One path split into two, and two into ten. Paths eternally kept spreading out into infinite branches, yet he kept walking. His legs and feet were never sore, and a thunderous noise was heard all around him once a while. Yet, he kept walking step by step, reaching every path's end and then suddenly finding himself in front of a gate.
The black iron gates were tall, and they released a red mist all over the paths accompanied by that thunderous noise. He would follow the mist, stick to a path he had not yet walked, and find himself back here as soon as he reached its end.
Shupi Juren felt no curiosity or horror. He simply walked the paths without a thought or question, single-mindedly focusing on remembering each path. He did not even feel awe when he saw an entire section of the paths, with tight and thorny goat treks branching out of fine paved paths wide enough for a caravan. He simply kept walking like a hermit.
He did not count how many times he returned back to the gates, nor could he ever hope to count the number of paths there were. He simply made an effort to remember each one starting from this gate. 6 spread into 8 spread into 64 and then to countless more. He walked without tire, up the paths blindingly covered in the red mist.
Yanku Zhimei was concerned. She was pacing back and forth in her cage without the patience or the peace of mind to continue focusing on her circulation or even Body Arts practice.
She had known Shupi Juren for less than a week, yet they had bantered and bickered for what felt like months. And in these few days alone she had sung for him many poems and songs. She wanted to show this boy, who was as cute as her own little brothers despite his brutish body, all of her songs and dances while her family played the instruments. She wanted to perform and ease his betrayed and troubled mind ever since he was abandoned by his own blood sister.
Yet, now she found herself helplessly pacing. Shupi Juren was born physically strong and large, he had also grown up laboring as a woodcutter and eating boar meat. Just 2 days of isolated meditation had left him a dried husk that seemed devoid of any food or water in his veins. How badly she wanted to just force him out of his meditation and forcefeed him these disgusting looking yet filling pine fleas.
No matter how badly Yanku Zhimei wanted to force Shupi Juren awake, Tian Mingyun had warned her in a clear tone: 'Do not disturb him, or else he may be left a cripple.'. She did not know what kind of books Tian Mingyun managed to read at such a young age, but she had little reason to doubt his words since she managed to map the circulation around her heart thanks to his help. Whatever Tian Mingyun had taught them, she was certain it would help them grow.
What kind of big sister would not worry about their starving little brother? Yanku Zhimei was so distressed that she was just lying on her back while looking at Shupi Juren's drained physique and slamming her hands on the floor whenever she unintentionally reached out to make him get up and eat. She was even annoyed that Tian Mingyun and Huo Lan could keep practicing as if this was not happening.
Shupi Juren's body lacked any vigor. There was not a trace of luster on his skin. Normally, one could not possibly starve by sitting down for a mere couple of days, especially not to this point. However, Shupi Juren was like a furnace at the moment, he was walking down paths conjured in his mind while trying to trace his circulation. Performing one path and then another, without a moment spent pausing. There was simply no rest, as he only felt the urge to walk down each path.
The moon. If one's veins were stripped from their body and added up one after another as a path, one could walk to the moon upon such a path. However, even if one walked a day's pace within one incense stick's length of time, they could not possibly make it there even in 1000 days. Some distances were so great that one could not finish them even if they walked 100 li every day for seasons on end.
Yet, not a hint of impatience was shown on Shupi Juren's face. He kept walking the paths, even as they kept getting narrower and narrower. In the end, he was taken to the black iron gates one more time, and when looked upon the paths and noticed that he had walked down every last one, he heard one last thunderous noise and woke up.
Shupi Juren woke up, took one deep breath with eyes wide open, and then passed out as he fell back. Tian Mingyun quickly halted his practice and looked over at him and started giving directions to Yanku Zhimei since Shupi Juren had fallen closer to her side.
"Quickly, take some mud and wipe it on his skin! Then make him drink water by lifting up his head!"
Yanku Zhimei did her best to follow what he said, not bothering to ask why. She knew that Shupi Juren would be in trouble if she did not. She also forcefed him some pine fleas by chewing them up their insides herself and then spitting them out into her water bowl and making Shupi Juren drink it as if it were the world's worst soup.
Tian Mingyun told Huo Lan to stop practicing and simply look panicked as well. He made sure Yanku Zhimei was also screaming and crying. Tian Mingyun had a few guesses, but he was in a rush so he had to act without telling the details to the others.
Appraiser Tong was drunk on warm wine and the floral scent of the young girls that he was forcing himself onto. His slave concubines would all rejoice if lightning struck him tomorrow, yet they were helpless to do anything but pray for such a thing. When Appraiser Tong heard the racket going on outside, he quickly put on his robe and walked out with little patience.
Appraiser Tong had the habit of feeding his slaves more than needed. It was not because he was kind, but because starving ones would sell for much less unless they were maidens being sold to rich men or brothels. Giving his slaves too much food also made them easier to maintain, as he had to bother less by replacing their feed. So, what was this scene in front of him now?
His biggest and most muscular slave this season was the woodcutter boy that they had captured on the way to Yellow Leaf City. Such high quality child slaves were rare outside of a city. Yet, now that high quality child as healthy as an ox had seemingly starved down for weeks. There was not a hint of youthful vigor in him, as if some ghost had sucked him dry.
"Explain this situation! You worthless fucking mongrels! Why is he in this state?!" He shouted at the other 3 captured kids in a drunken rage. Tian Mingyun answered calmly as Huo Lan and Yanku Zhimei kept their fake tears and screams, Yanku Zhimei did not have to fake the tears.
"I think... He might have had diarrhea. He smelled so foul that I think he may have been passing gas and whatnot since earlier."
No captured prisoner smelled good. Who, but the most beautiful of maidens, would be allowed to wash themselves when they were captured as a slave. But perhaps this gray haired kid was right. Appraiser Tong already knew that this kid had some knowledge of Poison and possibly even Medicine Arts. Appraiser Tong splashed his face with water to sober up a little while reminding himself of the profits.
"Diarrhea, yes... That can be dealt with. Whatever causes diarrhea can be done away with if you consume what causes constipation."
Tian Mingyun listened intently to Appraiser Tong's mumblings as he went inside the tent to fetch some odd looking dust, that looked no different than fine sawdust.
"It is wasted on a slave, but not like getting this is expensive. I will just need to pay attention to some traveling food merchants again." Appraiser Tong said, but Tian Mingyun did not think he learned enough just yet. He wanted to know what that dust was.
"Oh, you must be wise to know all those kinds of stuff... Is that thing even food? What is it called?" Tian Mingyun asked like a curious child, which perfectly suited his age
Appraiser Tong was a braggart man who boasted about his knowledge and wits often. His mouth was loose and he easily started speaking.
"Well, diarrhea is common against the young. My concubines happen to be young and I lost some to such a simple illness in the past. So I thought and thought, then I remembered that food merchants bring from afar those little chickpeas that have no taste or smell when fried but few can eat them since they make you shit out bricks devoid of any moisture. Everybody eats a handful but no more even if they like eating new things. So, I just ground them down to dust and feed them to my concubines when they have diarrhea. They are called Sandstone Chickpeas." Appraiser Tong rambled proudly.
Tian Mingyun noted down the name, he was certain the remedy to such a common ailment was worthwhile. Though Tian Mingyun was sure those rich Noble families already had other cures, this kind was affordable enough to be used on slaves and so dry that it could be kept wrapped in paper without spoiling.
Appraiser Tong was distrustful to the core despite the state of Shupi Juren and gave the Sandstone Chickpea Dust to Yanku Zhimei and told her to feed it to the drained Shupi Juren while he watched to make sure. If one did not want a dry mouth, they also had to drink water right after eating Sandstone Chickpea Dust. As such, Appraiser Tong made sure Shupi Juren was made to drink a bowl of water as well before going back into his tent.
Tian Mingyun and Huo Lan finally kept pretending and sighed with relief. Tian Mingyun turned over to Huo Lan and spoke with a smile.
"I did not know you could cry like that on demand."
"I just thought of my big brother not being with me..." Huo Lan's reply made her mindset clear once again. She could be caged up and sold as a slave, but she would still care more about her big brother than herself. In her eyes, he was always frail and needed her protection.
Tian Mingyun did not want to pole that situation and turned over to Yanku Zhimei.
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
"Big Sister Yanku Zhimei. Do not react to what I am about to say loudly. But, I think Big Brother Shupi Juren broke into the Skin Refinement Realm." Tian Mingyun spoke in uncertain terms, but he was absolutely certain. The book had clearly described tiny black flakes being shed from the skin when refining it. He had seen small flakes, as small as ash, being flaked off of Shupi Juren's skin the very moment that he woke up.
Yanku Zhimei bit her tongue in order not to scream from joy. Cultivation was such fortune, such treasure! She loved Shupi Juren like her own little brother, so she would sacrifice cows and goats to the heavens as thanks if she could. Her yes teared up from joy when she looked at the drained body of Shupi Juren. How hard must he have worked during those days? How difficult was his labor in his own mind? She could not help but admire him while stroking his hair as he still slept.
None of them knew Shupi Juren's innate physique or his talent. But now at least the results were laid bare to see. When shown and told what to do, he did in two days what some people could not do in their lifetime. Yet, he was so exhausted now that he was not even dreaming. He simply slept to rest his weary mind after managing to walk a distance that would take his young body to the moon if a path was paved to it.
He woke up after sleeping for another full day while Yanku Zhimei nursed him as best she could through the bars of bamboo.
"What... Why do I feel so light?"
Just to start cultivating meant breaking beyond the strength and vitality limits of most mortals. Although he was only at the starting point, he was already feeling the effects. His body recuperated from such severe exhaustion quite easily, and even digested any nourishment much faster and used it more efficiently too. His body felt lighter as well as the strength dwelling within had increased.
Yanku Zhimei had not slept for a moment waiting for him to wake up, so the moment he woke up she grabbed his head through the bars and started kissing his head.
"You dummy! Who told you to sleep for so long!? I thought you were never going to wake up!" Though she was genuinely excited and wanted to do this, it also served another purpose as she started whispering into his ear while he was still surprised.
"Do not react loudly, act annoyed. You just broke into the Skin Refinement Realm. You are a Cultivator now, little brother." Yanku Zhimei could not hide her pride and joy while telling Shupi Juren about the changes that took place in his own body.
Shupi Juren was about to scream from joy but he bit his fist to quiet himself. He was giddily stomping his feet from delight and excitement, befitting his age but not his strength, as his already mighty physique being enhanced with the power of his cultivation left clear footmarks on the dirt and hay floor of his cage. Yanku Zhimei and Shupi Juren both kept crying from happiness while in that awkward head hug position for nearly half an hour.
Yanku Zhimei had not detested her imprisonment any more than this very moment. She wanted to break out and go hug him. She wanted to embrace him properly and congratulate him on his great achievement. Had she not known better, she would have tricked herself into thinking they may be able to make a run for it.
Tian Mingyun had clearly explained the situation to Yanku Zhimei while Shupi Juren was asleep. These slavers were confident they could kill and overwhelm two soldiers who had cultivated, trained, armed, and armored. They had no chance of fighting against them at the Skin Refinement Stage and surviving out of the camp. They might kill dozens or hundreds, but there were simply too many of them, and they knew how to fight.
Yanku Zhimei reminded Shupi Juren to hide his strength for now and focus on eating and cultivating. Afterwards, she returned to focus on her own circulation and training Huo Lan. Tian Mingyun and Huo Lan were not normal kids, they hid their excitement regarding Shupi Juren perfectly, Tian Mingyun even made small talk with the bearded tall old man who was keeping them imprisoned.
Hours later, such small talk took place again as Tian Mingyun kept using flattery to his advantage.
"For a man to live so long is truly impressive. Children over the Yellow Leaf City would flock to anyone that had white hair since only Nobles usually lived so long, Elder." Tian Mingyun made a habit of respectfully referring to this old man named Tong. He was already having fun just talking and using his voice, so he had no difficulty hiding the rage and resentment he truly felt towards the man responsible for his current imprisonment.
Appraiser Tong was easy to flatter, and his eyes were capable of discerning value. He knew this boy was valuable and was glad that he was talkative. As much as the boy wanted to learn
stuff from him, he also wanted to learn a few pieces of information from the boy. It was a game of false courtesy between a caged boy and a despicable old man.
"Well, I have the gifts to keep myself alive. I have never eaten bad food all my life, and no chair I have bought has ever broken beneath me. With these eyes as well, I saw that book you were carrying. Venom of Ascension, was it?" Appraiser Tong was smiling. They would move to sell these kids in a few days, but he intended to keep that book. He had to learn about that book that his innate ability to discern found so precious.
Tian Mingyun was still smiling like a fool and keeping up the act, he did not have much experience actually talking to people, but he had read more than enough dialogue in the books and poems to know how to lie behind the veil of truth.
"Oh, it is a book most horrid, Elder! It is full of horrible images, whatever little words I could make out, with the few words I know, were all about poison, death, and all that sort of stuff! I had kept it since it looked valuable among a Noble's abandoned stuff after he fled the city!"
Few of what he told were lies. According to the books he read, this was ideal for deception. But the real life was uncertain, he had to keep smiling at Appraiser Tong while hoping he would not realize the lies.
Appraiser Tong paced back and forth and finally spoke.
"Well, the fact that you can read certainly gives you value. I will keep that book. We do not want such a valuable boy accidentally poisoning himself." Appraiser Tong used his tongue well, captured or not, it would do best for him to be liked by the boy. He could fish out some more information for him without the need for questions and beatings, an 83 year old man with 5 slave concubines had no time or energy for such trivial things.
Tian Mingyun simply bowed in thanks, swearing from within that he would reclaim his book from this old slaver bastard's cold dead hands.
Just as Tian Mingyun thought that Appraiser Tong was done, he turned back to face Shupi Juren and spoke.
"Don't sick on me again. I give you kids buckets to shit and piss in, but yours is already full! I will not bother changing or emptying it. Remain in your cage with that stench until you are sold!" He was a cruel and heartless bastard, any mercy or empathy on him would be wasted. That was what Shupi Juren was convinced of as he heard these words.
Luckily for Shupi Juren, the bucket was packed with water and mud by Yanku Zhimei to make it look like diarrhea, so there was no scent in his cage anymore, not any more than the others at the very least. Though of course, their conditions were still horrid. They at least still had each other.
Shupi Juren did not even bother with a fake smile as Appraiser Tong walked away. He simply closed his eyes and cultivated while Tian Mingyun recited the pages of the book related to the Skin Refinement Realm into his ear with a whisper.
"Impurities of anyone in this realm will naturally be pouring out of their skin pores like sweat. These impurities are inherent to the skin, which is one's largest organ and the seal that protects them from the world. Though the body will basically refine itself after breaking into the Skin Refinement Realm, this process is too slow if unaided." Tian Mingyun omitted the venom method and the recipes intended to help someone in the Skin Refinement Realm. He felt that such information would not help the others in this situation, and was too precious to be haphazardly tell to others.
"One can cultivate intentionally by understanding outward going flow inside one's skin by the help the small veins within the skin. Such flow serves to cool the body, as one would cool the soup by putting it in a wider bowl." Tian Mingyun did not understand the last sentence. He knew it was important, but with his young age and lacking common sense, it did not mean much to him.
Shupi Juren was even worse. Not many of those words even registered in his head, he was stuck on 'small veins'. He looked at his arms, his veins were big, and even their branches remained relatively big. But that it when it made sense to him. Branches. The branches of a path. The many branched paths in his vision. Those were small veins. He looked closely at his skin, nearly pressing it against his eyes.
Luckily the air was cold, and the tiny veins that could compare to his hair in size were visible right under his skin. Shupi Juren had seen them before, but now he realized that such veins were all over his body and not just his hands. He quickly sat in a lotus position, though rather clumsily, and with the guidance of Yanku Zhimei. He started cultivating, tiny ashes of black impurities flowing out of his skin as the hours went by.
Tian Mingyun felt envious. Special physique or not, it was clear that Shupi Juren had a talent for cultivation. He heard for the first time what Tian Mingyun had read and thought about for so long, and it instantly made sense to him. Tian Mingyun decided to try to better comprehend the parts about the circulation and recited them to himself. He was certain that he would fall back if he did not start cultivating.