A waitress greets us.

She is dressed in a flowing silk robe of muted green, embroidered with delicate lotus flowers, symbolizing purity and peace. Her hair is neatly tied into a bun, with a single jade pin holding it in place.

With a graceful bow, her hands clasped together in front of her, she offers a warm yet formal greeting, her voice soft yet clear.

"Welcome to The Tranquil Hearth, honored guests. May your journey's fatigue be soothed by our humble offerings of food and rest. How may we serve you today?"

Rongxia turns to me but I decide to remain silent and let her deal with it. I do not feel familiar enough to the customs here and do not wish to attract attention again here.

My goal being to find a silent place to study my five new scrolls.

She sighs and turns to the waitress as she states that she would like a table for two and as much as possible in a quiet location.

We are led towards the right side, near the middle.

Not too close to the entrance nor the kitchen. A kind of middle ground. Rather decent.

Unfortunately, there are quite a lot of patrons and they are, for some, quite loud.

It should be fine though.

Rongxia turned to me as we took a seat: “Esteemed Senior, what would you like to eat?”

I do not particularly need to eat anymore.

I reached such a level that food is no longer important to sustain my life.

Still, I have nothing against food either and it would be interesting to see what is being served in official restaurants of this world.

The quality of the food being directly related to the quality of life.

I tell her to choose and she decisevely command a bunch of things with names unknown to me.

Regardless, I have other more important things to consider: My new scrolls.

I first take out “Breath of the Willow” with the intent to study it however Rongxia becomes instantly anxious and hurried as she whispers urgently: “Senior, you can't!”

I don't know what I can't do but there should not be much that I can't do.

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And if I can't do it, it only means that I can't do it “yet”.

Seeing as I did not make any moves at all, she continues: “You cannot show the cultivation technique into such an open place!”

“Why?” I ask.

She looks at me as if a fool.

I do not like that. I frown.

She began to sweat and hurries even more to explain: “Cultivation techniques are rare, people are greedy, some might get ideas”

I snort.

“Let them”

Why should I care?

The people here are even weaker than her, what could they even do to me?

I open the parchment once more and began to read.

- * -

“Let them” he snorted.

Let them...

Seriously?...

This can be done?...

I mean, sure, the Senior is probably incredibly powerful but still... No, is it because he is incredibly powerful? Can one ignore what are the basic rules after reaching such might?

Might does make rules.

Still...

It does not feel quite right.

The confidence of the strong...

One day, I too...

- * -

Breath of the willow.

A technique that focuses on helping beginners cultivate Qi with minimal strain, nurturing their ability to absorb and circulate spiritual energy. It is particularly effective in refining the flow of Qi within the dantian, the energy center located just below the navel, which acts as the foundation for all future cultivation practices.

I was not a beginner in the quest of power but I was certainly a beginner when it came to this cultivation.

As such, this technique seemed like a good start to begin comprehending what it all means.