The mountain path seemed steeper on the return journey, each step drawing a heavy breath from Zhao Li. Beads of sweat trickled down her back, dampening her inner robes despite the cool mountain air.
She turned to her right, following the pathway for the rocky incline ahead. In all of her life, she never had to climb the mountain herself. Her father would simply scoop her onto his back and soar upward, his Qinggong propelling them effortlessly through the air.
The little freedom she felt, was always in those moments. Freedom and safety, it a stark contrast to the aching muscles and burning calves she felt now.
Ahead of her, Lady Susu walked calmly, her dark hair swaying gently from the mountain breeze, carrying the faint scent of jasmine. Despite the exertion, she showed no signs of fatigue. “Your breathing is too shallow,” Susu said calmly. “Don’t breath through your mouth, just your nose. That’s why you drank much of the water before we reached halfway”
“Understood Lady Susu,” Zhao Li said. She tried to follow the instruction. A sudden gust of wind hit her in the side, forcing her to stumble. A jolt of pain shot up her arm, she shrieked from the pain of pressing her hands to hard on pebbles.
Lady Susu turned around, looking at her. Zhao Li couldn’t decipher if the older woman was angry with her, but her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Lady Susu’s eyes softened and relief washed over Zhao Li. She was so used to reprimands, her body just awaited the tongue lashing. However, with Lady Susu, she never attacked her in anyway, verbally or mentally. She liked that about her. “Li’er, your father carried you up and down this mountain every chance he got, didn’t he?”
Zhao Li slowly nodded and Lady Susu nodded with her. She walked back down to her and knelt beside her. She held out her hand, and Zhao Li placed her hands in her own. “The path to strength isn’t always comfortable, Li’er,” Susu said gently, with a hint sternness. “Your father’s method may have been faster, but walking this mountain yourself, strengthens you.
As Zhao Li stood up, Susu She reached out, adjusting Zhao Li’s posture with careful hands. “Straighten your back. You slouch forward when you walk.”
She did as told.
“Yes, like that. Now, step where I step. Do so for one hundred steps, count them.”
“Yes, Lady Susu.”
The remainder of the ascent was no less tiring, but Zhao Li found rhythm following Susu’s lead. The sun climbed higher as they walked, casting dappled shadows through the gnarled branches overhead.
When they reached the summit, Zhao Li’s legs felt like jelly, but a small spark of pride burned in her chest. She had made it on her own. “You did well,” Susu praised, her words carrying the weight of genuine approval. “With time and practice, this path will become as easy as breathing.”
Zhao Li managed a smile despite her exhaustion. The bitter tang of exertion in her mouth was slowly being replaced by the sweet taste of accomplishment. As they crested the final ridge, the familiar sights and sounds of the sect washed over her like a comforting blanket.
The Purple Mist Sect sprawled before them, the training grounds alive with the sounds of practice. The sharp crack of wooden swords meeting, the occasional shout of instruction.
“Uncle Bo!” Zhao Li shouted.
Bo Ying turned from instruction. His weathered face creased into a smile as he spotted them, raising a hand in greeting.
“Su’er…Li’er” He called out, “You’ve returned! I trust your journey was successful?”
Susu grunted and Li’er nodded, uncertain if she knew the correct answer. He then turned to his students. “Xiao Chen, take over. Focus on footwork – I saw at least three of them stumbling through the Shadow Step earlier.”
“Yes Master Bo,” A tall youth with a serious expression said, bowing. He stepped forward, immediately begin conducting the lesson without losing a second.
The sound of shuffling feet and quiet instructions filled the air as Bo Ying made his way over to Susu and Zhao Li.
“Do you know where Brother Xing is?”
Bo Ying’s expression shifted slightly, almost imperceptibly, but Zhao Li caught it. Her stomach tightened with anxiety because she knew that look.
“Brother Xing Zhao left early this morning,” Bo Ying replied, stroking his short beard thoughtfully. “He wanted to take his most senior students on a stroll, of some kind.
“I see, did he say when he’ll be returning?”
“No, he didn’t state when. Come, lets have some tea eh?” He said winking at Zhao Li.
He led them away from the training grounds, walking through the winding paths of the Purple Mist Sect. The scent of burning incense mingled with the mountain air, creating an atmosphere of tranquility that contrasted with Zhao Li’s growing unease.
They rounded a corner and came across two disciples engaged in quiet discussion. Both wore the purple robes that marked the sect most senior students.
The taller of the two, a young man with a thin face, noticed them first and quickly bowed. “Master Bo, Master Susu,” He greeted, nudging his companion to show proper respect.
“Zhang Wei, Liu Mei,” Bo Ying nodded to them. “You’ve returned, where is Master Xing?”
The disciples exchanged a quick glance before Liu Mei spoke up, her voice tinged with concern. “Master Zhao returned from his morning excursion about an hour ago. He... he didn’t lo—“
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“Master has entered his seclusion chamber…” Zhang Wei said, cutting off Liu Mei.
Bo Ying’s expression darkened, and he muttered under his breath, “I told him not to push his body like this.” He turned to Susu, his voice carrying a weight of familiar worry.
Zhao Li felt her chest tighten. She wanted to come live in the sect, as her father promised, but she didn’t want to be a bother. Especially if his father would be in seclusion.
As Bo Ying led them through a series of winding paths, eventually arriving at a secluded area of the sect grounds. A cave mouth gaped before them, wisps of Qi-infused mist curling around the entrance.
“Li’er,” Susu said softly, kneeling to meet Zhao Li’s eyes. “Wait here for a moment. Your father... he may need some assistance.”
Zhao Li nodded, though her eyes betrayed her worry. She settled onto a stone bench near the cave entrance, watching as Susu and Bo Ying disappeared into the darkness.
The air was thick with Qi, energy. Luminous torches embedded into the walls cast a pale orange-like light over the chamber. Zhao Xing sat the lotus position in the centre of the cave, cultivating as his clothes were darkened from sweat. His face was ashen, and his breathing came in short, irregular gasps.
“Are my words air to your ears?” Bo Ying complained stomping his way toward Zhao Xing. His lips curled into a bitter smile and he eyed Bo Ying pensively. “Never that, Brother Ying,” He heaved.
Ying scanned Zhao Xing, trying to decipher his condition. He struck the acupoint in Zhao Xing’s left arm and torso.
A small burst of Qi exploded, forcing Zhao Xing to twitch in pain. “You should’ve thought of that before overexerting yourself to this extent!”
“Condemn me another time brother Ying,”
“Whatever! Guide your Qi through the nine primary meridians,” Bo Ying instructed, “then slowly dissipate the Qi from the fifth meridian.”
As Bo Ying worked, Susu observed the passion in his eyes. It reminded him Master Chaoxiang. He struck the acupoint on Zhao Xing inner thigh. Then moved to the acupoint on his wrist.
Bo Ying spent several minutes, weaving back and forth striking acupoints one after another. Colour began returning to Zhao Xing’s face. His breathing then steadied, and the sheen of sweat on his brow began to dry.
“Brother Ying, you’re always the worrier, eh?" he said, opening his eyes.
“What did you do? And don’t try to deceive me. Your meridians have shrunk from over usage!”
Zhao Xing sighed in his seat and shifted uncomfortably, trying to find a comfortable position. “I sparred with my senior disciples. All of them, for about two hours.”
“Two hours?” Bo Ying growled in disbelief. “Your limit is six minutes the most! What were you thinking?”
“They needed to be tested,” Zhao Xing replied, stubbornness resonating in his tone. “They’ll be entering them Jianghu soon. They need to be ready.”
“What? You did such foolishness…for kids that aren’t ready for the Jianghu!”
“This is where you and I, disagree. They can’t stay in the sect forever,” Zhao Xing said softly. “They need to experience the world, face real challenges. The mountain can’t protect them forever. We can’t protect them forever.”
“He’s right, Bo Ying. The safest path isn’t always the best one.” Susu agreed.
Bo Ying turned to her, frustration evident in his features. “Not you too, Su’er. The Jianghu is more dangerous than ever. The sects aren’t at as close as they once were. Hell, I’ve been hearing reports that the imperial family was just slaughtered…the possibility of civil war is on the rise!”
“All the more reason for them to enter the Jianghu. They are needed to help bring peace.” Zhao Xing said firmly.
“And what if they’re not ready? What if they face enemies they can’t handle? Their blood will be on our hands, Xing!”
“Why do you think I fought with them for over two hours, hmmm? I was testing them. I needed to know how they would perform against someone of my level!”
“Brother Ying,” Susu said calmly. “I agree with Brother Xing, keeping them sheltered forever, will do a disservice. If what you say is true, the world is changing. They must learn to adapt. It’s not just about survival. It’s about preparing the next generation to face what’s coming.”
Bo Ying shook his head, pacing back and forth in the cave’s dim light. As much as he disagreed, Susu and Xing knew deep down, that he’d see the wisdom in his words.
“This isn’t just about the Jianghu.” Bo Ying snapped, “There’s more at stake here. The political landscape is volatile, and the sects aren’t as united as they once were. If a civil war breaks out, our students could be caught in the crossfire. Do you really want that for them?”
“Of course not, But we can’t protect them forever. We’ve trained them well; now we must trust them.”
“I just don’t want to lose more people, Xing. We’ve already lost so much. Six people have already died from this drought…”
“I know,” Xing said, pushing himself off the ground. He stalked himself toward his martial brother then clapped his hand on his shoulder. “But this is the path they’ve chosen. They want to enter the Jianghu…I tested them to see if they have the ability.”
“Damn You Xing, why must you do these things behind my back. You said that you needed me here…yet, you make decisions without taking my CONSOLE!”
“Do I seek your console on who you will be taking to teach medicinal techniques?”
“I am CAPABLE PUGILIST!”
“Aye, but you despise the jianghu, do you not?”
“The Jianghu is filled with men and women, seeking their own ways to enhance their vices. They cared nothing for life nor harmony…anyone with a brain would despise it!”
“Then imagine how the common folk live their lives, with men and women, running around doing as they please?”
Bo Ying stood there in silence, his brow furrowing as he searched for a response. The weight of the question hung in the air, unanswered. His shoulders sagged slightly, a deep sigh escaping him as he finally conceded. “You have more of the Master in you than you are willing to accept,” he said, turning to Xing. “I will test them as well.”
Bo Ying spun on his heel, leaving the cave in determined strides. As his figure disappeared from view, the tension that filled the room seemed to unravel, though a lingering sense of unease remained.
Xing and Susu shared a quiet glance, each acknowledging the truth in Bo Ying’s parting words. On the outside, Zhao Li shifted uncomfortably, sensing the change in atmosphere within the cave. Her concern for her father grew heavier with every moment that passed. “I’ll bring her in,” Susu said quietly, moving toward the cave entrance.
“Dada! Are you alright?” Zhao Li asked, running toward her father. He pulled her daughter into a gentle embrace. “I’m fine, Little Flower. Just pushed myself a bit too hard, that’s all.”
Zhao Li buried her face in her father's robes, inhaling the familiar scent of medicinal herbs and mountain air that always clung to him. “I was worried,” she mumbled.
He stroked her hair, then gently pulled back to look at her face. “Li’er, we need to talk about something important.” He glanced at Susu, who nodded encouragingly.
“Remember what we discussed a few days ago?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“…good.”
“I don’t want you to go, but I want you to listen to what I have to say. Lady Susu wants to take you away from here. She doesn’t like the village, and she believes you living elsewhere might be best. You have too many bad memories here, that won’t allow you to flourish.”
“Do you agree?”
“I…I…” She hesitated.
“Thats all I needed to hear.”
“You don’t want me anymore?” Zhao Li said, a tear dropping down here eye.
“Oh, Little Flower, no,” Zhao Xing pulled her close again, his own eyes glistening. “I want what’s best for you. And sometimes, that means letting you fly from the nest, even when every part of me wants to keep you close and safe.”
Bo Ying discretely wiped at his eyes, while Susu remained respectfully silent, allowing father and daughter this moment.
“Will I ever see you again?” Zhao Li asked, her voice small and uncertain.
“Of course you will,” Zhao Xing assured her. “I’ll visit when I can, and when you’re stronger, you can come back to show me how much you've learned." He reached into his robes and pulled out a small jade pendant.
“Remember, Little Flower. The mountain will always be here, and so will I. But for now, follow the path that calls to your heart.” He pressed his forehead to hers, a gesture of blessing and love. ”Grow strong, grow wise, and never forget who you are.”
“Yes father, I will.”