It felt as if my mind was struck by a bolt of lightning, and I could suddenly see the world with newfound clarity. It was as though an invisible thread had woven together the fragments of my knowledge, forming a cohesive tapestry of understanding. My heart raced, excitement surging through me as I realized how the different aspects of my learning - cultivation, martial arts, and the natural world - were intertwined and complementary.
Was this what enlightenment felt like?
My mind raced, adjusting to the connection made between my knowledge in various topics. Laying out the basis of my cultivation, the muscles worked when in the horse stance, and even my information pertaining to trees, all culminating into the Rooted Banyan Stance.
What was a banyan?
The banyan tree wasn't native to this part of the Tranquil Breeze Coast, although we had one several li from the village. It was the only one of its kind in the area. I had always been intrigued by banyan trees, with their sprawling roots and massive trunks that seemed to convey a sense of ancient wisdom and unwavering strength. Their aerial roots growing downwards from the branches, eventually reaching the ground and forming additional trunks. They were never known for their ability to withstand cold temperatures, but this one lived for decades and was still going strong. My mother said it housed some sort of forest spirit, which is why it lived for so long.
The first time visiting it as a child, I could remember feeling so infinitesimally small. No other structure in the village or forest matched it in size. Whenever I visualized the World Tree of the Emerald Spirit Forest, it always drew back to the first time I saw a banyan tree. That dense network of roots and trunks that provided the tree with remarkable stability, making it appear as if it could withstand the most violent of storms and the test of time, made me realize that it will remain long after I'm gone. Firm and unyielding.
Elder Ming spoke of practice. The horse stance was integral for a martial artist; strength, stability, and endurance being put to the test by holding yourself in the right position. Through his guidance, I perfected my form and learned how to utilize my core to better endure the training.
When I circulated my qi through my body, it was merely for cultivating and recovering my energy. It never enhanced my body the way I envisioned cultivators could, being able to withstand mighty blows that could rend a mortal to pieces. But with this-
I scrambled to my feet, straightening myself before spreading my lower body till it was wider than my shoulders. My toes pointed straight ahead. I lowered my abdomen until my thighs were parallel to the ground. My body was fatigued and I shook slightly getting into position, despite not having rocks weighing me down.
"Kai, are you alright?" Elder Ming asked, slightly concerned. I suppose I was quiet for too long, trying to digest everything that I received.
As I looked down, the image of the banyan's massive roots digging into the very earth overlaid itself onto my lower body; digging deep and keeping me anchored in place. My arms and torso, like the sprawling branches and trunk, capable of withstanding any blow.
Drawing qi came as naturally as breathing as I did this. I moved into position and the energy enveloped my body, a thin layer that was invisible to the naked eye.
A sharp outtake of breath, squeezing my core, and the tightening of every muscle in my body as qi fully manifested across every inch of my body.
Instantly, I knew that this was the Rooted Banyan Stance.
My first technique. A cultivator technique. I turned to the Village Head with an ecstatic smile on my face. He seemed dumbfounded at what he just saw, and his jaw hung slightly open seeing the move I just performed.
"Elder Ming, look! I've discovered a new technique!"
"Kai, you fool! How many times have I warned you about recklessly using your qi? Qi Deviation is a serious matter, not something to be taken lightly!"
He reared his cane back to slap me on the top of my head, but I was prepared. Getting into position, I unleashed my technique within a second's notice.
"ROOTED BANYAN STANCE!"
I shouted it aloud, although I didn't need to. It seemed right.
The feeling of stability and strength filled me once more, and I tightened my muscles in preparation for the blow. The cane slapped across my head with enough force to make a thwacking noise, but the sensation of pain that followed it was absent. Being hit but not feeling pain was truly odd. The impact was there, but it was muted. Like I was wearing a solid, insulated helmet.
INVINCIBLE! I WAS INVINCIBLE UNDER THE HEAVENS!
I looked at my teacher with a smirk. His face turned red, and before I could get a word across, something just below the corner of my vision blurred.
CRACK
I already let go of my stance and relaxed, expecting that initial strike to be the end of it. But as I stared at the foot placed firmly where my groin was, I sorely regretted that course of action.
The Village Head kicked me in the balls!
My mouth was open in a silent scream, and I collapsed to the floor completely and utterly defeated, where Elder Ming proceeded to continue beating me with his cane.
"Eld-Master! Master Ming! This disciple ha-urk!" I hastily covered myself, trying to make Elder Ming see reason. "The disciple has learned his lesson! MERCY! MERCY! TIANYIIIII-!"
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Following the beating, Elder Ming provided me with a stern lecture in regards to Qi Deviation. We returned to his home, where the townspeople murmured about my questionable state. It was a humbling experience. This day was truly one of the highest highs and the lowest lows.
As we continued our journey, the cool breeze caressed my face, providing a momentary respite from the sting of Elder Ming's words and my own embarrassment. The sun had begun its descent towards the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the village. He led me into the house and I trudged in like a cow going to a slaughter.
"Listen! Forcing your Qi to circulate in such a manner for advanced techniques, without the necessary preparations and guidance, can cause irreversible harm! Your body, to begin with, was not suited for cultivation!" Elder Ming said, tapping his cane gently on the drawing of the Qi circulatory system. He traced around the lower abdomen, where the dantian was located. "Should your Qi reach this point, you shall find yourself no more than a crimson smear upon the wall!"
"But if I subject myself to it multiple times, won't my circulatory systems get stronger as a result?"
Elder Ming's previous impression as an all-knowing sage was gone. His neatly-tied hair was sticking out and his clothes were ruffled. The old geezer looked ready to keel over and have a heart attack as soon as I spoke. I moved to pour some of the calming herbal tea into his cup and pushed him to drink, seriously worrying he'd get some sort of heart attack.
Seriously, what the hell was wrong with him? Beating me up over a little qi manipulation. Feh! I wouldn't be felled by something as simple as that!
The drink seemed to soothe his irritation. Tianyi, as spirited as ever, floated around me and provided a nice touch to the interior of his home. She eventually landed on Elder Ming's shoulder and glowed, and the tension on his shoulders went away ever so slightly.
"Ha~What would your parents say...Your mother would've tried to poison me if she knew I was teaching you cultivation techniques."
I frowned. Although I knew my parents and the Village Head were close, it wasn't often he spoke of them. "I don't think so. I think they'd be quite proud. I'm following my dreams! Being true to myself! Is that so wrong?"
His lips tightened ever so slightly.
"Kai, you must understand. The world of cultivation is not the glittering dream you believe it to be. There is far more beneath the surface than meets the eye."
He gazed out his open window with a small sigh, as if to reminisce. I remained silent, and he continued his thoughts.
"Politics, greed, and revenge. People assert themselves over others and commit unspeakable acts, simply because they are perceived as weak. The Jianghu is not a place to be trifled with."
I gritted my teeth. I wasn't a fool! Does he think I don't know that? The way sects look down on the common people? The atrocities committed by demonic cultivators in other provinces? Although my dream was built on stories and fairy-tales, they were not built on ones that kept away from the dark side of pursuing cultivation. If anything, they emphasized it.
"But how do you know, Elder Ming? How terrible can the Jianghu be? Is there no joy to be found in overcoming your limits? Growing stronger day by day?"
"That which you speak of, no. But it is not the personal growth that is perilous. It is the people with whom you become entwined." Elder Ming intoned gravely. "May I share a story with you, young Kai?"
I nodded and let him continue.
"When I was but a mere child, I became a third-class disciple. The name of the sect is irrelevant here." He said gruffly, seeing the look in my eye once he mentioned being a disciple. "It is not an interesting story. Abandoned at their doorstep, they raised me and taught me their ways. It was simple."
Elder Ming was an orphan? He was abandoned at birth? That's...sobering to think about. At least I had the chance to be with my parents. He never even knew who they were.
"I had friends. Talented ones. They pushed me and helped me strive for greatness on our journey. They were my sworn brothers. But alas, life is never that simple. One of the second-class disciples, consumed by jealousy of my sworn brother potentially taking his position as the next sect leader, sought a method to suppress him."
The Village Head looked calm, although his eyes were downcast for most of his retelling. His gaze seemed far-off. He raised his robe and showed me his abdomen. In the area around where his dantian was, the skin had a network of faint, spiderweb-like cracks. Discolored, appearing as a mix of red, purple, and even blackish hues. It looked familiar. I glanced over to the diagram he had on the table and saw that the shape of the injury matched that of the pathways in the area.
"They attacked us while we were meditating. There are ways of doing it while being vigilant, but who would be in their own home? I was struck first, and the pain..." He murmured softly. His eyes didn't hold any resentment, but bitterness of an untold degree. "I would not wish that on my worst enemy."
I widened my eyes. That was preposterous! I disliked their attitude towards those of outsiders, but...Something like a senior disciple colluding to bring down someone younger than them never even crossed my mind. That was like me breaking Wang Jun's arm because he was getting too good at blacksmithing!
I felt a deep sense of disillusionment. The sects were supposed to be bastions of knowledge and mutual support, places where cultivators could grow and learn together. But the dark side of human nature seemed to taint even these sanctuaries. I clenched my fists, wondering if this was more of a common problem than I thought.
Even in the deepest, darkest pit of my heart. I could say I never wished ill upon anybody in my village, much less acted upon it. Were there times when I was jealous, or angry? Of course. But to do something despite knowing the consequences...It was despicable. An ugly feeling welled up within me. Terrible anger, but also pity at what Elder Ming went through.
"My sworn brother managed to fend off the initial attacks. I wasn't there to see it. But when I came to, it was him, carrying me in his arms while covered in blood. But it wasn't his. He had murdered the second-class disciples and ran from the sect with me in tow."
There was much to digest from what Elder Ming said. A third-class disciple? At my age, I'd be the oldest among them. They were usually young children. Second-class disciples were at least a decade older than them, with years of martial arts training and experience under their belt. The gap between a third and second-class disciple, even if the former was a talent beyond compare, was the equivalent of comparing a puddle to a lake.
But a single one managed to kill a coordinated group?
It was so ludicrous. I almost questioned the validity of his story, but I knew he would never lie about something so serious. His injuries, as well as the solemn way he talked, showed me just how genuine it was. I could only remain silent and gulp down my questions as he continued the retelling of his past.
"We were hunted down and I was only a burden to him. Had he been by himself, escaping the province, away from prying eyes would've been a simple task. But we ran into the first-class disciples and we were separated from each other."
As Elder Ming revealed his story, I felt my heart twist with sympathy and sorrow for the man who had become like a mentor to me. My eyes widened, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I listened to his words. It was as if the shadows of his past had taken form around us, making the room feel colder and darker. Even Tianyi's aura felt muted, and she quietly remained by the Village Head's shoulder.
"That is not to say your pity is what I desire. I share this tale to show you how easily destruction can be wrought and how difficult it can be to rebuild. My body, once capable of withstanding the rigors of cultivator training, was nearly destroyed," Elder Ming said, his eyes steely. "Your situation is far more precarious. Even the slightest misstep could lead to your demise."
"But I'm careful, Elder Ming," I said softly. "Tianyi stays by my side as I cultivate. Nobody in this village would disturb me so recklessly as they did to you."
"Do you truly believe, Kai, that not a single soul would harbor ill intent? Jealousy? Annoyance? To be human is to err," he shook his head. I refused to believe it. The idea of someone from the village committing such a heinous act. But Elder Ming believed his sect was a safe space as well. I could see what he was trying to say. "Many believe that cultivators transcend their humanity when they gain these powers. But in truth, it only serves to magnify their humanity. Whether they are virtuous or wicked, their true nature is amplified when given great power. And unfortunately, the Jianghu tends to be more ruthless. It is nothing like you have ever experienced before."
Elder Ming was speaking the truth. I had never experienced such conflict in my life. I grew up in a sheltered environment here in the Gentle Wind Village. Even if I was aware of the horrors in the Jianghu, there was no way for me to fully understand the extent.
"...Then isn't it a good thing you're here to teach me?" I said. "Had I tried to learn all this on my own, I would've died from qi deviation or gotten deceived by those who wish to hurt me. You know how I am, Elder Ming. I would've embarked on a journey out of the village eventually. Better to know the pitfalls now rather than later, correct?"
He smiled, although it seemed quite different from the other ones he wore. Elder Ming grabbed me by the hair and yanked me across the table. Tianyi flew into the air as we caused a ruckus in the Village Head's home.
"Only if you heed my words, you foolish boy! Listen to your teacher! Don't! Use! Your! Qi!"
He emphasized each word by shaking my head. This eccentric old man! How could he be so strong? His meridians were damaged! He even showed me! It didn't make sense for him to be overpowering me like this!
"Alright, Elder Ming. I'll listen to you," I said reluctantly, still rubbing the sore spot on my head once he let go. "I won't use my qi without your guidance. I'll only meditate and use the Rooted Banyan Stance here."
Although, infusing my garden with qi or extracting plant essence was an entirely different matter. Those didn't count, right?
The conversation turned back to him lecturing me on what I was forbidden to do without supervision, but the tension from before was broken. I listened to Elder Ming and took his words more seriously. There was a story behind every lesson he taught me, and I'd hold off on completing my quests for now.