Blossoming Path

Chapter 39: Recovery and Training

Our departure was marked by many farewells and gifts. We accepted the food and water but politely turned away any other luxuries. Feng Wu had a strong moral compass. Admittedly, refusing money hurt my heart slightly, but I knew that I gained more than enough from my experience here at Qingmu.

Hua Lingsheng seemed devastated but understood that it was necessary. I gave him a firm handshake and bade him farewell.

"Will I see you again?" He asked, his voice tinged with hope.

I snorted. "I'd hope so. I have to pass by Qingmu to return home."

It was odd having someone who idolized me so much. It was different from how the children back home looked up to me. I didn't know how to describe it. It felt more...genuine?

But throughout it all, I understood why taoists were able to refuse materialistic rewards. Feeling how sincere their gratitude was, how could I expect more? Although clearly the Silent Moon sect took whatever they were given. They seemed like the type.

I'd probably see Xu Ziqing and his bunch again in no time. They were likely headed back to their sect, and from what Feng Wu told me, they were close proximity to Crescent Bay City.

The horses seemed to recover from the battle which took place in their stables. I was glad. Although my potion stash had been reduced to a fraction of what I had originally brought, they weren't used in vain. Besides, the extracted essence of the Moonlit Grace Lily was still there. The potions I used could always be remade, but the same could not be said for a person's life. No regrets there.

"Farewell, heroes!"

"Bye, Kai! Make sure to visit soon!"

"Bring Tianyi with you!"

As we departed from the village, I waved back cheerfully, smiling brightly. Feng Wu gave them a small wave, but I continued until we were past the horizon. I turned to Feng Wu and asked him a question.

"How long till we reach Crescent Bay City?"

"At this speed, we should arrive by tomorrow."

"Is there anything I need to watch out for? Like, avoiding conflict at a noodle shop?"

Feng Wu snorted. It seemed the longer we spent with each other, the more of his relaxed personality came out. Either that, or I was slowly figuring out what his expressions meant.

"Why would you need to avoid conflict at a noodle shop?"

"Isn't that where most cultivator fights occur? I see it almost every time in all the books I read. Should I learn how to fight in an enclosed space?"

He paused for a moment, his eyes glazing over as if recounting the past. Then, slowly, his expression changed, his eyebrows lifting in realization.

"Well, now that you mention it," he said, continuing to look forward, "I suppose a lot of conflicts have taken place in restaurants or tea houses. But that's hardly a rule. These are places where people gather; naturally, confrontations might occur."

He chuckled, and I joined in. It was a silly notion, but one that somehow rang true. Feng Wu continued to talk, and I sat and listened with Tianyi perched quietly on my shoulder. She seemed to be listening intently, facing her entire body towards Feng Wu.

"You know, I have engaged in battles in noodle shops, tea houses, and even a dumpling stall once," Feng Wu mused, a nostalgic smile on his lips. "But I've also fought in dense forests, and beside raging rivers. The world of cultivation is vast, and conflicts can happen anywhere."

"Well, then I guess I don't have to start practicing my noodle shop fighting techniques," I said, still chuckling.

"That might be for the best," Feng Wu replied, his tone teasing. "I'd hate to see you flinging soup and dumplings as your secret weapons."

We smiled, and as our laughter died down, a comfortable silence settled over us. The landscape gradually changed as we rode, with the dense greenery of the forest giving way to open plains. The horses maintained a steady pace, and our conversations, though sparse, were filled with humor and shared understanding. As the sun began to set, painting the sky with shades of pink and orange, the atmosphere was still light-hearted, our recent battle and the weight of our journey momentarily forgotten.

When night finally fell, we decided to set up camp in a secluded area, shielded by a few large rocks and a copse of trees. Feng Wu began to gather wood for a fire, his movements were efficient and practiced, while I took out the crate containing all the materials we'd brought with us. My mind drifted to the Wind Serpent egg, neatly tucked away and kept secure with layers of soft cloth. I carefully lifted the egg, feeling its smooth surface and the faint, mysterious pulse within.

The egg wasn't going to be warm during the night, and I felt a pang of concern. Digging into the knowledge gained from the Heavenly Interface, I realized that to help the egg hatch and develop safely, I must keep it warm. My current body temperature wouldn't be enough; I needed to raise my internal heat.

"I'm going to do some training," I told Feng Wu, setting the egg back into its cushioned resting place. I took off my robes and placed it around the egg while I rolled my shoulders and swung my arms.

I felt good. The phantom pains from the battle hadn't disappeared, but I couldn't delay my training. I was getting anxious after not having done so for the past few days. I dropped down into the horse stance, welcoming the strain on my muscles as I held the position in perfect form.

I moved a little distance away from the camp, finding a flat patch of ground. As I settled into my stance, I focused on my breathing, allowing the energy to flow through my meridians. The techniques I'd been practicing were not just about combat; they were about control and mastery over one's body. I pushed myself, feeling the warmth spreading through my limbs. Using qi to strengthen myself didn't come naturally, and the battle was proof of that.

The sounds of the night surrounded me the soft rustling of leaves, the distant call of a night bird. I lost myself in the rhythm of my training, each movement deliberate and precise. Learning how to meditate while doing horse-stance was one of the best things I could've done. I was training both my mind and body at the same time.

After thirty minutes, I paused, drenched in sweat. I could stop now, but I didn't want to. Getting back into training felt good.

With that in mind, I grabbed my iron staff and proceeded to swing.

It was bent slightly, hopefully I could get someone to straighten it in the city. But it would do as a training aid. I swung with purpose. Downward swing, thrust, overhead strike.

I followed it with a small break. My body was fatigued but in a good way. It felt like all the excess energy I had was being put to good use. Nestling the egg between my legs while I rested, I watched as Feng Wu meditated quietly on his own.

I wonder how his cultivation technique differed from mine. Did it follow the same philosophy? I knew that I was probably slowing myself down with this insistence towards having pure qi, but it wasn't something I could compromise on. The Crimson Lotus Purification technique wouldn't allow me to purify my internal energy for no reason. There had to be a benefit for it. And if I pursed purity to the extreme, surely I'd see results?

The energy I had accumulated so far was still incredibly small. Compared to when I left the village, it had basically remained stagnant. The amount of qi I could take from the surroundings was minuscule, and I was making it even smaller by purifying what little I had. Even with Tianyi's support, raising my qi was difficult. I suppose it'd be best to focus on other aspects of my cultivation which could be readily improved.

"Ha, time to get back to work. Excuse me."

I set Tianyi down on top of the egg as I got ready to renew my martial arts training. THis time, I'd be perfecting my hand-to-hand techniques.

Time slipped away as I trained, my body growing warmer, the energy within me more vibrant and alive. I felt connected to the world around me, each breath a part of the night's symphony. It was a peaceful, fulfilling sensation, and I knew that this was what cultivation was truly about. I felt refreshed. In fact, it was akin to pleasure. Why was I feeling this way?

Earthly Root Connection - When surrounded by nature, you can draw forth additional strength and utilize it as your own. Increases cultivation and recovery speed in areas of nature.

Ah, that was probably why. We were in a forest, after all.

With that in mind, I intensified my training. My strikes got faster, and I began practicing how to chain my moves together in one fluid motion. I slowly incorporated qi into my attacks, feeling the wind blow past my hands and feet until-

"Grrghk!"

I watched in horror as my fist contorted into a painful position, bending in all the wrong ways, just short of dislocation. The dreaded Qi Deviation. Fortunately, the deviation occurred in my hand, not somewhere vital like my heart, but the pain and frustration were almost overwhelming.

Even after all these trials and tribulations, my body was still not exempt from Qi Deviation? Ah, this really hurts. I want to cry. Why is it turning like that? Hey! Stop! Damn you, listen to me!

I pressed down on my hand, preventing it from bending too far in a direction it shouldn't have been. The pain was immeasurable and I had to keep myself in the fetal position, waiting for the pain to go down.

A wave of concern washed over me, as Tianyi fluttered over and landed on my head. Ah, my ever-so-beautiful butterfly companion. You've come to save me!

I nudged her towards my right arm, and she cautiously approached my hand as it continued to contort. A wave of qi passed from her through me, soothing the pain. The effects were immediate; my appendages weren't trying to twist themselves off, and the turbulent qi within began to settle down. I would kiss her if I could. Tianyi's getting the finest wine as soon as we reach Crescent Bay City!

"Are you alright, Kai?" Feng Wu asked.

"I'm alright, just a mild case of Qi Deviation," I managed to gasp out through gritted teeth. My voice must have sounded strained, and the pain in my hand was sharp, throbbing in time with my heartbeat.

"Mild?" Feng Wu questioned, his eyebrows furrowing. "Your hand looks like it's trying to solve a geometric puzzle on its own."

Despite the situation, I couldn't help but chuckle at his description. It hurt to laugh, but the humor was a welcome distraction from the pain.

"Are you able to fix it?" I asked, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. "Or not, I think Tianyi might be able to by herself..."

Feng Wu's expression became serious, his gaze fixed on my hand. "Yes, but it will be painful. Very painful. It's akin to putting a dislocated arm back into place. It would take a lot less time than what Tianyi is doing right now."

I grimaced at the thought, but I knew that leaving it untreated was not an option. I trusted Feng Wu, and I knew that he wouldn't suggest it if it wasn't necessary.

"Do it," I commanded, steeling myself for what was to come.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

I nodded firmly. "Just get it over with."

Feng Wu took a deep breath and then placed his hands over my contorted hand. He closed his eyes, focusing his energy. I could feel the warmth of his qi enveloping my hand, and I knew that he was aligning my twisted meridians.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice soft.

"As I'll ever be," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

Without another word, Feng Wu began to manipulate the twisted qi within my hand, forcing it back into alignment. The sensation was akin to my arm's muscles cramping up as hard as they could. I couldn't help but let out a high-pitched scream, my entire body tensing as waves of agony washed over me.

The process felt like an eternity, but in reality, it was over in a matter of seconds. My hand was back to normal, the twisted fingers straight once more. The pain was still there but duller, a throbbing ache rather than a sharp, piercing sensation.

Feng Wu released my hand, and I could see the concern in his eyes. "How do you feel?"

I took a few shaky breaths, trying to steady myself. "Like I've just been run over by a herd of wild boars, but better. Thank you."

He gave me a small smile. "Rest now. You've had enough training for the night. Don't exacerbate your condition."

I couldn't have agreed more. My body was spent, and the ordeal had drained me both physically and emotionally. After moving Tianyi to an appropriate spot where she could rest, I crawled over to the Wind Serpent egg, cradling it in my arms as I lay down by the fire.

"You've got a lot of growing to do, little one," I whispered to the egg, feeling the warmth of its life energy. "And so do I."