Blossoming Path

The crowd’s joyful murmurs turned into hushed whispers, and the warm smiles I had been receiving moments ago faded into wary stares. It didn’t take long for me to understand why. Windy, though far smaller and less menacing than the serpents that had attacked Qingmu, still bore a striking resemblance to them. His white scales and blue eyes were different, yes, but to the villagers, he was still a spirit beast serpent—a creature they had every reason to fear.

I forced a smile, trying to dispel the growing tension. “Please, everyone, calm down. This is Windy. He’s not like the Wind Serpents that attacked the village. He’s a different species entirely.”

It was a bit of a fib. He was undoubtedly a Wind Serpent, but as listed by the Interface, an aberrant. One clearly influenced by Tianyi's abilities, infusing him with energy since he was just an egg.

The villagers exchanged uncertain glances, their apprehension palpable. I could see the fear in their eyes, the memories of those terrifying days resurfacing. I couldn’t blame them; after all, it wasn’t every day that a snake—especially one resembling a Wind Serpent—showed up in your village.

“He’s harmless,” I continued, my tone as reassuring as I could make it. “Look at him. He’s smaller, his scales are pure white, and his eyes are blue, not red like the ones that attacked the village. He’s not aggressive at all.”

But my words seemed to do little to soothe their fears. The villagers continued to murmur among themselves, their eyes darting between me and Windy. I could hear snippets of their conversations—

“Can we trust him?”

“What if it turns on us?”

“It looks just like them…”

Lan Sheng, sensing the rising tension, stepped forward. His presence, usually relaxed and easygoing, took on a more authoritative air as he addressed the crowd. “People of Qingmu, I understand your concerns, but I assure you, this serpent is not a threat. On the honor of the Verdant Lotus Sect, I swear that Windy is under complete control and can be trusted.”

For a moment, his words seemed to have some effect. The murmurs quieted slightly, and a few of the villagers glanced at each other, as if trying to gauge whether they should believe us. But the fear was still there, lurking just beneath the surface.

One of the older men, his face lined with years of hardship, stepped forward. “He may be different, but he’s still a serpent. We’ve seen what those creatures can do. Can you guarantee that it won’t harm us?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. I knew he wouldn’t hurt anyone, but how could I convince them? How could I make them see that he wasn’t like the others?

An idea struck me. If I could show the villagers that Windy was fully under my control—tamed and harmless—they might start to see him differently. I swallowed my nerves and glanced down at the serpent, who was still nestled in my collar, his blue eyes watching the villagers with a curious but indifferent gaze.

“Of course I can guarantee it,” I said, my voice firm. “In fact, I’ll prove it to you right now.”

I cleared my throat, trying to sound confident. “Windy, come out and show everyone how well-behaved you are.”

He blinked at me slowly, and for a moment, I thought he was going to cooperate. But then he just stayed where he was, his expression unreadable. The villagers watched closely, their unease palpable, as I tried again.

“Come on, Windy,” I urged, my tone a little more pleading. “Do something… uh, cool. You know, like you did back at the sect.”

I swore I saw a hint of reproach in those blue eyes. He didn’t move an inch. My confidence began to falter, and I could feel the sweat starting to bead on my forehead. This was not going as planned.

“Please?”

I couldn’t believe I was begging a snake to perform tricks in front of a crowd, but here I was, half of the entire village watching me.

Windy finally stirred, but instead of doing something impressive or even remotely useful, he slithered out of my collar and coiled around my arm lazily, resting his head on my shoulder. His eyes half-lidded, he looked more like he was ready to take a nap than to impress anyone.

And then, I felt it—a wave of icy disdain washing over me, but it wasn’t my own. It was sharp, cold, and pointed, cutting through the fog of my thoughts like a blade. My breath caught in my throat. Tianyi?

The realization hit me like a splash of cold water, and I turned my gaze toward her. The usually delicate butterfly was hovering in the air, her wings barely moving as she stared intently at Windy. Her entire form seemed to radiate an icy aura, and it became clear that she was the source of the frigid pressure I was feeling.

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The serpentine spirit beast, who had been perfectly content to ignore my requests, suddenly stiffened. His gaze shifted from me to Tianyi, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something akin to nervousness in his blue eyes. It was as if they were having a silent conversation, one where Windy was being firmly reprimanded.

His body coiled tighter around my arm, his tail twitching as if he was trying to resist whatever command the butterfly was giving him. But the pressure from Tianyi’s silent will was unrelenting, her icy determination pressing down on him. I could feel the tension in Windy’s small body, a silent battle of wills between the two spirit beasts.

For a moment, I feared Windy might openly defy her, but then the resistance in his posture softened. With a resigned huff—if snakes could huff—Windy uncoiled himself from my arm and leaped into the air. The movement was fluid and graceful, a stark contrast to his earlier laziness. He formed a perfect circle mid-air before landing back on my shoulder with an effortless flick of his tail.

The villagers, who had been holding their breath, erupted into applause. Their earlier apprehension began to dissolve, replaced by awe at the display.

I exhaled a long breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. The icy pressure in my mind subsided as Tianyi’s presence softened, her intent satisfied. Windy, on the other hand, shot the both of us a reproachful look as if to say, There, happy now?

I offered him an apologetic smile in return, grateful that he had gone along with the plan, even if reluctantly. He'll be receiving a nice feast when I can provide it for him!

As the villagers began to approach again, this time with less fear and more curiosity, I allowed myself a moment of relief. Things hadn’t gone exactly as planned, but they had worked out in the end. Still, I made a mental note: bringing a Wind Serpent into a village that had been terrorized by Wind Serpents? Probably not the wisest course of action.

They slowly returned to their routines, though their eyes still lingered on me and my serpent companion. A few even managed hesitant smiles as they gave us space to pass through.

Lan Sheng, ever the light-hearted one, clapped me on the shoulder as we continued toward the village's inn. "Well, that was a close one. It's a good thing Windy knew what 'cool' meant."

I chuckled, more out of relief than anything else. "Yeah, well, I suppose I should've anticipated that reaction. Not every day you bring a Wind Serpent into a place that barely survived an attack by its kin."

We reached the inn, a modest establishment that looked like it had seen better days but had clearly been patched up with care since the last time I’d visited. I pushed the door open with a casual swing, intending to brush off the day's excitement.

As soon as we stepped inside, the familiar warmth of the inn enveloped us. The smell of hearty stew and fresh bread wafted through the air. The innkeeper glanced up from behind the counter, ready to greet us with the usual pleasantries. But then, recognition flickered across his face, and his words caught in his throat.

"Welcome! What can I—Elder Brother Kai?!" he stammered, his eyes widening in disbelief.

I grinned, already feeling more at ease. "Hua Lingsheng! You've grown!"

The boy I'd saved from the Wind Serpents, now a bit taller and certainly more confident, was standing right in front of me. It was good to see him again, especially under better circumstances.

His face lit up with excitement as he rushed forward, grabbing my hands with an enthusiasm that nearly knocked me off balance. “Elder Brother Kai!” he exclaimed, his voice trembling with awe. “You've returned!”

I smiled warmly at him, patting his shoulder. “I have, and it's clear you've grown while I was away.”

"Of course! I've been training! So that one day, I can protect the village just like you did!"

I chuckled softly, trying to ease his intensity. He was buzzing in excitement, so much so that I thought he'd explode. “No need to rush. Just take your time and focus on your training. Cultivation is a lifelong journey, and you have plenty of time to grow.”

He nodded, before glancing at Tianyi, Windy, and Lan Sheng. He strained his neck to see two horses and a cart behind us.

"I'll have the rooms prepared for you immediately! Just give me a few moments!"

"Thank you," I pulled out my coin satchel, heavy with change. "How much will it b—?"

But Hua Lingsheng wasn’t about to be calmed down so easily. “Nonsense!” he declared with a fervor that made me blink in surprise. “I owe you my life, and allowing you to pay would bring shame upon my family for generations! Let me take care of your horses and cart—I’ll make sure they’re well looked after.”

Before I could protest, he darted out of the inn, leaving me standing there, slightly stunned by his energy. I could hear him shouting orders to the stable hands outside, his voice brimming with purpose.

I sighed inwardly, feeling a mix of embarrassment and pride. It was touching, really, to see how much of an impact I’d had on him. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable with the hero worship.

Lan Sheng, who had been watching the whole exchange with barely contained amusement, finally lost his composure. He burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking with mirth. “You’ve really made an impression on him, haven’t you?”

I shot him a glare, though I couldn’t help the smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Oh, shut up. I didn’t ask for this.”

He wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. “Oh, I know. But it’s just too good. The mighty Kai, revered by the villagers and idolized by the young. Who would’ve thought?”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, trying to brush off the embarrassment. “Let’s just focus on getting a room for the night.”

Within minutes, we were situated and placed in the biggest rooms in the inn. It was early in the evening still, and I decided to get some training done outside. if I wanted to incorporate the rest of the beast core elixir into my dantian quicker, I'd need to keep on training hard and deplete my reserves.

My two companions came with me, although Lan Sheng stayed in his room, likely cultivating in peace or sleeping.

We sneakily made our way out of the inn as a group, traveling into the outskirts, but close enough where the village was in plain sight. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, remembering Lan Sheng's words.

Qi alone is not enough.

The memory of our sparring session replayed in my mind, a relentless loop of feints, parries, and missed opportunities. I had dissected every movement, every subtle shift in his stance, every telltale twitch of his muscles. I had the advantage of familiarity, of countless hours spent replaying our encounters within the vast expanse of my Memory Palace. Yet, despite my knowledge, he had effortlessly outmaneuvered me

What was it that kept him so far ahead of me?

I understood now. More than ever. It wasn't just about having the strongest techniques or the most potent reserves. It was about knowing when to strike, when to yield, when to adapt. It was about reading your opponent, anticipating their next move, and responding with a calculated counter.

A fierce determination ignited within me. This was a challenge I couldn't overcome with shortcuts or clever tricks. This was a battle that would be won through sweat, blood, and countless hours of practice.

And the only solution to that, was gaining experience of my own. To adapt and consider the nuance of each technique I know, when to use them and when not to. This wasn't something I could shortcut so easily.

I turned to Tianyi and Windy, a fierce grin spreading across my face. "You two ready?"

'Indeed,' The butterfly's voice echoed in my mind, a melody carried on the crisp winter air.

Windy uncoiled, his sleek body a blur of white against the snow as he tested his newfound agility. The elixir had ignited a spark within him, a hunger for challenge and growth. And perhaps a hint of resentment for being forced to do tricks under my and Tianyi's behest.

A thrill coursed through me. The prospect of sparring with partners who could match my newfound strength was exhilarating. No more holding back, no more cautious exchanges.

"Let's go!" I roared, launching myself forward, my body a blur of motion.

The snow-covered clearing became our battlefield. Tianyi darted through the air, her wings a blur. Windy, a serpentine whirlwind, weaved and lunged, his tail a whip of pure force. I met their attacks with equal fervor, my movements fueled by a newfound confidence and agility.

The night air crackled with energy, the clash of our powers echoing through the silent clearing. Under the watchful eyes of the moon and stars, we danced, we fought, we grew.

Like a dragon's claws tempered against steel scales, we honed our skills, each strike a step closer to mastery.

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