Chen Chang was a loved Elder of the Flower Desert Sect, he was kind and understanding, and even mortals would agree. When he left his humble abode, he did not expect to see a student fumbling with their precious Qi.
Much less did he expect the pride of the Low Ranked Disciples to be the one commit such a foolish act. Nor did he expect them to FORGET how one circulates their Qi COMPLETELY; therefore they are NOT replenishing Qi half as fast as they're LOSING IT...
The precious society Chen Cheng worked to build... The community... The work ethic... What is Jia Yang doing!?!
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One moment, Jia Yang was preparing to show her (current) master how she had advanced her cultivation technique, but now it seemed as if she almost forgot how to breathe.
Energy pushes through her unevenly, releasing a strange aura, confusion floods the girl's mind. She doesn't understand what's happening and a numbed sense of panic can barely be thought of. Pain aches quietly as thoughts flood her mind. The Qi begins to offset her cultivation base-... what?
Jia Yang opens her eyes.
It felt like a thick smoke had enveloped me. A smothering feeling began to cover me, but a sharp pinching began building in different points on my body ...
My Qi is-... Qi? Ugh, where's my cultivation manual? My what? Where am I? What am I-
"JIA YANG." A loud voice nearly shouts. A young-looking man with medium-length black hair approaches.
I had never seen this man in my life.
Wait no... I've never seen him in my life, but I've seen him in Jia Yang's life!? Who even is Jia Yang- "What in the Emperor's Sovereign name are you doing?!" The man, Chen Chang, asked.
"I-..." Suddenly I remember how hard it is too breathe. This suffocating feeling is from a Qi deficiency. Real oxygen fails to supplement the Qi that my body so badly needs. Pain. Splitting and piercing... My head... Darkness, a person with white hair-
Relief suddenly flows through me. My cultivation method flowing mechanically through me. Master Chen Chang had used a technique to start up the basic Qi gathering and Qi circulation that I am just beginning to remember. It feels so familiar now.
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Inhaling deeply, I look up to meet his eyes. I'm not sure how to answer him, since one does not simply say 'Oh I just got transmigrated lol'. Before I could answer, he talks first. "Were you... Attempting to advance your cultivation technique?" I look up in surprise, because Jia Yang was trying to do just that.
He sighs sympathetically. "You must be extremely careful while doing such a thing, you should've tested the technique more before coming to me. If you technique clashes with your modifications while you're at such a low cultivation level, you can have episodes such as that, and die quickly." He gives me a disappointed stare that brings more emotion to me than any of the elders in higher positions then him. It's genuine, and perhaps, caring. I feel guilty, as I know it wasn't actually a fault in the technique... But then Chen Chang shakes his head in resignation.
"Since you have proven to have talent in our sect's cultivation, and previously proven to be cautious, I'll allow you a second chance at modifications to your technique." He says no more, but I understand what he means. That was a rather lenient decision. "Then I'll leave you too it. Recover first." His tone leaves no room for arguing.
Away he went, and I could feel the air around him being slightly disturbed by his emotions.
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Gosh, I need to sort my thoughts out. I hurried over to where I stayed in the sect. My house was really just the size of a room, seeing as I was a lower disciple; however, it was more decorated than the average disciple's place. It was because I had good talent and intelligence, they wanted to show favor to me. Nothing much though, seeing as it wasn't something world shaking.
I would've assumed lower disciples would've lived life similarly to college kids, or people at school. Though, my memories of it weren't what I would've liked them to be. Many disciples clicked together, whispered, murmured, and plotted. Others worked alone, seeking their own strength. No matter which group you were a part of, very rarely would any of them actually become likes friends, from what I've seen.
Although, that's referring to the general Lower Disciples, not the ones Chen Chang had been given charge over. Chen Chang did make it so we're more amiable with each other. We share a few things we learn about cultivation, though it may come at a price. The community Chen Chang built is a bit ranked based, but it's done in such a way it encourages others to try to get higher up instead of simply kissing up to whoever's at top.
I would consider Chen Chang's actions to be reminiscent to that of a preschool teacher. Everybody wants the (imaginary) golden stars that comes with our progression.
... I feel embarrassed that Jia Yang fell for the simple method so easily. Well, cultivators are bred to be childish and petty. Who can blame her for her acceptance of such a system?
...
I have realized that in both this life and my, what I'm going to call 'origin' life, I've needed more friends. I'm going to work on that. Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, Jia Yang will make friends with whoever dares cross her path! Hahahaha! I'll pick my target tomorrow, they won't be able to escape me now.
Quietly laughing to myself, I get ready for bed. Blowing out cheap candles as the sun has already set, making sure the window is closed well, and then changing into night clothes. Laying down on my tatami bed and pulling up a soft blanket that has no design, I breathe, and then I sleep.