Six more months passed.
Cultivation climbed. Eighth Level. Ninth—peak Qi Condensation.
One breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.
Impossible for someone who started Grade Eight.
But meridians were Grade Five now. Touching Four. Impossible became difficult.
Elder Feng prepared breakthrough resources. Pills. Arrays. Everything needed.
"Tomorrow night. Moon's optimal. Spiritual energy concentration perfect."
Nodded.
That night, couldn't sleep.
Lay staring at ceiling.
Foundation Establishment.
Realm separating mortals from true cultivators. Realm Father said he'd never reach.
About to prove him wrong.
Should feel triumphant.
Felt nothing.
Empty.
Footsteps outside. Multiple sets.
Wrong time. Guards changed hours ago.
Sat up. Listened.
Voices. Quiet. Urgent.
Recognized one—Elder Feng.
Other... unfamiliar. Cold. Authoritative.
"—don't care about protests. Orders from Sect Master directly."
"Subject's at critical juncture! Foundation breakthrough tomorrow—"
"Precisely why we're here. Sect wants breakthrough observed. Documented. Verified."
"That wasn't—"
"Agreements change. Pack his things. Leave at dawn."
Silence.
Elder Feng's voice, defeated. "Understood."
Footsteps receded.
Sat in darkness.
Taking me.
Six months proving value. Led here—becoming sect property.
Should've seen it.
Should've run.
Stood. Grabbed bag—never unpacked. Old habit.
Checked contents. Knife. Silver coins. Expired rations.
Not much.
Enough.
Window? No.
Door? Guarded now.
Looked up. Ceiling old wood. Tiles loose.
There.
Twenty minutes removing tiles quietly.
Squeezed through. Landed on roof soft.
Moonlight painting everything silver-black.
Compound below quiet. Two guards at entrance. Another patrolling.
Forest beyond walls. Dense. Dark.
Run there. Disappear.
Moved across roof. Tiles loose. Each step careful.
Reached edge. Wall ten feet down.
Dropped. Landed crouch. Ankles absorbed—Foundation approaching strength helped.
Guard rounded corner thirty feet away.
Pressed against wall. Held breath.
Guard passed. Didn't look.
Waited five heartbeats. Moved.
Reached forest. Slipped between trees.
Didn't look back.
Ran for hours.
No technique. No conservation. Pure flight.
Forest thick. Branches whipping. Roots trying to trip.
Didn't care.
Away.
Dawn broke gray.
Collapsed against tree. Gasping. Legs shaking.
Behind, no pursuit sounds.
Too easy.
Way too easy.
Should've been caught. Elder Feng had tracking techniques. Sect disciples more.
Unless...
Unless they let me go.
Settled like ice.
Let him run. Think he escaped. Then what?
Track him. See where he goes. What he does.
Test subject outside lab.
Laughed. Bitter. Quiet.
"Bastards."
Stood. Kept moving.
If tracking, running pointless. But staying was surrender.
Move. Always move.
Three days forest.
Berries. Stream water. Slept in trees when exhausted.
No pursuit.
But felt eyes constantly.
Fourth day, broke treeline.
Found road. Small. Poorly maintained.
Followed east. Away from compound. Away from sect.
Passed merchant caravan. Eyed him suspiciously—dirty boy, haunted eyes—didn't stop.
Passed village. Bought bread with silver. Villagers stared. Said nothing.
Kept moving.
Week later, reached town. Larger. Walls. Guards at gate.
"Name and purpose."
"Chen Wu. Looking for work."
Fake name. First came to mind.
Guard waved through without interest.
Inside, bustling. Market. Shops. People everywhere.
Normal people. Normal lives.
Found inn. Paid for room. Collapsed on bed.
First real rest eight days.
Slept sixteen hours.
Woke to knocking.
"Room service."
Opened cautiously.
Old woman. Tray. Food. Tea.
"Didn't order—"
"Compliments of guest." Set tray. Left.
Stared at tray.
Under teacup, folded paper.
Opened.
Elegant handwriting:
Impressive performance. Seven months treatments. Escaped undetected. Survived week wilderness. Located settlement.
Excellent data.
Continue as you are. We'll be in touch.
—Sect Research Division
Crumpled paper.
Still watched.
Still specimen.
Never free.
Looked at tray. Smelled good.
Poisoned? Drugged?
Probably not. Too obvious.
Ate anyway.
If wanted dead, already dead. If wanted controlled, fighting pointless.
Might as well eat.
Finished everything. Drank tea.
Lay back.
Tomorrow, figure out next move.
Tonight, rest.
Three months in town.
Found work at cultivation herb shop. Low assistant. Organizing. Deliveries.
Owner didn't ask questions. Paid copper and leftover ingredients.
Used ingredients to continue cultivation. Slowly. Carefully.
Still hadn't attempted Foundation breakthrough. Too risky without resources. One mistake could cripple permanently.
Wait. Prepare. Then break through properly.
Made one friend—sort of.
Girl named Mei. Worked shop across street. Sixteen. Chatty. Kind.
"You're weird. Never smile. Never talk about yourself. Always watching like expecting attack."
"Just cautious."
"Cautious is checking corners. You're paranoid." Grinned. "I like it. Makes you interesting."
Almost smiled.
Almost.
"Want to get dinner sometime?"
"Why?"
"Because I'm bored and you're mysterious and I want your story."
"Don't have story."
"Everyone has story." Leaned closer. "Come on. One meal. If terrible, never ask again."
Considered.
Sect watching anyway. Might as well live a little.
"Fine. One meal."
Face lit up. "Great! Tomorrow night. Noodle place near square. Best in town."
Left, practically skipping.
Watched her go.
Normal.
She's so normal.
What would that be like? Living without watching every shadow?
Wouldn't know.
Never been normal.
Back to sorting herbs.
Next night, met Mei at noodle place.
She talked. A lot.
Family. Annoying brother. Rude customers. Cat living in alley.
Normal things.
Listened. Ate. Nodded occasionally.
"Terrible conversationalist. Twenty minutes and you've said maybe five words."
"Six."
Laughed. "See? Weird. Okay, your turn. Where from?"
"Far away."
"Family?"
"Complicated."
"Always is. Siblings?"
"No."
"Friends?"
Thought about compound. Elder Feng. Dead subjects.
"No."
Expression softened. "That's sad."
"Just how it is."
"Well, now you have one." Smiled. "Me. Whether you like it or not."
Looked at her. Really looked.
Genuine smile. No calculation. No agenda.
Just... kindness.
When was last time someone was kind without wanting something?
Never.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Okay. Friends."
Smile widened. "Good! Finish noodles. Want to show you night market. Best candied fruits."
Grabbed his hand. Pulled him up.
Let himself be pulled.
One night, pretended normal.
Pretended not watched.
Pretended world simple.
Just one night.
Tomorrow, back to reality.
Tonight...
Tonight enough.