Chapter 3: I Can See Their Meridians?!
I didn't trust her. Not for a second.
The woman in the black trench coat moved with predatory grace, circling me like a wolf sizing up its prey. Her dagger gleamed faintly under the moonlight, its blade sharp enough to slice through steel—or so it seemed. She hadn't attacked yet, but the way she held herself told me she was dangerous. Every muscle in my body screamed to run, to put as much distance between us as possible. But something kept me rooted to the spot—curiosity, maybe, or sheer stubbornness.
"Who are you?" I demanded again, trying to keep my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
She tilted her head slightly, studying me with those piercing eyes. "You already asked that," she said, her tone amused. "And I already answered. Someone who wants to help you stay alive."
"Funny way of showing it," I shot back, gesturing toward the knife in her hand.
Her lips quirked into a smirk. "Relax. If I wanted you dead, you'd already be bleeding out on this rooftop."
That wasn't exactly reassuring. Still, she had a point. If she'd wanted to kill me, she could've done it by now. Instead, she was standing there, talking. Maybe she really did want to help. Or maybe she was just toying with me before delivering the final blow. Either way, I couldn't afford to let my guard down.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"To teach you how to survive," she replied simply. "Because whatever you think you know about cultivation? It's not enough."
Something about her felt… off. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but different. There was an aura around her—a kind of quiet confidence that bordered on arrogance. She carried herself like someone used to being in control, accustomed to calling the shots. And yet, beneath that polished exterior, there was a flicker of something else. Pain, perhaps. Or regret. Whatever it was, it made her harder to read.
But then again, reading people wasn't exactly my strong suit.
"You're assuming I need your help," I said, crossing my arms defensively. "Newsflash: I'm doing just fine on my own."
She raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because last I checked, you were dodging bullets and breaking bones in an auction hall filled with armed mercenaries. Doesn't exactly scream 'fine.'"
Touché.
Before I could respond, she stepped closer, closing the gap between us. Instinctively, I tensed, ready to fight or flee at a moment's notice. But instead of attacking, she reached out—not with the dagger, but with her free hand—and grabbed my wrist.
"Hold still," she ordered, her grip firm but not painful.
"What are you—"
"Quiet."
For a split second, I thought she might stab me after all. But then I noticed what she was doing—or rather, what *I* was seeing.
As her fingers pressed lightly against my skin, faint lines began to glow beneath them. Thin, intricate pathways traced along her arm, branching out like roots in the soil. They shimmered faintly, pulsing with energy that seemed almost alive.
My breath caught in my throat.
"Are those… meridians?" I whispered, staring in awe.
She nodded. "Exactly. And thanks to your little System upgrade, you can see them too."
It took everything in me not to recoil. The sight was both fascinating and unnerving. Up until now, I'd only seen flashes of information about meridians when the System unlocked my ability earlier. But actually visualizing them in real-time? That was something else entirely.
"How does it work?" I asked, unable to tear my gaze away.
"Meridians are channels within the body that allow Qi to flow," she explained matter-of-factly. "Most cultivators spend years training to strengthen these pathways, learning how to harness their power. You, on the other hand…" She paused, glancing pointedly at the fiery symbol branded into my palm. "…seem to have skipped straight to the advanced stuff."
"That doesn't answer my question," I said, frowning.
"No, it doesn't," she admitted with a shrug. "But explaining cultivation mechanics isn't why I'm here. What matters is that you understand how to use this ability to your advantage."
"And how would I do that?"
"Simple. By observing others' weaknesses."
She released my wrist and stepped back, slipping the dagger back into its hidden sheath. Then, without warning, she lunged forward, aiming a punch directly at my face.
Instinct kicked in. My body moved faster than my mind, dodging the strike with ease. As she followed up with another attack, I caught sight of her meridians glowing brightly in response. Energy surged through her limbs, fueling each movement with precision and speed.
But there was something else too—a faint flicker near her side where her Qi flow appeared weaker. Almost imperceptible, but definitely there.
"Gotcha," I muttered under my breath.
Using Ghost Shadow Steps, I darted behind her, targeting the weak spot. Before she could react, I delivered a swift kick to her ribs, sending her stumbling forward.
She recovered quickly, spinning around with a look of mild surprise. "Not bad," she admitted. "You learn fast."
"I try," I replied smugly.
Despite the small victory, I still didn't trust her. Helping me train one minute, attacking me the next—it was hard to tell which side she was on. For all I knew, she could be working for one of the clans hunting me down.
"So, what's your angle?" I asked bluntly. "Why go through all this trouble just to teach me a few tricks?"
She hesitated, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might refuse to answer. But then she sighed, running a hand through her ponytail.
"My name is Lin Wei," she said finally. "And contrary to what you might think, I don't owe anyone anything. Least of all the people who destroyed my family."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Family. Destruction. Those were themes I understood all too well.
"They came for yours too?" I asked quietly.
She nodded. "Years ago. Just like they came for yours."
A heavy silence settled over the rooftop. Neither of us spoke for a while, lost in our own thoughts. Finally, I broke the quiet.
"If we're going to work together, I need to know one thing."
"What's that?"
"Are you planning to betray me?"
Her gaze hardened. "If I wanted to betray you, I wouldn't waste time teaching you how to fight. I'd slit your throat in your sleep and be done with it."
Fair enough.
Over the next hour, Lin drilled me relentlessly, pushing me to master the basics of Qi manipulation and refine my newfound abilities. By the time we finished, my muscles ached, and sweat soaked through my hoodie. But I felt stronger—more in control.
As we parted ways, she gave me one final piece of advice.
"Be careful who you trust," she warned. "Not everyone has your best interests at heart."
Easy for her to say.
Back on the streets, I found myself reflecting on everything that had happened since touching the jade pendant. The System. The attacks. Lin Wei. Each new revelation only raised more questions. Who was hunting me? Why? And most importantly, what role did I play in this twisted game of power and revenge?
One thing was certain: I wasn't going down without a fight.
But first, I needed answers.