“Well played!” the man said. “Though I cannot say that I care too much for those other songs you played after the first one.” I raised an eyebrow at that. Did he mean ‘White Snow in Spring’? Well, that made sense. It was actually a Chinese song.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Could I bother you to play that one again?” he asked. “And what is its name?”

“White Snow in Spring,” I said. “I am playing the rendition of my world’s eminent pipa virtuoso, Wu Man.”

“What a talented musician this man must be,” the old beggar said.

“She is a woman,” I said. And then I started playing it again. I had spent months mastering the song purely based on memory, and that was after months of painstakingly figuring out how the sounds Wu Man made could be recreated on a pipa in the first place. The task had been incredibly demanding.

I wasn’t exactly back at square one, since I knew where my fingers should go, but my fingers didn’t quite seem to share that same knowledge. As such, I was slower. Maybe three quarters the speed of Wu Man, but frankly that was an incredible enough achievement that I didn’t quite mind.

This song, and its recreation, had been a labor of love on my part, hence why I had been able to spend so many months on the task.

Once I was done, the old beggar clapped. “Thank you kindly for indulging an old beggar like me.”

I smiled. “Not a big deal,” I said. “I was just playing.”

“If so, could I ask to hear other songs in this style?”

Choosing beggar, wasn’t he?

“No,” I said. “I’m a little bored of that right now.” And then I started playing wonderwall, until I got bored of that, which was exactly three loops. “Sure,” I then said. “Why not.” And then I played Ambushed on All Sides, also by Wu Man.

Once it got too fast, my face reddened, and I ended up stumbling. “Sorry,” I said.

“Don’t apologize!” the cordial beggar said. “Keep playing!”

“Um,” I blew through my lips. “Sorry, but, who are you exactly? I’m Li Tianming.”

“Ah, my apologies,” the beggar gave me a martial salute which I returned. “I am Dong Ho of the Beggar Sect.”

I narrowed my eyes at that. Where had I heard that before? Ah. One of the Seven Saints, the Beggar Saint Dong Ho.

This was a Transcendent.

“Nice to meet you, Dong Ho,” I said. “Or should I refer to you as Beggar Saint?”

“My name is good enough,” the beggar smiled. “I’m just here get a good look at the Martial Arts Alliance’s newest recruits, and yes indeed, I like what I see!”

“Thank you,” I said. “Uh, in any case, I’m more willing to play for you, seeing as you’re, like, a super god of martial arts, but it also feels like a waste to not ask you something in return,” I said.

Dong Ho shrugged. “I can sense that there is virtue in your heart. You were not revolted by my appearance, meaning that you are tolerant towards those less fortunate. Due to this, I like you.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Though you should probably reserve your judgment of me until after we discuss politics and religion over a meal.”

Dong Ho laughed. “I like you very much, yes! Yes, yes! Very well, I will enter into a trade with you. My Beggar Sect boasts the most robust information network in all of the Central Plains, beating out even the Lowlife Sect! Information is our lifeblood, and if you have information of value from your homeworld, I would love to learn from you. Preferably information that is easy to capitalize on, such as music or literature, but if you have innovations to teach me of, I would love to learn that as well.”

”In return for that, I would like the Adamantine Bones Elixir.”

The Beggar Saint froze. Only for a moment though, before continuing smoothly. “That’s a tough one.”

“I know,” I said. “I was enamored with the idea of it ever since I read of it in some manuscript. Towards the end of getting this elixir, I would like to transcribe for you the four great classics of Chinese literature from my world: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Journey to the West, and The Plum in the Golden Vase. I would also like to give you unlimited access to my entire library of music, to be transcribed at any moment you please.”

The man’s eyebrow rose. “Can you really deliver on that?”

“I am ready to swear an oath that I can,” I said. “And my library is quite the expansive one. You would be satisfied by this trade.” The Beggar Saint nodded.

“Very well, then. Though, I would like to ask: why would you want this elixir? You should know by now that external arts are not a martial art that is optimized towards the late game, if you catch my drift. None of my peers would ever dare to approach me with external arts.”

Well, that’s because none of your peers came close to having such a busted foundation for external arts that I was planning to have.

“I’d like to never break my bones again,” I said. “Besides, you shouldn’t worry too much about whether or not this was a good investment. I have a feeling the information I could give you would entertain you endlessly.”

“Very well,” he said. He liked that phrase very much. Very well. Very good. Much great. Lots of goodness. “Finish Ambushed on All Sides, and then we are in business. On my word as a martial artist, and the Beggar Saint of Jianghu.”

I bowed my head. “I, Li Tianming, also agree with this oath.”

I continued.

The excitement of my victory in this negotiation, as well as the surge of adrenaline that danced through me in reaction to my having gained something out of a Saint, inspired a proximity to the pipa and I.

And the universe.

The Beggar Saint disappeared before my eyes, as well as the rest of the world, and suddenly I was just myself, my pipa, the ground I sat on surrounded by the infinite, star-studded cosmos.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Bits of myself shot out into infinity, and the pipa as well, merging further with the rest of existence, achieving oneness with an ineffable portion of the world.

Enlightenment.

In a… weird direction, however. I could play the pipa better now. Way better. Most martial artists would weep at the waste: immense blessings, going towards a single instrument.

I didn’t mind. Besides, that was a reductive take: my enlightenment had drastically boosted my dexterity. This wouldn’t just help me play the pipa better, but all instruments even. I’d probably even be way more talented with arts and crafts as well now. All in all, this was an amazing boon and not a waste at all!

I finished the song stronger than I started, all the while the Beggar Saint stared at me with awe and reverence. By playing the song to completion, and to his satisfaction, I had not only wowed him, but also displayed to him that I did have what it took to complete my end of our promise, thus solidifying said promise. By playing this well, I had earned my end as well.

The Adamantine Bones Elixir!

After a few seconds of silence, the Beggar Saint started clapping. “Excellent! Amazing! Terrific!”

I bowed my head at him. “Yes, Wu Man is quite an amazing talent.”

“Indeed, indeed!” he smiled. “I have faith in you now! You can deliver on your promise. As such, I will deliver on mine as well. The Adamantine Bones Elixir. But first, your body will have to be primed to accept the elixir, by having accumulated ten years of vital energy.”

Wait, what? Seriously?! Dammit!

“I can provide that free of charge,” Dong Ho said. “Provided you would consent to this procedure.”

A procedure? “Is there a chance that I will die?”

“Depends fully on your force of will,” Dong Ho said. “Are you willing to risk challenging yourself in such a manner?”

I put the pipa down and sighed. I guess playtime was over now. I reached a state of meditative focus and set aside my old self, entering a persona of martial arts and training that I had used for years to cope with the pressure of the jianghu.

“Yes,” I said. “I consent to this.”

This would be difficult, but it had to be done, so in the end, I didn’t spend any time debating the issue internally. I just said yes, and gathered the will to overcome the coming tribulation.

Dong Ho, the Beggar Saint, nodded with a solemn expression. "Very well, Li Tianming. Brace yourself."

He raised his hand, and an invisible force enveloped me, lifting me off the ground. I floated mid-air, suspended in the ethereal energy manipulated by Dong Ho's telekinesis. The sensation was both surreal and unnerving, as if gravity had lost its grip on me.

With a swift yet practiced motion, Dong Ho produced a set of thin, silver needles. Each needle gleamed in the ambient light, ready to pierce the acupoints of my body. He approached, and with precise accuracy, he inserted the needles at strategic locations along my meridians. The needles, this time, brought sharp and biting pain, as if my very essence was being redefined with each penetration.

As the needles settled into place, Dong Ho produced a small vial containing a mysterious liquid. "This is a potent elixir," he explained. "It will infuse your body with vital energy, equivalent to ten years of cultivation."

He administered the elixir, and as the liquid entered my system, an intense burning sensation replaced the initial warmth. It felt as if my veins were on fire, and the vital energy surged through my meridians with a force that threatened to overwhelm me. I gritted my teeth, trying to endure the excruciating pain.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the internal changes occurring within me. The combination of telekinesis, acupuncture, and elixir created a tumultuous storm within, challenging my body's resilience. The pain intensified, reaching levels that seemed unbearable.

Minutes passed like agonizing hours, and I struggled to maintain composure. Dong Ho, with a stoic expression, continued the procedure with a hint of concern in his eyes. The very air crackled with the intensity of the energy exchange.

Unexpectedly, a radiant glow enveloped my body, surpassing the expected response to the elixir. Dong Ho's eyes widened in astonishment as the energy infusion surpassed the limits of his initial calculations. The very fabric of heaven's energy seemed to respond, resonating with an unseen force that defied explanation.

"What... what is happening?" Dong Ho muttered, witnessing the unprecedented surge of energy.

I widened my eyes, and they gleamed with a mixture of determination and pain. "I endure, Beggar Saint," I uttered through gritted teeth, the words strained by the challenging ordeal.

Dong Ho's surprise transformed into a knowing acknowledgment. "Remarkable endurance, Li Tianming."

The glow around me intensified, and I felt a profound transformation within. The telekinetic hold gradually released, gently lowering me back to the ground. The needles, having served their purpose, were removed by Dong Ho with a swift and practiced motion.

I stood, feeling both drained and invigorated, as the intensity of the pain subsided. Dong Ho regarded me with a mix of admiration and understanding. "You've faced the crucible and emerged stronger, my young friend. Your journey in the jianghu is bound to be extraordinary."

With the procedure complete, I bowed to the Beggar Saint. "Thank you, Dong Ho. I am ready for the challenges that lie ahead."

“Ten years worth of vital energy…” Dong Ho muttered. “No. The amount is closer to thirty years! You’ve exceeded the level of absorption I envisioned by miles! Truly amazing. The constitution of you otherworlders was more than I ever expected!”

Well, that and the fact that I had used the Qi Genesis Infinitum technique to gather more energy from the elixir. To have gathered three times more was an immense surprise. Even now, this heavenly technique was paying its dividends!

“Thank you,” I said again. “And… the Adamantine Bones Elixir?”

Dong Ho chuckled. “You will have to wait a little longer for that, little one. Your thirty years of vital energy is impressive, but it is only energy. You have not put it to good use yet.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Imagine that you are just a regular human who ate ten times more than the average person in the span of a month. You have thus gained ten times the energy of the average person, but this energy is stored in fat. If you had exercised, this energy would have been stored in muscle, but instead it has only found itself in your body as a latent source of energy, waiting to be used. In order to make use of it, you will have to painstakingly integrate the vital energy into every cell in your body through exercise and meditation. Only once you have integrated ten years worth of it can we finally focus on administering the Adamantine Bones Elixir.”

I sighed. Then I nodded. “Thank you very much, Beggar Saint. I appreciate the boon regardless.”

“As you should! Very few jianghu experts boast of having even ten years worth of vital energy, let alone thirty! The fact that it exists in a latent form matters not. In six months to a year, if you are diligent, you should have absorbed all this energy, and then we will be ready to take the next step. But I would like to caution you about one thing: focus on your internal arts as well. External arts are attractive because the effects are immediately apparent, but they do not hold a candle to the potential of internal energy. There are no transcendents in this world that have only relied on external arts. Supremes, yes, but transcendents? No.”

I gave him a martial salute. “I understand, elder. Thank you very much for your instruction and your help. When would you like to receive your end of the bargain?”

The Beggar Saint waved his hand and laughed. “I am patient. Today is a big day for you. After the sponsorship event, you can focus on transcribing the four classics you mentioned. Then I would like two songs every week, ranked by what you believe I would find is the best. Do you understand?”

I nodded. “I would like to say that I have a good measure of your concept of quality.”

“Good,” Dong Ho said. “I suggest you return to the main courtyard. The sponsorship event is about to occur! Hopefully, you’ll be able to snag prizes of a similar magnitude from the other sects in attendance!”

I smiled at him. “Thank you for your belief in me, Beggar Saint, and your gifts.” I took my pipa my its neck and cradled it gently in my arms. “You have been the most gracious audience member of mine in my entire life. Just thought you should know.”

The beggar laughed. “It’s not every day that someone gains something from a beggar! I, however, believe you are worth it!”

Well… that still remained to be seen.

I was still up against Wenhao after all, and knowing the upper echelons of the jianghu, they wouldn’t hesitate to demand some spectacle just to see who was the most deserving of their gifts.

Was I confident I could beat Wenhao this time around? That still depended on his attainments in the basic forms.

If he was still in my former life’s level of proficiency corresponding to right now, then yes. A million times yes. But if he had been inspired by my fight with him, then all bets were off.

Truly, all I could do at this point was wait and see.