himself for the hundredth time. It has to fade.
But five weeks had passed, and it was only getting worse.
The jade token on his desk pulsed with stored qi. Another message from the Xue Clan, the third this week. They were getting impatient. The primary target was still alive. The secondary target had somehow become more dangerous rather than less. And Elder Liu had no results to show for a decade of infiltration.
He activated the token.
"Report." The familiar cold voice, distorted by distance and encryption.
"The auction is in three days. Wang Tian will be focused on that, desperate, vulnerable. If he fails to acquire the healing treasure, his mental state will deteriorate. That will be the optimal time to move."
"And if he succeeds?"
"Then his focus shifts to recovery. Also a vulnerable period, in its own way. Either outcome provides opportunity."
A pause. "The beast tide approaches."
"Yes. The chaos will provide cover for direct action. I recommend waiting until the tide begins, then eliminating both targets during the fighting. It will appear as battle casualties."
"The secondary target. The son. Our analysts reviewed your reports. His combat capabilities are anomalous. Explain."
Liu suppressed his irritation. "Unknown factor. Possibly a hidden inheritance triggered by crisis. Possibly external intervention we haven't identified. I've been unable to determine the source."
"Is he a threat?"
"Not directly. He's Body Refinement Stage 4. I'm Foundation Establishment Stage 9. Whatever strange abilities he's developed, he cannot challenge me." Liu allowed himself a cold smile. "But he has attracted attention. The Patriarch watches him now. Any direct action against Wang Tian must account for the possibility of interference."
"The tide provides opportunity for multiple casualties."
"My thoughts exactly."
"Proceed with the auction observation. Report again after the results are known."
The connection severed.
Liu placed the token back in its compartment, then scratched absently at his wrist. The rash had spread past his sleeve now, visible if he wasn't careful. He'd taken to wearing gloves in public, claiming sensitivity to certain formation materials.
A few more weeks, he thought. A few more weeks and this will all be over. Wang Tian dead, Wang Ben dead, mission complete. Then I can focus on treating whatever this contamination is.
He looked out the window again. In the distance, beyond the city walls, the Blackwood Forest was a dark smudge against the fading sky. Something was moving in those trees. Something was pushing the beasts toward human territory.
Whatever it was, it would provide the perfect cover for murder.
Elder Liu smiled and returned to his planning.
The Night Before
The night before the auction, Wang Ben sat in his room with his father, the scroll spread between them.
On the Strengthening and Refinement of Meridian Pathways.
Wang Tian had spent two days studying the technique, working through the principles with the methodical precision of a master alchemist. Now he sat back, the lamplight casting deep shadows across his face.
"It could work," he said quietly. "The theory is sound. The danger is real, but manageable with proper control." He traced a line of text with his finger. "The catalyst requirements are unusual, though. Extreme yin affinity, stability through temperature fluctuations, spiritual conductivity... I'd need to think about what would fit."
"Any ideas?"
His father frowned, thinking. "The properties remind me of several common yin-herbs, but most of those would destabilize under the temperature extremes this technique requires. The scroll specifically mentions the catalyst must survive the thermal shock intact." He shook his head. "I'll need to review my notes. There might be something obvious I'm overlooking."
Wang Ben filed that information away. The auction tomorrow would have many lots. Herbs, treasures, techniques. If something fitting those requirements appeared, he would recognize it.
"Father," Wang Ben said. "Whatever happens tomorrow, I want you to promise me something."
"What?"
"If we lose the bidding for the Meridian Restoration Treasure, don't give up. Keep watching the other lots. Sometimes valuable things get overlooked because people don't understand them."
Wang Tian studied his son's face. "That's unusually philosophical for a fifteen-year-old."
"I've been doing a lot of reading."
His father's expression softened. "I know you have." He rolled the scroll carefully and tucked it into his robe. "I'll keep my eyes open, Ben'er. I promise." He rose to leave, then paused at the door. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day."
After his father left, Wang Ben sat alone in the darkness.
One day until the auction. Two to four weeks until the beast tide. And somewhere in the compound, Elder Liu is planning murder.
He thought about the corrupted beast core, still sitting in its jade box. About the pieces moving on a board only he could see. About the mother and father serpents somewhere in the forest, carrying the scent of their dead offspring, waiting for an opportunity that would come sooner than anyone expected.
Patience, he told himself. One piece at a time. One day at a time.
The storm was gathering. All he could do was prepare.
END OF CHAPTER 10