Su Chen lay completely still as the morning light gradually spread across the floorboards. The weight of Meiling's arm resting on his chest felt heavy, almost like a lead bar.
He did not dare to move. He spent the last few moments of his sleep focusing on controlling his own body. Having a girl like her pressed against him for the entire night was a unique kind of torture. She was incredibly beautiful, and her curves were hard to ignore.
Any normal guy would have a reaction to that. Su Chen was no different. He was a healthy young man, and despite his absolute fear of her, his body had its own response.
He was currently experiencing the most awkward physical state possible while trying to pretend he was still unconscious.
'She really is a crazy person,' he thought. 'She is literally using her body as a cage. If I move the wrong way, she might see it as an invitation. If I don't move at all, she will think I am hiding something.'
He had spent hours refining the Silent River Method while she slept. His Qi felt different now. It was no longer a frantic, blue mist.
It was a cold, silver stream that flowed with a quiet purpose. He just had to hope it was enough to convince her.
Meiling stirred against him. She let out a small sigh that tickled his neck. She opened her eyes, and the sharpness returned immediately.
She did not look like a girl who had just woke up.
"You are finally awake, brother," she whispered. She squeezed his hand. "You were so tense last night. Were you dreaming about someone else?"
"Just dreams about the sect trials, Meiling," Su Chen replied. He quickly sat up, attempting to create some distance between them.
"I should probably practice a bit. I do not want to fall behind the other disciples."
Meiling sat up as well. Her thin white robes slipped slightly off one shoulder. She did not bother to fix it. She watched him with a playful yet dangerous look.
"How diligent of you. I was actually thinking the same thing. In fact, the Great Elder has requested that all disciples of our rank gather at the training grounds this morning. I will come with you. I want to see how much you have improved since your... accident."
Su Chen felt a pit form in his stomach. This was the worst-case scenario. If he went to the training grounds, he would have to fight. And if he fought, he would have to use his Qi.
They left the room after Su Chen changed into his standard white and blue robes. Meiling insisted on walking so close that their shoulders touched the entire way.
The Su family training grounds were a large open square made of white marble, surrounded by tall banners and stone pillars.
Dozens of disciples were already there. They were practicing sword forms and moving spirit energy.
The air was thick with the sounds of humming Qi and wooden swords clashing. When Su Chen and Meiling arrived, the noise quieted down.
Every eye turned to them. Some of the male disciples looked at Su Chen with pure jealousy. They saw his white hair and handsome face, and then they saw the most talented girl in the clan clinging to his arm.
"Su Chen! You are finally out of bed!"
A tall, broad-shouldered disciple stepped forward. This was Zhou Fan. He was at the Qi Condensation Level 5.
He had always been somewhat of a bully to the original owner of this body. He had a smirk on his face that made Su Chen want to roll his eyes.
"I heard you hit your head and forgot how to hold a sword," Zhou Fan laughed. He looked at Meiling, his eyes lingering on her for a moment too long.
"Maybe you need a little reminder? Why do we not spar? Just a light session to get your blood moving."
Meiling's expression turned cold. The temperature around them seemed to drop.
"Zhou Fan, be careful with your words," she said. Her voice was sharp.
"My brother is still recovering."
Zhou Fan flinched but did not back down. He wanted to show off in front of her.
"It is just a friendly spar, Sister Meiling. Unless Su Chen is too scared to even stand on the stage?"
Su Chen knew he could not hide forever. If he refused, he would look suspicious. He needed to find a balance.
He needed to appear as a Level 4 cultivator who was struggling while secretly using his new method to protect himself.
"It is fine, Meiling," Su Chen said. He stepped forward, letting go of her hand.
"I could use the exercise."
Meiling watched him walk toward the center of the ring. Her eyes were focused on his back. "Do not overexert yourself, Chen. I will be right here watching."
Su Chen and Zhou Fan stood opposite each other. They each picked up a wooden practice sword. The crowd of disciples gathered around the edge of the ring.
'Okay, Su Chen. Focus,' he told himself. 'Use the Silent River. Keep the silver Qi hidden deep in the meridians. Only use enough to move the sword.'
Zhou Fan did not wait. He lunged forward with a basic overhead strike. His wooden sword glowed with a faint yellow light. It was a standard Earth-element technique. It was slow but heavy.
Su Chen moved. Instead of meeting the blow with force, he stepped to the side. He felt the cold, silver energy flow into his legs.
It made his movements feel fluid and effortless. He made it looked like he was in the right place at the right time.
Zhou Fan's sword hit nothing but air. He growled and swung again, a horizontal slash aimed at Su Chen's ribs.
Su Chen brought his wooden sword up. He parried. He allowed the silver Qi to coat the edge of his wooden blade. When the two swords met, Zhou Fan's sword seemed to slide off Su Chen's blade as if it were covered in oil.
'It's working,' Su Chen thought. He felt a small spark of joy. He was actually doing it. He was holding his own against a higher-level opponent without revealing his true power.
Zhou Fan was getting frustrated. He was swinging harder and faster, but he could not land a clean hit. Every time he thought he had Su Chen cornered, the white-haired man would slip away with a clumsy-looking stumble that was actually a calculated movement.
"Stop running!" Zhou Fan shouted. He gathered his Qi into his feet and leaped into the air. He brought his sword down with all his might. It was his strongest move.
Su Chen saw the opening. He could have ended the fight right there. He could have stepped in and tapped Zhou Fan on the chest. But Meiling was watching. He had to make it look like a lucky win or a struggle.
He waited until the last moment. He raised his sword and panicked. He shoved his blade forward with a desperate cry.
The silver Qi surged for a brief moment. It focused into the tip of his wooden sword. When Zhou Fan's heavy strike hit Su Chen's blade, the vibrations traveled straight up Zhou Fan's arms.
Zhou Fan's grip loosened. His sword flew out of his hands and clattered onto the marble. Su Chen stumbled forward, his wooden sword stopping just inches from Zhou Fan's throat.
The training ground fell silent.
Su Chen panted, ensuring he looked exhausted. He let his sword arm shake a little.
"I... I think I got lucky," Su Chen said. He wiped fake sweat from his forehead.
Zhou Fan was staring at his empty hands in shock. He could not comprehend how he had lost to a weakling like Su Chen. He looked like he wanted to argue, but he felt a cold gaze on his neck. He looked over and saw Meiling.
She was smiling. But it was not a sweet smile. It was a smile of pure pride and obsession.
She walked onto the stage and immediately draped herself over Su Chen's arm again. She pulled out a silk handkerchief and began wiping his face.
"You did so well, brother," she cooed. She did not even look at Zhou Fan. "Your movements were a bit messy, but you managed to win. I knew you had it in you."
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper that only he could hear.
"But you are hiding something from me, aren't you? Your Qi... it felt different. It did not feel like the Su family style."
Su Chen's heart stopped. He looked into her eyes and saw that she was teasing him. She did not know exactly what he was doing, but she sensed something was off.
She found it exciting. She found it fun that her little bird was trying to grow new feathers.
"I just tried a different breathing rhythm," Su Chen lied.
Meiling giggled and bit her lip. She pressed her body against his arm, reminding him exactly who was in charge.
"I like it. It makes you more interesting. But remember, Chen... no matter how fast you run or how well you hide, you will always come back to me."
Su Chen looked at the other disciples. They were all staring at him. He realized that by winning, he had only complicated things more. He was no longer just the weak stepbrother. He was a mystery. And in a cultivation clan, mysteries were either solved or destroyed.
'I need to get stronger faster,' he thought.