I opened the screen of the system and pulled a profile, my eyes stopped at a certain line.

  __________

  PROFILE→ CHEN WU

  CHARACTER: MERIT- BOUND CULTIVATOR

  → Power increases through accumulated merit (good deeds).

  _________

  Helping others… what bullshit, it was only because he had to. How convenient.

  Outside the medicinal hall, Chen Wu was smiling. "See? Elder Han is gruff but he's one of the best healers in the region. If anyone can fix your cultivation, it's him."

  "I'm grateful. Really."

  "Don't worry about it." He clapped my shoulder again. "Come on. I'll show you the dining hall for inner disciples. The food is much better than the outer disciple meals."

  We walked together, talking about nothing important. Chen Wu telling stories about his training, about other disciples, about sect life.

  And I listened as if enjoying it.

  All while the system notification blinked at the edge of my vision.

  [CORRUPTION PROGRESS: Chen Wu - 20%]

  [Bond established: Sworn Brotherhood (Deep Trust)]

  [Continue building emotional dependence. Target is increasingly invested in your wellbeing.]

  Twenty percent. Just from accepting his help. From letting him be the hero saving his damaged brother.

  (Mmmm, truly what a lovely day.)

  We strolled a bit more before we separated and went back to our respective quarters — after today's event, I could already see how the days ahead would go on.

  ********

  Four weeks passed and with each morning came the same routine, waking before dawn to drink one of Elder Han's medicines, the taste exactly as he had warned, my entire body burning for an hour afterward as the medicine worked through my meridians.

  But it was working — even if the pace was slow, the damage I'd inflicted on myself was healing faster than natural recovery would allow — and after the medicine settled, I'd join morning training, three hours of physical conditioning and combat drills with the other outer disciples, the instructor having stopped watching me as closely, I'd become just another face in the crowd.

  Wei Feng had become friendlier — we'd talk sometimes during meals or free time, he was straightforward, easy to read, just a young cultivator trying to advance — and three times a week I'd visit the Medical Hall, Elder Han examining my progress, adjusting the medicine dosages, and grunting approval or criticism depending on how the healing was going.

  "Better," he'd said last week. "The meridian scarring is reducing."

  And through it all, Chen Wu was there — finding me after training to talk, the two of us sitting in meditation gardens discussing cultivation theory as he explained techniques he was learning, asked about my progress, and offered encouragement whenever I expressed frustration about my slow recovery.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  The brotherhood was becoming real. At least on his side.

  My system notifications confirmed it.

  [CORRUPTION PROGRESS: Chen Wu - 37%]

  [Bond Strength: Deep Trust, Emotional Investment]

  [Target increasingly views you as essential support. Continue reinforcing dependence.]

  But today, something changed — I was leaving the Medical Hall after my afternoon treatment when I overheard two outer disciples talking near the entrance.

  "—three thousand spirit stones? That's insane."

  "I'm telling you, that's what I heard. Chen Wu spent his entire savings on that damned cultivator he brought back."

  "Why would anyone do that? The guy's not even an inner disciple."

  "Because Chen Wu's an idiot who thinks he can save everyone and help anyone."

  They walked away, still talking. I stood there, processing what I heard. Three thousand spirit stones, my dear brother has given up his small fortune for me.

  "Shouldn't I repay it — to my brother?" a new idea forming in my mind as I walked back to my quarters in a daze — Wei Feng was there, organizing his cultivation manuals — "you look bothered?”

  "No. Just... thinking."

  "About what?"

  "Just… this and that..mmmm." — and after thinking deeply, I walked out of the quarters and found Chen Wu in a training ground.

  "Brother Chen. We need to talk."

  He looked up from where he'd been practicing sword forms. "What's wrong?"

  "I heard about the spirit stones."

  His expression shifted. Uncomfortable. "Oh. That."

  "Three thousand stones, Chen Wu. That's everything you had."

  "It's fine. I can earn more."

  "Chen Wu—I owe you everything!"

  "I mean it, Fu Yang. You don't owe me anything.”

  “I’ll pay you back. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll do it. At the very least, let me help you with something.”

  He looked troubled and conflicted.

  Finally, he sighed. "You're stubborn."

  "I learned from the best."

  That got a small smile. "Fine. If you really insist... there is something you could help me with."

  "Anything."

  He hesitated. Looked around to make sure no one was listening, then lowered his voice.

  "I have actually another quest from my master.”

  My heart rate increased slightly — though I kept my expression curious — "what kind of quest?”

  "To find someone." He frowned. "There's an evil presence that infiltrated the sect. And I need to find them."

  I let confusion show on my face. "An infiltrator? In the Clouded Peak Sect?"

  "I know, it sounds strange, but it's true" he looked frustrated, "and I've been trying to investigate quietly, asking around, observing new disciples but I haven't found anything suspicious.”

  "How can I help?" I asked.

  "I could use another pair of eyes.”He met my gaze. "If you really want to repay me, help me complete this quest. It would be worth more than three thousand stones."

  The irony was almost beautiful. Chen Wu was asking me to help him hunt for myself!

  "I'll help," I clasped his arm. "Tell me everything. What do we know about this infiltrator?"

  He began explaining everything how he had been searching quietly, watching for anything unusual — yet so far, there was nothing

  "And you haven't found any leads?"

  "Nothing concrete" He shook his head. "Whoever it is, they're hiding well."

  (Or standing right in front of you.) I thought.

  "Are they dangerous?"

  "Yes.” Chen Wu's expression hardened. "If someone's planning to hurt the sect, we have to stop them."

  His righteous determination was showing. The hero, trying to protect his home.

  "Then we'll find them," I said firmly. "Where should we start?"

  Chen Wu pulled out a small notebook — "I've been keeping track of anything unusual, people who don't fit — so far I have a few possibilities but nothing solid.”

  He then showed me a list. Three names were written on it and all were outer disciples who'd joined around the same time I had.

  "These three?" I asked.

  "They're the most suspicious. One has a cultivation method that seems inconsistent with his stated background. Another has been asking too many questions about sect defenses. The third keeps sneaking out at night."

  "I'll watch them," I said. "See if I notice anything you missed."

  "Thank you." He looked genuinely relieved. "I've been trying to handle this alone. Having help means a lot."

  "That's what brothers are for."

  We spent the next hour discussing his investigation as Chen Wu showed me his notes, explained his reasoning, and outlined his plans for surveillance.

  All while I nodded, offered suggestions, and particularly pointed at the disciple who had been sneaking out at night.

  By the time we finished talking, another system notification had appeared.

  [CORRUPTION PROGRESS: Chen Wu - 40%]

  [New Development: Target has made you accomplice in his quest. Irony factor increases corruption effectiveness.]

  [Continue assisting with investigation. Use this to build deeper trust and identify his methods.]

  I walked back to my quarters that evening with a slight smile. This was going better than I could have planned.

  Chen Wu trusted me completely now. Enough to bring me into his most important quest.

  I pushed the feeling aside and entered my quarters — Wei Feng was already asleep, but Zhang Kun was reading manuals, and my gaze lingered on him for a second longer than it should have.

  After all, It was him—the one sneaking out at night. Even I hadn’t noticed…... .But tonight, I was watching him.

  *******

  Around midnight, I listened to him moving carefully, checking that we weren't awake — and then came the soft creak of the door opening and closing as he slipped out of our quarters.

  I waited for a minute. Then I quietly followed him.

  The sect was different at night. Most disciples were in meditation or sleeping in their quarters. Only a few night patrols wandered the grounds, and they were just too easy to avoid.

  Zhang Kun moved through the shadows like he'd done this many times. He was heading toward the outer edges of the sect. Past the training yards, past the outer disciple quarters. Toward where the boundary walls of the sect met the forest.

  I stayed far enough back that he wouldn't sense me. These types of cultivators had sharp senses.

  Zhang Kun reached a section of wall near the eastern gate. He glanced around once, then pulled out a small token from his robes.

  The token glo

  wed faintly as he pressed it against the wall.

  A section of the barrier started flickering — just for a moment, but long enough for him to slip through.

  Then it was solid again……