THE SECOND AWAKENING

chapter 7

Chen POV

Three days passed in careful preparation.

I spent hours each day cultivating in secret, using the techniques from the inheritance manual combined with knowledge from my merged consciousness. My body grew stronger gradually. The energy pathways opened more fully. I was close to breaking through to the Peak Earth realm.

But I kept all of this hidden, using father's jade pendant technique to make anyone who checked think I was still in middle Earth realm. Let everyone believe I was weak. Let them underestimate me. That would be my advantage.

Uncle Feng helped me investigate our family members quietly. We watched who they talked to, where they went, what they did when they thought no one was looking. So far, we hadn't identified the traitor. Everyone seemed loyal.

Maybe the traitor was just very good at hiding. Or maybe they'd left the family years ago after helping kill my father. Either way, we'd keep looking.

On the fourth morning, Marcus knocked on my door early.

"Young master, there's a visitor for you. A young lady from the Mei family."

Mei Lin—the girl who'd saved me from Zhao Kun's attack. What was she doing here?

I dressed quickly and went to the receiving hall. Mei Lin stood there, looking elegant in blue robes. When she saw me, she bowed slightly.

"Young master Chen, thank you for seeing me."

"The thanks should be mine. You saved my life."

She smiled. "It was nothing. I couldn't let that fool Zhao Kun use a forbidden technique on you."

We sat down, and servants brought tea. Mei Lin waited until they left before speaking again.

"I came because I need to tell you something important. It's about Shadowpeak Academy."

"The cultivation school? I'm supposed to go there soon."

"Yes. But it's not just a school, Chen Wei. It's also a testing ground. The Four Pillars families send their agents there to evaluate students from other families. They identify the talented ones and either recruit them or... eliminate them."

My blood ran cold. "You know about the Four Pillars?"

"My family has known about them for generations. The Mei clan is tasked with protecting certain ancient seals throughout the kingdom. The Four Pillars want those seals broken. So we've been enemies for centuries, though we keep it quiet. Open war would destroy too much."

This was unexpected. An ally, someone who already knew about the conspiracy.

"Why tell me this?" I asked.

"Because your father was helping us investigate the Four Pillars before he died. He discovered things even we didn't know. When he disappeared, we lost valuable progress. But now you're following in his footsteps. I wanted to warn you about the academy and offer an alliance."

"What kind of alliance?"

"Share information. Help each other investigate. The Four Pillars are too powerful for any one family to fight alone. But together, we might have a chance."

I thought carefully. This could be genuine—or it could be a trap. Maybe Mei Lin was testing me, trying to see what I knew. Maybe she was even working for the Four Pillars herself.

But Uncle Feng had said we needed allies. And Mei Lin had saved me when she didn't have to. That counted for something.

"Alright," I said. "We'll share information. But carefully. If either of us suspects betrayal, we stop immediately."

"Agreed." She looked relieved. "There's something else. The academy's master, the one who lives in the Tower of Gods—he's not what he seems."

"What do you mean?"

"Master Magnus is over three hundred years old. He's reached the Semi-God realm, which is nearly impossible in this era. No one knows how he did it. Some say he made a deal with something dark. Others say he discovered ancient secrets. Either way, he's dangerous. Be very careful around him."

"Why does he even run an academy if he's that powerful?"

"That's what my family wonders too. We think he's looking for something—or someone. Students who show certain talents get special attention from him. Your soul purity, for example. When it tested off the scale, that would have interested him greatly."

I remembered how Master Zhou, the vice master, had reacted to my soul purity test. He'd seemed shocked and excited.

"What happens to students who get his special attention?" I asked.

"Some become his personal disciples and are never seen again. They go into the Tower of Gods with him and don't come out. Others disappear from the academy mysteriously. My family has been trying to figure out what he does with them, but he's too careful."

This was getting worse. Not only were the Four Pillars watching students, but the academy's master himself might be dangerous.

"I should cancel my enrollment," I said.

"No! That would draw more attention. If you suddenly refuse to go after being accepted, people will ask why. The Four Pillars will investigate. Better to go but stay cautious. I'll be there too. We can watch each other's backs."

She had a point. Running now would cause more problems than it solved.

"Alright. But I want to know everything you know about the Four Pillars. Their names, their methods, their agents—everything."

Mei Lin nodded. "I'll tell you what I can. But not here. Too risky. Meet me tonight at the Red Lotus Temple on the north side of the city. Come alone and in disguise. I'll give you all the information my family has gathered."

She stood to leave. I walked her to the door.

"Thank you for trusting me," I said.

"Thank you for listening. Your father was a good man. I hope you can finish what he started."

After she left, I found Uncle Feng and told him about the conversation. He looked troubled.

"I don't like this, Wei. Meeting alone at night? What if it's a trap?"

"I'll be careful. And I need that information. If Mei Lin's family really has been investigating the Four Pillars for generations, they might know things we desperately need."

"Then let me come with you, hidden nearby. If something goes wrong, I can help."

"She said come alone."

"She'll never know I'm there. Please, Wei. Let me protect you."

I saw the genuine worry in his eyes. Uncle Feng truly cared about me.

"Alright. But stay far enough away that you won't be detected. And don't intervene unless I'm definitely in danger."

He agreed, looking relieved.

I spent the rest of the day cultivating and preparing. That night, I dressed in dark, common clothes and covered my face with a simple mask. Uncle Feng did the same. We left through the compound's secret exit after midnight.

The Red Lotus Temple was old, rarely visited at night. It sat on a hill overlooking the city, surrounded by forest. Perfect place for a secret meeting—or an ambush.

Uncle Feng positioned himself in the trees about a hundred yards away, hidden but close enough to help if needed. I approached the temple alone.

Mei Lin was already there, standing in the courtyard. She'd also worn dark clothes and a mask.

"You came. Good." She gestured to a stone bench. "Sit. This will take a while."

For the next hour, she told me everything her family knew about the Four Pillars.