Ji Rong visited Yu Chen early the next morning.
Yu Chen had just woken up and walked outside, where he stood watching the sun rise up over the horizon, when the sound of soft steps crunching through snow entered his ears. He tilted his head doubtfully at the unexpected noise. He hadn’t been expecting any visitors, let alone this early in the morning, and was surprised when he turned to see the rotund man approaching his home.
“Senior.” He said, bowing his head as the other man arrived, before looking up at the older man in askance.
“Yu Chen.” Ji Rong said with a soft smile as he looked towards the young boy. “I heard about your fight. I’m glad to see your training has been going well.”
Yu Chen bowed his head as he accepted the praise, but he wondered what the older man was here for. Ji Rong was an important figure in the defense department, second only to Elder Gu himself, and he doubted the man had come all this way just to make small talk with him.
“Of course, senior. A loss would have reflected poorly on my master, so naturally I had to win.” Yu Chen said, putting on the guise of an honorable student. In truth Yu Chen hadn’t seen much of the elder, and felt their connection was tenuous at best.
Ji Rong gave a small grunt in reply, before walking over to join Yu Chen in viewing the sight of the sun rising over the mist filled mountains.
“I’m sure your master’s honor was at the forefront of your mind,” Ji Rong stated, but his dry tone indicated his true thoughts. “It had nothing to do with this yearlong feud you’ve been involved in, yes?”
Ji Rong waved away Yu Chen’s reply as he opened his mouth to speak.
“Listen, I’m here to deliver a message to you. Elder Gu wants me to tell you that there are to be no more fights in the near future. A heavenly opportunity will soon become available. As such, the elders have sent down a blanket prohibition, banning all fighting between inner sect disciples for the next few months.”
Yu Chen nodded his head slowly, his brows furrowing at the words. He didn’t enjoy having his actions dictated by others, and he unconsciously crossed his arms in frustration at the unexpected news.
“I’ve already spoken with Li Feng.” Ji Rong said conversationally, ignoring Yu Chen’s reaction. “He’s left his closed meditation by the way. He’s stepped into Foundation Establishment and entered the Inner Sect, and he’s also been warned against pursuing revenge for his younger brother.”
Yu Chen’s frown deepened, and he opened his mouth to speak once again, but Ji Rong raised a hand, halting him before he could.
“The elders aren’t doing this to interfere with your business, don’t worry. As I said, an opportunity is coming, and the sect needs every inner sect disciple in fighting shape if we are to seize it. Six months from now, the entrance to a secret realm will open. At that time every inner sect disciple who meets the requirements will be able to enter, seizing as much good fortune for themselves and the sect as they can.”
“Elder Gu expects you to prepare yourself. Whatever you need for your cultivation at this time will be made available. But,” and Ji Rong turned with this word, locking eyes with Yu Chen. “You are to stay away from the Feng brothers. Both you and Li Feng are important for the sect’s plans in the near future.”
“Yes, senior.” Yu Chen said bowing his head once more. “As the elder commands.”
“Good!” Ji Rong said, a smile breaking across his face at the words. “Then prepare yourself, and may you find your time in the Secret Realm fortuitous indeed.”
They stood together in silence, forming a tableau of two men and a snake as they enjoyed the morning sunrise. It was the sort of serenity only winter could bring, when everything was still, blanketed in a white tranquility.
Until Ji Rong broke the scene, clapping Yu Chen on the shoulder before turning around and trudging away. Yu Chen listened to the soft sound of snow crunching as his footsteps slowly faded into the distance.
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Time passed, and winter eventually broke its icy hold over the mountain. The first fresh green shoots of new life arose, poking through the rocky terrain, and the chill air of early spring rustled through the newly formed leaves on the trees. The sound of birds trilling had returned to the sect, alongside the buzzing of insects making themselves known.
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Yu Chen had spent the last few months split between his home and his cavern retreat, consolidating his qi reserves and bolstering his cultivation. Between the energy well and the resources the elder had provided him with, Yu Chen had made great strides in advancing through the Qi Refinement realm.
His martial arts hadn’t suffered either. The elders had prohibited fights between the Inner Sect, but he’d still been free to take on missions from the Mission Hall. It gave him the perfect excuse to frequently leave the sect, allowing him to cultivate on his own in peace. There was also a part of him that secretly wished to give the Feng brothers the opportunity to thwart the elder’s will.
Alas, they never did. Yu Chen didn’t see anyone during this time, spending most of it alone, and he hadn’t even seen much of his friends lately. Jin Hua had found work within the defense department, a job that kept him busy and often away from the sect, while Xue Lan and Han Li were both Outer Disciples. Yu Chen could have found the time to meet up with them, but he had responsibilities of his own.
After all, the elder expected him to prepare himself for the upcoming event. Besides that, Yu Chen was a cultivator, and he would always put his advancement first. He wouldn’t rely on anybody. It was only through his own strength that he could walk to the end of his road.
So, he continued, spending his time the way he thought was best, exploring the wilderness around the sect. In between hunting wild spirit beasts, he would meditate in his cavern, paying no mind as spring gave way to summer. Even his birthday passed without his notice.
He’d spend his days training in the Diamond Forms, slowly improving his control. He’d found the Crashing Wave Palm to be incompatible with him, but during this time he still found ways to incorporate the principles of momentum into his fights, using it to improve his techniques.
Lue She hadn’t slacked either, growing at a formidable rate. She hadn’t grown much longer, but her qi had thickened, and she’d begun to hunt smaller beasts on her own. Most of her fights were over in one move, as she struck with a speed Yu Chen found envious, delivering an often-lethal dose of venom before retreating to wait for it to work.
It was exactly this movement that had caused Yu Chen’s current moment of enlightenment. He dropped to the lush forest floor as the snake’s strike replayed through his mind. The rich, damp scent of soil filled his nose while the strong rays of the summer sun filtered through the canopy to warm his skin.
He didn’t notice.
Lue She hissed in victory from atop her kill. It was a blossom hart, quite a rare find. A deer made miniature, with a silvery white hide that shimmered when the sunlight hit it just right. Its antlers were closer to branches, woven with blossoms that changed with the seasons. They were currently sporting tiny sunflowers right now.
He paid her no mind either. She gave up getting his attention with a huff, before worming into the beast, fetching the core on her own.
The only thing he could think of was the way she’d struck just now. She’d been a coiled spring of lethal intent, moving on instinct as she struck out in a movement that wasted no motion. He could see the way her muscles had rippled beneath her skin, forming a strike that was precise, relentless, and admirable.
He saw it in perfect clarity, and he stood, doing his best to replicate it. He coiled his body, building tension in his form much as she did, before using the conserved energy to stretch out, striking his arm forward as he mimicked her strike.
His arm rippled, blurring as he thrust it forward, striking with a quickness and strong enough to kill a mortal in one blow.
Yu Chen frowned.
The punch had been no different than his ordinary one. There was something to the technique he was missing. It had to do with the way the snake moved its qi to generate the speed it had. He wasn’t sure what pattern it moved through, but he knew that he would figure it out. He clenched his fist in determination.
Blinking his eyes he returned to himself, staring around the clearing before bending down and beginning to skin Lue She’s kill.
He returned to the sect, waving at the gate guards before making his way to the Mission Hall, where he dropped off his goods and received his reward for the rare quest. Afterwards, he stopped by the Treasure Pavilion, picking up a couple odds and ends that he needed.
He made sure to buy another bag of spirit rice, as he’d found he had a taste for it. He also picked up some spiritual herbs that were used in cooking to give the rice a fragrant and appetizing aroma.
He wouldn’t be eating the hart of course.
Lue She had pumped that beast full of venom, and he had plenty of other spirit beast meat. Anymore, the food of mortals felt bland to him, lacking a certain vitality he’d come to expect in his meals.
He stopped by the baths before heading towards his house, washing off the dust of the outside world. He stayed for a while, finding the hot water comforting, and he passed the time making small talk with some cultivators he knew from around the sect.
He set out again, his mental state much improved.
He arrived outside his home and entered, putting his things away before preparing his meal and sitting down to eat. He bowed his head, offering gratitude to the heavens before eating his fill, as his mother had once taught him. Lue She contented herself with some of the roasted spirit beast meat, but she turned up her nose when he proffered some rice.
He leaned back, resting on one elbow as he ate, the two enjoying an easy peace between them, enjoying their last comfortable moments before being thrust into the unknown.
After all, tomorrow was the day they’d begin the journey to the Secret Realm.