"Where am I?"

Liwei wandered, enveloped in a thick fog. His hands groped blindly at the unseen edges of the mist, searching for purchase, for direction. The silence throbbed against his ears, broken only by his own ragged breaths. Fear, primal and raw, tightened its grip, urging him to flee, to escape the suffocating unknown.

Then, piercing through the fog, a scream shattered the silence. "No! Get your hands off me!" The voice, filled with terror and desperation, was unmistakably Li Hua's. Liwei's heart skipped a beat as he spun towards the source of the cry. There, in the midst of the swirling mist, he saw her—his childhood friend, struggling against the grasp of a shadowy figure.

Instinctively, Liwei lunged towards the assailant, his hands reaching out to grasp the elusive shadow. But the figure slipped away with an eerie agility, evading his grasp. As Liwei faced the shadow again, it transformed, revealing a face he recognized with a jolt of horror—the man from the Black Fang Gang, the life he had taken.

Blood seeped from the man's seven orifices, painting his face with a macabre mask. His eyes locked onto Liwei with an intensity that felt like it could scorch the soul. "You took my life," the figure accused, its voice a twisted echo in the fog. "I never intended to kill her. I only wanted to scare her into submission. But you... you ended everything for me."

The words struck Liwei like a physical blow, echoing the turmoil that had been simmering in his heart.

"They wait," the phantom rasped, voice like dead leaves rustling in the wind. "Old and frail, they wait for a son who will never return."

The revelation tore at Liwei, unveiling layers of guilt and remorse he hadn't fully acknowledged.

The phantom's words blurred the line between truth and illusion, leaving him to grapple with the weight of his actions. His quest to protect had led to the loss of a life, a son, a loved one to others. The realization that his righteous act could be a source of grief for another family filled him with a profound sense of despair.

The shadow's gaze bore into him, a silent accusation that resonated with the deepest fears and doubts within Liwei. It was as if the very essence of his guilt had taken form, confronting him with the inescapable truth of the consequences of his actions.

"No!!"

He awoke with a start, heart racing, drenched in sweat. The early rays of dawn barely penetrated the darkness of his room, casting a dim, gloomy light. His breathing was ragged, the terror of the nightmare lingering like a shadow across his heart. As he sat there, trying to calm his racing thoughts, the dream continued to haunt him, a vivid reminder of the unresolved conflict within.

The sound of Zhang Liwei's anguished cry had barely faded when his family, alarmed and anxious, burst into his room. The sight of them—his father, Zhang Jian, his mother, Liu Mei, and his younger sister, Zhang Ning—brought a semblance of reality back to Liwei, yet the echoes of the nightmare still clung to him.

"Liwei, are you okay?" his father asked, his voice laced with worry. "What happened?"

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Liwei managed a weak nod. "It was just a nightmare," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He recounted the dream, the words spilling out in a hesitant stream, painting a vivid picture of his inner torment.

His family exchanged glances, their faces etched with concern. "It's okay, son," Zhang Jian reassured him, a gentle firmness in his voice. "You did what you had to do. You protected us, protected the village. Your actions were just."

Liwei looked at them, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I need some time alone," he murmured, and they understood. Without another word, they left, giving him the space he needed to grapple with the storm within.

Alone in his room, Liwei let the tears fall, each droplet a silent testament to the turmoil in his heart. The questions that had haunted him in his dream now echoed in the stillness of his room. Was the life he had taken cherished by others? In his quest to protect, had he committed an unforgivable sin?

Despite the reassurances from his family, his master, and the villagers, a tight knot of doubt and guilt weighed heavily in his chest. Seeking solace, Liwei decided to visit a place that had always been a sanctuary for him—the Ancient Boulder Field.

Stepping out of the house, Liwei made his way through the village, still shrouded in the quiet of early morning. The familiar paths led him out of the village gate and into the open landscape, where the Ancient Boulder Field lay.

As he arrived at the field, a place of countless hours of cultivation and reflection, a sense of calm began to wash over him. He took a seat between two large boulders, his favorite spot for meditation and training. Memories flooded back to him—it had been three years since he last sat here, before his journey to Amethyst Heart Mountain.

In this familiar setting, a feeling akin to returning home after a long voyage enveloped him. The chaos in his mind began to subside, giving way to a clearer, more composed train of thought.

He recalled the words of his loved ones, each voice a balm to his troubled spirit. His father, affirming that he would have done the same in Liwei's place; Li Hua, expressing her gratitude for saving her life; and most importantly, Master Yan's wisdom, echoing through the years—a cultivator's duty was to protect, to serve, and to bear the burden of the world's pain so that others might live in peace.

As these thoughts and memories interwove, the tight knot in Liwei's chest began to loosen. The burden of his actions, while still present, felt less crushing, tempered by the understanding and support of those he held dear.

In the tranquility of the Ancient Boulder Field, Zhang Liwei's thoughts continued to churn. The more he reflected on the words of his family and Master Yan, the more he began to accept the necessity of his actions during the bandit attack. It was a hard truth, but one that he was starting to understand in the light of the greater good.

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As he sat there, immersed in contemplation, a sudden movement caught his eye. An emerald viper, its scales shimmering menacingly, coiled atop a nearby rock. Its hiss was a sharp, threatening sound in the quiet of the field, its fangs glinting like tiny, deadly blades.

Instinctively, Liwei's hand reached for a stone lying beside him. Flashbacks of the bandit's axe and Li Hua's terror filled his mind, fueling his actions. With a swift, practiced motion, he hurled the stone at the viper. The serpent struck, but Liwei's aim was true. The stone struck the viper, rendering it limp and motionless on the ground.

Liwei stood there, his breath catching in his throat, as a profound realization dawned on him. The rock that had been weighing down his chest seemed to dissolve, replaced by a new understanding. He looked at the viper's venom sac, pulsating with lethal potential, and understood the invisible threat it posed to anyone who might cross its path.

It wasn't just about him and the bandit he had slain. It was about the interconnected lives, the unseen threads that wove their destinies together. Just as he had killed the viper to protect himself and potentially others, including his fellow villagers, leaving it alive could have led to the loss of many more innocent lives.

In that moment, Liwei understood the actions of Master Yan, who had eliminated the remaining bandits and their leader. A single misstep, a single act of mercy towards the wrong entity, could spiral into countless tragedies.

Taking a deep breath, Liwei gently scooped up the fallen viper, placing it with care beneath a large rock. "Forgive me," he whispered, his words a solemn prayer not only to the creature he had just killed but also to the complex world he was learning to navigate. "This life was taken not out of malice, but in the name of protection, for the many lives that could have been lost."

A heavy feeling settled in his chest again, but it was different this time. It was no longer the oppressive weight of guilt but a solemn acknowledgement of his responsibilities. He had taken a life, but it was a decision made with full awareness, with an understanding of both the cost and the necessity.

As Zhang Liwei emerged from the Ancient Boulder Field, the first light of dawn was breaking across the horizon, painting the sky in breathtaking shades of gold and crimson. The path ahead was still veiled in the morning mist, but Liwei's steps were surer, lighter, propelled by the profound clarity he had gained.

With each step, he realized that while the act of taking a life would forever be a heavy burden, he could not, and would not, shy away from protecting those in need, those who lacked the strength to defend themselves. He would embrace the responsibility, walking his path with determination, and continue to cultivate not only his Qi but also his empathy and understanding. Every life mattered, including those he had regrettably taken.

This epiphany didn't erase the pain or the guilt that lingered in his heart, but it offered a way forward. It was a path that allowed him to carry the heavy burden of life and death with a sense of honor and purpose.

As he stood there, the dawn cracked through the horizon, the sky ablaze with fiery hues. Liwei, eyes closed, remained rooted amidst the dew-kissed boulders. The troubling echoes of his encounter with the viper, the whispers of guilt that had haunted him, were now fading away. In their place, a quiet conviction took root, a resilience forged in the furnace of regret and acceptance.

Inside him, his Qi, which had always been a gentle hum in his Dantian, now thrummed with renewed intensity. It resonated with the pulse of the earth, a vibrant drumbeat echoing through the stillness of the morning.

Liwei sank deeper into himself, tracing the pathways of his meridians, feeling the power of his Qi not as a weapon, but as an extension of his will, his bond with the world around him. The guilt that had once shackled him had transformed into a steely resolve, a firm determination to protect not just lives, but the delicate balance of existence itself.

And as his conviction soared, the resonating pulse within him grew stronger. The earth beneath his feet seemed to pulse in response, mirroring the rhythm of his Qi. Roots, unseen, snaked around his ankles, grounding him, anchoring him to the source of his newfound strength.

Zhang Liwei, standing amidst the Ancient Boulder Field, felt a subtle tremor pass through the ground. It was not a disruptive quake, but a gentle wave, like the earth itself acknowledging his newfound understanding. The resonating pulse of Qi within him surged, reaching a crescendo that shattered a long-standing barrier, a bottleneck in his cultivation journey.

His eyes snapped open, and he gasped at the world that lay before him. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a reality more vivid and sharp than ever before. His Qi, once a steady stream, now flowed like a mighty river, a powerful force coursing through him with an intensity he had never experienced. In this moment of profound awakening, Liwei realized he had broken through to the final stage of his current realm—the Resonating Pulse stage.

Eyes closed once more, Liwei delved inward, focusing on his dantian. Where once a pebble-sized vortex of Earth Qi had resided, there now danced an egg-shaped maelstrom, pulsating with life and energy. He felt the Qi expand, sending ripples throughout his body, like whispers on the wind. In his mind's eye, he saw these ripples reaching out, intertwining with the earth around him, forging a silent, profound connection.

This breakthrough was more than just a surge in power. It was an affirmation, a testament to his journey and struggles. The earth itself, through its subtle vibrations, had recognized and validated his resolve. Gone was the boy weighed down by guilt and uncertainty. In his place stood a cultivator, his spirit tempered by hardship and introspection, a guardian whose mind was as unyielding as a shield and whose spirit burned with the intensity of an unwavering flame.

Feeling rejuvenated and resolved, Liwei made his way back home. Upon his return, he found his family and even some villagers gathered, their faces etched with concern.

"Back, finally," Liwei announced, stepping through the doorway. The familiar faces turned towards him, etched with relief and something a touch deeper. He smiled, warmth blooming in his chest, "No need to worry, I'm back and stronger than ever."

His mother rushed forward, hands fluttering like worried birds. "Thank heavens," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Liwei met her gaze, his own steady and clear, "I found what I needed, Mother. Peace within, and a path forward."

His father, weathered but strong, clapped him on the shoulder. "Good son," he rumbled, a hint of pride in his eyes. Liwei felt the echo of that pride resonate within him, a steady drumbeat guiding his steps.

Master Yan, witnessing Liwei's transformation, felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The harrowing experiences and the resulting epiphany had led to a significant breakthrough in Liwei's cultivation journey. The master understood that such trials were essential for the growth of a true cultivator.

In the days that followed, Liwei spent precious moments with his family, cherishing their presence and the simplicity of village life. Yet, the call of his path as a cultivator was ever-present.

With Master Yan's assurance that he would remain in the village for the next few years, safeguarding their home and allowing Liwei to train without worry, Liwei prepared to leave for Amethyst Heart Mountain once more.

His heart was lighter, his purpose clearer, as he embarked on the next stage of his journey, carrying with him the lessons learned and the strength gained from the trials he had faced.