It would be beyond weird for anyone to go for a long sleep, knowing that your friend was in dire danger and in need of your help, on a bed surrounded by a translucent wall made of magical construct and burning incense sticks inside of an underground room with a purple flame burning in the middle. It was even weirder for Aimee and Thomas, for they knew in their mind that taking a long break in the underground room, where a long ten plus hour sleep would only mean around twenty minutes to the outside world, yet the urge to act right away still kept them on their edge and they could not shake the worries in their minds for a while. Eventually, with the help of the calming incense sticks, the scented beddings, soft and cool mattresses made of some kind of jade-colored material, the cool breeze and fresh air pumped into the room, they fell comfortably asleep.
The incense sticks were Spirit Calming Incense, whose smoke and scent bore the ability to soothe and calm the minds of those around and some minor healing power that could mend the trauma to the mind and soul. The bed sheets and duvet were made of cotton and silk made from Jianmen’s personal farm hidden inside the garden at the back of the inn - which also radiated a soothing and healing energy field. The jade-colored mattresses were made of actual special jade, which were processed through various procedures and materials then enchanted and thus became soft and elastic.
While Thomas and Aimee were taking a long and much needed nap, Caroline and Jason were meditating in their own spaces created by the same magical construct walls. Both of them were sitting on jade platforms with their respective circles engraved on them and with burning Spirit Calming Incense sticks around them.
At their current stage, meditation had become the primary method for Caroline and Jason to grow their Xuanli as well as their physical strength - for during meditation, not only did they need to calm and relax their power of mind and will, they also need to circulate their Xuanli inside of their bodies and meridians, condensing it and increasing its power in the process as well as letting it flow through their bones, muscles and internal organs to strengthen and cultivate them. Though being in a “stuck” state, taking full advantage of any chance they got to train and cultivate still served them in two ways: first, it gave them slow and steady progress; second, it provided them a way to consolidate, stabilize and fortify their knowledge, experience and newly gained strength.
The four students went on their way to a coffee shop in San Jose after Thomas and Aimee woke up from their nap. By that time, Josephine Wong and Rash had already prepared almost everything they need for them: folded paper sigils and incense sticks, medicine for healing as well as first aid purposes, drinks in flasks and clay jars, and more importantly, blessed phones with enchanted lines of communication, enchanted batteries that could last for months and fortified to the point of almost complete bulletproof and bomb-proof.
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“The phones are blessed with my number as well. So let me know if you want me to send you anything.” before sending them off, Rash smiled and nodded at them: “You know, just like before.”
“Thank you Rash, but anyway you could make your means of delivery more hidden - I mean more discreet” Jason asked while scratching his head.
“What do you mean?”
“Last time you sent the cards to us, the green energy arrow was quite ... visible to the enemies.” Caroline chuckled and said: “It would be good if you could make it more shadowy or transparent so that it could avoid detection.”
“Understood, you can count on me. I will try my best to make the energy capsule blend in with your surroundings.” Rash did a clumsy salute and said: “My apologies if that inconvenienced you in any way!”
“Nonono, you did good. We wouldn’t be here today without your help.” Jason and Caroline immediately patted on Rash’s shoulder and said: “Just a - small ask, but if it is too much trouble, just send it the way you are most accustomed to.”
“So, the drainer case.” Jason asked from the backseat of Aimee’s car: “Can you give us a recap? I remember you guys talked about it when we were still in the academy. But I can’t really remember much right now.”
“Let’s meet up with the Detectives first.” Thomas sighed and said: “From what I was told on the phone, the situation progressed quite a lot. There are more victims, and they have found more concrete evidence that the Bleeding Daggers had resurfaced, along with some other cults.”
“You should get in touch with your ex.” Jason nudged Caroline by the elbow, but only got an eye roll as a response.
“Detective Lee and Detective Kuhn are two of the best detectives of the SJPD, it’s no wonder that our captain handed the case to them when it became a priority.” Aimee with a worried look on her face: “And the two federal agents - yeah, I don’t think they stand a chance.”
It only took around twenty minutes for them to reach the street where the coffee shop was. This was a Wednesday afternoon, and this was only a one lane street with limited street parking space. There were plenty of cracks and potholes on the street and the buildings on both sides appeared quite old. The day was sunny and there were almost no clouds in the sky. But thanks to the occasional cool breeze the weather did not become too hot.
Aimee’s car stopped at a red light, waiting for a signal to turn left. Caroline and Jason rolled down their windows slightly and started looking around.
“You smell that?” Jason and Caroline looked at each other and asked at the same time.