I wake up groggy, opening my eyes in a room besides my own, unsure of where I am. It's only after I feel the warmth of the body besides me that I remember the night before.
I look down at Shi Min's sleeping form, her head resting on my numb arm, then sit up and slowly pull it out from under her. Trying not to wake her, I carefully replace it with my pillow.
Now free, with feeling returning to my arm, I gaze at her. Her body is half exposed to the cold, morning air, so I pull the cover over her and leave a gentle kiss on her forehead, then stand as she starts to stir.
Taking a second to centre myself, I sort out my messy hair and straighten my creased robe, before moving out her room and into the sitting room. The mess from last night, the bandages, medicine, and Shi Min's robe, are still there, dotted around the chair. As I clean it up, the memory of Shi Min sitting over me, her lips on mine, run through my mind.
I push it away with a shake of my head and put the aids away, then pick up and fold her robe. I carry it back into her room and place it at the end of the bed, where she'll find it when she wakes, then walk back out and pour myself a cup of water to clear out the leftover taste of Shi Min.
Moving over to the entrance, I quietly open her door and step out, sliding it closed behind me. The chill of the rising sun settles on my skin and wakes me up as I walk through the low light of the morning back to my quarters. A few minutes later, I reach my home and enter, then move to the wash room, where I start to heat the water from day before.
The heat from the fire warms my body as I wait and sit in silence. Once I feel it's warm enough, I disrobe and slowly enter it, lowering my body down. I enjoy the water for a bit, feeling it soothe my bruises, before I let out a little sigh,
"...Fuck."
…
Once I'm washed up and in a fresh robe, my mind fully awake, I start to make my way out. As I slide open my door, I come face to face with my master, her hand raised to knock. She sees me and goes to speak, but closes her mouth and looks me over. Concern shows in her eyes as she asks, "...Do you want to talk about it?"
I shake my head at her, causing to sigh, but she moves on, "Very well. I trust your judgment." She pats me on the shoulder, "I came here to see if you were okay after yesterday, and to take you to your next lesson."
"I'm okay." I reassure her, "I'm actually enjoying learning under Wu Cai; he's tough, but he knows what he's doing." I smile at her.
Master Hong looks relieved, "I won't pretend to understand how your mind works, disciple." She laughs and takes her hand away, "Were you about to head out?"
"I was planning to come find you, master." Master Hong raises her eyebrow in question, "I wanted to know if you think I'm ready to move onto the Qi stage."
A look of thought appears on Master Hong's face, before she asks, "How goes your meditation? Can you enter the selfless-state at will yet?" I nod at her. I've kept up my practice, and recently received a notification informing me of my progress, with the ability now labelled as 'proficient'.
Master Hong accepts my nod, trusting me, "Then, I will need you to demonstrate before I can approve it, disciple. Follow me to my courtyard; after you've proven yourself to me, I will give you my answer."
She takes my good hand a leads me to her home, where she moves me to the centre of the courtyard. She gestures for me to sit, then waits. I close my eyes and begin to meditate, immediately falling into the selfless state, perceiving the flow of natural Qi inside me and how it melds with the Qi of the world.
Master Hong taps me on my forehead to get my attention. Opening my eyes, I see her looking at me with a smile on her face, "I'm proud of you, disciple. Truly."
I bow to her, "I've only got to where I am today thanks to your guidance, master." Master Hong accepts my words, but rolls her eyes at me.
"A master can teach, but it falls on the student to learn. You have reached this point through your own efforts, disciple." She tells me, seriousness in her voice. "As you have shown me proof of your progress, I see no reason to delay your advancement any longer."
Master Hong sits down in front of me and begins to explain, "Qi is the energy of life, and is present inside every being. Through the method I'll teach you, your Qi will purify your body, improving your physical, mental, and spiritual health, while granting you longevity."
She takes her hand and places it onto my navel. As she does, I feel a heat start to gather where she's touching, "That heat that you feel is my Qi, flowing around your Lower Dantian. Focus on it as I guide it along the necessary path." She moves her Qi from my Lower Dantian, down my navel, and then under, until it reaches the base of my spine.
The heat travels up my spine and between my shoulder blades, just behind my heart. From there, it moves on up to the base of my skull and settles, before going to the top of my head, "Place your tongue to the roof of your mouth, disciple."
After I do as she says, showing her proof, the energy flows down my forehead to my nose, then down the front of my body, passing through my heart and my solar plexus, before stopping in my Lower Dantian, completing its cycle.
Master Hong grabs my hands with her other hand and places my palms over my navel, left over right, "With your hands over the Qi, you must visualise the energy spiralling into a small, dense point." The demonstration over, she removes her hand, taking the heat with her.
"That's the complete cycle. It should be simple enough for you, given your skill in meditation." She looks at me with a smile on her face, "Give it a go. I'll be here to support you if you make a mistake, don't worry."
I nod at her and do as she says. Locating my Qi, I attempt my first go at circulation, guiding it along the path Master Hong showed me; down, under, up, over, down again, settle, then spiral. The process comes to me easily enough, and I get a two notifications that reassure me,
[Ability Learned – Internal Alchemy – Qi Stage (Basic): Under the watchful eye of your master, you have completed your first microcosmic orbit, creating your first bit of cultivated Qi.
As you build up more and more Qi, you overall physiology will start to improve, and your maximum lifespan will increase.]
As I finish reading, my heart is pounding away in my chest. The mention of extended lifespan causes me to open my character sheet for the first time in months,
[Character]
Name – Sarah Worthington
Species – Human
Life – 28/84
I note that my birthday came and went, but I ignore that, viewing it as unimportant compared to what I'm focused on.
It actually increased!
The Qi may have only added a year, but I've just started. By the time I master the stage, it will hopefully be much greater that a simple, single year. It might reach, what? One-fifty? Maybe even two-hundred? At that point, I might potentially live longer than any human from my world has before.
Calming down slightly, I check the second notification,
[Power Gained – Chi: Through the teachings of the Grand Temple of Mount Heng, you have accessed your Chi; your life force. Chi can be used to reach superhuman levels of physical ability, enhance recovery, and achieve immortality.
By manipulating your Chi, you can use it achieve various effects, such as flight, healing, projection outside your body, and infusion it into objects. Chi is also able to convert into other forms of energy with enough control, and can be used to power spells.]
So the marvel universe treats Qi and Chi as the same thing? I know there are beings such as Iron Fist, whose whole thing is Chi, but I wasn't certain the two would match up.
With this Chi, and after a bit more training, I can finally feel ready to leave the temple.
Finished with my reading, I stand and look at my master, who's staring at me with pride on her face. She starts to speak, "Success so quickly? As expected of my disciple." She smiles, "You talent in Taoism continues to surprise." Master Hong lifts a hand and lays it out to me. She nods to it, telling me to watch, before her fingers starts to glow a soft orange.
...The Iron Fist? No, it's similar, but it doesn't cover her whole hand. I walk over to her and nod questioningly at her hand, then, "Master?" I ask. Master Hong bring her glowing hand forward and taps me on my chest, sending me flying back. Although shocked, I quickly find my centre and land steadily.
I take a stance and look at Master Hong cautiously. She stares at me with a stoic expression, then charges at me, striking at my neck. I guide her attack to the side as I step around her, but she pivots and kick at me. I shield myself with my forearms, but I'm pushed back slightly.
I brace myself with a with a single foot as she resets and moves towards me. This time, I take the initiative and attack, striking at her. She blocks, pushing my hand up, then strikes back in turn, hitting my chest. As I stumble, Master Hong clutches my arm and pulls me to her, grabbing me by my shoulder and putting me in a hold.
Distant pain flares from my shoulder as she puts me in a crouched position, where I brace myself against the ground. I turn and look up at her, seeing a worried look on her face. Her expression makes me focus, and think about why she's doing this.
Is she trying to push me? Why? Does she want me to do something? Is it related to the glow? Realisation flashes through my mind as I think that last thought.
She wants me to mobilise my Chi.
Finally understanding why she's doing this, I stop struggling against the hold, and start concentrating on my Chi. I close my eyes and feel for it, sitting in my Lower Dantian. Following my masters example, I guide it out of my dantian and up my right arm, then to my hand. Finished, I open my eyes, and turn to look at the result.
What draws my attention first is the green glow emanating from my hand, the colour similar to the fields of the Seedbed. The second thing, is the wide smile Master Hong sports on her face.
She releases me from the hold and grabs my hand, bringing it close to her face. I carefully stand as she turns to me, happiness in her eyes as she tells me,
"You're ready."
…
Ever since Master Hong attacked me a week and a half ago, she's been spending all her time finalising my training, smoothing down any rough areas in my skills. Now, on the day we decided I would leave the temple, I find myself reluctant to go.
The temple has come to be my home. It's the home of the woman I might love, and the home of the woman who is like a mother to me.
I have been happier in my three months at the temple then I've been my entire life. But, at the same time, I know I can't stay here. The future of this universe is awash in danger, and I can't sit on my hands waiting for it come for me. The sorcerers are a necessary step in gaining the power to protect myself, and potentially others.
So I have to leave.
With reluctant acceptance, I make my way the entrance of the temple in my new outfit, my back carrying everything I will need. For the journey, I'm taking plenty of rations, a new gourd made for me by Shi Min, who hasn't been avoiding me, thankfully; and Jian. Master Hong requested a scabbard for it from the temples smith, so I could strap it to my side.
The Abbot has also been worried about my safety on the journey to the Sanctum, so has asked Wu Cai to accompany me for as long as he can. He was initially hesitant, as he worried we were headed to different places, but I told him I was going south, causing him to accept.
I haven't opened the Dial yet, but going by the positioning of the sun, and my knowledge of the location of Hong Kong, I worked out what direction I needed to take.
As I near the front gate of the temple, I find a group standing before it, consisting of those I've grown closest to in my time here.
The Abbot, who gave me a place to live and a path to the future. Lai Haibo, who made sure I could speak and listened without judgment during my time of need. Kang Cheng, who calmed me on my first day here and introduced me to my master. Wu Cai, who taught me the way of the sword and the skills I need to survive.
Hong Yi, my master, who accepted me as her own and taught me what it is to be loved.
Shi Min, who saved my life, and then stole my heart.
These six people, who out of nothing but basic, human kindness, helped me adapt to my new life and show me that I don't need to be afraid, are the family I've always wished for.
As I approach them, Shi Min is the first to see me. She starts waving me over, getting the attention of the others, who look at me with varying emotions.
I stop in front of Shi Min and pull her into a hug, squeezing her tight. She wraps her arms around me and buries her face in my neck. As we hold each other, I feel her tears drip down my neck while she cries in silence. I kiss her softly on her head, as she whispers to me, "Am I ever going to see you again?"
I hold her tight and rub her back.
Shi Min takes in my silence and nods shakily into my neck, then releases me and steps back into the group. Master Hong pats her on the arm then turns to me, "...Come here." I do as she says, walking up to her.
She looks me over, making sure I've got everything I need, then stares at me, her eyes red, "You will always have a home here, understand? The temple will forever be open to you, so don't be a stranger."
She pulls me into a quick hug, then manoeuvres me to the entrance, where I find Wu Cai. He nods at me then starts to walk out the gate. I go to follow, then turn to my family, "You have done more for me then you will ever know." I bow deeply to them, tears in my eyes, "This isn't goodbye." I promise.
With one last look at the place I've come to call home, I walk out it's gate.
Taking my first step into my future.