The courtyard did not recover.
Not fully.
---
Voices returned.
Movement resumed.
But something invisible had fractured.
---
The disciple who screamed was taken away.
Not for punishment—
But for observation.
---
No one said it out loud.
But everyone felt it.
---
Something was hunting.
---
And no one knew who.
---
Li Wei stood still for a long moment after the disturbance.
---
Then—
He turned and left.
---
There was nothing more to gain here.
---
Because the truth was already clear.
---
"It chooses targets."
---
"And it removes them… completely."
---
Not death.
---
Worse.
---
Erasure.
---
---
Back in his quarters—
---
Li Wei closed the door slowly.
---
This time—
He didn't sit.
---
He didn't meditate.
---
He didn't even think immediately.
---
Because now—
Thinking had consequences.
---
---
After several seconds—
He spoke.
---
Softly.
---
"…You're still here."
---
Silence.
---
But he knew.
---
It hadn't left.
---
It wouldn't leave.
---
Not anymore.
---
---
Li Wei walked to the center of the room.
---
His expression calm.
---
But his mind—
Precise.
---
"...You erase those who aren't observed," he said.
---
"...You remove awareness."
---
A pause.
---
"...But you can't erase everything at once."
---
---
Still silence.
---
But something tightened.
---
Just slightly.
---
---
Li Wei's eyes narrowed.
---
"…Because something must remember."
---
---
That was the flaw.
---
---
If no one remembered—
Nothing would exist.
---
Even it.
---
---
"So you leave traces," Li Wei continued quietly.
---
"...Gaps."
---
"...Confusion."
---
"...Incomplete erasure."
---
---
The air in the room shifted faintly.
---
Pressure.
---
Resistance.
---
---
Li Wei didn't stop.
---
"...Which means—"
---
He paused.
---
"…I can anchor it."
---
---
The moment the words formed—
---
The presence reacted.
---
---
A sharp pressure struck his mind.
---
Faster than before.
---
More violent.
---
---
But Li Wei was ready.
---
He closed his eyes instantly.
---
Cutting off all thought.
---
---
Silence.
---
Complete.
---
---
The pressure vanished.
---
---
Seconds later—
---
He opened his eyes again.
---
---
"…So you don't like that."
---
---
Now he was certain.
---
---
It feared something.
---
---
Not power.
---
Not strength.
---
---
But stability.
---
---
---
The Anchor
---
Li Wei sat down slowly.
---
This time—
He allowed thoughts to flow.
---
Carefully.
---
Controlled.
---
---
"If awareness sustains existence…" he murmured.
---
"…then continuous awareness creates permanence."
---
---
He looked around the room.
---
At the walls.
---
The table.
---
The cup.
---
---
Then—
---
He focused.
---
---
He memorized everything.
---
---
Every crack in the wall.
---
Every shadow.
---
Every detail.
---
---
He repeated it in his mind.
---
Again.
---
And again.
---
---
Not quickly.
---
But deeply.
---
---
Fixing it.
---
---
Anchoring it.
---
---
The effect was immediate.
---
---
The room felt—
---
Heavier.
---
---
More real.
---
---
As if something had been locked into place.
---
---
Li Wei's gaze sharpened.
---
"…So it works."
---
---
If he maintained awareness—
---
The space could not be altered.
---
---
Which meant—
---
The same could apply to people.
---
---
---
A knock sounded at the door.
---
---
Li Wei's eyes flicked toward it instantly.
---
---
He didn't move.
---
---
"…Who is it?" he asked calmly.
---
---
A pause.
---
Then—
---
"…It's me."
---
---
The voice was familiar.
---
---
But—
---
Something was wrong.
---
---
Li Wei's mind reacted instantly.
---
---
Too vague.
---
---
No name.
---
No identity.
---
---
"…State your name," Li Wei said.
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Then—
---
"…You already know me."
---
---
The air in the room turned cold.
---
---
Li Wei's expression didn't change.
---
---
"...No," he said quietly.
---
"…I don't."
---
---
A longer pause.
---
---
Then—
---
A faint distortion appeared near the door.
---
---
Not visible—
---
But felt.
---
---
As if something had been there—
---
And wasn't anymore.
---
---
The presence withdrew.
---
---
Gone.
---
---
Li Wei exhaled slowly.
---
"…It tried to enter."
---
---
Not physically.
---
---
Conceptually.
---
---
By replacing someone.
---
---
Or pretending to be remembered.
---
---
His eyes darkened.
---
---
"…So that's your next move."
---
---
---
The Second Anchor
---
Li Wei stood up immediately.
---
---
This time—
---
He didn't stay inside.
---
---
He stepped out.
---
---
The sect grounds were still active.
---
But quieter now.
---
---
Tension had spread.
---
---
Fear—
---
Even if undefined.
---
---
Li Wei walked through the path calmly.
---
---
Then—
---
He stopped.
---
---
A disciple stood ahead.
---
---
Familiar.
---
---
But—
---
Something was missing.
---
---
Li Wei stared.
---
---
"…Your name," he said.
---
---
The disciple blinked.
---
---
"…What?"
---
"…Your name," Li Wei repeated.
---
---
"…I'm—"
---
He stopped.
---
---
His expression changed.
---
---
Confusion.
---
---
"…I… I…"
---
---
His breathing quickened.
---
---
"…Why can't I remember?"
---
---
Li Wei stepped closer.
---
---
His voice low.
---
---
"...Look at me."
---
---
The disciple raised his head.
---
---
Their eyes met.
---
---
"...Focus," Li Wei said.
---
---
"...You exist."
---
---
"...You are here."
---
---
"...Remember yourself."
---
---
The disciple's body trembled.
---
---
"…I…"
---
"…My name is—"
---
---
The space around him flickered.
---
---
A distortion.
---
---
Stronger than before.
---
---
Li Wei's gaze sharpened instantly.
---
---
He didn't look away.
---
---
Didn't blink.
---
---
"...Stay," he said.
---
---
"...Don't let go."
---
---
The distortion intensified.
---
---
As if something was pulling—
---
Erasing—
---
---
But Li Wei held his focus.
---
---
Locked onto the disciple.
---
---
Anchored him.
---
---
Seconds passed.
---
---
Then—
---
The distortion broke.
---
---
Like a thread snapping.
---
---
The pressure vanished.
---
---
The disciple collapsed to his knees.
---
---
"…My name…" he whispered.
---
"…is Zhang Yuan…"
---
---
Li Wei stepped back slowly.
---
---
"…Remember it," he said.
---
---
"...Do not forget again."
---
---
Zhang Yuan nodded weakly.
---
---
Alive.
---
Present.
---
---
Still existing.
---
---
---
Li Wei turned away.
---
---
His expression calm.
---
---
But his eyes—
---
Colder than ever.
---
---
"…So I can resist you."
---
---
"…And protect others."
---
---
Behind him—
---
Unseen—
---
Something watched.
---
---
Not distant anymore.
---
---
Not hidden.
---
---
But close.
---
---
Very close.
---
---
And this time—
---
It was no longer observing out of curiosity.
---
---
But caution.
---
---
Because the rules—
---
Were changing.
---
---
And Li Wei—
---
Was the one rewriting them.