[Ah~ It’s been a while…]

After dealing with Shadow and having a nice meal, Vilya and I went to the library to find a few techniques for her. We didn’t visit The Vault, but the smaller surface library. It took us some time to decide what to pick as many manuals didn’t suit her.

We debated whether she should pick Ironclad Body Scripture, but eventually decided against it as it was meant for warriors and not fair maidens. Silksteel Fusion was better, but that also didn’t feel right for her. In the end, she chose Supple Steel Body Art. The names were pretty much self-explanatory.

I urged her to pick another that would complement it, and there were many choices. Elastic Serenity Arts seemed interesting to me, as did the Jade-Spine Mastery, yet she preferred Serpent’s Grace Technique and Jade Skin instead.

When she first mentioned those two I already knew what she was going to pick. What woman would take mobility over looks? Of course, she picked Jade Skin. It was a technique that gave your skin both the hardness and luster of white jade, while removing any blemishes and discolorations you might naturally have.

I didn’t personally think she needed it, but I didn’t complain.

While she studied the manuals, I got a few scrolls for myself and read them while I waited, expanding my personal library of techniques.

It’s not like I needed any of them, and they weren’t the most suitable for Golden Core Realm anyway, but they were good to know. Filling the gaps in my knowledge was always nice. Maybe one day I could combine them all to make an ultimate technique. That would be cool.

I took the Jade-Spine Mastery and browsed through it. It was a series of body movements and Qi cycles that helped to strengthen the bones and ligaments of the spine so that greater force could be generated from the body. Especially that part of the lower back that liked to cause problems.

This technique helped to alter its shape so it wouldn’t pinch the nerves so often anymore. It made it stable and much stronger, like the tree trunk of an old oak. A brilliant creation. I’d give a 9/10 score to whoever created it.

There were a few tweaks I could do to make it even better, but overall it was already mightily impressive. I began testing it out, and with the Essence I could produce, the results came quickly. My back began feeling better than ever as my spine thickened slightly, and I felt strong! Strong and stable, as if I just gained the oomph my body craved.

Also, I felt a weird familiarity with the technique. It was almost calling to my Living Fortress Martial Art. They both focused on stability and strength, though one was more defense-oriented while the other focused on offense.

I then took another one of the discarded manuals and began studying it. It was the Ironclad Body Scripture. I was already intimately familiar with the Iron Body magic that was part of my Elemental Avatar, but this went a step beyond. I once again felt a familiarity with the Living Fortress, and then with the Jade-Spine as well. I considered the three techniques and how they complimented each other when I suddenly felt an explosion of understanding in my mind.

A flash of inspiration you could say.

[Ironclad Jade Fortress.]

“Hmm?” Vilya looked up from her study.

I shook my head to get the weird feeling out of my head while at the same time trying to commit the inspiration to memory.

[I… I just had a thought… Never mind, it’s nothing. Keep going.] I dismissed it.

“Oh, alright.” She returned to her work.

I pulled a chair and sat down. It creaked from my weight but held tight. That was some quality wood.

Having done that, I returned back to the task at hand. I just spoke words out loud, words I did not intend to say. It was as if I was forced to say them. Or better yet, I felt compelled. It felt right to say them. It felt as if they fit with the thoughts in my mind at that moment.

Somehow my mind combined the three techniques into one, their similarities allowing for seamless integration.

[Well… shit.] I scratched my head and frowned. I think I just made a new technique. Again.

And it felt way better than the sum of its parts. Like it was made for me, a Golden Core Realm Cultivator. And I felt it definitely belonged in The Vault.

Excited, I took the rest of the manuals and read them, but they didn’t trigger the same inspiration as the previous two did. I sighed and put them back into their compartments.

We only picked these few techniques for Vilya to try out. Anything more and we would just be throwing money away. Well, we already were, but it wasn’t much. A Spirit Stone Shard per hour, per manual. Chump change.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

We were there well over an hour by the time I got the inspiration, and then more time passed still. By the time Vilya understood and remembered the contents of her techniques, we already owed nearly 30 SSS. Not much, but it wasn’t nothing either.

“I’m done!” She beamed. “I learned it all.”

I yawned and rubbed my eyes. I must have fallen asleep because I didn’t remember lying on the table.

[Alright… Now we still need to train and…] I yawned again. [What time is it?]

Almost as if answering my question, the closing bell rang. It was late evening and I was getting sleepy. Hungry too, but mostly sleepy. All that thinking must have tired me quite a bit.

But as soon as I stood up and began walking, clarity returned to my mind as my Soul was rejuvenated by the Divine parts.

[Let’s get something to eat.]

“Oh, yes, please! I’m itching to try out the Jade Skin. I’m so excited!” Vilya smiled and ran ahead.

I also smiled and went after her. After paying at the entrance, we left the library and came out beneath a starry sky. The night was still young, and so were we.

We found a nice restaurant and ordered something simple. I refrained from eating even though the food there smelled nice. I just knew it would become a tasteless mush as soon as it entered my mouth. I just got myself a drink and sipped it slowly.

While Vilya ate, my mind began to wander.

It had been so long since the Brilliant Sword’s spies were wiped. Months. And yet, there was still no sign of any movement. I knew they wanted war but they were clearly very slow about it. To be honest, I wasn’t familiar with how things were done in a Cultivation world. Maybe taking a few years to prepare was considered normal. They certainly had the time to spare.

I quietly sighed as I watched the starry sky through the window. I wanted to explore. I wanted to go on an adventure, see the world, fight large monsters. Instead, I was stuck in the Sect.

It wasn’t bad, of course, but it was missing that spark of excitement.

I sighed again and emptied my mug, ordering another one.

----------------------------------------

Beneath the cloudless sky, under the silver light of the moon, two figures faced each other, crouched and still, on top of a roof, above where Gerald sat.

“He’s not eating? I thought he said he’s hungry.” Luna murmured to herself.

“He probably is. The man eats like a beast, devouring enough food to feed five others.” Shadow answered to keep the silence at bay.

“Then why?”

“Spirit Beast meat. It’s the only thing he eats.”

“Ah… Addiction?”

“Severe.” He nodded. “He eats it every day without fail.”

Luna shook her head in disbelief. “Where does he even get the money for it? He’s not rich, is he?”

Shadow rolled his eyes. “Depends on how you look at it. And before you ask, it’s the Elder that is financing this bastard’s meals.”

He felt bitter. His sword was stolen and the wealth he had gathered during the decades of his life was safely stored in the vault at the headquarters. Headquarters he couldn’t access anymore because he was kicked out of the Order. Now he could barely afford food with the scraps he had left.

“Lucky!” Luna hissed. No matter how well her work paid, feasting on Spirit Beast meat every day was but a distant dream for her. Maybe when she broke through to the Spirit Realm. Maybe…

The chatter and bustle of the restaurant beneath their feet became muffled as it went through the thick wooden walls. Shadow spoke as the silence stretched on. “We are not here to discuss his eating patterns, are we?”

“No… Actually, I’ve called you since I discovered concerning things I cannot explain. Maybe I’m missing something.”

Shadow leaned closer. “I’m listening.”

“Not long ago, Aurora saw the target helping a few newcomers. She said it wasn’t the first time he came to interfere.” Luna said.

“Um… So?”

“The three young guys were supposed to die to the Belligerent Gnawler stalking them. He saved them in the nick of time.”

“Wow, he’s actually a good guy after all?” Shadow asked sarcastically.

“No! You are not listening, they were supposed to die!” Luna raised her voice and then immediately lowered it back down as she leaned closer with a hiss. “Aurora saw their fate. They were dead. Or they should have been if he didn’t interfere.”

Shadow waved his hand dismissively. “Who cares? So what if they got to live a little longer? You can’t change your fate anyway. Why worry about it?”

“You are wrong! It can be changed, and he did just that! He took their fate and changed it.”

“Seriously?”

“Aurora said so. She watched as he killed the rat. As soon as he did, their death became uncertain, and like a branch, it created two possible futures. And then, he revealed the location of the nest. That cemented them on the path of life.” Luna said, clearly stressed by the telling of the story.

Shadow frowned as his eyebrows moved up and down. “But… That makes no sense. How can he so casually change fate? You can’t do that.”

“He can!” Luna shouted. “Or… at least he did it that time. I don’t know why, heck, even Aurora doesn’t know why, and she trained Divination for a century. At most, she can nudge fate, and she needs a ritual and sacrifices for that.”

“Then what about him? Did she read his fate? Are there any clues?”

Luna shook her head and nervously massaged her neck. “It’s unreadable. He’s unreadable. No matter what she tried, nothing worked. And as she looked at the strings, she told me, she nearly fainted. There were thousands of them. Like a thousand different lives, tied to one body.”

“Thousands?! How?! That’s impossible!”

“That’s why I’m here. To see if you know something, but you clearly don’t. I wasted my time.” She scrunched her nose in displeasure and got up.

“Wait!”

Luna turned around from the edge of the roof. “What is it?”

“He’s been… forcing me to fight him every day. He wants me to punch him as hard as I can, and keep that up until he is all black and blue. And then he just heals in seconds and beats me right back.”

“So?”

“Any suggestions on what I should do? You are the leader now, after all.”

Luna scoffed and then a grin spread across her face. “Just keep beating his meat. I’m sure the perverted masochist enjoys it. At least he’s distracted. And don’t worry…” She turned to give him a sadistic grin, her white teeth reflecting the moonlight. “I’ll tell Master you are doing a great job.”

She then jumped away and disappeared into the night.

Shadow’s visage turned furious and he balled his hands into fists. “Fucking bitch! Just because you took over my position… Mock me while you can. After I get back I’ll show you who’s boss! I’ll show-”

The face of the man taunting him appeared in his mind, disrupting his thoughts. He gritted his teeth in anger.

“Fine. He wants me to beat him? I’ll show him a pummeling he will not soon forget! I’ll find his weakness and then I’ll show him who’s the boss. I’ll show them all who’s the boss! It’s me! Always me! Hahaha!”

As Shadow threw his head back in a bout of maniacal laughter, he heard heavy knocks on the roof he was standing on, after which someone very angrily shouted. “Oy! Quiet up there!”

Shadow jerked away in fright and then jumped into the night, blending into the darkness.