Chapter Text
Meng Yao counts his steps in the dark.
He pauses and turns left. Three steps further. He spins lightly on the balls of his feet, right hand reaching until it brushes the top of the lacquered bookshelf. His fingers wrap around the soft leather scroll case. Exactly where he had seen it seven days ago.
In darkness he retraces his steps until he can slide the door to his quarters silently shut. Only then, after listening for four full breath cycles, does he remove the shade from his covered lantern. His pulse is fluttering in his lips.
It is near dawn, the only time Meng Yao can safely enter the Wen Clan library between guard changeovers. He has done it enough times now, taking maps and inventories to memorise, that the journey holds little fear for him. His heart beats faster as he unrolls the ancient scroll. This is different.
‘For the Enhancement of Cultivation Power-’
It is exactly what he hoped it to be. What he needs it to be.
The characters are in an ancient script, and even with Meng Yao’s extensive studies he only recognises around three quarters of the text. Thankfully the ritual appears disarmingly simple, although the diagram is indeed complex. He looks closely, blinks once, and he knows it.
Meng Yao hastily grinds the cinnabar and reaches for his widest brush. He has prepared space in his quarters already and wastes no time painting the spiraling shapes in scarlet on the black stone floor. He does not allow his fingers to shake, despite how aware he is of the blood pulsing through them.
Diagram complete, Meng Yao presses his lips together. He carefully places down the brush and angles his lantern to read the last section of text.
‘ -to complete the exchange, one must focus one's spiritual energy on the cultivator whose power one wishes to accumulate.’
There is only, truly, only one person in his mind. Only one who can wield his power without hesitation, who strikes fear into his enemies hearts, who is untouchable in his power.
Untouchable is exactly how he wants to feel.
As Meng Yao positions himself in the centre of the diagram, and begins to recite the mantra, there is only one name in his mind.
Nie Mingjue.