Soon, he calmed down some more and used the essence inside of the beads to grow the plants in his room to their peaks, most of which were energizing and healing, the pink hibiscus flower being one of them. Like his own reserves inside of his sleeve, he had naturally planted some flowers in his own room and was growing them naturally.
It took him over an hour, but he finally relaxed his muscles, still in some pain, but he could move around a bit without much strain, still needing some recovery until he was fully healed. But he pulled back the essence of the plants and put them back to how they were.
If he wanted to fully push them back into their seed form, that would give him even more essence than he had given the plants, but that would strain the plant and might even destroy them with his current control of his Talent.
Ji Li was strong enough to move, and he knew that it would be better to let the plants grow naturally and not force them to stay at their peak forever, while he also wouldn’t really benefit much more from having them at their peak, so he didn’t force it.
He sat down on his bed and cultivated slowly, before he finally went out at the smell of food.
Shixuan and Qianyu were surprised when they saw their big brother stepping out of his building with difficulties, as they had just entered the front yard with bags in their hands. They hadn’t even sat down when the sight of their injured brother came in front of them.
Ji Li knew what they thought so he said, “What, do you think your big brother is weak because he was injured? I am not a god or something like that, I am sure even the emperor can be injured, so how would I be the exception? Now stop glaring and prepare the table!”
Shixuan shook his head hurriedly, while Qianyu replied “Big brother, how can this be? We are just surprised that you, although you are obviously injured and barely able to walk, still managed to smell the food before we even entered and went out to eat.”
Then, Shixuan came forward and helped Ji Li turn back, as he also said “That’s right, big bro! Now go back into your room, let me help you. We will arrange for you to eat in your bed, why would we eat outside in this cold, when we could eat inside?”
Ji Li was somewhat awkward when he heard this ‘The sun is shining, there is a nice breeze and there is the slight sound of water moving from the back yard, yet you guys say it’s bad weather? Let’s see if it’s truly such bad weather when I take you to the Frost Wind Kingdom and let you climb mountains!’
Still, Ji Li felt something he had only truly started feeling in this world – familial love, one that you would feel when you were cared for by your mother or father while you were sick, or when you brother or sister went out to buy your favourite snack when you were sad. This was something he had felt barely before, but now, in this world, he had felt it from many, but especially from his brothers and mentor, which reminded him again of his mentor, saddening him slightly.
Ji Li soon arrived in his room, sat down with his blanket above his legs. He was already slightly cold, although the eunuch robe was very resistant, his injuries made his body visibly weaker, so he had suffered under the bad weather Shixuan was talking about.
Soon, stone and monkey arrived with a seating table and put it in front of Ji Li, while Shixuan was still holding a water jug and glass. They didn’t talk much, as Ji Li had once again focused fully on the food, even more than he had normally done. He was too weak to properly interact with them, so he decided to just enjoy the feast.
There was no need for thanks between family and friends anyways, so he didn’t think of that.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
…
The trio soon finished eating, as Shixuan and Qianyu had also brought small tables out when Ji Li was still eating his, they knew that their big bro wouldn’t be bothered of the fact that they ate together anyways, so they just did what they wanted to do.
Afterwards, they took the outer blanket away to be cleaned as they took a different blanket from the closet, which didn’t have any other robes or clothes. That was usually the case for eunuchs, as they had their perfect robe that was universally usable.
Although Ji Li was sure that it would be seen as disgusting to forever wear only one robe, and it was even more shamed upon in the society of the Emerald Brilliance Empire to do so, no one would be reprimanding the behaviour of a eunuch, especially if there was no real issue with any hygiene.
After cleaning up, Shixuan finally found the time to ask “How… how was it?”
Ji Li answered “The written exam wasn’t too difficult, we had the procedure of a mission and had to draw a map of the world, I only added minor details such as the eight large regions of our empire. To be honest, the practical exam wasn’t too hard either.
They allowed me to decide which level the Demon Beast I had to fight should be, and I decided that I could handle a high rank. A peak grade would have been possible, but you can see how much I suffered just fighting a high rank, so I didn’t want to risk it.
The examiner of the practical exam was very interesting, if I had to mention one thing. His robe wasn’t a eunuch robe, probably to hide his own rank, or he had rushed to the examination from somewhere else. No matter which it is, my guess is that he is higher than a senior rank, and if I had to bet, then I would say he was probably the Head Eunuch that managed the whole hall.”
The news was something they expected, but the middle and last part still somewhat surprised them, so Shixuan asked “The examiner was of Head Eunuch rank? Why would that be?”
Qianyu thought about it and guessed “If the Head Eunuch had rushed there, then there was probably an important person that visited. Since the only important people we know, those that could call forth a Head Eunuch should be very few.
My guess is that it was our elder brothers, what do you think, big brother?”
Ji Li stretched his hand out, although it was a bit painful, he still nodded and patted Qianyu’s shoulder as he agreed “Most probably it was the elder brothers. I am not sure why they were there, but my guess would be that they had wanted to watch my fight and see my progress.
Anyways, even if we are totally wrong and it was another person, or the Head Eunuch had just randomly decided to watch the fight, it wouldn’t really make a difference. Now, I only have to wait for the results, which I expect to be positive.
Enough about me, what have you guys done? Did you finish everything you were told to do?”
Shixuan was the one to answer this time “Yep, we ordered the resources that would be given to all Junior Eunuchs, while we also asked about you, and the receptionist said that resources can only be taken once a month, so it would be smarter to apply for them later.
There, we also asked them for an appointment for the early examination in a month and also asked for some training places we could go to, to which they recommended a few. Lastly, we went to the Trade Pavilion and bought some food at the restaurants around.”
Ji Li was becoming sleepy at this point, having exhausted himself greatly already, hearing that everything went well made him take a step back with his body, collapsing into the bed from his seating position, as he pulled his blanket upwards.
He looked at the two and told them “Since we’re finished, let me sleep. We will talk and train later.”
…
The next day, after a very deep sleep, Ji Li had finally woken up. He was already feeling much better, as his essence had recovered and his body could fully relax in his sleep, so he was up and ready to do a lot of things, such as train stone and monkey to the breakdown!
He couldn’t be the only one that suffered, so, after breakfast, he looked at them smugly as he said “We will begin with your training today. First of all, let us redo some of the physical exercises, as it seems that you have not focused on that while I was gone.
Since you don’t really need any tools, let us train in the Training Hall. Come, follow me.”
They moved towards the Training Hall, which really wasn’t more than a few steps away from the front yard, so they arrived in there fast. Ji Li stopped them at the entrance while he went deeper into the wooden platform, where a table, some tools and a seating blanket waited for him.
He liked the dense essence that was gathering inside of the wooden platform, making it much more comfortable for any cultivator. He thought about it, and maybe he should make this h is new bedroom. The hall was very spacious, what went against that?