The room stank of sickness, a stifling odor that lingered as Jiang Tao observed the scene from the window. On the bed lay a boy, no older than twelve or thirteen, his face contorted in agony as he writhed in pain. Two women were by his side: Ying Ziyi, whom Jiang Tao recognized, and an older woman who he assumed was her mother.

He wanted to apologize and bid farewell. He had yet to adequately thank her for her hospitality.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Tao finally made his presence known, dropping quietly from his perch into the room.

The two women turned to him, their expressions startled by the sudden surprise intrusion. Ying Ziyi’s gaze softened, but her worry remained.

“I’m sorry for the intrusion,” he said gently, his voice low. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Ying Ziyi gave a small, acknowledging nod. “No intrusion Lord Jiang. What brings you here?”

He looked at the boy, then back at her. "I'm leaving, so I came to thank you for your hospitality.”

“Oh, so soon? Has Lord Bai assisted you?” she asked.

In a manner of speaking. He mused. “Yes, he was very helpful”

Ying Ziyi’s brows furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion crossing her face. She must have sensed something off in his tone but chose not to press further. “I see. Well, I’m glad to hear you were helped,”

Jiang Tao gave her a small, reassuring smile. “I appreciate your understanding. I didn’t mean to disturb you. This must be a difficult time.”

Ying Ziyi nodded, her gaze shifting back to the boy, who continued to moan weakly. “He’s been suffering for years. We’re trying our best to ease his pain, but…” Her voice trailed off, unable to find the right words to express her distress.

Jiang Tao approached the bed, his eyes filled with sympathy. “I want to offer my aid.”

The older woman, who had been quietly tending to the boy, looked up at Jiang Tao with weary eyes. “Thank you, but we’ve done everything we can. It’s up to fate now.”

“You misunderstand. I’ll make sure he's healed,” Jiang Tao said assuredly. The mid-grade medicine pill Yixing had given him would likely resolve whatever ailment plagued Ying Ziyi’s brother. His friend yielded it easily once he had explained what he wanted to do.

Ying Ziyi’s eyes widened in surprise as Jiang Tao spoke. Her gaze shifted from the boy to him, her expression a mix of hope and disbelief.

“You… you can heal him?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, as if afraid to hope.”

“I can,” He nodded firmly, his expression resolute. “I have a pill that should ease his suffering and, if all goes well, restore him to health.” He opened his hand to reveal a gleaming pill.

The older woman’s eyes widened, her hands momentarily pausing in their efforts to soothe the boy. “Is that truly—” she began, but her voice faltered with emotion.

Jiang Tao gently placed the medicine pill in Ying Ziyi’s hands. “Yes, it is. Please, give it to him.”

Ying Ziyi's hands trembled as she accepted the pill, her eyes brimming with tears. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice choked with gratitude. “Lord Jiang, you do not know what this means to us.”

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Jiang Tao gave her a warm, encouraging smile. “It’s the least I could do after everything you’ve done for me.”

Her mother looked at Jiang Tao with a mix of awe and relief. “I… I don’t know how to thank you enough, lord cultivator” she said, her voice thick with emotion.

“Consider it my thanks for your hospitality,” he said with a small smile. “I must leave now.”

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

As Jiang Tao reached the village walls, he was met by Yixing, who was waiting impatiently. The younger cultivator's mood seemed to have shifted from the intense rage he had displayed earlier to a more subdued, yet still tense demeanor.

"Did you take care of it?" Yixing asked.

"Yes," Jiang Tao replied, his voice steady. “I owe you.”

Yixing nodded, “Let’s go.”

With a single jump, they cleared tall walls, landing silently on the other side. Black Vale village was in an uproar, guards and martial artists swarmed the area, searching for the two cultivators who had murdered their chief.

Once they were a ways away Tao finally asked the question that had been burning in his mind “Did you have to kill him?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Wasn't was a much easier way to go about it that didn't involve bloodshed”

“Mercy is reserved for mortals, when dealing with fellows on the immortal path one must fight poison with poison.”

Jiang Tao nodded there was a grim truth to Yixing’s words. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease. He didn't want to get too comfortable with such extreme violence.

“Don’t let my ideals influence your path, you might get heart demons from thinking so hard,” Zhou Yixing said humorously

“I'm not so weak-willed!" he replied in mock outrage

His mind couldn’t help but wander back to the moment Yixing’s saber had cleaved through Lord Bai. The scene played over and over in his head, the sound of metal meeting flesh, the shock on Lord Bai’s face, and Yixing’s cold resolve.

He couldn’t decide if he was more disturbed by the act itself or by the fact that a part of him had been relieved to see the end of the man who had tried to kill them.

Eventually, he'd have to kill a person, considering the trajectory they were on. Howling Valley Territory was just testing ground, with the looming war he would have to get comfortable with such brutality.

It’s necessary but nothing to revel in.

After hours of travel, they reached a secluded glade, Jiang Tao turned to Yixing “We should rest here for the night.”

His side had yet to heal after the wyvern strike, Yixing’s stored pills had eased most of the damage but there was some lingering pain.

As night fell over the secluded glade, a cool breeze rustled the leaves, bringing with it the soothing scent of earth and pine. They set up a small campfire, the flickering flames casting long shadows that danced across the surrounding trees.

Back to forest life… He thought with a long sigh.

As much as he wanted to get to the Twilight Flame sect, he was already missing Black Vale Village and the Ying Manor. The food had been great, and he had indulged himself whenever.

I’m just being greedy. He thought wryly.

“The Dawnmist mountains are about a week away from here but we can’t enter until we reach late foundation stage,” he said before continuing “So we stay here and cultivate till then, I'm on the cusp of a breakthrough.”

Yixing nodded in agreement, He was a bit further behind but it was not insurmountable. “I'll appreciate Brother Tao’s pointers and advice on the Dao.”

“Alright, I guess our plans are decided.”

Jiang Tao and Yixing settled into the lotus position. The flags for the Serene Pond formation were arranged around them. The Stormsong manuscript was laid out before him while Yixings Seven Lights scripture was arrayed before him. They decided to exchange knowledge, all paths led to great Dao after all.

"The path of the storm is not one of chaos," Jiang Tao recited from the Stormsong Manuscript, his voice steady and focused. "It is a controlled tempest, a convergence of myriad effects and the will of heaven. The storm is both a force of destruction and creation”

“The storms might is in its ability to change,” Jiang Tao continued. “It can level mountains, but it also brings rain that nurtures the earth.”

Yixing nodded, listening intently as he adjusted his own scripture. “The Seven Lights Scripture teaches that light is not merely illumination but a force of purification and focus. It is Yang, an aspect of the primal duality”

The two cultivators continued to exchange insights, their voices blending with the crackling of the campfire.

As dawn approached, the air grew colder, and the first light of morning seeped through the trees.

They were still deep in their cultivation, were undisturbed by the changing hours, each absorbed in their practice and reflection.

The morning sun had fully risen, casting a warm, golden light across their secluded glade. The campfire had died down to a bed of glowing embers, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of dewy grass.

Tao could feel his qi attempt to condense within him, swirling with increasing potency as it cycled through his meridians. He felt revitalized, all his previous doubts and worries had strangely cleared up. Discussing cultivation had put everything into perspective, there was no room for self-doubt on this path.

Cultivation is the way of inner refinement.

All at once he felt the qi in his meridians change and become more fluid, first it was a trickle then a steady stream, and finally a powerful surge. He felt a wave of euphoria as his cultivation base rose and then steadied.

The consistency of qi inside him was now liquid-like.

“Congratulations on achieving mid-foundation stage Brother Tao, how lucky!” Yixing said enviously.

Jiang Tao opened his eyes slowly, a satisfied smile on his face. “Your insights were invaluable.”

“Ah, I can't help but be jealous,” He sighed.