Blossoming Path

Weeks had passed since I returned, and life had finally settled into something resembling normalcy. At first, it was overwhelming. Between catching up with the villagers, setting the shop back in order, and making time for training, I felt like I was trying to juggle a hundred different tasks all at once. But now? Now it felt effortless, like slipping back into an old, familiar routine.

Of course, "effortless" didn’t apply to everything. Not when it came to Elder Ming’s training regimen, which had, without a doubt, turned into my own personal hell.

Every morning, like clockwork, I’d wake up before dawn, join Lan-Yin and Wang Jun for training, and face whatever new form of torment Elder Ming had concocted. He’d wave us off with a smile, then add, “Oh, and Kai? No using qi today.”

At first, I thought it was a joke. But after one too many mornings of running through the hills with rocks strapped to my limbs, I realized he was serious. Dead serious. According to him, if my body couldn’t keep up with my cultivation, I was doomed to hit a wall later on. He kept harping on about building a strong core and lower body. Apparently, it didn’t matter what martial art you practiced—whether you were a swordmaster or a fist-fighter—if your legs were weak, you’d collapse like a rotting log.

“Maybe he’s secretly a sadist,” I muttered under my breath, trying to keep pace as we sprinted uphill yet again. “There’s no way any normal human could come up with this.”

“Did you say something?” Wang Jun panted beside me, already starting to lag behind. He wore similar weights along his legs, albeit smaller than mine.

“Just... thinking about how much I love early mornings.”

Lan-Yin, further ahead and looking as fresh as ever, threw a glance over her shoulder. “Keep up, boys. You’re falling behind!”

I gritted my teeth, putting everything I had into each step. No qi, no shortcuts—just raw, burning muscle. By the time we finished the sprint, I was seeing stars and couldn’t feel my legs.

Next came the bodyweight exercises. Push-ups, squats, planks—all with Elder Ming standing off to the side, watching like a hawk. He even had the nerve to sip tea while we were on the verge of collapse. Meanwhile, Lan-Yin and Wang Jun were working hard too, but it was clear I was on another level of suffering. Elder Ming had tailored my training to be, well... particularly brutal.

“Five more, Kai!” Elder Ming called, as if that were supposed to motivate me.

“What kind of sadist did you learn these from?” I muttered into the dirt as I struggled through my last push-up. My arms felt like they were made of lead, shaking with every movement.

He only chuckled in response. “That’s for me to know and you to experience.”

As I finally collapsed onto the ground, face first, I relished the cool winter air that washed over my skin. Steam rose from my body as the sweat evaporated in the chilly morning breeze, and for a moment, I just lay there, savoring the sensation. There was something almost liberating about being utterly, completely exhausted. My mind was too tired to worry about anything else. It was just me, the dirt beneath me, and the cold air above.

“I’m... alive,” I groaned, rolling over onto my back. Lan-Yin, who had finished her own set of exercises, stood nearby with a smirk.

“Barely,” she teased, offering me a hand to help me up.

I took it, groaning as my legs protested. “Remind me again why we do this every morning?”

“Because you’re obsessed with getting stronger?"

“Right. I knew there was a reason.”

Wang Jun, looking equally wrecked but far more cheerful about it, clapped me on the shoulder as I wobbled to my feet. “By the way, I took a good look at that Iron Boar pelts you brought back.”

“Yeah?” I asked, wiping sweat from my brow.

He nodded. “It’s an incredible specimen. The hide is thick, durable, and has just the right amount of flexibility. I’ll be able to make something great with it, but it’s gonna take some time. Working with material that tough requires precision.”

“No rush,” I said, waving him off. “Take your time. As long as it keeps me from getting skewered in the future, I’m happy.”

He chuckled. “Oh, it’ll do that and more. Just leave it to me.”

With that, our training session came to an end, and we all began to part ways for the day. Lan-Yin had tasks at the Soaring Swallow, and Wang Jun was headed to the forge. As for me, I was looking forward to collapsing in my shop and maybe catching a break from Elder Ming’s ‘sage wisdom.’ But before we split up, I couldn’t resist one last jab.

"By the way," I said, letting a sly grin creep onto my face as we walked. "You two seem... closer these days. All that ‘cultivating together,’ eh? Must be quite the experience, sharing your energy flows, synchronizing your qi... bonding in such an intimate way.”

Wang Jun groaned, rolling his eyes, while Lan-Yin’s face flushed red. “Kai...” she warned, already clenching her fist.

“What?” I asked, feigning innocence. “I’m just saying—cultivating side by side, your breathing in perfect harmony, feeling each other's presence, the warmth of your combined—”

Before I could finish, I felt a swift gust of air as Lan-Yin’s hand came swinging toward the back of my head. But I was ready. My legs locked, my body bracing against the earth like the ancient roots of a tree.

ROOTED BANYAN STANCE!

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Her palm met my skull with a resounding smack, but instead of the impact sending me sprawling, I stood firm, unmoving, with a triumphant smirk.

“Really, Kai? You’re using an advanced defense technique just to avoid getting smacked?”

I shrugged, still grinning. “When you’re as fragile as I am, you’ve gotta take precautions. Besides, your strength has been on the rise lately. I wouldn’t want to be knocked out before breakfast.”

She huffed and crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. “You’re ridiculous.”

"Thank you," I said, offering a mock bow before turning to Wang Jun. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a shop to collapse in. Just make sure the pelt looks good on me. After all, a young master has a reputation to uphold."

The blacksmith snorted with an amused smile. "Reputation? Is that what you're calling it now?"

"Of course," I said, flipping my hair back dramatically. "Why else would I use all these advanced techniques to keep my perfect form intact?"

And with that, we split up, each heading off to face the rest of the day. Another morning survived.

After a peaceful walk, I finally made it back to my shop. The familiar smell of herbs and dried flowers greeted me, grounding me in the present. Despite my exhaustion, I knew there was no time to rest. The deal with the Azure Silk Trading Company wasn’t going to fulfill itself, and I had a massive batch of potions to prepare.

The Two Star Pagoda Pill Furnace gleamed in the morning light as I set to work. It had become my constant companion, its efficiency allowing me to brew multiple batches at a time. With a flick of my wrist, I activated it, watching as the furnace hummed to life with a small pulse of qi.

I gathered the ingredients, my hands moving automatically as I measured out the exact amounts for each concoction. Ginseng, goji berry, Morning Dew grass—all essential for the various potions I'd promised to the company. With the pill furnace and my Refinement Simulation technique, the process was practically seamless. I tossed the ingredients into the furnace, feeling a small sense of satisfaction as the flames flared higher, wrapping around the materials and breaking them down into their purest forms.

As the potion brewed, I checked my mail. It had become a daily habit—thanks to the post station that the Azure Silk Trading Company provided, I had access to fast communication with Crescent Bay City and beyond. It was a luxury I hadn't used prior leaving the village, but one I learned to appreciate now.

I sifted through the letters: one from Tao Ren, another from Bai Hua, and—ah, there it was—a letter from the Trading Company. I opened it first, scanning through the contents quickly.

"Good news," I muttered to myself, skimming the details. They had found an artisan capable of producing high-quality glass, and the pieces would be ready within a month, just in time for Li Wei to use them in constructing the greenhouse. Perfect timing.

The next letter was from Tao Ren, updating me on his efforts. After plenty of back-and-forth and some long nights, he’d finally secured the permit for the shop he’d been planning in Crescent Bay. There was a hint of pride in his words, and rightfully so! Hopefully, his father approved.

Then there was a letter from Bai Hua, of course. As usual, he was tinkering with new skincare concoctions, experimenting with more potent formulas meant to protect against extreme conditions. I’d have to try them out at some point; Lan-Yin and the other women in the village I bought cosmetic goods for have been practically glowing since I arrived.

Finally, there was a letter from Guowei Wang. He thanked me for my recent note and, as always, encouraged me to keep balancing both alchemy and martial arts. 'Even the most elusive plants,' he wrote, 'need time to root before they grow strong.'

He then mentioned my work with the Golden Bamboo and included a few excerpts from texts he thought might provide clues about its lost cultivation method. There were references to rare qi conditions and unique soil compositions, but nothing concrete yet. Still, it was more than I had before.

'By the way,' he added, 'The Wandering Wind Press has some new releases that might interest you. If you find yourself back in Crescent Bay, stop by. You never know what you’ll find in those old books.'

I leaned back in my chair, letting my thoughts wander for a moment. So much had changed since I returned, and yet, the day-to-day tasks were strangely comforting. As chaotic as life had become, I was thriving in the midst of it all.

With the letters out of the way, I turned my attention back to the potions. The mixture inside had reached the right stage, and it was time to transfer the liquid to cooling containers. I carefully lifted the cauldron's lid, the fragrant steam rising in gentle swirls, and ladled the concoction into several glass vials.

The next step was letting them cool and infuse over the next several hours. I placed the vials in their cooling racks and left them undisturbed, trusting the natural process to do the rest.

With the potions now set aside, I needed a break. The sun had risen fully by now, bathing the village in a soft, winter light. I stepped outside, making my way toward the small garden Lan-Yin and Elder Ming carefully tended to. Most of the plants had entered a dormant state, their growth slowed by the cold, but they were still alive, hanging on in the harsh weather.

I crouched by the Moonlit Grace Lily, a delicate yet resilient flower that had been thriving despite the winter chill. Its silvery petals shimmered faintly, even under the pale sunlight. I placed a hand near its stem and channeled my qi into it.

The lilies responded, their petals perking up as the qi reinvigorated them. I repeated the process for the rest of the garden.

As I worked, something caught my eye—a small, twisted form lying near the base of one of the bushes. I flinched when I realized what it was: a rodent, wrapped up in thick webs. The creature’s eyes were glazed over, its body clearly drained of life.

“Oh, no,” I muttered, stepping back and staring at the webbed corpse. That had to be the work of that strange spider I’d seen skittering around the garden a few times.

The thing was terrifying, being able to subdue animals many times larger than itself. Clearly, it had been busy while I was gone. And unlike Tianyi or Windy, it didn't seem enthused about meeting me. It skitters away as soon as I see it. I'd have to give it a name soon. Calling it the 'strange spider' all the time was rather tiresome.

I sighed and shook my head, wondering how long it would be before the regular farm animals in this village turned sentient or magical, too.

"One day, it'll be chickens. I just know it," I muttered under my breath, imagining a qi-infused rooster unfolding the Silent Moon sect's techniques. It was rather comical, imagining one unfolding the Twelve Form Harvest Moon.

For some reason, the image fit incredibly well.

As I stood there, shaking my head at the ridiculous image of battle-hardened chickens wielding martial techniques, something heavy dropped right beside me. I jumped back, startled, as the bisected form of a magpie lay at my feet, still twitching slightly. My stomach twisted at the sight.

'Sorry.'

I glanced up just in time to see Tianyi fluttering lazily overhead, her delicate wings shimmering with soft blue light.

Before I could get a word out, Windy slithered into view, his tongue flicking in the air. In one smooth motion, the serpent swallowed the magpie’s remains whole. I grimaced but said nothing. Between Tianyi, Windy, and that unsettling spider, my shop was turning into something of an invincible fortress—one that dealt with pests in its own gruesome way.

"Could you at least give me some warning next time?"

Tianyi fluttered down to perch on my shoulder, her small presence a familiar comfort despite the odd situation. I shook my head and turned back to the garden, deciding it was better to focus on something a little more peaceful.

Slowly but surely, my plants drank in my qi, ensuring they’d be ready to flourish when spring came.

As I worked, a few customers passed by, seeking potions or salves for winter ailments. It wasn’t a busy day, so the work went by quickly. Most of the villagers were accustomed to my shop’s pace now, and the flow of people seemed steady, without the rush I'd experienced when I first returned.

Just as I was finishing up another round of tending to the herbs, a familiar sound reached my ears: the high-pitched chattering of children. Sure enough, Xiao Bao and Mei-Li, two of the more rambunctious village kids, appeared at the gate, followed by a gaggle of their friends.

“Kai!” Xiao Bao called out, his eyes wide with excitement. “Tell us more about the Gauntlet! How you fought the Five Fists of Narrow Stone Peak!”

Mei-Li joined in, bouncing on her toes. “Yeah, you never told us what happened!”

I suppressed a grin, already feeling the urge to embellish my tale. “Ah, the Five Fists, huh? Well, let me tell you, those were some of the toughest foes I’ve ever faced.”

The kids gathered around, eyes wide, completely enraptured. I knew this was my moment. Of course, I didn’t mention the minor detail that I had help from Xu Ziqing. Why ruin the magic of the story?

“And then,” I continued, standing tall, “with a single blow, I shattered their formation. The very ground trembled beneath our feet, and the heavens wept at the sight of my victory!”

The kids gasped in awe, and I couldn’t help but smile.

As the children ran off, no doubt to reenact my grand battle with the Five Fists, I rested my elbows against the fence and took in a deep breath. The beauty of a normal life, a life I’d once thought too small for my ambitions, was finally settling back into my bones. That constant wanderlust that used to gnaw at me had been tempered by the rhythm of the village.

But as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky with shades of amber, I knew my day wasn’t done yet.

Once the shop was closed and the village had quieted for the night, I made my way to the small clearing next to my home. The moonlight filtered down through the bare branches, casting soft silver shadows across the ground.

Tianyi hovered beside me, her wings shimmering in the moonlight, while Windy coiled lazily near the base of a tree. I stretched my limbs, preparing for the final task of the day—training.

My qi reserves were brimming, which was exactly what I needed. Tonight, I would spar, pushing myself to the edge of my physical and mental limits. The remaining beast core elixir I had consumed needed to settle, to fully integrate into my dantian. And the best way to ensure that was through the grind of battle.

Taking a deep breath, I slipped into my stance, the energy swirling within me as I prepared to test everything I had. The night was still, the world quiet, as the three of us charged at each other, sharpening our skills.

Rooted Banyan Stance has reached level 3.

Another day. Another step closer.