A week has passed, and I've made significant alterations to my daily routine. I was still in the adjustnt period, but the strain I imposed on my body and mind through constant training and experintation was decreasing day by day.
During the day, I honed my skills with Elder Ming, while my evenings were spent concocting potions and elixirs, expanding my understanding of herbs, and nurturing my garden. To relax, I indulged in reading and enjoyed Wang Jun's company. Our bond strengthened as we frequented the Soaring Swallow to share drinks and discuss our aspirations and responsibilities.
I decided to hire Lan-Yin to hold down the store while I gallivanted. I paid her a fair wage and broke down how I operated the store. She was quick on the uptake and by the middle of the week, she was already independently running the shop. The girl was reliable, and she greatly enjoyed the peace and quiet of my shop in comparison to the hectic nature of running the largest tea house in the village.
This gave the opportunity to focus on the things I truly enjoyed doing; training and gardening!
My plants flourished remarkably over the week, thanks to Tianyi's Qi Haven skill, my energy infusion, and the ticulous care I provided. Contrary to my initial prediction that the ginseng would be harvest-ready in a few months, it would actually mature by the month's end! I planned to keep so on hand to observe its potential. Cultivating potent ginseng held imnse value, rivaling or even surpassing qi-based plants in terms of creating pills and elixirs to enhance one's strength or qi. Tales of millennia-old ginseng transforming mortals into all-powerful cultivators left a strong imprint on my mind.
Speaking of qi, I had figured out a way to complete the quest without having to venture into the forest. It was purely an accident. Tianyi ca with almost every ti I went to Elder Ming's house, and it beca a second ho of sorts. Even in the tis, I wasn't training, I would co to return or borrow so more books to read. The Village Head didn't have any family, and I realized just how lonely it was for him. He was a quiet man and rarely asked for help. I made sure to accompany him whenever I could. It was the least I could do for my master.
And with that, I ca to realize Tianyi's Qi Haven skill now affected Elder Ming's ho, making it qualified as an area with sufficient wood qi for to ditate in. I was in the midst of helping him clean the floors and reorganize the shelves when a bright yellow orb appeared out of nowhere, scaring the daylights out of and making scream like an infant.
It was the perfect sequence of events, and I took advantage of it, circulating my inner qi under my master's supervision. I could feel my pathways becoming more resilient. The amount of qi I could unleash when infusing was larger than before. Although it wasn't by a wide margin, it was enough for to notice.
Quest: Cultivation Technique (Wood)
- Find five different areas that have sufficient wood qi in the surroundings, and ditate in them for one hour. (3/5)
- Areas with sufficient wood qi will be marked with a glowing, yellow orb only visible to you.
Day by day, I was becoming stronger. I had a glimpse of what a cultivator should be capable of, thanks to Feng Wu's demonstration. He left shortly afterward, but he said that he would likely co back and visit soday. I hoped so. It would be nice to see him once I beco a full-fledged martial artist and surprise him with techniques of my own! I began training with my staff, incorporating so basic training that focused on the fundantals. Elder Ming ntioned that he wasn't a staff user by any ans, but he had seen wielders in action during his ti as a cultivator and had a clear vision of what they used to do when they trained.
I focused on mastering the proper grip techniques for the staff, both forward and reverse, while learning to transition smoothly between them. I also beca familiar with the staff's length and the chanics of wielding it effectively.
Alongside weapons training, Elder Ming began imparting the basics of hand-to-hand combat to as well. Punching, kicking, and everything in between. I was sure that I was ready to tackle it now, with my mind and body now at the first rank of the mortal realm according to the Heavenly Interface.
, Tianyi, and Elder Ming all ventured far from the village to visit the banyan, several li away from the village. It had been years since I last saw it, but it remained unchanged by the rigors of ti.
I requested for our morning training to take place here because I felt like being near the mighty tree would give so sort of inspiration. I avoided it for so long, a somber reminder of what was before my parents died. But I wanted to grow and emulate the banyan; strong, unwavering, and able to stand the test of ti.
It also acted as another place for Tianyi to activate her Qi Haven skill. If she frequented the area with for long periods of ti, it would create another zone, and bring closer to getting my second cultivation technique. I was excited to know what it was.
But I had to focus on the task at hand. With the transition from endurance and strength training to actual combat, I had to learn how to actually fight. It was my first ti learning how to against a human. I don't recall ever engaging in fisticuffs with anybody as a child. I clenched my fist.
As the sun gently peeked over the horizon, bathing the serene forest in a warm, orange light, we stood under the ancient banyan tree. Elder Ming gazed at with a tender smile, his eyes resembling autumn leaves as they crinkled.
"Now, Kai, we shall begin with a simple exercise," he said, his voice calm and energized. "I want you to try and strike . Do not worry about hurting ; I am more resilient than I appear."
I hesitated for a mont, uncertainty creeping into my heart. The idea of attacking such an elderly and wise person felt wrong, but I rembered the nimbleness I had seen him display before. So, I took a deep breath and steadied myself, rembering how he beat with a cane and struck in the groin.
Dropping low to the ground, I lunged at Elder Ming and drew my fist back. To my surprise, he deftly sidestepped the attack, chuckling softly. "Your speed is impressive, young one, but your predictability leaves much to be desired, Kowtow Kai. Again!"
I gritted my teeth and tried once more, this ti attempting to tackle his midsection. Elder Ming effortlessly leaned back, avoiding the attempt by a hair's breadth. "Too slow, Kai," he said, his voice leisurely and patient. "You must learn to flow like the wind, swift and unpredictable. Do you see? I am not moving any faster than you are."
It was true. Elder Ming still had his hands clasped together behind him, making simple moves to avoid .
Frustration bubbled within as I launched a flurry of punches and kicks at Elder Ming, each one dodged or parried with ease. It was as if he could read my every move before I even made it.
As I attacked, Elder Ming continued to speak, his voice never losing its calm deanor. "Your stance is too rigid, Kai. You must learn to be like the banyan tree, rooted yet flexible, bending but never breaking."
My breaths grew heavier, my muscles screaming in protest as I desperately tried to land a single hit on the elderly master. I was getting dragged into it, but I couldn't help it. Every blow was just missed by a milliter. I fell into the trap that if I were to go just a bit faster, I'd catch him. But each attempt was t with the sa outco: failure. Finally, I felt my legs give out beneath , and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
Elder Ming looked down at , his expression kind and understanding. "Do not be disheartened, young Kai. This is only the beginning of your journey. I'll be teaching you how to incorporate what you just saw into your own fighting style. This is why I emphasize footwork."
As I lay there, panting and exhausted, I couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for Elder Ming and the path of cultivation I had chosen to follow. I knew that I had much to learn, but I also knew that I was determined to grow.
After a bit of rest, he educated on the proper way to throw a punch. The way to involve my lower body during the movent. Adding rotational force to increase power. Making the punch more efficient to avoid telegraphing and wasting stamina.
It was such a simple move. I didn't know just how much thought went into a straight punch.
The more I learned, the more I realized how out of my depth I was without Elder Ming's guidance. I wouldn't have made even half the progress without him. But because of his support, I'm growing and developing at a rate far beyond what I could've imagined.
"Now, your Rooted Banyan Stance...We'll need to gather so more information."
I stood, ready to unleash my technique at a monts notice, and at Elder Ming's behest I let the qi pour out from my body as I clenched my core muscles as tightly as possible. With my iron staff in hand, he swung the end at my thigh. It made a terrible noise, but the impact was muted. The feeling of being struck but feeling minimal pain took so ti getting used to.
Elder Ming stood there silently, observing as I released the stance.
The technique was costly in terms of qi. Making it protect my entire body took entirely more than I was capable of handling. Even those three seconds it took to hold the Rooted Banyan Stance wiped out half of my reserves.
Then there was the issue of being unable to move. I was forced to tense every portion of my body, drop down into the horse stance, and leave my hands tucked away at my sides. We experinted with the technique being maintained in other positions, such as the form of a punch, but my body couldn't grasp it. The qi barely circulated through my body, and the defensive benefits was cut down to a fraction of its initial effectiveness.
It felt humbling. The technique was perfect for withstanding blows. Honestly, I was pretty sure I could take a palm strike or two from Feng Wu with it. But it was very situational. How often would I stand there and allow my opponent to strike ? What's to say they would stop at one blow? I voiced all these worries to my master and he placed a supporting hand on my shoulder.
"Ah, Kai. You gaze at the world through a narrow lens. The fact that you can utilize the move, even if just a bit, when you're in a different position, is like planting the seed of potential, waiting to sprout into a towering tree. Striking sobody at the point of impact, powered by the Rooted Banyan Stance, would be like a wave crashing against the shore, its force multiplied."
My eyes widened. I didn't view it like that. "So you're saying that the Rooted Banyan Stance isn't limited to defense? I can use it to create offense?"
"Correct. As the ancient sages once said, defense is the foundation of offense. From it springs opportunity. With the versatility of your skill, it can be wielded to seize those chances. All it requires is your creativity and diligence." Elder Ming said with a small smile on his face. "Co, let us forge ahead in refining your technique. Your qi reserves shall deepen and expand the more you deplete and replenish them."
Our early morning training continued, and even with so much left to learn, I couldn't help but feel excited for my own potential. Sothing about Elder Ming's words struck a chord with .
His wisdom, steeped in ancient teachings, had a way of illuminating the path before , casting away the shadows of doubt and uncertainty. As I trained under his guidance, I began to understand that the journey of cultivation was not rely about honing my skills or amassing power, but also about discovering my own inner strength and the boundless possibilities that lay within.
The towering banyan tree provided us respite from the sun, casting its cooling shade over our training ground.
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