## Chapter Fourteen: The Healer's Touch and Lingering Doubts
The soft knock on the door pulled Yan Zhen from his contemplation of the burgeoning power within him. He still felt the faint, unfamiliar tremor in his qi, a subtle dissonance beneath the roaring tide of his breakthrough. Lin Feng had been quick, returning with Xiao Li. Her presence brought a quiet calm to the room, her gentle aura a stark contrast to the turbulent emotions and stolen qi that now simmered within Yan Zhen.
"Yan Zhen, Lin Feng said you were feeling a bit unwell?" Xiao Li asked, her voice a soothing murmur. Her eyes, usually serene, held a hint of concern as she looked at him, then briefly, almost imperceptibly, at Lin Feng.
Yan Zhen, still a little heady from his sudden power surge, shrugged. "Just a small twinge, Xiao Li. Probably overdid it with cultivation. You know me, always pushing my limits!" He gave a hearty, somewhat forced laugh, eager to dismiss any weakness, especially now that he felt so formidable.
Lin Feng stepped forward, his brow furrowed with a carefully crafted worry. "He really did push himself, Xiao Li. He's been training relentlessly for the tournament, you know? And after his last match with Gao Ren, he just doubled down. He's so determined to prove himself. I told him to take it easy, but he wouldn't listen. A true cultivation maniac!" He delivered this with a fond, exasperated smile, subtly highlighting Yan Zhen's intense drive while painting himself as the concerned, rational friend.
Xiao Li moved closer, her delicate fingers resting lightly on Yan Zhen's wrist. Her touch was surprisingly firm, yet gentle, as she channeled a thread of her own healing qi into his meridians. Her brow furrowed slightly as she concentrated. Yan Zhen felt his qi, usually a steady river, flutter erratically under her probing touch. It was a subtle thing, almost imperceptible to anyone not trained in the healing arts, but she noticed it.
"Your qi feels… a little agitated, Yan Zhen," Xiao Li murmured, withdrawing her hand. "Like a river that's just been through rapids. It's not serious, but it's not entirely stable either. Have you used any new techniques or absorbed any… unusual qi recently?" Her gaze was direct, innocent, yet piercing.
Yan Zhen's heart skipped a beat. He instinctively glanced at Lin Feng. *Unusual qi?* Did she suspect?
Lin Feng, however, smoothly intercepted, his voice soothing and reassuring. "He's been working on that 'Swift Crane Step' you saw, Xiao Li. And he's just had a breakthrough to **Body Tempering, Stage 6**! That's a huge surge of qi. I imagine his meridians are still adjusting. It's a lot for a Body Tempering disciple to handle, isn't it?" He subtly steered the conversation away from any 'unusual qi' and towards the perfectly plausible explanation of a rapid breakthrough.
Xiao Li nodded slowly, accepting the explanation with a thoughtful hum. "A breakthrough can certainly cause temporary agitation. I'll give you a small calming elixir. Just take it before you sleep for a few nights. And try not to push too hard, Yan Zhen. Cultivation should be a steady journey, not a frantic sprint." She gave him a small, chiding smile.
Yan Zhen, relieved, grinned. "Thanks, Xiao Li! You're the best! Just what I needed to be in top form for the next tournament round!"
As Xiao Li prepared the elixir from a small pouch, Lin Feng engaged her in quiet conversation. "You're always so calm and patient, Xiao Li. It must be difficult, dealing with so many anxious disciples, especially now that the tournament is heating up. Some people are getting really desperate." His voice was low, empathetic, a stark contrast to Yan Zhen's booming enthusiasm.
Xiao Li looked up, a soft, almost wistful smile on her face. "It can be, sometimes. But helping others brings its own peace. And it's better than… some of the darker currents I sense in the Outer Court these days. There's a lot of fear, a lot of resentment." Her gaze drifted towards the door, as if sensing the lingering shadows of Shen Li's fate.
Lin Feng nodded gravely. "I know. It's a shame. Good people, sometimes, get desperate and do foolish things." He subtly highlighted his understanding of the sect's darker underbelly, making himself seem insightful and mature. "It takes a strong spirit to remain compassionate amidst such ambition." He glanced at Yan Zhen, who was flexing his newly strengthened hand, still a bit distracted by his physical prowess.
Xiao Li's eyes softened as she looked at Lin Feng. "You have a very strong spirit, Lin Feng. You always seem to know how to keep Yan Zhen grounded, and you're always so perceptive. It's… comforting." She handed Yan Zhen the small vial of elixir, her fingers brushing his, then turned back to Lin Feng, her gaze lingering a moment longer than necessary.
Yan Zhen, preoccupied with his new strength, barely registered the subtle shift in their interaction. He felt good, strong, and ready for anything. The elixir would just be an extra boost.
After Xiao Li departed, leaving behind a faint scent of calming herbs, Yan Zhen turned to Lin Feng, a triumphant glint in his eyes. "See? Nothing to worry about! Just a bit of overexertion. Now, who do you think I'll be matched against in the next round? I feel like I could take on anyone!"
Lin Feng smiled, a flicker of cold amusement in his eyes. "That's the spirit, Zhen. Your confidence is inspiring. But remember, the deeper we go in this tournament, the more... creative our opponents will get. We need to be ready for anything." He subtly planted a seed of caution, a quiet warning that might subtly erode Yan Zhen's straightforward approach in future matches.
The next day, the brackets for the third round were posted. Yan Zhen's opponent was a renowned **Body Tempering, Stage 7** disciple named **Fan Li**, known for his tricky illusion techniques and his ruthlessness. A formidable challenge, indeed. Lin Feng felt a surge of anticipation. This round would offer fertile ground for his next subtle maneuver.
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