The Laws of Cultivation: Qi = MC^2

I sat in my chamber, at my desk, drawing out plans for the future. The hours in the day were no longer enough, and each passing moment I grew more tempted to learn how to split myself up into multiple fragments again just to be able to keep up with work.

That was likely a worthwhile technique to learn, but unfortunately, the time that would take was something I simply didn’t have at the moment. There was infrastructure to set up for all the plans I’d made, logistics to be handled, people to be trained. The demand for craftsmen was going to rapidly rise, and their prices would rise accordingly. I needed to work to make sure I didn’t inadvertently collapse the economy by trying to do too many things at once.

Somehow, having money resulted in more money being spent. I was spending thousands of gold pieces every day, and the amount sometimes horrified me to look at. But I knew all of it was necessary, and I didn’t hold any actual ties to the money itself. Money was merely untapped potential, it had no use if it couldn’t be put to use. The only thing I feared was that I wasn’t being swept up in the flow of things and forgetting to take a step back and look at things logically.

Nothing had been moving in a linear progression. From a lone alchemist to a group of spirits and mortals to the elder of a sect to now a sage leading a combined coalition of the five great families, the changes had happened within months, leaving me running around desperately to catch up.

As I sat there, trying to think over how I would handle utilizing the alchemy halls, and put their resources to use, I felt a presence faintly arrive at the door. After the assassination attempt, my awareness had shot up through the roof, and I immediately stopped doing what I was to focus on the figure. I tried to sense the Qi, trying to recognize who it was. My alarm raised immediately when I failed to identify the person, their presence was subdued, not enough to be invisible, but enough to miss your senses if you weren’t paying attention. If I wasn’t focusing, I would’ve assumed it was one of the servants, as the presence I felt denoted someone in the third realm or so. But this was someone stronger, at the peak of the sixth realm.

Had the Alchemy halls not given up? No, that made no sense. Then who? The five families? No, that made no sense either. They only served to lose by trying to kill me.

And yet, the unfamiliar presence moved closer to the door after a few moments and the time to think ran out. I could sense their aura, it was deep and murky, like a poisonous swamp that would swallow you in and choke you out. The control was impeccable and even now I found myself second guessing, but I wasn’t planning to take any risks.

Just for a potential situation like this, I’d asked about any and all secret entrances in the chamber. Pushing the bookshelf ahead, I quickly opened the entrance as I slipped out. The way led out into a tunnel system built under the manor to escape, but that wasn’t my plan. I touched one of the places on the wall, walking out into the next room over. Stepping out from the entrance I moved out into the corridor.

I looked beside as I saw the door to my chamber open, whoever it was, they were inside. So this would be my chance.

I rushed ahead, Stepping as the world blurred, moving me rapidly. The person inside sensed my Chi swiftly turning around, but I was ready. Chi swirled around my fists as I moved in ready to strike. The figure rotated with extreme speed to face me, the figure’s hands swiftly moved up to their hair, grabbing a hairpin, pointed at my throat.

I froze, as I finally saw the figure in front of me. My eyes widened in surprise.

Familiar white hair fell down the woman’s shoulders, sharp red eyes looking at me as they flowed behind her back, her silver pin poised an inch away from my throat while my fist hovered in the air, similarly close to her face.

We both stood frozen for a moment of silence, before I broke away from my stance, exclaiming in joy. “Liuxiang!”

I almost hugged her, and I would’ve, but the part of me that had lived twenty years in this world cringed at even just the thought of doing that and so I simply gave her a smile.

“You scared us,” Liuxiang said, letting out a sigh as she touched her chest, pulling back her hairpin.

“And ruined her hair. Do you know how long that will take to fix?” Another familiar voice spoke, this time directly in my ears.

“Nice to see you as well, Zhi Zhu,” I said, smiling.

“What’re you doing here? I took you for an assassin with how you were hiding your aura,” I said, as Liuxiang looked away, clearly embarrassed.

“Thought we’d give you a surprise,” Liuxiang replied, looking away.

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I smiled. “Well, you certainly did! That was quite the shock,” I said, chuckling to myself.

Liuxiang shook her head. Taking her pin, she gathered her hair, quickly setting it up in a simple tie as she rearranged it once more. I took the moment to just look at her for a moment. She felt different now, which had already been true in our brief meeting back on the seventh peak, but especially so here.

It took me a moment to realize why.

She wore distinctly more feminine clothes now. Liuxiang had always been rather androgynous, but now she wore clearly feminine clothes. Red earrings hung from her ears and her hair was tied in a clearly womanly fashion.

“You’ve changed,” I said, watching as Liuxiang completed arranging her hair.

“How so?” Liuxiang asked.

“Well, you’re wearing a lot more feminine clothes now for one.”

“Ah, grandmother insisted that we do. Our clan doesn’t particularly care about gender norms as much as the rest of the empire does, but she wants us to wear more appropriate clothing given our current alignment to appear more pleasing. She said it was a waste to not utilize our charm,” Liuxiang said, with a tired sigh. “But it’s not all bad. We decided it wouldn’t be too bad to embrace being a woman for some time either. And… it’s honestly not that bad. It feels right. For now at least,” Liuxiang replied.

“Mhm,” I replied, with a hum. “We, huh?” I added, raising an eyebrow.

“Ah, sorry, I picked that up as a habit,” Liuxiang replied.

“No no, no worries. Just, interesting,” I said, looking at the girl.

I simply looked at her for a moment, and couldn’t help but smile. “It is good to see you, Liuxiang.”

“Indeed, it is good to see you too. We— I missed you,” Liuxiang replied.

“Come on in, we haven’t had the chance to talk in a while,” I said, inviting her to the chamber.

“Ah, sorry Lu Jie but I can’t. I need to return rather quickly, I only came here taking up some official business as an excuse,” Liuxiang said.

“Aww, I guess neither of us have a lot of time anymore. Also, you really don’t need to change how you talk, feel free to speak however you’re comfortable,” I said.

Liuxiang looked hesitant. “But… it’s quite pretentious isn’t it?”

“Maybe a little,” chuckled. “But you’re the heir to the Shie, so not really. No need to change yourself, if that’s what you’re comfortable with now,” I replied.

For some reason, I saw the faintest blush on Liuxiang’s face. “Thanks,” she replied.

“Liuxiang should not forget why she came here,” Zhi Zhu spoke.

“Right, Lu Jie, we’re here to officially invite you to the Shie clan and meet our Matriarch,” Liuxiang said, taking out a scroll which she gave me.

I felt a powerful aura coming from this. Stronger even than the one that had come from the Jade court.

“Grandmother has written this herself. She wants to meet you before the banquet in person,” Liuxiang said.

I looked at the invite, written by a Divinity herself. I suppose it made sense that I’d caught the attention of one given everything I’d been pulling.

“We’ll be expecting you soon. We should have more time to talk when you visit as well. Hopefully,” Liuxiang said.

I nodded, holding the invitation carefully. I’ll need to ask the Lord what the proper etiquette and stuff was when visiting a Divinity. Wouldn’t want to offend one and get wiped out with the snap of a finger.

“I’ll be there,” I replied.

I looked at Liuxiang for a moment longer, feeling both happy to have seen her again and completely unsatisfied and unhappy by how much time I got to talk and catch up over things.

“It’s likely that you don’t know, so Zhi Zhu wants to make sure you understand. But this is a grand honor few ever get. Most cultivators can’t even bear being in grandmother’s presence too long.”

“I understand,” I replied.

“Zhi Zhu is really not sure you do…”

“Lu Jie should be fine,” Liuxiang said.

“Well, the rate he has grown at is highly abnormal so perhaps he will not embarrass himself.”

“Actually, on the topic of cultivation— you’ve grown quite rapidly, Liuxiang. I’m surprised,” I said, noting the girl’s cultivation at the very peak of the sixth realm.

“Nonsense. We can’t even compare ourselves to you. You’re… we can’t even properly tell how much ahead of us,” Liuxiang said.

I smiled wryly. “Well, I cheat.”

“Hope the little rat has kept up and is not causing too much trouble either,” Zhi Zhu added.

“Labby is good. She’s grown as well,” I replied.

“That is good.”

Silence returned for a moment once again as we simply stood. I could tell neither of us really wanted to leave, but responsibilities called. At least I’d have a chance to catch up a little later.

“We’ll be heading out now, Lu Jie,” Liuxiang said.

I gave a nod. Walking to the door, I escorted Liuxiang out, before watching her step into her carriage as she left the manor’s grounds.

Feeling a strange mix of emotions, I let out a sigh, mostly feeling refreshed at having met an old friend.

As I turned back to return to my tasks, I looked down at the invitation in my hand.

“The Shie Matriarch, huh?”

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