Master of Shattered Fates

Master Feng's fate lines twisted through the air like hungry serpents, coiling around Liu Chen in patterns too complex for his untrained eyes to follow. The Soul Truth Perception technique was supposed to be subtle—he'd read about it in his theoretical studies—but with his newly awakened senses, it felt about as subtle as a sword to the throat.

"Begin at the beginning," Master Feng said softly. "What were you doing in the garden?"

Liu Chen fought to keep his breathing steady, conscious of Elder Sun's tense presence beside him. The old master had been forced to step back when the investigation began, but he remained as close as the Discipline Committee disciples would allow.

"I was practicing meditation," Liu Chen said carefully. Not a lie. "After my morning session in the training hall."

Wang Hao made a derisive sound from his position by the door. "Meditation? You mean after I caught you wasting valuable cultivation resources again."

Master Feng held up a hand, silencing Wang Hao without taking his eyes off Liu Chen. The fate lines around the master rippled, and Liu Chen felt a strange pressure behind his eyes, as if something was trying to pry open his thoughts.

"The training hall incident is already documented," Master Feng said. "Continue with what happened in the garden."

Liu Chen described finding his usual spot beneath the old tree, beginning his breathing exercises, feeling the strange sensation that preceded his blackout. He chose each word with care, watching how the fate lines responded to his speech. When he told the truth, they flowed smoothly. When he considered lying about the voice he'd heard, they kinked and twisted in warning.

"And then there was pain," he concluded. "That's the last thing I remember before waking up here."

It wasn't technically a lie. The voice had come after the pain started, and he truly didn't remember anything after losing consciousness. Still, he felt Master Feng's technique probe deeper, searching for hidden truths.

"Interesting." The master's eyes narrowed slightly. "Your fate lines are... unusual. Normally, they should be barely visible in one of your... limited cultivation level. Yet they pulse with recent disturbance. Elder Sun, you were first to reach the scene. What did you observe?"

"Significant damage to the ancient tree," Elder Sun replied promptly. "Several branches shattered, though there was no obvious cause. The protective formations recorded a massive energy surge, but its nature was... unclear."

"Unclear?" Master Feng's tone sharpened. "Explain."

"The readings were contradictory. Some formations registered it as pure fate energy, others as something more... primitive. Raw power, unbound by normal cultivation laws."

Liu Chen's attention caught on that last part. Unbound by normal cultivation laws? He tried to recall what he'd read about different types of energy, but the persistent ache in his head made focusing difficult.

"Could it have been a cultivation deviation?" one of the Discipline Committee disciples asked. "A failed attempt at a forbidden technique?"

"Impossible," Wang Hao scoffed. "A cultivation deviation requires actual cultivation ability. Everyone knows Liu Chen is completely talentless. He can't even—"

"Young Master Wang," Master Feng interrupted, "your insights, while passionate, are not relevant to this investigation. Please contain yourself."

Wang Hao's face flushed dark red, but he fell silent. Liu Chen might have enjoyed his rival's discomfort if he wasn't so focused on maintaining his own composure under Master Feng's relentless technique.

"Now then." The master's fate lines shifted again, forming a new pattern that made Liu Chen's head throb. "Let us discuss what happened after you regained consciousness. You seem... different."

This was the moment Liu Chen had been dreading. He could feel Elder Sun's anxiety spike, the old man's fate lines churning with concern. How much should he reveal? The ability to see fate lines couldn't be hidden forever—it would become obvious as soon as he tried to train again. But something in Elder Sun's earlier warning made him hesitate to reveal the full extent of what he was seeing.

"I..." Liu Chen started, then gasped as a particularly aggressive probe from Master Feng's technique sent a spike of pain through his temples.

And then something strange happened.

The fate lines around him, which he'd only been able to observe passively until now, suddenly felt... tangible. As Master Feng's technique tried to force truth from him, Liu Chen found himself instinctively grasping at the threads of destiny swirling through the air. They felt solid in a way that was impossible to describe, like trying to explain color to the blind.

For just a moment, he caught hold of one of the lines connecting him to Master Feng's technique. And in that instant, he understood that he could twist it.

The realization shocked him so badly that he lost his grip on the fate line. Master Feng's eyes widened fractionally—had he noticed? But the master's next words were cut off by a commotion in the hallway.

The door burst open, revealing a breathless junior disciple. "Master Feng! Urgent news from the garden—the old tree, it's... it's blooming!"

"Blooming?" Elder Sun stood straighter. "That tree hasn't bloomed in over a century."

"Not just blooming, Elder." The messenger's voice trembled with excitement or fear. "The flowers... they're black. And they're spreading fate lines everywhere. The formations can barely contain the energy."

For the first time, Liu Chen saw Master Feng's composed expression crack. The fate lines around the master became a chaotic swirl of concern and... was that fear?

"Secure the patient," Master Feng ordered the Discipline Committee disciples. "No one enters or leaves until I return. Elder Sun, your presence is required in the garden. Young Master Wang, return to your dormitory immediately."

"But Master Feng—" Wang Hao started to protest.

"That was not a suggestion."

The master swept from the room, Elder Sun close behind him. Wang Hao lingered just long enough to shoot Liu Chen a venomous glare before following.

As the door slid shut, Liu Chen sank back against his pillows, mind racing. Black flowers that spread fate lines? He'd never read anything about that in his studies. But more importantly, that moment when he'd touched the fate line...

He closed his eyes, pretending exhaustion for the benefit of his guards, but his thoughts wouldn't quiet. He'd always understood cultivation theory better than his peers, despite his inability to practice it. Now, with his new sight and that brief moment of contact with a fate line, pieces were starting to come together.

What interesting threads you've tangled, the voice had said.

Liu Chen was beginning to understand just how interesting they might be. The question was, would he survive long enough to find out?

In the tense silence of the medical pavilion, watched over by suspicious guards, he began to plan. He'd spent three years being weak, being worthless. But now...

Now he could see the threads of fate itself. And more importantly, he was beginning to suspect he could do more than just see them.

All he needed was time to experiment. Time, and secrecy, and every bit of theoretical knowledge he'd accumulated during his years of failure.

Outside his window, carried on a warm breeze, came the sweet scent of impossible black flowers.