Awakening the Divine Spark

"Why does he keep cleaning his sword all the time?" Ling Xiaotao asked Lee, pointing at Xiao Lian.

After the girls quickly devoured the dreadtalon eggs, the atmosphere completely changed. But while the rest chatted about random things, Xiao Lian followed Lee’s advice and silently focused on his sword.

"I guess it works like some kind of meditation." Lee said, "From what I understand, Lian is on the verge to comprehend something about his sword-move and it helps him focus."

"Oh? Sister Qin also does that." Ling Xiaotao said, and no one noticed Xiao Lian’s hands tremble.

"Well, I guess someone has to be crazy about cultivation if they want to have better results than the rest." Lee said, "People like them are the best example."

"What about you?" Shu Ying asked. She was the oldest one and mostly sat silent, like an older sister babysitting her siblings.

"What about me?" Lee shrugged, and honestly said, "I’m average at best."

"You two are kind of different from other disciples." Shy Ying said.

"You mean, we don’t try to suck up to you just because you are pretty girls?" Lee asked, "Why would we do that?"

"Not only suck ..." Ling Xiaotao energetically began to say her point, but then blushed at the awkward wording, and said, "You even bullied me!"

"I disagree." Lee said, "But that’s a matter of opinion. I could explain in detail, but I’m afraid you’ll go and kick me again."

"Alright! Explain! I promise I’ll let you off this time!" Ling Xiaotao graciously said as if granting a pardon.

"We’re kids and for us nothing in regard to relationships between men and women really matter." Lee said.

"I know all about that relationship!" Ling Xiaotao said, wrinkling her nose in displeasure, "Mom told everything about it and ... and ... you men are disgusting!"

"I’m not talking about that." Lee said, resisting the urge to facepalm. He was coming up with few things that would improve Xiao Lian’s reputation, but talking to an actual kid was tiresome, "I meant the roles of women and men in society in general."

"What about them?" Ling Xiaotao asked. She was clueless, but her questions helped the conversation to flow naturally. More importantly, that allowed the two older girls, and in particular – Qin Yujian, to listen.

"You see, this is one of the few things where Xiao Lian and I differ in opinion." Lee explained, "I strongly support the classic roles in society where men have always ruled. In general we are stronger and more capable, therefore absolute majority of clans and families are led by men."

Seeing the girls disliked his words, Lee smiled on the inside, and continued, "Xiao Lian, on the other hand, thinks that each person has their own path in life. Any woman can prove herself just the way any man can, disregarding their role, especially if they are cultivators."

"Really? Xiao Lian thinks so?" Qin Yujian asked in surprise, and Lee was glad he judged her correctly.

A young, talented girl had to have her ambitions, but there also had to be some pressure from her clan. Probably the most likely form was arranged marriage that a girl like her would hate to her bones.

"Of course!" Lee pushed it further, "Why do you think an heir of the Xiao clan, an established dynasty of artisans, wants to pick up a sword despite his father being against it?"

He glanced at Xiao Lian’s red face, and added, "Just don’t say it to anyone. It’s kind of a secret, but he’s not too good with words ..."

What Lee didn’t say was that this time Xiao Lian was ashamed of the blatant lie he was telling, but since the guy couldn’t utter a word, Lee had to make use of the situation.

In few phrases he pressed all the necessary buttons – peaked the interest of a rebellious teenage girl, told a secret that wasn’t really a secret, and mentioned an opinionated father who tried to suppress poor Xiao Lian.

There hasn’t been a girl born in the world yet who hadn’t had a some kind of an argument with her father, no matter whether it was a minor disagreement or an actual conflict. Hearing the made up story allowed anyone to sympathize with the youth who pursued his calling in life, despite the world being against it.

Most of it was only a partial truth, but it didn’t matter. Xiao Lian could always argue that Lee hadn’t understood something – basically push all the blame on his friend. After all, that’s what wingman was for.

But it was all Lee could do. The rest was in Xiao Lian’s hands, and the most important thing now was to not let him screw everything up. Thus, to avoid any incidents, a short while later Lee suggested they would rest for the night. After all he was injured, and it worked as a great excuse.

***

During the next day the group went upstream while hunting dreadtalons and looking for Purple spirit roots on the rare cliffs they came across.

Lee pretended to be hurt and allowed the rest to fight while he was tasked with the cooking duties. The girls teased him it being the retribution for his wrong worldviews, but he obviously couldn’t care less.

Xiao Lian was as silent as yesterday, but he did his best and continued to blow up the beasts in a bloody fashion. Meanwhile Qin Yujian disposed of her targets swiftly and effectively, without wasting energy on any unnecessary moves.

Their approach was completely different, but at some point it felt like they began to compete who’ll kill most dreadtalons and their killing speed was what allowed the group to move much faster than usual.

With time going by Xiao Lian finally seemed to get used to Qin Yujian’s presence and wasn’t constantly blushed, although couldn’t speak to her yet. Unfortunately his joy was cut short by Lee announcing the end of their collaboration.

During the dinner he said, "It doesn’t look like there will be any way to easily cross the river. Tomorrow we’ll make a raft and then we can part our ways. We won’t trouble you anymore."

Later Xiao Lian pulled him to the side, and whispered in despair, "Brother Lee! Why are you doing this to me?"

"Lian, didn’t you listen to what I said?" Lee asked.

He already expected his young friend have such reaction, but it was cute to see how pure his feelings were. Lee would continue to do his best to help, but there was not much he could do.

He said, "You respect women and their privacy, let her be for a while. Don’t be like the others who try to push themselves onto her. I think she likes you, but by staying with her now you can only ruin everything."

"But what if she meets other guys? We still have over three months left ..." Xiao Lian argued.

"Great! Let her meet others!" To Xiao Lian’s horror Lee said, "You’ll see. She’ll despise any attempts to court her. Haven’t you noticed? She doesn’t think about relationships at all! She’s fully focused on cultivation!"

"But you said she likes me!" Xiao Lian said. He was upset that not only he couldn’t make any advances towards her, his friend didn’t allow him to either.

"So? She also likes raptor eggs, you know?." Lee said, "Let her be for now. Let the nature take its course. If you really want to do something to impress her, at least make it a romantic gesture, not empty flaunting or obtrusive courting. You’re good at carving – carve her something pretty out of a rock ... I don’t know. Just don’t force anything awkward on her, like flowers that will wilt here in a day. If you do anything, do it from the heart so she notices how you feel."

If it was Lee’s choice, he would’ve let the girls be for now. They had spent a couple days together and it was enough for them to have something to build on in the future.

But that was how a person who had lived several lives felt. He had forgotten how it was to fall in love for the first time, the butterflies in his stomach and the nervousness, happiness and confusion simultaneously raising storms in his mind.

For a young man like Xiao Lian the concept of patience was an impossible restrain to accept. Nevertheless, the best course of action was to separate him from his girl of dreams before he messed anything up.