The Weight of Power

The infirmary felt colder now. The warmth of Zhao Lin's words faded as Jian Mu lay in silence, his fists clenched beneath the sheets.

He should've died.

That fact gnawed at him. If Zhao Lin hadn't intervened, he wouldn't be here. He wouldn't have passed. The bitter taste of helplessness burned in his throat.

"I fought for you."

His friend's words echoed in his ears. Jian Mu wanted to be grateful—but all he felt was anger. Not at Zhao Lin… but at himself.

'You weren't even strong enough to claim your own survival'

The voice returned, colder, harsher. It slithered through his thoughts like poison.

'Your nothing without him'

His nails dug into his palms. "Shut up..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

But the voice didn't stop.

'Is this how you plan to get revenge? How Pathetic.'

His chest tightened. The memory of his father's cold gaze. His half-brother's mocking words. The day his mother died, alone, abandoned. It all came crashing down.

Why? Why was he still so hopeless?

The sheets crumpled beneath his grip. His breath grew ragged, and deep inside—something stirred.

'Let me in' the voice hissed. 'I can give you what you lack'

A searing pain tore through his body. His veins burned as if molten fire coursed through them. Jian Mu gasped, his vision blurring. For a moment, the world shifted—dark tendrils creeping into the corners of his mind.

'Power is the only thing that matters in this pitiful world and right now... You have none.'

He wanted to deny it. But wasn't it true? Without Zhao Lin, he wouldn't even be alive.

A sharp knock broke through the haze. The infirmary door slid open.

A figure stepped in—tall, imposing, and radiating a terrifying aura. His black robes were embroidered with crimson patterns, the sign of a high-ranking instructor. His eyes glowed faintly beneath the shadow of his hood.

Jian Mu's body tensed instinctively. This wasn't an ordinary instructor.

"I see you're awake," the man said, his voice smooth but edged with menace. "You've caused quite a stir."

Jian Mu struggled to sit up, his muscles trembling from the effort. "Who are you…?"

The man's lips curled into a thin smile. "Instructor Bai," he answered. "One of the three who oversee new disciples." His gaze sharpened. "And you… you're quite the curiosity."

Jian Mu swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet the instructor's gaze. "I don't understand."

"You should be dead," Bai continued, stepping closer. "I watched you break—mind, body, and spirit. And yet here you are, breathing." His smile faded. "What are you hiding?"

The air grew heavy. Jian Mu felt the crushing weight of the instructor's ki bearing down on him. His heart pounded in his chest.

"I'm… not hiding anything," he lied, his voice low.

Instructor Bai tilted his head. "Is that so?" He crouched beside the bed, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Let me give you some advice, boy. This academy devours the weak. If you can't keep up, you'll be discarded. No one will save you a second time."

Jian Mu's vision swam, the pain in his veins flaring once again. The voice returned, soft and enticing.

'Let me in... The more you resist the weaker you become...'

The instructor stood, his expression unreadable. "Your next trial won't be so forgiving." With that, he turned and left, leaving only the echo of his words behind.

Jian Mu's hands trembled beneath the covers. The rage. The shame. The helplessness. It boiled inside him, hotter with every passing second.

And deep within, the demon laughed.

---

Meanwhile…

In a hidden chamber beneath the academy, Elder Mui and the cold-eyed female instructor stood in silent observation. A single scrying orb hovered between them, flickering with crimson light.

"You've sensed it right?" Elder Mui remarked.

The female instructor's eyes narrowed. "That ki… it's not his own."

Elder Mui nodded slowly. "And yet, it's growing stronger. If left unchecked…"

A cold smile crept across her lips. "Then let's not leave it unchecked. Let him burn. Either he survives and becomes a weapon—or he destroys himself."

Elder Mui chuckled softly. "The Heavenly Demon Academy… always hungry for monsters."

---

Back in the infirmary…

Jian Mu's heart pounded louder, the sound of blood roaring in his ears. His skin burned as red lines of energy faintly flickered along his arms.

He knew this wasn't normal. But for once—he didn't care.

"If power is all that matters… then I'll take it!"

Deep inside his mind there laid a black talesmans with blood as the ink of the words.

Finally Jian Mu picked up the talesmans without wasting time and as soon as he did a overwhelming darkness covered him and everything around him.

Then a voice welcomed him.

"We meet again my fellow vessel"

---

End of Chapter 11