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Chapter 40: "Avoiding the Point."

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Shae rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll just ask some other question, and we can circle back later. Someone mentioned to me that stronger cultivators can hold multiple qi types within their Dantian. What's that like?"

Master Long frowned. "That is rather advanced."

"Even a terrible metaphor would be fine. Is it like a second stomach? Or... I don't know, learning to breathe with each lung independently?"

"Those are terrible metaphors. Why would you even want to do that?" He almost squinted at her, then sighed through his nose. "I suppose the description is hardly a secret, you could find it in the library, and it probably doesn't hold any hidden enlightenment."

Shae leaned forwards.

"How would you describe your Dantian currently?"

She groaned and leaned back. "Ugh. Really?" She forced a loud sigh. "It's like shoving fog into an empty room, except spherical."

Long nodded. "Misty or foggy is a common descriptor early on. As you progress you will compress that fog into a liquid. The liquid qi change is usually during the meridian cleansing stage. Some consider it the true sign of a stage three cultivator."

"Hmm. So, moving to core formation is compressing it again? Into a solid? That sounds familiar, I think Elder Ghon mentioned it."

"Mmhm, correct. Though, exactly when varies. Some can form a core from liquid qi, then harden it later. Some only make the outside layer solid, the inside remaining usable liquid qi."

"Huh. A difference in visualization? In how we perceive our own progress?"

He nodded reluctantly.

"And cultivation technique?"

He gave a firm nod.

"I recall Elder Ghon mentioning a cultivator that couldn't compress their water core because of-" she stopped at Long's raised hand.

"Because of how they understood their water qi. That was not me. Though, I did have my own trouble, as most do. I'll ask that you be cautious in how you describe cultivation issues to other cultivators. Something like that could add a seed of doubt that could grow into an inner demon."

She forced a slow inhale through her teeth. "How much damage can something like that cause?"

"Hmm, depends on the experience of the cultivator and how much they trust you." He sat upright and gestured to himself. "For me, I am past the point where that specific example could affect me. I'd hope that few other simple descriptions could either, but never say never, as they say."

She nodded and stayed quiet.

He leaned forwards slightly. "That question sounded more personal. Did you want to talk about it?"

"It's a long story." She shook her head.

"We have all night. And another few days, if you wanted to sleep instead."

"I think I wanted to cultivate instead. But if I tell you a long story, I can't hear Long's story."

"That... Was phrased like a joke, but I didn't catch it?"

She shook her head. "Pun from another world. Long in my old language sounds like your name."

He looked up slightly, and she saw his mouth moving slightly. "Ah! I follow it now. I'd say it's clever, but only if you use it to catch out another lost soul. Tricky, as they would need to know the same language as you."

"Heh, yep, though, I'd probably just be excited to use that language again. Remembering a whole language and not using it is... Weird. Well, maybe not that weird, people travel." She shrugged.

"Was it hard to learn this one?"

"Of course. I was considered late to the language. Even then, I had an accent for a few years, buried under baby speak, luckily."

"You still have an accent."

"Sure, but not one from another world. Was forming your core hard?"

"Heh, yes, but likely in a very different way. You were trying to memorize the dictionary, err, maybe a little too literal for metaphor. Well, I was trying to build the library. Not the books, but the building itself."

"And what's after solid qi? Metaphysically solid? Uh, the phases of matter metaphor breaks down, kind of... There are probably options." She turned her head then titled her whole body sideways as she tried to imagine the next step.

"Trying to get back to your question?"

"Of course, because you almost sounded like you would answer it."

"Heh. Metaphysically solid? What would that be like? In your imagination."

She shrugged. "Does solid mean it's literally physically solid? Like qi crystals and monster cores?" She paused enough for him to nod. "Then maybe pushing it to be not physically present?"

"And that would happen with more pressure? Crushing the qi tighter like the other steps?"

Shae shook her head. "No, that would be continuing that phases metaphor, in a way. Pressure can turn a gas to liquid and liquid solid," she wobbled a hand, "usually. Pressure also adds heat. With that idea we would get a molten center, like the planet. Then a soup of unbound matter and energy like the sun. There's at least one step after that, maybe more."

Long waited for a breath. "And those are?"

She smiled devilishly. "A bit beyond your knowledge, I think."

He frowned and glared, spinning his orb of water again.

"Hey, not that! I just got comfortable. And I'm serious, like, what do you know about gravity?"

"The basics, it is not my path to know more."

"Hah. Thank you for proving me correct." She smiled and leaned back on her palms.

He flicked a single drop at her forehead. A direct hit.

She stretched an eyebrow high and summoned her intent to flick him back, then stopped. "Fine. Let's test your basics. What is the major contributing factor to gravity?"

"Size, weight, or mass. However you want to say it."

"Wrong."

"What? The planet has gravity because of its size. The sun has more because of it. How can that be wrong?"

"Because weight is a singular factor, distance between is a double-factor. It contributes multiplicatively twice instead of just once, as weight does. The half the distance, quadruples gravity's effect. Weight is one to one."

"So if I climb a mountain, I'll weigh less?"

"Yes, though it's a very small change at that scale, which is why most people don't notice it. Even cultivators flying around the globe. Unless you specialize, I assume."

"Huh. I would assume the same. Though, I'm surprised it's not talked about more." Long pondered. "Oh, no, that does make sense."

"Sense why they wouldn't share? Hmm, is gravity a strong qi type?" She asked.

"Quite strong, yes."

"So... it's hidden intentionally. So that fewer gravity cultivators exist?"

"Yes, that is my guess as well."

Shae nodded in understanding. "Oh! You distracted me again!"

"Of course. That's part of the fun." He said with the start of a grin.

"Fine, if we're having fun, what happened this morning that you thought would impress me?"

His stone mask appeared again instantly. "It would be inappropriate of me to share. My impression of events is surely biased."

"Ahh, what a shame, I guess I'll never know. Oh! Unless I go talk to Zhango, I'm sure he'll have a completely unbiased opinion of what happened."

Long shifted on his seat. "Perhaps... or perhaps I can give you a brief overview."

"Hah! This is fun!"

Long frowned at her. "We were attacked by spirit beasts."

"Oh. Less fun. Well, unless the guards enjoy fighting them?"

"Not these. They were rot-dogs. Neither dog nor rot, they are more like a type of ghost. Ambient qi given life and a small bit of desire. These were from the swamp to the east, roused by something and sent to seek qi elsewhere."

"Huh? Swamp-qi ghosts. Given the name, I'd guess they're four legged and vaguely dog-sized? What are they made of?"

"Mostly rocky earth and swamp water, with a dose of plants or other organics that are swept up in their creation."

"So, they're like mud and compost elementals? Guess that's why they get called rot-dogs. Probably stink a bit?"

"There is certainly a smell. Elemental spirit is a closer descriptor than ghost, but there is no such thing as swamp or compost qi."

"Ah. So they attacked and you wiped them out easily?" She leaned forwards.

"What? No, no. They are hardly a threat. Excellent training for the guards and a good show for the recruits. Unfortunate you missed it, might have hit one or two with that bow."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Hmm, only if they stood very still."

"They are rather slow." He shrugged.

"So, if I'm hearing this correctly. The noble deed you thought could earn my respect is... Leadership? Guiding trained guards to defeat a minor nuisance?"

"Ah, well, without us, the caravan would have found them more than a nuisance." A slight hitch in his voice was the only giveaway he was stretching the severity. "And yes, leadership is very noble, and suitable for my position." He straightened up.

She froze as her mind crept up on an idea. "Master Long. Does Master simply refer to your noble status?" She rubbed at a temple.

"Hah, you finally guessed it. Of course it does." He smiled and seemed genuinely proud.

"Ugh." She flopped back onto the grass. "Fucking nepotism." She swore in English. "Please go away."

"Uh, I didn't catch that? But titles are rather common, in any case. I'm surprised you didn't get it earlier. Fairy Yun is as well."

"Ugh, don't throw her under the caravan."

"Our ties are rather distant, and we are from lesser houses. Though, not so lesser that they would need us on hand."

"What do the larger noble houses do anyway? I get that the smaller ones are mostly doing landlord garbage. Is it just that and taxes all the way up?"

"We run the country, dear girl. Didn't your world have nobles? Or some kind of ruling status?"

"Uh, classism kind of died in France when the peasants revolted and cut off a bunch of expensive heads. Now it's just sparkling capitalism." She sprinkled on English words while muttering through the sentence.

Long didn't have trouble hearing her, and remained silent.

"Right, sorry. To translate: my past world didn't have cultivators. No single person was as strong as an army. Without actual personal power, you just have the power of money. Probably closer to the merchant-class here."

"I would rather not have them running the empire. I can't imagine that it would be successful."

"Anything can be successful if you try hard enough. People still tried to claim divine right to rule without any proof. Lots got away with it for a long time. Division still exists in that modern society, it's just not strictly formalized like here. Oh, and governments of mortals run those countries." She summarized.

"Ah, well, our nobles run the country as well."

"Sure."

"They do!" He insisted.

She sat up again. "Ya-ya-sure, they probably do a better job than where I'm from." She frowned out into the darkness.

"Something wrong?"

"Yeah, talking about the slightly different ways powerful people step on the working-class is really depressing."

"Ah." He snapped his mouth shut.

Shae leaned forwards to warm her hands on the campfire formation. It was warm now, but not emanating heat as much as she liked. She did feel comfortable though, and the area was lit with a dim flickering orange, not unlike firelight.

"Is that working as well as you hoped?" He asked.

"It's a bit weaker than I expected. The heat isn't spreading out as much as I hoped. Is your water qi still interfering?"

"If it was, couldn't you sense it?"

She sighed with exaggerated effort. "I had hoped asking you would be the faster option." She gave him her best disappointed frown.

He shrugged. "If your formation is drawing all the fire qi up, more water qi makes sense."

"Why are you making poor excuses? You dumped a bunch of water qi around me while I was cultivating to get me to stop, or just used yours to block the neutral qi. Why the half truths?"

"Ah-ha! So, you did notice. You've passed the test! Many don't realize other qi interferes with cultivation speed."

"Uuugghh. Fucking ass-hat!" She swore in English. "How is a secret test reliable? I almost didn't call you on it. Would I have failed for not revealing that I actually passed the test that I didn't know was happening?"

He shifted on his seat again. "It's a standard testing practice. I would have asked more directly eventually, but even that is only half-marks because you could guess at the answer."

"Please, stop testing me without explanation or permission. It's infuriating."

"I am doing you a favor, getting these out of the way early will save significant time at the sect."

"Favors can't be demanded like that. You can't just do anything and claim it's a favor."

"I didn't mean a literal favor. You don't owe me for it."

"You're so far in the hole that I wouldn't anyway. So, do me an actual favor and answer one of the questions I asked earlier."

"Hmm. A secret test is reliable if you are convinced the person would speak out about the solution to the test. Not speaking out doesn't mark failure, but can be used as evidence if you are suspected of cheating on the proper test."

Shae stared at him silently for three slow breaths. "Now you owe me an extra favor for that."

He smirked.

She stuck her hand in the campfire formation, and frowned. She tried to wipe exasperation off her face, then sighed and shook her head. "I heard I can challenge classes at the sect. How many do you think I can manage?"

He looked up at the stars, seeming to genuinely think about it. "Do you read as well as you speak?"

"Better, probably."

"Then the first two or three literacy classes. The third and fourth might catch you because they begin to deal with cultivation topics. A few introductory courses could be avoided, like for qi gathering. Others so long as you study over the course material. You'll have time for that, though they might not let you into the library right away."

"Hmm? Why not?"

He shrugged. "Politics. The rules for that have been changing a lot. People raid the library, then leave the sect before classes start."

Shae scrunched her forehead. "That's weird. They can't really get that much, can they? There must be some separation for stages."

He nodded. "There is. Mainly based on qi pressure. With the density around the sect, it's easiest to mimic and sustain pressure. Yet, anyone properly tempered can stroll right into the deeper parts. Well, almost. There are a few attendants and guards for safety."

Shae inhaled deeply. "So, because I'm tempered, that alone might void my access?"

"It's possible. Depends when the last incident was. To be fair to you: your existing track record is positive. You might only need to wait a week for the request to be processed."

"Oh. That's not so bad. I really should spend more time cultivating and cleansing."

Long tilted his head side to side.

"Ugh, don't tell me that has the same issue?"

"I won't. It's more that you should look for a cultivation manual first, and switch to that."

She sighed. "I've been waiting for one of those for long enough that I already have a path paved to meridian cleansing."

"You think so?"

"I did say Wise Kaiun helped me with cleansing, yes? Really all the monks there at the time helped. It was a rush job, but the results seem to get quite close to the divine flesh of my arm and leg."

"Divine flesh?"

She shrugged. "Well, what would you call it when it's cleansed by tribulation lightning to the point of it hardly being mine anymore?"

He paused in thought, then nodded. "Pure-flesh is common for pure qi cleansing, but if you think this is something more?"

"It's definitely likely. Ghon probably mentioned it in my introduction letter."

"Elder Ghon."

"Yes, him."

"No, I mean, you must call him Elder, especially to other Elders and when within the sect. You're not his family or personally close enough to justify skipping his title."

"As I was saying, my good friend Fixiu's letter should have details on the divine flesh. He was excited to examine it, even when he thought it would kill me."

Long made a short grunting noise, and then spritzed the young woman with water when she finished. "Really. I can tolerate disrespect to myself, but not to other members. Now, is that the letter you won't give me."

"No. It was the one that was stolen from me outside Minlin. Presumably it should be delivered to the sect whenever the bandit courier gets there."

"Bandit courier?"

"Yes. More importantly: please stop being a judge of other people's relationships. I am closer to Elder Ghon Fixiu than is appropriate to explain in public. I've seen him break, watched him give up on life, then dragged him back from the edge. He has nursed me back from near death, and I for him. If you still believe I cannot use his name freely then you are a fool." She glared sternly at him, doing her best impression of his own stony mask.

He inhaled deeply, parting his lips to speak.

She interrupted him before he could start. "Now. If you are going to continue avoiding my questions while using this conversation as a game to have me reveal more about myself, you can, instead: fuck off."

He snapped his mouth shut and frowned. "Is that what you think my goals are?"

"It is what you have been doing. More to the point, if this really were a friendly conversation between mature adults, like I requested, then specific hidden goals like conducting secret tests wouldn't be acceptable. Neither would your immature splashing of water."

"You yourself must have goals. You are asking rather pointed questions about cultivation."

"I am following my curiosity, and I'm doing so plainly and openly. We both have interests, it's natural to follow them. It would be the polite thing to do to answer freely, where appropriate. I wouldn't be so bothered if you would just say when specific information is off-limits. Even my monk friends did that to me a few times. I wasn't happy with that answer, but I didn't hold it against them. Instead, you just dodge the question, refusing to even properly deny me answers." She shook her head. "You almost answered the one in there about higher stage Dantians; directly implied you would answer it too. Then the conversation wandered, and even when given the opportunity to circle back, you refused, treating it like a game instead."

"What could you do with that information? Surely it would only trouble you this early in your cultivation?"

"And is that for you to decide? Clearly you think so. I am looking to sate my curiosity, as I said. Of course, there's a specific reason I'm asking. We all have reasons for doing things. Yet, you seem to have none for your avoidance. A teacher's responsibility is only a valid excuse if you are actually good at teaching, and if you actually do it. You asked me to elaborate on a metaphor, then said it was incorrect like I had failed somehow." She huffed and quickly drew in another breath. "The very thing you should have been guiding me through, you intentionally misled me, then berated me for exploring the wrong path. Don't claim it was some test, I won't believe you. Moreover, I could have easily followed another metaphor. Metaphors are easy, and enough fail to be effective that they could bridge a river." She slowly shook her head at him, disappointment clear in her eyes.

"You can try it again now, if it means that much to you."

She squinted and tried to huff-out deep exasperation. "Go away."

"But you just-?"

"I'm not trying to impress you with a clever metaphor I thought up while we talked about something else. I was telling you how misguided and incapable you are. Skip the dumb metaphors and answer the bloody question or get walking." She pointed back to the road.

"But it's comfortable here."

"What are you, a five year old? It's comfortable because I made a fire formation that radiates comfort. Which your ignorant ass is smothering with their water qi because you have no faith in me, and you think you are stopping it from starting a fire, which it can't actually do. Yet, you won't even let it get to that point because you are too busy reacting to a problem that doesn't exist to notice that it doesn't exist. Now, again, fuck off and take your water qi with you or I'll take it away myself."

Long sat slightly stunned, only shifting his eyes to glance at the formation, then back to Shae. Finally he said, "You shouldn't take in elemental qi unless you are aspected to that element."

She rubbed her temples, both of them. "Is this your personal water qi?"

"Uhh, mostly no."

"Then I am going to begin cultivating. I had better not see you when I next open my eyes. Good night, Master Long, try not to trip on your privilege on the way out."

"My what?" He asked.

She ignored his confusion and began meditating.

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