Elder Jin sat motionless behind the low table in the Hall of Ancestral Wisdom, his weathered face betraying nothing as Lin Tian entered and bowed formally. Only the slight narrowing of his eyes indicated any reaction to Lin Tian's presence.

  "Young Master Lin," Elder Jin said, his voice carrying the weight of decades of cultivation. "Please, be seated."

  Lin Tian took his place across from the elder, maintaining perfect posture despite the urge to fidget. Lin Feng stood silently behind him, as instructed. Lin Tian couldn't help but notice a strange intensity in his attendant's gaze today, different from his usual attentiveness.

  "I believe congratulations are in order," Elder Jin continued, his tone carefully neutral. "Your... breakthrough has caused quite a stir."

  "Thank you, Elder Jin," Lin Tian replied, keeping his expression humble. "Though I believe Elder Zhou has exaggerated my contribution considerably."

  "Has he?" Elder Jin reached inside his sleeve and withdrew an ornate scroll bearing the familiar seal of the Celestial Dragon Sect. "This arrived by spirit bird not an hour ago. Addressed specifically to you."

  Lin Tian accepted the scroll with both hands, properly respectful, though internally he was calculating furiously. The sect's direct communication was unexpected and potentially problematic.

  "The Celestial Dragon Sect rarely takes notice of clan disciples," Elder Jin remarked, watching Lin Tian's reaction carefully. "Yet they seem quite interested in your... theoretical insights."

  Lin Tian broke the seal and scanned the contents quickly, his enhanced vision making the characters leap from the page with startling clarity.

  "It appears," Lin Tian said slowly, "that the sect wishes to formally acknowledge my contribution to Elder Zhou's work."

  Elder Jin's eyebrow raised a fraction. "Is that all?"

  "They also extend an invitation to present my understanding of meridian theory to their inner council next season," Lin Tian added, carefully folding the scroll.

  "Indeed." Elder Jin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Quite the honor for someone who, until recently, was known primarily for his... limitations."

  "Fortune smiles unpredictably," Lin Tian offered with a self-deprecating smile.

  "Indeed it does." Elder Jin's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Young Master Lin, would you indulge an old man's curiosity? I've always had a particular interest in meridian theory myself."

  Lin Tian inclined his head. "Of course, Elder."

  "Excellent." Elder Jin gestured, and a servant appeared with a stone tablet and brush. "Perhaps you could explain the fundamental principle behind your circulation pattern? Nothing elaborate—just the core concept."

  Lin Tian recognized the test immediately. If he couldn't articulate the basic theory behind "his" pattern, his supposed breakthrough would be exposed as fraudulent.

  "The conventional approach," Lin Tian began, taking the brush, "treats meridians as fixed pathways. My insight was questioning this fundamental assumption."

  With confident strokes, he sketched a simplified version of his original pattern.

  "I conceptualized meridians not as static channels but as adaptive conduits that respond to spiritual pressure differentials," he continued, marking key points on the diagram. "By creating deliberate pressure variations here and here, one can induce self-optimizing flow patterns that naturally seek efficiency."

  Elder Jin leaned forward slightly, his interest visibly piqued despite himself.

  "And this recursion point?" he asked, indicating a particular junction in the pattern.

  "That's where conventional theory would predict turbulence," Lin Tian explained smoothly. "But if the practitioner maintains awareness of the fluctuation harmonic—what I term 'resonant mindfulness'—the apparent contradiction resolves itself."

  For nearly an hour, Elder Jin probed Lin Tian's understanding with increasingly specific questions. Lin Tian met each inquiry with clear, coherent explanations that drew on his understanding of fluid dynamics from his previous life while adapting terminology to match cultivation concepts.

  Throughout the exchange, Lin Tian was acutely aware of Lin Feng's silent presence behind him. There was something different in his attendant's posture today—a subtle tension that hadn't been there before, as if Lin Feng was studying him rather than merely supporting him.

  Finally, Elder Jin sat back, his expression thoughtful.

  "Impressive," he acknowledged. "Your understanding seems... comprehensive."

  "Thank you, Elder," Lin Tian replied, maintaining his humble demeanor despite the intellectual sparring match he'd just won.

  Elder Jin tapped the table with one finger. "Do you know what Lin Feng said when he delivered the news of Elder Zhou's announcement?"

  Lin Tian glanced back at his attendant, who maintained his perfect composure.

  "No, Elder. What did he say?"

  "'Young Master has been robbed,'" Elder Jin quoted, watching Lin Tian carefully. "Quite the loyal assessment from your attendant."

  Lin Tian allowed himself a small smile. "Lin Feng exaggerates my abilities, Elder. I merely had an insight. Elder Zhou provided the expertise to develop it properly."

  "Humility is commendable," Elder Jin said, rising to his feet. "But false modesty serves no one. The Patriarch will want to hear your own account of this... development."

  "I look forward to explaining everything to him," Lin Tian replied, also standing.

  "I'm certain you do." Elder Jin paused at the doorway. "One more thing, Young Master Lin. Elder Zhou is known for his... strategic thinking. Consider carefully why he would choose this particular moment to share your work with the world."

  With that cryptic statement, Elder Jin departed, leaving Lin Tian to consider the implications of his words.

  "Well," Lin Tian muttered to Lin Feng once they were alone, "that went better than expected."

  "You handled his questioning masterfully, Young Master," Lin Feng replied. His eyes lingered on Lin Tian's face a moment too long, as if searching for something. "Though I maintain you were robbed."

  Lin Tian chuckled, glancing down at the Celestial Dragon Sect's scroll. "Perhaps. But the real question is: why would Elder Zhou deliberately connect me to this work now? What does he gain by associating himself with the 'trash of the Lin family'?"

  "Unless," Lin Feng suggested quietly, "he considers a future investment."

  Lin Tian's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Or unless he's using me as bait for something larger. Either way, we have three days to prepare for the Patriarch's return—and whatever schemes Elder Zhou has set in motion."

  Lin Feng nodded, his expression revealing nothing, though something in his eyes had changed since the conversation with Elder Jin—a focused intensity that made Lin Tian wonder just how much his attendant knew.

  Back in his quarters, Lin Tian carefully unrolled the Celestial Dragon Sect's scroll once more, studying its contents with his enhanced perception. His newly sharpened senses allowed him to detect subtle traces of Qi embedded in the parchment itself—Elder Zhou's distinctive energy signature lingered in the seal.

  "He personally authorized this," Lin Tian murmured, running his fingers over the elaborate calligraphy. "Not just sanctioned it—wrote it himself."

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  Lin Feng, who was preparing tea at the small table by the window, looked up with interest. "That's unusual for communication from the sect to a disciple's family."

  "Precisely," Lin Tian agreed. "Which means this isn't really from the sect at all. It's a personal message, disguised as official correspondence."

  He scanned the formal text again, this time looking beyond the surface meaning. The invitation to present to the inner council was genuine enough, but certain phrases stood out upon closer examination.

  "'To explore the implications of your unique perspective,'" Lin Tian read aloud. "'As circumstances have accelerated the revelation of your insights...'"

  Lin Feng set down the teapot, his expression thoughtful. "He's apologizing."

  Lin Tian looked up in surprise. "What?"

  "In formal sect communications, 'accelerated revelation' is a polite acknowledgment of premature disclosure," Lin Feng explained. "Elder Zhou is telling you he intended to publish your work eventually, but something forced his hand."

  Lin Tian stared at his attendant, once again struck by Lin Feng's inexplicable knowledge. Unlike before, he now recognized this as further evidence of Lin Feng's true nature—not a mere attendant but someone with profound understanding of sect protocols and cultivation matters.

  "Your knowledge of sect communications is quite impressive for an attendant," Lin Tian remarked carefully, studying Lin Feng's reaction.

  Lin Feng's expression remained perfectly neutral as he poured the tea. "I observe and listen, Young Master. It's my duty to understand the world you navigate."

  Lin Tian accepted the explanation for now, though he filed away this latest demonstration of Lin Feng's unusual knowledge. Ever since witnessing Lin Feng's true power—Lin Tian had been reassessing everything he thought he knew about his supposed attendant.

  Returning his attention to the scroll, he said, "If you're right, then Elder Zhou didn't betray me—he protected me by claiming partial credit. The question is: protected me from what?"

  "The assassination attempts have been growing more frequent," Lin Feng observed, handing Lin Tian a cup of tea. His fingers lingered near Lin Tian's for a fraction too long—an uncharacteristic lapse in his usual perfect decorum.

  "By drawing more attention to me?" Lin Tian questioned skeptically. "That seems counterproductive."

  "Not if the goal was to place you under the protection of the sect's reputation," Lin Feng suggested. "Any attack on you now would be an indirect challenge to Elder Zhou's authority."

  Lin Tian considered this, rolling the scroll thoughtfully between his fingers. "It's possible. But why give me partial credit at all? If protection was his goal, he could have simply claimed my work as his own."

  "Because complete theft would have damaged your future prospects," Lin Feng replied. "This way, you gain recognition while he absorbs most of the immediate scrutiny."

  Lin Tian set the scroll aside, his expression pensive. "Or perhaps he's simply using me as a pawn in some larger game within the sect." He rose abruptly, moving to the window. "Either way, we have limited time to prepare. The Patriarch will demand answers I'm not entirely prepared to give."

  A subtle knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Lin Feng moved to answer it, returning moments later with a sealed message tube.

  "From Elder Zhou," he announced, presenting it to Lin Tian.

  Unlike the elaborate sect scroll, this was a simple bamboo container sealed with ordinary wax. Lin Tian broke the seal and extracted a small slip of paper with a single line of text:

  "The water reveals what the mirror conceals. Three moves ahead was insufficient. The game accelerates."

  Lin Tian studied the cryptic message, its meaning immediately clear to him even as Lin Feng peered over his shoulder with a puzzled expression.

  "Elder Zhou is warning us," Lin Tian explained. "'The water' refers to my breakthrough at Crescent Moon Spring, while 'the mirror' suggests appearances are deceptive. He planned three moves ahead, but events are moving faster than anticipated."

  "You understand his meaning from so little?" Lin Feng asked, though Lin Tian noted his tone held more confirmation than surprise.

  Lin Tian nodded thoughtfully. "I've been developing a knack for reading between the lines." He turned the slip over, finding it blank on the reverse. "No instructions, no explanation—just a warning that things are accelerating."

  He moved to his meditation mat where the beginnings of his new cultivation technique lay partially sketched. "We need to accelerate our plans as well. If Elder Zhou is scrambling, the situation is more volatile than we realized."

  Lin Feng watched as Lin Tian began modifying the diagram with swift, precise strokes. "What exactly are you working on, Young Master?"

  "Insurance," Lin Tian replied without looking up. "If they want a prodigy, I'll give them one—but on my terms." His brush moved with absolute certainty, creating patterns of breathtaking complexity. "This will be my explanation to the Patriarch and anyone else who asks: a comprehensive revision of meridian theory that makes my previous work look like a preliminary sketch."

  "And is it?" Lin Feng asked, studying the evolving diagram with unconcealed interest.

  Lin Tian paused, considering how to answer without revealing too much. "Let's just say I've had... insights that go beyond what I initially shared with Elder Zhou. This is the natural progression of that foundational work."

  For hours, Lin Tian worked without pause, his enhanced senses allowing him to perceive and manipulate Qi patterns with unprecedented precision. The diagram grew increasingly elaborate yet maintained a fundamental elegance—theory translated into practical application with ruthless efficiency.

  As night fell, Lin Feng silently lit the lamps and continued his quiet observation. Only when the moon had risen fully did Lin Tian finally set down his brush, surveying his creation with satisfaction.

  "It's complete," he announced. "A meridian circulation pattern that incorporates both traditional principles and innovative approaches to Qi flow."

  Lin Feng studied the diagram with unmistakable appreciation. "This goes far beyond what Elder Zhou published."

  "Exactly," Lin Tian agreed. "When questioned, I'll explain that Elder Zhou's publication was based on my preliminary work—a foundation that led me to this more comprehensive theory." He rolled up the diagram carefully. "No one will question my sudden inspiration when they see the logical progression from one to the other."

  Lin Feng's expression remained carefully neutral, but something in his eyes suggested approval. "A clever strategy, Young Master. But there is still the matter of practical application. Theory alone won't satisfy the Patriarch."

  "No, it won't," Lin Tian agreed, moving to the center of the room. "Which is why we're going to test it. Right now."

  Lin Feng's composure finally cracked, alarm flashing across his face. "Young Master, that would be extremely dangerous. New circulation patterns should be implemented gradually, under supervision."

  "In normal circumstances, yes," Lin Tian conceded. "But these aren't normal circumstances." He sat in the lotus position, his expression resolute. "I need practical results before the Patriarch arrives, and I don't have time for caution."

  "The consequences of failure—"

  "Could include meridian collapse, dantian rupture, or spiritual backlash," Lin Tian finished for him. "I'm aware of the risks."

  Lin Feng stared at him for a long moment, then sighed deeply. "At least allow me to establish protective barriers."

  "By all means," Lin Tian agreed, closing his eyes as he began to center himself.

  Lin Feng moved with practiced efficiency, establishing a series of formation arrays around Lin Tian that would contain any spiritual disturbances. After witnessing Lin Feng's "erasure" ability against the assassins, Lin Tian was no longer surprised by these displays of power, though their extent remained mysterious.

  "Ready, Young Master," Lin Feng announced, taking a position at the edge of the formation.

  Lin Tian didn't respond immediately, already sinking into the meditative state necessary for advanced Qi manipulation. In his mind's eye, he visualized the new circulation pattern in its entirety, mapping it onto his own meridian system.

  The first pulse of Qi along the new pathway sent a shock through his system—not pain exactly, but a profound disorientation as his spiritual energy encountered unfamiliar channels. Lin Tian forced himself to remain calm, guiding the energy with absolute precision despite the resistance.

  The second pulse came easier, the pathways beginning to adapt to the new flow. By the third cycle, he could feel his meridians reshaping themselves, responding to the pressure differentials he had theorized.

  As the Qi completed its first full circuit of the new pattern, Lin Tian felt something shift fundamentally within his dantian—a resonance that amplified the energy flowing through his system. His senses, already enhanced from his recent breakthrough, sharpened further until he could perceive individual motes of dust suspended in the air, hear the subtle rhythm of Lin Feng's heartbeat, feel the minute fluctuations in the ambient Qi of the room.

  The unknown Qi signature he had detected previously—the one with a mysterious connection to his dantian—pulsed in response to his new technique, growing stronger with each cycle. Rather than fight against it, Lin Tian incorporated it into his circulation, allowing it to harmonize with his own energy.

  Time lost meaning as he refined the process, adjusting and optimizing the flow patterns in real-time. What should have taken months of cautious implementation compressed into hours of intense cultivation.

  When Lin Tian finally opened his eyes, the first light of dawn was filtering through the windows. Lin Feng remained in exactly the same position, his vigilance unwavering through the night.

  "Young Master?" Lin Feng inquired cautiously. "How do you feel?"

  Lin Tian rose to his feet in a single fluid motion, marveling at the new sense of balance and coordination. "Like I've shed a skin I didn't know I was wearing." He extended his hand, calling forth a small measure of Qi that materialized as a perfect sphere above his palm—far more stable and concentrated than anything he could have produced before.

  Lin Feng's eyes widened slightly. "Your Qi... it's changed."

  "Not changed," Lin Tian corrected, studying the glowing sphere. "Refined. Purified." He dismissed the energy with a thought. "And more responsive than before."

  Lin Feng bowed deeply. "A remarkable achievement, Young Master. The Patriarch will be most impressed."

  "Let us hope so," Lin Tian replied, moving to the window to observe the compound coming to life below. "We still have much to prepare before his arrival."

  As Lin Tian turned away, he missed the momentary flash of determination in Lin Feng's eyes—a decision made after a night of watching this "Lin Tian" perform what should have been impossible.