Blossoming Path

A week has passed, and I've made significant alterations to my daily routine. I was still in the adjustment period, but the strain I imposed on my body and mind through constant training and experimentation was decreasing day by day.

During the day, I honed my skills with Elder Ming, while my evenings were spent concocting potions and elixirs, expanding my understanding of herbs, and nurturing my garden. To relax, I indulged in reading and enjoyed Wang Jun's company. Our bond strengthened as we frequented the Soaring Swallow to share drinks and discuss our aspirations and responsibilities.

I decided to hire Lan-Yin to hold down the store while I gallivanted. I paid her a fair wage and broke down how I operated the store. She was quick on the uptake and by the middle of the week, she was already independently running the shop. The girl was reliable, and she greatly enjoyed the peace and quiet of my shop in comparison to the hectic nature of running the largest tea house in the village.

This gave me the opportunity to focus on the things I truly enjoyed doing; training and gardening!

My plants flourished remarkably over the week, thanks to Tianyi's Qi Haven skill, my energy infusion, and the meticulous care I provided. Contrary to my initial prediction that the ginseng would be harvest-ready in a few months, it would actually mature by the month's end! I planned to keep some on hand to observe its potential. Cultivating potent ginseng held immense value, rivaling or even surpassing qi-based plants in terms of creating pills and elixirs to enhance one's strength or qi. Tales of millennia-old ginseng transforming mortals into all-powerful cultivators left a strong imprint on my mind.

Speaking of qi, I had figured out a way to complete the quest without having to venture into the forest. It was purely an accident. Tianyi came with me almost every time I went to Elder Ming's house, and it became a second home of sorts. Even in the times, I wasn't training, I would come to return or borrow some more books to read. The Village Head didn't have any family, and I realized just how lonely it was for him. He was a quiet man and rarely asked for help. I made sure to accompany him whenever I could. It was the least I could do for my master.

And with that, I came to realize Tianyi's Qi Haven skill now affected Elder Ming's home, making it qualified as an area with sufficient wood qi for me to meditate in. I was in the midst of helping him clean the floors and reorganize the shelves when a bright yellow orb appeared out of nowhere, scaring the daylights out of me and making me scream like an infant.

It was the perfect sequence of events, and I took advantage of it, circulating my inner qi under my master's supervision. I could feel my pathways becoming more resilient. The amount of qi I could unleash when infusing was larger than before. Although it wasn't by a wide margin, it was enough for me to notice.

Quest: Cultivation Technique (Wood)

- Find five different areas that have sufficient wood qi in the surroundings, and meditate in them for one hour. (3/5)

- Areas with sufficient wood qi will be marked with a glowing, yellow orb only visible to you.

Day by day, I was becoming stronger. I had a glimpse of what a cultivator should be capable of, thanks to Feng Wu's demonstration. He left shortly afterward, but he said that he would likely come back and visit someday. I hoped so. It would be nice to see him once I become a full-fledged martial artist and surprise him with techniques of my own! I began training with my staff, incorporating some basic training that focused on the fundamentals. Elder Ming mentioned that he wasn't a staff user by any means, but he had seen wielders in action during his time as a cultivator and had a clear vision of what they used to do when they trained.

I focused on mastering the proper grip techniques for the staff, both forward and reverse, while learning to transition smoothly between them. I also became familiar with the staff's length and the mechanics of wielding it effectively.

Alongside weapons training, Elder Ming began imparting the basics of hand-to-hand combat to me as well. Punching, kicking, and everything in between. I was sure that I was ready to tackle it now, with my mind and body now at the first rank of the mortal realm according to the Heavenly Interface.

Me, Tianyi, and Elder Ming all ventured far from the village to visit the banyan, several li away from the village. It had been years since I last saw it, but it remained unchanged by the rigors of time.

I requested for our morning training to take place here because I felt like being near the mighty tree would give me some sort of inspiration. I avoided it for so long, a somber reminder of what was before my parents died. But I wanted to grow and emulate the banyan; strong, unwavering, and able to stand the test of time.

It also acted as another place for Tianyi to activate her Qi Haven skill. If she frequented the area with me for long periods of time, it would create another zone, and bring me closer to getting my second cultivation technique. I was excited to know what it was.

But I had to focus on the task at hand. With the transition from endurance and strength training to actual combat, I had to learn how to actually fight. It was my first time learning how to against a human. I don't recall ever engaging in fisticuffs with anybody as a child. I clenched my fist.

As the sun gently peeked over the horizon, bathing the serene forest in a warm, orange light, we stood under the ancient banyan tree. Elder Ming gazed at me with a tender smile, his eyes resembling autumn leaves as they crinkled.

"Now, Kai, we shall begin with a simple exercise," he said, his voice calm and energized. "I want you to try and strike me. Do not worry about hurting me; I am more resilient than I appear."

I hesitated for a moment, uncertainty creeping into my heart. The idea of attacking such an elderly and wise person felt wrong, but I remembered the nimbleness I had seen him display before. So, I took a deep breath and steadied myself, remembering how he beat me with a cane and struck me in the groin.

Dropping low to the ground, I lunged at Elder Ming and drew my fist back. To my surprise, he deftly sidestepped the attack, chuckling softly. "Your speed is impressive, young one, but your predictability leaves much to be desired, Kowtow Kai. Again!"

I gritted my teeth and tried once more, this time attempting to tackle his midsection. Elder Ming effortlessly leaned back, avoiding the attempt by a hair's breadth. "Too slow, Kai," he said, his voice leisurely and patient. "You must learn to flow like the wind, swift and unpredictable. Do you see? I am not moving any faster than you are."

It was true. Elder Ming still had his hands clasped together behind him, making simple moves to avoid me.

Frustration bubbled within me as I launched a flurry of punches and kicks at Elder Ming, each one dodged or parried with ease. It was as if he could read my every move before I even made it.

As I attacked, Elder Ming continued to speak, his voice never losing its calm demeanor. "Your stance is too rigid, Kai. You must learn to be like the banyan tree, rooted yet flexible, bending but never breaking."

My breaths grew heavier, my muscles screaming in protest as I desperately tried to land a single hit on the elderly master. I was getting dragged into it, but I couldn't help it. Every blow was just missed by a millimeter. I fell into the trap that if I were to go just a bit faster, I'd catch him. But each attempt was met with the same outcome: failure. Finally, I felt my legs give out beneath me, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Elder Ming looked down at me, his expression kind and understanding. "Do not be disheartened, young Kai. This is only the beginning of your journey. I'll be teaching you how to incorporate what you just saw into your own fighting style. This is why I emphasize footwork."

As I lay there, panting and exhausted, I couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for Elder Ming and the path of cultivation I had chosen to follow. I knew that I had much to learn, but I also knew that I was determined to grow.

After a bit of rest, he educated me on the proper way to throw a punch. The way to involve my lower body during the movement. Adding rotational force to increase power. Making the punch more efficient to avoid telegraphing and wasting stamina.

It was such a simple move. I didn't know just how much thought went into a straight punch.

The more I learned, the more I realized how out of my depth I was without Elder Ming's guidance. I wouldn't have made even half the progress without him. But because of his support, I'm growing and developing at a rate far beyond what I could've imagined.

"Now, your Rooted Banyan Stance...We'll need to gather some more information."

I stood, ready to unleash my technique at a moments notice, and at Elder Ming's behest I let the qi pour out from my body as I clenched my core muscles as tightly as possible. With my iron staff in hand, he swung the end at my thigh. It made a terrible noise, but the impact was muted. The feeling of being struck but feeling minimal pain took some time getting used to.

Elder Ming stood there silently, observing me as I released the stance.

The technique was costly in terms of qi. Making it protect my entire body took entirely more than I was capable of handling. Even those three seconds it took to hold the Rooted Banyan Stance wiped out half of my reserves.

Then there was the issue of being unable to move. I was forced to tense every portion of my body, drop down into the horse stance, and leave my hands tucked away at my sides. We experimented with the technique being maintained in other positions, such as the form of a punch, but my body couldn't grasp it. The qi barely circulated through my body, and the defensive benefits was cut down to a fraction of its initial effectiveness.

It felt humbling. The technique was perfect for withstanding blows. Honestly, I was pretty sure I could take a palm strike or two from Feng Wu with it. But it was very situational. How often would I stand there and allow my opponent to strike me? What's to say they would stop at one blow? I voiced all these worries to my master and he placed a supporting hand on my shoulder.

"Ah, Kai. You gaze at the world through a narrow lens. The fact that you can utilize the move, even if just a bit, when you're in a different position, is like planting the seed of potential, waiting to sprout into a towering tree. Striking somebody at the point of impact, powered by the Rooted Banyan Stance, would be like a wave crashing against the shore, its force multiplied."

My eyes widened. I didn't view it like that. "So you're saying that the Rooted Banyan Stance isn't limited to defense? I can use it to create offense?"

"Correct. As the ancient sages once said, defense is the foundation of offense. From it springs opportunity. With the versatility of your skill, it can be wielded to seize those chances. All it requires is your creativity and diligence." Elder Ming said with a small smile on his face. "Come, let us forge ahead in refining your technique. Your qi reserves shall deepen and expand the more you deplete and replenish them."

Our early morning training continued, and even with so much left to learn, I couldn't help but feel excited for my own potential. Something about Elder Ming's words struck a chord with me.

His wisdom, steeped in ancient teachings, had a way of illuminating the path before me, casting away the shadows of doubt and uncertainty. As I trained under his guidance, I began to understand that the journey of cultivation was not merely about honing my skills or amassing power, but also about discovering my own inner strength and the boundless possibilities that lay within.

The towering banyan tree provided us respite from the sun, casting its cooling shade over our training ground.

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