Chapter 6 — Eyes That Measure
The outer disciple dormitory did not sleep well.
It breathed ambition.
Whispers traveled through thin wooden walls. Recruits comparing performances. Guessing who would advance first. Measuring each other with insecurity disguised as confidence.
Ye Wuchen remained seated in meditation long after most had lain down.
The sect's qi density was modestly stronger than the village's. It flowed in stable currents shaped by formation arrays carved beneath the compound.
Disciplined.
Structured.
But rigid.
He adjusted his breathing to avoid syncing too completely with it.
Uniform rhythm produced uniform minds.
He preferred observation.
---
Morning training began before sunrise.
A senior outer disciple stood before them.
His name was Han Wei.
Third-stage Qi Refinement.
Foundation solid.
Expression cold.
"You passed the entry trial," Han Wei said. "That means nothing."
His gaze swept across the new recruits.
"Outer disciples are ranked monthly. Lowest rank cleans latrines. Highest rank earns access to cultivation manuals."
Murmurs followed.
Han Wei continued, "Rank is determined by contribution points and combat evaluation."
He paused deliberately.
"And by visibility."
That word lingered.
Ye Wuchen noted it carefully.
Visibility.
A currency more dangerous than strength.
---
Training drills began immediately.
Footwork alignment.
Breath synchronization.
Strike repetition.
Liang struggled but persisted.
Zhang Rui forced less than before, remembering prior correction.
Ye Wuchen executed movements cleanly but without flair.
Han Wei noticed.
"You," Han Wei said sharply. "Blind one."
"My name is Ye Wuchen," he replied calmly.
Han Wei stepped closer.
"You do not look blind."
"I am."
"Then how do you align so precisely?"
"I listen to air displacement," Ye Wuchen answered.
Some disciples laughed.
Han Wei did not.
"Demonstrate," Han Wei ordered.
Han Wei threw a sudden palm strike without warning.
Ye Wuchen stepped aside cleanly.
Minimal movement.
Han Wei narrowed his eyes.
"You anticipated my attack?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Pattern recognition," Ye Wuchen said.
Han Wei stared at him for several seconds.
"Do not grow arrogant," Han Wei said finally.
"I am not," Ye Wuchen replied.
Han Wei walked away.
But not dismissively.
He would remember this.
---
Later that afternoon, outer disciples were assigned group tasks.
Ye Wuchen found himself placed in a resource-gathering team led by a young man named Luo Jian.
Luo Jian's voice carried confidence edged with irritation.
"I know you," Luo Jian said as they walked toward the forest perimeter. "You're the blind one who embarrassed your opponent."
"I did not intend embarrassment," Ye Wuchen replied.
"That's worse," Luo Jian muttered.
Zhang Rui walked slightly behind them.
Luo Jian continued, "Do you plan to compete for ranking?"
"I plan to cultivate," Ye Wuchen answered.
"That wasn't the question!" Luo Jian replied
"Then the answer is uncertain," Ye Wuchen said.
Luo Jian snorted.
"You're either hiding strength or hiding fear."
Ye Wuchen paused slightly.
"Does it matter?"
"It does if you're in my team," Luo Jian said.
Ye Wuchen inclined his head.
"Then assume I will not endanger you."
Luo Jian frowned.
"You speak too calmly."
"It reduces error," Ye Wuchen replied.
Zhang Rui hid a small smile.
---
That evening, outer disciple spar evaluations resumed.
This time, rankings were posted publicly.
Lin Xueyao stood at the top.
No surprise.
Her matches were efficient.
Minimal wasted motion.
Cold precision.
Han Wei addressed her directly.
"You will enter advanced outer training tomorrow," Han Wei said.
Lin Xueyao nodded once.
No pride.
No visible reaction.
After training, she approached Ye Wuchen.
"You restricted your own performance right?," Lin Xueyao said plainly.
"Yes," Ye Wuchen replied.
"But why? it doesn't make sense at all" Lin Xueyao asked curiously
"Because it is sufficient," he answered.
"For now," she added.
"For now," he agreed.
There was a brief silence.
Lin Xueyao's voice lowered slightly.
"Luo Jian is unstable."
"I am aware," Ye Wuchen replied.
"He seeks rapid advancement," she continued.
"That is a common mistake for everyone," Ye Wuchen said.
"I think he wants to deal with you sooner or later." Lin Xueyao stated.
"It matters not."
"You do not seem concerned."
"I will adapt," Ye Wuchen replied.
She studied him for a moment.
"You move like someone older than you appear."
"I have observed many mistakes," Ye Wuchen said.
Her expression remained neutral.
But she did not dismiss him.
That mattered.
---
Night fell.
Whispers returned to the dormitory.
Luo Jian's voice carried faintly from across the hall.
"He's hiding something," Luo Jian said to another disciple. "No blind man moves like that."
Ye Wuchen heard it.
He did not react.
Zhang Rui leaned closer from his mat.
"Are you?" Zhang Rui whispered.
"Yes," Ye Wuchen answered quietly.
Zhang Rui blinked.
"You admit it just like that?"
"I hide many things," Ye Wuchen replied.
Zhang Rui hesitated.
"Should I be worried or something?"
"forget it," Ye Wuchen said calmly.
Zhang Rui relaxed slightly.
"At least we are on good terms right? probably..." Zhang Rui thought to himself
---
As the dormitory settled, Ye Wuchen remained seated in meditation.
His spiritual sea pulsed faintly.
The seal remained immovable.
He did not attempt to loosen it.
Not yet.
Instead, he refined mortal qi steadily.
Each circulation cycle strengthened his damaged meridians incrementally.
Pain remained.
But pain had become familiar.
He sensed movement outside.
Light footsteps.
Disciplined breathing.
Lin Xueyao.
She paused briefly outside the dormitory entrance.
Then moved on.
Interesting.
She was cautious.
Not suspicious.
Aware.
That would make her strong.
---
Far above the outer compound, on a stone balcony, two elders observed quietly.
"That blind disciple," one elder said.
"Ye Wuchen," the other replied.
"He does not seek attention."
"He seems promising to me."
"Those are the ones to watch."
Silence lingered.
"Do not interfere," the second elder said. "Let him reveal himself."
The first nodded.
Below them, in the dim dormitory light, Ye Wuchen's breathing aligned once more with the sect's formation pulse—
But not entirely.
He kept a fraction of independence.
The fraction may be small and almost imperceptible but that fraction would matter later.
—