“You never cease to amaze me, Brother Max. How do you do it?”
I gave Gui Zu a shrug and fed him my standard answer with a smile.
“Just lucky, I guess.”
Gui Zu laughed. “I think there is more to it than just luck, but I will leave you to your modesty.”
I couldn’t help but grin at that.
We were making our way back to the square, me striving to be faithful to my daily routine of checking in with Yu Li and Su Ling before heading off for the night. The air seemed crisper and lighter than usual, full of energy. Whether it was the actual weather getting cooler or just my optimism interpreting it for me, I couldn’t tell.
And I didn’t really care either.
I’d reached a major milestone on my journey tonight and I felt damn good about it.
“We should celebrate your victory,” Gui Zu said as if reading my thoughts. “The square is holding the festival tonight.”“You mean the one Jian Yi was organizing?”
“No, the other one,” Gui Zu said.
I looked at him funny until he let out a laugh.
“Smart ass.”
“It should be a lot of fun. Jian Yi has arranged for food vendors from the restaurant district to come to the square tonight. The food might be a bit pricey, but it will be top notch.”
It did sound nice, but I had already made plans to meet up with Lee, Mu Lin, and my three apprentices at a bar downtown. Xi Xha could possibly show up as well.
“Unfortunately, I’m double booked,” I said. “I made some plans tonight with some friends from work. We’re celebrating our co-worker passing her scholar exam. Well…hopefully she passed anyway.”
Gui Zu chuckled. “Well, you should at least come by the square for a little while.”
I glanced up at the red-tinted Bloodmoon just barely on the rise. I supposed it was still somewhat early. And what the heck? I had forged frenzied lightning tonight. That deserved a double celebration in my books.
“Let’s do it,” I said with a smile. “Tonight, I’m going to let it all hang out.”
* * *
The festivities in the square were as lively as a carnival. Music and dancing filled the center of the block while various food vendors and festival games lined the sides. The atmosphere was steeped in laughter and mirth, and I couldn’t recall the last time I’d seen my neighborhood so jovial.
I spotted Yu Li sitting at a table with Su Ling in her lap. She let out a radiant smile when she saw us and grabbed hold of Su Ling’s little hand to give us a wave. I was about to wave back when I realized the wave was not for me but Gui Zu.
The big man grinned at Su Ling from across the distance and the baby hopped up and down in Yu Li’s lap in excitement. The sight of his jacked-up smile reminded me of something and I stopped him right before we entered the square.
“Hey, just a sec,” I said. “I have something for you, Gui Zu.”
He looked at me quizzically as I reached into my robes and then his eyes grew wide as I plopped a glowing spirit stone into his hands.
“Brother Max!” he said, perplexed. “W-what is this for?”
“A dentist,” I said with a grin. “Paying you back for how we first met. I owe you that much.”
“But this is too mu––”
“Just take it,” I said. “And it’s not charity either. I never would have been able to earn that without all your help sparring in the ring. You truly are an amazing fighter, Gui Zu.”
He scratched the back of his head. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll spend at least some of it on a dentist and not all of it on food and drinks.”
He laughed at that. “I don’t know. I’ll try, but Jian Yi hasn’t made it easy with this spread.”
As we weaved into the crowd, I noticed Gui Zu getting just as many greetings and bows as I did, perhaps even more. Yu Li welcomed him with a big hug as well and we all sat for a while together enjoying the lively dancing in the square.
It was nice to watch, but strangely I felt more like a guest than anything else. It dawned on me then, that I’d never really had many people I interacted with in the neighborhood besides Yu Li. Even Gui Zu seemed to have more people to speak to as he wandered off to buy us some drinks.
“He’s fitting right in,” I said to Yu Li, nodding towards Gui Zu as he left.
Yu Li smiled. “Yes. He really is a nice guy too. He spends all day helping people out in the square.”
“Really?”
“He’s become our gentle giant.” She then nudged me with a wink. “As opposed to our furious one.”
I laughed at that. “Oh, before I forget. Take this.”
I slipped her one of my three remaining spirit stones and Yu Li nearly fell out of her chair.
“Damn it, Chun! What did you do? Rob a bank?”
I merely grinned. “Let’s just say, my plans are starting to look up.”
“If this is any proof, I’d say that’s an understatement,” she said, marveling at the stone. “I don’t think I’ve ever even held one of these before. Ten Taels of silver in the palm of my hand.”
“You know,” I said. “Maybe you should consider using it instead of selling it.”
“Using it? You mean cultivating it?”
I nodded. “You were on the brink of the 9th Tier, almost at Foundation Realm. I think cultivating something like that might be all you need to achieve your breakthrough. Plus, I’m sure Gui Zu could help you with any martial training you might need to assist.”
As she stared at the glowing blue gem a look came into her eyes. One I hadn’t seen in ages. I’d seen it plenty of times back when we were in school. A dogged determination that that she could overcome the world, so long as she studied hard enough. Being with Hein had robbed her of that, but faintly I could see it returning as she stared at the stone.
“Money is just money,” I said. “It comes and goes. But becoming a true Foundation Realm cultivator will bring you a new life. The one you always dreamed of before you had to drop out of school.”
Yu Li looked back at me and had tears in her eyes.
“You know what? I think I just might.”
She smiled and pulled me into a hug. “Thanks, Chun. You’re the best damn brother in the world.”
“I know it,” I said cockily, and she elbowed me with a grin.
I shared a drink with her and Gui Zu when he returned and then I made my apologies to leave early for the night. Yu Li gave me a ribbing about blowing them off, but we all hugged and then I said my goodbyes.
I was just leaving the perimeter of the square when a voice called out to me from behind.
“Sneaking off early?”
I didn’t need to turn about to know it was Jian Yi, but I was surprised to hear laughter in her tone instead of snark. When I did look, I saw she was dressed to the nines in a blue floral dress and had a small flower in her hair to match.
“You look nice,” I said.
“Thank you.”
“You did a good job putting all this on too. Everyone seems to be having a good time.”
Jian Yi turned to face the crowd with me. “Yes, it’s nice to just relax for once.” She paused for a moment then, looking towards the ground before continuing. “You know, although you don’t live here anymore, you should still feel more than welcome to stay.”
Funny that she said that, I thought. Or even had to say it. I already knew it was true of course—this place would always be my home, but honestly I didn’t feel as connected to it anymore. Perhaps she’d read the disquiet in my face from earlier, but I was honestly more looking forward to partying with my handler co-workers than staying here. Maybe I’d always been more at home with my wild, risktaker cohorts. And now that I was a cultivator perhaps that gulf was spreading even wider.
Or maybe I finally felt confident enough to move on now, knowing Gui Zu would be keeping a watchful eye over Su Ling and Yu Li. Either way. I was more than happy to watch things from afar.
“I know that,” I said, answering her. “It’s just that I have another engagement to get to, is all.”
“I see,” Jian Yi said, nodding.
“I’m another step closer, by the way,” I said, changing the subject. “Hopefully by tomorrow night the people you see here will all be members of the Terran sect.”
“Why? What’s happening tomorrow night?”
I chided myself for saying too much. “A miracle hopefully. But I won’t bore you with the details. Just know that it’ll happen soon.”
I looked out at the happy crowd once more. Although I couldn’t be a part of it, I could still help out in some way. I reached into my robes and then took one of my two remaining spirit stones and offered it to Jian Yi. “I can’t stay but, I’d like to make a little donation towards the festivities, if that’s alright?”
Jian Yi looked into my palm and her mouth fell open. “Chun, is that a real spirit stone?”
“Hopefully it should cover some of the costs, yeah?”
“Some?” she said. “This would buy all the food twice over!”
I shrugged with [Struggler’s Resolve] and gave her a smile. “So let them eat and drink twice as hard then.”
Jian Yi put her hand on my shoulder. “I know you have to go, but… wait here just a second, okay?”
Before I could even ask her why, she sped away and the next thing I knew she was standing atop a table in the middle of the square again, banging a cymbal to get everyone’s attention.
Oh man, what now?
“Everyone, may I have your attention please!” she called to the crowd.
The music and dancing stopped and as they settled down, Jian Yi addressed them once more. “First, I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight. You’ve truly made this a special evening. And to make it even more special, I have a surprise for you.” She then paused with a smile and a murmur of excitement and curiosity spread throughout the square. To my chagrin, she then gestured in my direction. “Although he’s unfortunately too busy to stay with us for the entire evening, I wish you all to know that tonight, all food and drink has been paid for, compliments of our most generous neighbor, Brother Chun.”
The crowd erupted in a series of surprised oohs and gasps.
With all the attention on me, I turned about three shades redder than before, but played it all off with a stoic façade of [Indifference].
“Please join me in thanking him, before he departs,” Jian Yi said and then gave me a deep bow before starting off a chorus of claps and applauses.
Lemonade began to pour freely as people began shouting my name, standing to their feet in an ovation.
“To Chun! To Chun!”
“To Chun, indeed,” Jian Yi echoed them, raising a cup. “Now everyone, please continue to enjoy yourselves. Eat and drink as much as you want! It’s all on the house, thanks to Chun!”
That got another round of cheers and hollers. A few people closest to me even touched their heads to the floor in an embarrassing kowtow. I played it all off as best I could, waving and smiling back.
With my Dantian seeming to have recovered, I got a ton of free Frenzy out of the deal as well. When the crowd finally allowed me to leave, I gave a parting glance to Jian Yi. She lifted her chin at me as always, but with it came a smile this time.
I mimicked her gesture with a smile of my own and as I departed, I couldn’t help but feel a small piece of old Earth had just been restored.
* * *
I was pumped full of fresh Frenzy by the time I left the square. Before heading for the bar, I made a quick pitstop at the barber for a trim to my beard and a fresh haircut. I even splurged on a new set of robes that looked fitting for a night out on the town, before leaving the market district. I then made one last stop at an artisan jeweler and dropped a couple Tael on a gift for Mu Lin.
Lee, Ren, Rho, and Yi Fu had all arrived ahead of me by the time I finally reached the drinking establishment, and by the looks of them they had been there a while. It was an open-air joint, with lanterns strung over an array of tables and chairs. Not much different than the square really, except everything was a couple tiers higher in terms of quality.
That went for both the booze and the entertainment.
Artisan musicians played for a trio of women in lavishly adorned costumes who were performing a dance routine on stage that could rival most martial arts forms. The small but raucous crowd whistled appreciatively at them while tossing copper Wen at their feet. Among them were my co-workers, Lee leading the charge on downing drinks and showering the dancing girls with riches.
“Where’s Mu Lin?” I asked as I joined them.
“Where’s Mu Lin?” Lee echoed me, while looking up incredulously. “Where the hells have you been, man?”
I grinned. “Had a family function to attend.”
Lee scrounged his brows together. “A what?”
“Never mind,” I said with a laugh and then slammed a silver Tael on the table. “But the party’s on me now, boys. Let’s get us another round.”
As the drinks flowed, Ren and Rho kept us entertained with stories while the five of us played dominoes. Within half an hour I had downed enough plum wine to get the edge on my vastly improved constitution thanks to my body refinement and had developed a nice buzz.
The thought made me consider where I was progression wise in my cultivation levels now. I brought up the tables in my mind’s eye while only half listening to Rho grilling his brother about some story detail involving Sumatra and some missing field gear.
Foundation Establishment
1st
Qi Gathering
2nd
Qi Channeling
3rd
Qi Body Refinement
4th
Qi Mental Refinement
5th
Qi concentration
6th
Qi Manifestation (internal)
7th
Qi Manifestation (external)
8th
Qi Condensing
9th
Qi Hardening
Core Formation
1st
Core Formation
2nd
Core Body Refinement
3rd
Core Mental Refinement
4th
Core Density Refinement
5th
Inner Soul Detection
6th
Inner Soul Focus
7th
Inner Soul Refinement
8th
Inner Soul Projection
9th
Secondary Soul germination
I’d been able to create solid Frenzy for the first time tonight, which meant I had finally broken into the 9th Tier of the Foundation Realm, but I still couldn’t make that leap into the Core Realm and Core Formation until I mastered the fear of certain death. It had taken massive amounts of Frenzy and an extreme focus of my Flame’s inner will to create that small amount of solid Frenzy too. Still, it was a step forward. I’d learned how to do it once; I could do it again.
So long as there was enough stimuli to generate the amount of Frenzy I needed. Once I was able to reach the next realm however, my stored Frenzy would be solid and I could generate lightning bolts as easily as I could manifest [Iron Skin].
The idea of becoming that powerful made me smile.
One step closer to being able to truly cut loose, I thought. I couldn’t wait.
“Yo, she’s here!” Lee said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Damn, she came in style too.”
When I looked to see what Lee was talking about, I saw the familiar skiff descending just outside the bar. Pedestrians made way as the craft touched down and the black-robed pilot rushed to open the door for the occupants to disembark.
It was a familiar trio on board. Mu Lin and Xi Xha of course, along with the silver-haired bitch who owned the damn thing. She barely acknowledged Mu Lin and Xi Xha as they bowed profusely before her, thanking her for the ride. Her eyes instead were locked on me with a disdainful glare.
Damn, I thought. Guess she was still pissed off by that snub.
I ignored her with [Indifference] as we all got up to greet Mu Lin and Xi Xha.
Mu Lin let out a squeal of delight as she saw us all and came running with both fists in the air.
“I passed! I passed! I passed!” she cried, jumping up and down.
There were high fives and hugs all around as we celebrated with her and I noticed she was already stinking of alcohol.
“Hey, are you drunk already?” I asked with a laugh.
“Hell, yeah I am!” she yelled. “Woooo!”
“My apologies,” Xi Xha said formally, but I noticed she too had a rosy complexion as she sort of stumbled towards me with a huge smile on her face. “The Lady Silver Light insisted that she be the first to congratulate Mu Lin on passing her exam. It’s also the reason we are late.”
I raised a brow at that and took another glance at the high-class cultivator still lounging in the rear of the skiff. Maybe she was genuinely altruistic, after all. I gave her a smile in thanks, but the smug disdainful look never left her face as she simply stared back at me.
Friggin’ weirdo, I thought.
Surprisingly, Xi Xha greeted me with more than a bow when she reached me, pulling me into a hug instead. Her lips found the side of my neck as she breathed heavily into my ear.
“You smell so damn good,” she whispered. “I’m warning you early. We’re getting a room tonight.”
I played it off with a laugh as she melted into my arms. “That’s fine with me.”
A sudden flare of anger came from the Lady Silver Light as she shouted for her pilot to depart. The poor guy barely had time to respond to her before she kicked him cruelly in the back of his legs as he rushed past her to get to the controls.
My Flame stirred and I was just about to say something, when the craft swiftly departed, Silver Light’s gaze remained fixed dead ahead of her in a haughty, arrogant stare.
Damn bitch.
“Are you okay?” Xi Xha asked, looking up at me. “You tensed up suddenly.”
“Yeah, it’s nothing,” I said, my Flame barely subsiding for now. You have some strange friends, I wanted to add, but I didn’t want to spoil the mood.
“Come on,” I said instead. “It’s Mu Lin’s night tonight. Let’s celebrate it something proper.”
* * *
The night went on and by the time I had gotten another two drinks in me, I had forgotten all about Lady Silver Stick-in-her-Ass and her shitty attitude. We played drinking games and ordered cheap food, reveling in the party atmosphere well into the night.
I finally remembered to give Mu Lin her gift and when she opened it, she let out a gasp of shock.
“Chun!” she said, holding up the rimless spectacles in awe. “These must have cost you a fortune!”
I shrugged with [Indifference] and tried to downplay the price. “Yeah, the crafter said the lenses are made of some special Qi-infused quartz or something, but I only bought them because I thought they’d make you look like less of a nerd.”
Mu Lin’s mouth opened in mock offence, swatting at me playfully while everyone laughed. Finally she gave me a hug and a peck on my cheek. “Thanks, Chun, seriously. These are awesome.”
She put them on, exchanging her old glasses for new and she actually did look cuter in them.
“So what are your plans now?” Lee asked. “You going to roll into work tomorrow and give Sumatra a piece of your mind before quitting on the spot?”
She laughed. “I couldn’t do that to all you guys in the middle of the tournament. When it’s over though, we’ll see. A lot of it depends on… well.”
She blushed a little and then Xi Xha jumped in for her.
“Well now that she’s passed the entrance exam, I’ll be sponsoring Mu Lin to attend the Academy in the fall. She might have to give up her life as a handler after that I’m afraid.”
Mu Lin smiled and I could see the sense of relief in her as Xi Xha vocalized her promise.
“Damn straight!” Lee said, raising his cup in cheer. “Good on you, Mu Lin!”
We all gave cheers to that, and Mu Lin blushed even more.
“Thanks, you guys,” she said, her eyes watering a little behind her new glasses. “You’re the best. All of you.”
We partied some more and by the time it was approaching midnight, Xi Xha kept reminding me of her intentions from earlier with a constant rubbing of her hand on my inner thigh. I finally gave in to her and dropped some extra copper on the table for the boys to close out the night with Mu Lin.
Xi Xha was half out of her robes by the time we reached the brothel. We closed the night out with a wild party of our own and by the time we were both exhausted I couldn’t even tell what time it was anymore.
The only thing I knew, was I’d just had the best day of my life.
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