Rumors spread fast across the Flowering Jade Pavilion and even made their way into the other Pavilions. Some were fairly tame, simply saying there was a conflict between a small group in the Flowering Jade Pavilion centered around a new Inner Sect Disciple. Others were less realistic, such as the one that said a Disciple was practicing a new Technique and went crazy injuring dozens of other Disciples and had to be stopped by an Elder.

The Initial burst of rumor was not helped at all by the fact the three more Senior Disciples ended up in the Medical Hall. Meanwhile besides a few cuts and bruises the most Junior member of the Flowering Jade Pavilion looked fine. This made Yi look like something of a Battle demon. But really between his Wood Qi, Heart Meridian, and a Healing Tea Ceremony, his recovery was just on another level.

It should also be noted that the other three were fine, a single night in the Medical Hall had them looking just as good as Yi himself. During this Cao alternated between fury and laughter at the fearsome reputation Yi had gotten for himself. No Disciple of the Flowering Jade Pavilion would even approach him anymore and he was a little concerned about what that might mean for his lessons.

He need not have worried though. The next day Senior Luo treated him the same as always, only pretending to sigh and say, 'if only Junior was as good at Alchemy as the Martial Path.'

Despite his comment Senior Luo was actually impressed, no not with the fact Yi beat up some people but with his Alchemy. It seemed opening the Heart Meridian had stabilized his Qi output to the point he only blew up seven pill batches! For a normal Alchemist making such a simple recipe this result would be abysmal, but for Yi it was an amazing leap forward.

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Despite some concern about punishments, Yi was never called upon by Elder Tao, or Elder Lang, the Punishments Elder of the Inner Sect. Such disputes weren't uncommon and as long as nobody was seriously injured and the parties weren't too dishonorable in their conduct, nothing was done. It could be argued that the three who attacked Yi were very dishonorable. As for that, well those three already received their punishment in the form of a beating.

The days past peacefully, Yi and Cao ate most meals together arguing and laughing in equal measure. When they had time they would spar, otherwise Yi practiced his alchemy and meditated diligently. And Hong Cao, as a member of the Raging Storm Pavilion, she spent much of her time fighting.

Months passed and summer turned to fall, the mountain air was bracing. Yi Opened a third Meridian, just a Shoulder Meridian this time, nothing strenuous. Cao, not to be outdone, opened two during this time, both thigh Meridians, she became scary fast.

Both took missions to gain enough points to learn new Qi Techniques, sometimes separately sometimes together. Winter fell and things slowed down, many began to cultivate in seclusion, Yi felt slightly more lethargic as the ambient Wood Qi was in a sleepy state. He spent a lot of time cultivating quietly and making tea.

During the First real snow Cao Dragged him out for a snowball fight that lasted two days and two nights. She was victorious in the end.

Winter, while long on the mountains, slowly came to an end. Yi opened his other Shoulder Meridian and Cao griped for days because her foundations still weren't stable enough to try for a fourth. Spring came, and with it, an end to the peaceful days.