By night the courtyard was alive with murmurs and tension. Liang Yue stood quietly among the rows of disciples, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes on him. The registration ceremony had ended yesterday, but today marked the true beginning of cultivation—the day the sect assigned each disciple a partner for dual cultivation, a companion meant to help them synchronize their energies and increase their spiritual growth.
The elders' announcement had been brief: "Dual cultivation strengthens not only body and soul, but also spirit. Each of you will be paired with a partner who complements your energy. Those who fail to synchronize will fall behind, and those who resist… will be left behind entirely."
Liang Yue's stomach tightened. The words triggered a faint, forgotten instinct in him. He remembered… vague hints of this from another life, memories of humiliation and failure, of weakness punished. But now, he had knowledge he hadn't possessed before. He would not fail again.
He scanned the courtyard, his sharp eyes quietly assessing the other disciples. Some were tall, proud, naturally strong in their spiritual sense. Some radiated dominance, and others, like him, were smaller, weaker, overlooked. His gaze finally settled on one figure, and his pulse skipped.
Shen Jin.
Tall, poised, immaculate in his posture, his aura radiating strength and control. The boy was clearly the sect's golden disciple, confident and untouchable. Liang Yue's lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile. He could feel the faintest resonance in the air—the energy that would later be key in dual cultivation. If he played carefully, he could survive this… and perhaps even turn the tables.
The elders began the pairing ceremony. One by one, they called disciples forward, announcing their assigned partners. Some disciples stiffened; some relaxed. A few murmured under their breath. The crowd watched, eager for drama, for the inevitable pairing of the strong and weak, the talented and the unremarkable.
When Liang Yue's name was called, a ripple of whispered speculation ran through the crowd. Who would be paired with him? They looked at him—delicate, slender, unassuming. Few could imagine him as a serious cultivator, let alone as a partner capable of dual cultivation.
"Liang Yue," an elder intoned. "You will be paired with… Shen Jin."
A hush fell. Shen Jin's sharp eyes flicked toward Liang Yue. His face betrayed no emotion, but his aura shifted slightly, a subtle tightening of his energy that only someone sensitive could perceive. Liang Yue's heart skipped, and yet he remained calm, his lips curving faintly. Perfect. Exactly what I expected.
The rules had been simple: during cultivation sessions, the pairs would practice together, synchronizing their energy flows. Physical closeness was required—the ritual of intimacy that allowed spiritual energy to circulate effectively. The stronger the connection, the faster one's cultivation advanced. Resistance, lack of focus, or emotional discord could cause injury—or worse.
Liang Yue's mind whirred. He had been weak before, slow, unable to control his energy, humiliated repeatedly. This time, he would observe, learn, and adapt. Shen Jin would be difficult—aloof, proud, unyielding—but that pride could be used. Patience, observation, and timing would be his weapons.
"Step forward," the elder instructed, gesturing toward the training hall. The disciples moved in pairs, and Liang Yue found himself walking beside Shen Jin. The boy's presence was imposing, but Liang Yue kept his head low, letting his delicate appearance mask the sharpness in his mind.
Inside the hall, mats were arranged in neat rows. Each pair would meditate together first, synchronizing breath and energy. Liang Yue sat cross-legged, observing Shen Jin. The boy closed his eyes immediately, posture perfect, controlling the flow of his spiritual energy with ease. Liang Yue mirrored him cautiously, trying to sense the faint currents of energy flowing around him.
The first attempt was slow. Liang Yue's energy was weak, uneven, and unpredictable. Shen Jin's presence was like a blade against him—cutting, precise, disciplined. Yet Liang Yue noticed something subtle. His body, delicate and underestimated, allowed him to adjust his energy with finesse, small corrections that others might struggle to achieve.
Minutes passed. Sweat beaded on Liang Yue's brow, his muscles trembling. The elders walked among the pairs, observing. Shen Jin's energy fluctuated slightly—a reaction to Liang Yue's attempts at synchronization, though the boy masked it expertly. Liang Yue's pulse quickened. He would need to learn Shen Jin's rhythm, anticipate it, and guide it subtly, or his cultivation would stall.
The meditation ended. The elder's voice rang out: "Pairs who fail to harmonize will continue until mastery is achieved. Physical intimacy will follow for those ready to circulate energy fully. Do not falter."
Liang Yue's heart thumped. He had heard of the ritual. The sexual aspect of dual cultivation was not just a trial—it was a weapon, a tool to link the spiritual and physical energy of partners, and it demanded cooperation, trust, and emotional resonance. Many failed because they underestimated the power of connection.
He looked at Shen Jin. The boy's eyes were open now, assessing him with that sharp, unyielding gaze. Liang Yue felt the faintest flicker of resonance—the spark that would later be used to synchronize energy fully.
Perfect, Liang Yue thought. I can survive this. I can grow stronger. And I will use this connection to my advantage.
Training continued throughout the day. Liang Yue observed carefully, adjusting his breathing, noting the flow of energy within his body, the subtle shifts in Shen Jin's aura. He felt weak, yes, but more aware than anyone else in the hall. He was patient, methodical, and willing to endure discomfort, humiliation, and doubt. Each session brought him closer to understanding how to synchronize with Shen Jin's precise, disciplined energy.
Evening fell, and the pairs were dismissed. Liang Yue returned to his quarters, exhausted but exhilarated. He lay on the bed, black hair fanning out around him, and allowed his mind to replay the day's events. The subtle energy resonances, the reactions of Shen Jin, the ways he could adjust, adapt, and eventually dominate the flow—all of it cataloged carefully.
Pain, embarrassment, weakness—they had been teachers in his past life. Now, they were guides, tools he could wield. He clenched his fists, feeling the faint tremor of determination and excitement coursing through him.
Tomorrow would be harder. Tomorrow would test his patience, endurance, and subtle skill at synchronization. But Liang Yue felt alive in a way he had never before. The faint resonance with Shen Jin, the first glimmers of potential, were enough to spark ambition.
He closed his eyes and let the moonlight wash over him, long hair spread across the floor like a dark river. In this life, delicate and underestimated though he may appear, he would endure. He would adapt. He would grow. And one day, the connection he was building now—the partner assigned to him by fate—would become his greatest weapon.
And he would not fail again.