Blossoming Path

Chapter 68: When Giants Grasp the Delicate

I looked back and forth from Elder Jun and Ping Hai, dismissing the notification from the Heavenly Interface.

Was this some sort of sick joke?

What was that whole thing he said about not crushing a budding flower with a mountain's weight? This was worse! Elder Jun was trying to crush the flower underfoot, and salt the earth so life wouldn't sprout from where it grew!

Elder Zhu coughed into his fist, catching everybody's attention once more.

His voice cut through the tension, his tone steady and commanding as he announced, "Let us begin the alchemy bout. Ping Hai of the Silent Moon Sect and Kai Liu of the Verdant Lotus Sect will have one hour to concoct the Soothing Spirit Pill. All necessary ingredients and tools have been provided at your stations."

My throat constricted as if gripped by an invisible hand, making it hard to swallow. As I walked towards my table, I couldn't help but seek out the familiar faces of Li Na, Han Wei, and Feng Wu. Their small nods and encouraging smiles were like beacons of support in a sea of uncertainty. Although their faces showed a slight hint of concern, judging by their sidelong glances at my opponent.

Despite the reassuring glances from Li Na and the others, a shiver traced its way down my spine at the thought of Ping Hai across the arena.

Elder Zhu turned over a small, ornamental hourglass, its sands beginning to slip through the narrow passage. "The contest begins now," he declared, his voice echoing slightly in the high-ceilinged pavilion.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to channel a sense of calm, to regain the composure I knew was essential for the delicate work of alchemy. The recipe for the Soothing Spirit Pill unfurled in my mind, each step and measurement clear and precise. I meticulously checked the ingredients arrayed before me, ensuring everything was in order.

The hustle and bustle of the pavilion faded into the background as I focused on the task at hand. My hands moved with practiced ease, measuring and mixing with the precision of a seasoned alchemist. Yet, despite my concentration, curiosity got the better of me. I couldn't help but steal a glance across the table at Ping Hai.

To my surprise, Ping Hai seemed out of his element. His large, calloused hands fumbled with the delicate alchemy tools, and his brow furrowed as he poured over the recipe. It was an odd sight, the mountain of a man struggling with tasks that required a gentler touch.

I noticed Ping Hai's growing frustration. His attempts to measure out the correct amounts of ingredients were clumsy, and his manipulation of the alchemy tools was awkward at best. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. Alchemy, after all, was an art that demanded finesse and a delicate touch, qualities that seemed at odds with Ping Hai's formidable physical presence.

From the stands, soft murmurs reached my ears, and I saw a few of Ping Hai's fellow third-class disciples leaning forward, their expressions a mix of concern and encouragement. They began to gesture subtly, offering silent advice and guidance to their struggling comrade. Ping Hai glanced their way, a flicker of understanding crossing his features as he tried to adjust his technique based on their silent cues.

I found myself torn. On one hand, this felt like a breach of the bout's integrity, yet calling it out seemed petty, especially given Ping Hai's clear disadvantage. But I don't think it mattered too much in the end, I was confident in my victory here.

With a mental shrug, I turned my attention back to my work, pushing aside any thoughts of the fairness of the bout. I focused on the task at hand, carefully measuring out each ingredient with practiced precision. The familiar motions of grinding, mixing, and heating were soothing, a welcome distraction from the tension of the competition.

As I worked, I couldn't help but steal occasional glances at Ping Hai. Despite the assistance from his peers, his progress was slow, and his movements were uncertain. It was clear that alchemy was not his forte, and I wondered again why the Silent Moon Sect had chosen him for this part of the contest. Was there some deeper strategy at play, or was it simply a matter of pride, a way to demonstrate their confidence of their ability to win in the martial bout, regardless of where it takes place?

My thoughts were interrupted as I carefully added the final ingredient to the mixture. The subtle shift in color and consistency indicated that the reaction was proceeding as expected. I allowed myself a small smile of satisfaction. Despite the distractions, my concoction was coming together nicely.

With gentle, precise movements, I transferred the mixture to the pill furnace, setting the temperature and timing according to the recipe's specifications. The final steps required patience and a steady hand, qualities I had honed over countless hours of practice. As I channeled my qi, I looked at my friends in the stands. Feng Wu smiled approvingly, while Li Na and Han Wei both pumped their fists in quiet encouragement.

My eyes couldn't help but drift towards Xu Ziqing. He seemed almost bored with the proceedings, his eyes closed and arms crossed as if the outcome of this alchemy bout was of no consequence to him.

Turning my gaze to Elder Jun, I found his expression unreadably calm, a stark contrast to Xu Ziqing's apparent disinterest. Despite the clear advantage I held in this alchemy bout, Elder Jun's demeanor betrayed no sign of concern or disappointment. It was as if he had anticipated this outcome, or perhaps, the alchemy bout was merely a prelude to a larger scheme I wasn't privy to.

My attention then shifted back to Ping Hai, who was now trying to mix the ingredients together with a spoon that looked comically small in his massive hand. The sight was almost amusing, and for a brief moment, my anxiety about the upcoming sparring match dissipated, replaced by a flicker of amusement at the incongruous image before me.

However, my momentary distraction proved costly. My concentration faltered, and the cycle of my qi within the pill furnace became erratic, disrupting the delicate balance needed to coax the ingredients into forming the Soothing Spirit Pill. Cursing under my breath, I hastily corrected the flow, stabilizing the furnace's internal environment.

'Focus, Kai,' I chided myself, 'You can't afford such lapses, especially not now.'

With the pill furnace once again under control, I carefully extracted the powdery substance, noting the slight imperfections caused by my earlier distraction. Frustration bubbled within me at the realization that my momentary lapse could have cost me dearly. I took a deep breath, channeling my frustration into focus, and began shaping the powder into pills with meticulous care, ensuring each one was as close to perfect as possible under the circumstances.

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As I worked, my mind couldn't help but wander back to the upcoming sparring duel. How could I possibly stand a chance against Ping Hai, a behemoth of a man who seemed more suited to the battlefield than the alchemy pavilion? The thought was daunting, and for a moment, doubt crept into my heart.

As the final pill settled onto the tray with a soft clink, my clenched fists relaxed ever so slightly at the sound. Drawing a deep breath, I straightened, feeling the tendrils of resolve weaving through the remnants of my doubt. The familiar scent of the alchemy lab, a blend of herbs and the faint trace of fire, filled my lungs, grounding me in the moment and the skills I'd honed over countless hours.

I had faced challenges before, each one seemingly insurmountable at the time, yet here I stood. 'This is just another challenge,' I reminded myself, 'And like the others, I will find a way to overcome it.'

Glancing over at Ping Hai, I saw that he was still struggling with the recipe, his progress slow and uncertain. Despite the assistance from his fellow disciples, it was clear that alchemy was not his strength. No matter how a turtle may twist it's body, it can't imitate the brilliance of a peacock. His strengths lie in a different area.

It made me wonder again about the Silent Moon sect's strategy. Did they not care about the outcome of the alchemy bout, focusing all their attention on the martial contest instead?

With nothing left to do but wait, I stepped back from my table, watching as Ping Hai continued his painstaking work. The Silent Moon sect's disciples and Elder Jun remained unfazed, their expressions giving nothing away. It was a curious situation, one that left more questions than answers.

As the hourglass dwindled away, I knew that Ping Hai was under an immense amount of pressure to complete his pills.

The sands in the hourglass dwindled, showing the fleeting time that Ping Hai had to finish his concoction. I watched, almost in a trance, as he awkwardly maneuvered around the pill furnace, his massive hands seeming out of place in the delicate world of alchemy. His mixture, now ready, was of noticeably poorer quality compared to mine, lacking the refined consistency essential for the perfect Soothing Spirit Pill.

As Ping Hai reached into the furnace to retrieve the powdery substance, I couldn't help but lean in slightly, curious to see how he would tackle the next step. Shaping the powder into pills required a technique that balanced finesse with precision, a skill that seemed at odds with Ping Hai's brute physique.

I watched as he scooped a portion of the powder, his hand dwarfing the spoon, and then, with a motion that seemed too crude for the task at hand, he clenched his fist tight.

Eh?

The muscles in his forearm bulged, veins popping out like cords under his skin, as he subjected the powder to a pressure I could scarcely imagine.

I stood, mouth agape, as he opened his hand to reveal the result. There, sitting in the center of his palm, was a pill. It was misshapen, far from the perfect sphere expected of a Soothing Spirit Pill, yet its solidity was undeniable. It fell to his tray with a clunk that resonated through the silent pavilion, a solid testament to its density.

A shiver ran down my spine as the implications of Ping Hai's raw strength became painfully clear. The ease with which he had compacted the powder into a solid form was terrifying. If his grip could do that to alchemy ingredients, what would it do to flesh and bone? My flesh and bone!

My gaze flickered between the misshapen pill and Ping Hai's impassive face. The casual display of strength was a stark reminder of the physical disparity between us. As he continued, unfazed, to crush the remaining powder into more crude pills, a part of me couldn't help but marvel at the sheer physicality he brought to the delicate art of alchemy.

Different people had different approaches, truly.

The crowd murmured, a mix of astonishment and disbelief at the unconventional method Ping Hai employed. I could see Elder Jun from the corner of my eye, his expression unchanged, as if this brute-force approach to alchemy was exactly what he had expected from Ping Hai.

I forced myself to look away, to focus on my own set of perfectly shaped pills, trying to anchor myself to the task at hand. Yet, the sight of Ping Hai's makeshift alchemy haunted me, a prelude to the daunting physical contest that lay ahead.

"Time's up!"

As Ping Hai finished his last pill, the room fell into a tense silence, all eyes on the two sets of pills that lay before us. The contrast couldn't have been starker - mine, shaped with precision, and Ping Hai's, forged by sheer force.

Elder Zhu stepped forward to inspect our work, his experienced eyes assessing the quality of our pills. The tension in the room was palpable, the outcome of this bout seemingly clear, yet overshadowed by the impending martial contest.

Elder Zhu's examination began with my set of Soothing Spirit Pills, his keen gaze scrutinizing every detail. The moment felt stretched, each second ticking by with unbearable slowness as he picked up one of my pills between his thumb and forefinger.

"Let's review the parameters of this contest," Elder Zhu started, his voice carrying across the silent pavilion. "Potency, quality, and consistency are key." He pressed the pill lightly, and to my dismay, it crumbled slightly under the pressure, revealing some uneven clumping within.

"While the potency of this pill is intact, the inconsistency in its composition could slightly affect its efficacy," Elder Zhu commented, his critique pinpointing the very mistake that had slipped through my focused efforts. A flush of embarrassment warmed my cheeks as I mentally kicked myself for the lapse in attention that had led to this minor flaw.

The room's attention then shifted to Ping Hai's work, the anticipation palpable. Elder Zhu's expression remained neutral as he examined the rough-hewn pills, the result of Ping Hai's unconventional method. The quality, as expected, was far from ideal, the pills lacking the refined texture and uniformity typical of a well-crafted Soothing Spirit Pill.

Elder Zhu's attempt to crumble one of Ping Hai's pills was telling; he had to exert a noticeable amount of force to break it apart, showcasing its dense packinga direct result of Ping Hai's brute strength. Ping Hai, towering and formidable, seemed to shrink slightly under the weight of Elder Zhu's unimpressed scrutiny, his head bowing in a rare display of shame.

With the examination concluded, Elder Zhu faced the audience, his voice clear and authoritative. "In this alchemy bout, while both contestants showed commendable effort, the victory goes to Kai Liu for a closer adherence to the criteria set forth." He then added, "As the victor, Kai Liu will have the privilege of deciding the location for the upcoming martial bout. Are there any objections?"

All eyes turned to Elder Jun, whose calm demeanor hadn't wavered. He merely nodded, an almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips, as if the unfolding events were aligning perfectly with some unseen plan.

Applause and cheers broke out among the disciples of the Verdant Lotus Sect, their support a balm to my frazzled nerves. Among the Silent Moon Sect's third-class disciples, expressions of disbelief and disappointment were starkly evident. Yet, amidst the celebration, a low mutter from Ping Hai reached my ears.

"Honor lost... must be reclaimed, no matter the cost. The next match... will be my redemption." His forehead veins were pronounced despite him facing away from me, and some of the Silent Moon sect disciples flinched as he walked in their general direction. I looked up into the pavilion's ceiling, and a lone tear shed down my cheek.

Was this the will of the heavens? To snuff out the rising star of Kai Liu with the wrath of Ping Hai?

The words, intended or not for my ears, sent a fresh wave of terror through me. The raw power I had witnessed, now paired with Ping Hai's vow of redemption, painted a daunting picture of what awaited me in the sparring ring.

My mind raced with wild thoughts, desperate for any escape from the impending confrontation.

'Could I feign illness, perhaps a sudden bout of Qi Deviation?' I mused, half-serious, imagining every possible scenario that could delay or circumvent the match. Maybe if I collapsed and vomited blood right now, they'd postpone the match. The Silent Moon sect wasn't cruel enough to throw an injured herbalist into a match against that mountain of a man?

Yet, as the laughter and chatter around me continued, the reality of the situation settled in. There was no running from this challenge, no matter how outmatched I felt. With a deep, steadying breath, I squared my shoulders, mentally bracing myself for what was to come, all the while hoping for a miracle or perhaps a very convenient case of Qi Deviation.

"Kai, as the victor of the bout, where would you like the sparring match to take place?"

Elder Zhu's question about the location for the duel echoed in my mind, demanding a response. The training grounds of the Verdant Lotus Sect, the very place where I had spent countless hours honing my skills and pushing my limits, came to the forefront of my thoughts. It was not just a familiar setting; it was a terrain I had analyzed meticulously, especially last night, planning for any possible advantage it might offer against a formidable opponent like Ping Hai.

Straightening my posture, I met Elder Zhu's expectant gaze. "I would like the martial bout to take place in the training grounds of the Verdant Lotus Sect," I declared, my voice carrying a hint of the resolve I was desperately trying to muster. The training grounds, with its familiar layout and the strategic placement of various obstacles, could provide the edge I needed to level the playing field against Ping Hai.

Glancing toward the Silent Moon sect, I noticed the third-class disciples exchanging glances. Several of them looked at me with a mix of disdain and arrogance.

Xu Ziqing and Elder Jun, however, remained composed, their faces betraying none of the anxiety that gripped me. Their confidence was unsettling; as if the choice of location was of little consequence to the outcome they anticipated. It was a stark reminder of the confidence they placed in Ping Hai's martial abilities, a confidence that I couldn't help but envy.

But now, it was time to reap what I sowed.

Quest: Eclipse the Silent Moon

- Triumph over Ping Hai in an Alchemy Duel (1/1)

- Land one strike against Ping Hai in a Martial Contest (0/1)

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