The next morning, bright and early Ame and Sada arrive at the library. Upon their arrival, Dara eagerly greets them as he guides them inside once more. They then seat themselves once more and wait for Dara’s return.
Upon Dara’s return, he places a thin volume in front of Ame. “Little Mistress, you were much too young to begin to cultivation when you were taken and would normally start your cultivation at the age of five. But after careful consideration, despite the time that has passed by the Patriarch has decided to allow for your cultivation instruction to begin. However, despite all this time, do ye still remember what Qi is?”
Ame doesn’t answer as waits for a better explanation from the old man. Though she held some memories in this regard, her memories pertaining to said subject did not seem very reliable to say the least. Her child-self had memories of reading or hearing about such beings having supernatural strength and the capability to even fly. However, due to always being sheltered and closed off from the rest of the family, her knowledge was limited on the subject.
She just shakes her head and replies, “Mostly stories,” which was all true.
Dara beams brightly and continues as though this was expected. "Cultivation is the act of taking the power between Heaven and Earth by walking the path of walking the Martial Dao and rebelling against the Heavens. We call this mysterious power “Qi,” and by refining this power within our bodies in accordance to the cultivation methods of our Mystic Arts, all practitioners can increase their martial prowess and can aspire to one day become gods. Hahaha, of course, the path of walking and understanding the Dao is harsh, and is easier said than done."
Ame blankly stares at the old man and begins to feel somewhat exasperated concerning the subject. At Ame’s lack of visible reaction, Dara’s face droops slightly at the disappointing expression.
Dara coughs loudly to cover his embarrassment, before continuing, “Depending on the cultivation method, upon absorbing enough Qi, a cultivator will eventually form a core as the start of their [Mortal] Realm cultivation, and if they are powerful enough, they will form spirit pillars within the core and breakthrough into the next realm. However, other transformations within the core is also possible for breaking through into the next realm…...”
Ah, yes, she remembered now. But what she did recall, she could scarcely believe. Said supernatural humans absorbed something called “Qi.” Depending on the root of an individual, it indicated their potential for absorption and growth. Most children were checked around the age of five. And if they successfully, there was even a so-called method to rank such abnormal growth from rank 1-10.
After that, said humans can grow to reach 4 higher stages: Spirit, Origin, Profound, and Heaven. Yet, within those stages there are tracking points to classify the stages even further, the 3 points are: Beginner, Intermediate and Latent.
An example is that a Beginner of the Spirit stage cultivator cannot easily defeat a cultivator of the Intermediate Spirit stage. Yet, apparently, most supernatural human’s never even reach rank 5, which is considered extraordinary by common folk.
Yet to make matters more unbelievable there was an event called, Heaven Tribulations, punishment from the heavens for going against them. These tribulations happened for every stage change, Spirit Stage to Origin and so forth. Said memories had not seemed reliable in the least and she wanted to learn from a more reliable source, but said reliable source was looking more unreliable and dubious by the minute.
She narrows her eyes at Dara with annoyance. Dara, upon noticing the child’s powerful gaze, instinctively flinched and felt a shiver run up his spine for some inexplicable reason. He hastily says, "I apologize for my terrible explanation, my little Mistress. Come let us go outside, and I will show you.”
Ame sighs as Sada smiles gratefully at Dara. They follow Dara out of the library and beyond the manor. The sun glitters across Ame’s face as they arrive in a wide-open field behind the manor. She narrows her eyes with suspicion as she eyes the blooming flowers. Even though, she did not believe in “Qi,” but she couldn’t scientifically discard yet. After all, Qi, could possibly be an alternative energy resource or, better yet, just a magic parlor trick.
Sada smiles brightly at Dara as he preens himself in the wind. Dara slightly poses very heroically in the breeze and purposefully allows his robe to flutter behind him. Ame merely stares blankly at the old man to start.
Despite her expressionless face, Dara seemed to have misunderstood as he got caught up in the act, watching Ame warmly, he smiled warmly in response. "There is absolutely nothing to be worried about, Little Mistress.”
Concentrating for a moment, he then takes a step towards a tree standing directly in front of him. With one powerful but fast thrust of his arm, Dara punches through the tree as if punching through paper. The trust didn’t explode or fracture normally. Instead, the trunk of the tree was completely pierced through with strangely a great lack of sound. Even the debris from the other side of tree trunk seemed to lack fragments rather as a cloud of dust bursting forth.
Though the blow was more powerful than the average Earthly punch, she had seen excellent martial artists, mutants, soldiers with cybernetic prosthetics, and various other do almost the same thing and more back on Earth. Dara grins in triumph and looks expectantly back at Ame, awaiting showers of awe and praises. But her stagnant expression doesn’t change. Instead, her stare becomes more cold and piercing as her cold purple eyes produce a domineering and rather condemning feeling.
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Dara could only shiver slightly upon meeting her gaze and then coughs attempting to clear his shock. After a moment, Dara says, “I am certain that the little Mistress speechless at the sight of my mighty strength. Not to worry little Mistress, I will show ye an even more amazing sight.”
Within seconds Dara begins to float in the air above Ame and Sada. Ame eyes the old man carefully trying to see the wires and mirrors. And though she couldn’t see them, she found she was slightly impressed given that the show was done in such a wide, open space.
Ame carefully walks towards Dara as she cruelly tramples Dandelions underneath her feet. With interest, Ame sees the old man rise higher and higher. But what bothers her, is the fact that she can see Dara’s soles and there are wires underneath. She can’t fathom how it is possible for people of this ancient era to pull off such a trick.
Dara at seeing Ame’s curious expression happily says, “Little Mistress, would you like to fly too?”
Sada was startled with the suggestion but still smiles daintily with happiness. At the same time, a trace of worry seemed to have flashed through her eyes as she nods in approval and returns her gaze back to Ame who finds solemnly nods back. With ease, Dara floats further back down and then picks Ame up and gently cradles her in his arms.
With interest Ame eyes the old man in concentration. But no matter how much she concentrates, she cannot find a hint of a wire or mirrors. Instead, she finds that they are rising and higher without any such implements.
Ame lets out a small sound of shock as Dara chuckles loudly in the air. Dara excitedly says, “Not to worry, little Mistress, we can still go a bit higher up.”
Feeling a bit light headed, Ame perseveres and clings tightly to Dara as she glances down to the ground below. From her height, the manor appears rather small. Although, given the view it appears there are other similar sized home in the area. As she turns her gaze towards the west, she spots a rather populous city.
With interest Ame eyes the city. But swiftly the interest is lost given the location. To live in such proximity of the Min Household does not seem very safe. Despite seeming to be some rich family, it was no wonder that her kidnapper had a relatively easy time in his task.
Dara happily chatters, “Little Mistress, I don’t know if you recall, but that cities name is Chiseong in the prefecture of Delhawa. Chiseong is among the prosperous cities in the prefecture, with our clan being among the most prosperous as well. My Lady, did you know your father is a powerful cultivator?"
At seeing Ame’s blank expression, Dara continues saying, "My Lord is already an Intermediate Origin cultivator at his young age. Many of our clan's hopes and dreams ride on his two shoulders. I expect that as his daughter, little Mistress ye will surely one day be a powerful cultivator as well."
However, Ame is starting to no longer listen. Although she tried her best in not minding how high she is, her lightheadedness was only getting worse, with her stomach no longer ignoring the issue. Her stomach begins to rumble faintly as her stomach begins to then swim unhappily. At seeing Ame’s face go slightly green, Dara swiftly descends back onto the ground. She but all leaps from Dara’s arms and falls onto all fours on the ground. Out of spite, Ame heaves the contents of her breakfast onto Dara’s clothes.
Sada swiftly approaches and wipes Ame’s face with a clean cloth as she glares prettily at Dara. “Shame on you Dara! And you being a grown man, should have known better! You promised, you wouldn't frighten my Lady, Dara! Look at what you did! My Lady is trembling in fear! Sada sternly said.
Ame rises to her feet with the aid of Sada. Sada with a graceful sweep of her robe, coldly turns her back on Dara as she leads Ame away. From the corner of Ame’s eyes, she sees Dara’s face pale. And just a tint of a smug smile flickers for a second as it is soon replaced with a clamped mouth.
*
A female servant hesitantly approaches a beautiful woman lying on a low-level couch. The sprawled woman lazily lifts her head and says, “Yes, what is it?”
“Madame Ayako, the child-, the child is under the protection of Dara,” the maid hesitantly said.
Ayako slowly turns her gaze towards the maid. The maid flinches under the snake like gaze and attempts to hide her fear unsuccessfully.
“Is that so?” Ayako softly said.
The maid gulps loudly and nods her head frantically up and down.
Ayako glances at the embroidery laying carelessly on the floor. Deliberately Ayako grabs the cloth and sewing needle. Nonchalantly, Ayako begins to resume the embroidery of the phoenix on the handkerchief.
The maid shivers uneasily at seeing the needle in Madame Ayako’s hand. Almost hypnotically the maid watches the needle rise and fall.
After several minutes, the needle comes to a halt as Ayako says, “And what of Ehuang and Nuo?”
The maid stutters as she swiftly responds, “Tha-t is-, the Madame’s have no interest in the child either.”
Ayako nods as the needle resumes its natural course.
The minute’s trickle slowly by as the maid’s forehead is slowly covered in cold sweat. The only sound is the soft rustle of Madame Ayako’s robes as the needle goes up and down through the cloth.
Finally, the needle comes to an abrupt halt. Ayako softly whispers, “You are excused.”
The maid nods in relief as she excuses herself and leaves the room with great relief.
After allowing the maid to hurriedly leave, Ayako continues to coldly stare at the needle in hand as her hand grips the needle with fury. With a hiss, flames suddenly erupt from the embroidery with great force, the embroidery and needle are thrown against the walls, the flames scatter like a volcanic eruption, as fire and winds surge from the impact.
While the flames scatter across the room, Ayako’s eyes flicker with a cold light. The flames and wind quickly dissipate leaving no trace of the embroidery and needle, with no damage mysteriously being done to the room. Even so, a dangerous mood permeated throughout the air as she clinched her fists tighter, but soon she hugs her legs to her chest and places her forehead onto her knees. Silence continues to permeate the room.
*