Mage's Cultivation Journey 40

Watching Elder Kai and Hun Chu walk away, carrying the bodies, I couldn’t help but wonder if mentioning the potential inside job was a good call.

Not because I was afraid of that judgment being wrong. The whole setup had been suspicious, and the execution of the last guard had been definitive proof of internal treachery. I didn’t want a potential civil war to actually burst out, as it would ruin the point of my whole stay.

It was also why I didn’t work particularly hard to save the life of the last guard. An internal conflict was difficult to predict, especially in an environment with multiple external players. I had no loyalty to any faction, and while I was willing to heal a few people as a payment for everything they gave us, none of them were enough to make me join their fight.

Especially since the groups in question were pretty much limited to upstart mercenaries and local bullies, no matter how much they wanted to wrap themselves in false glory.

There was no benefit in thinking about it. With a deep sigh, I stood up and walked downstairs, toward the training room where the kids were waiting for me. I had sent them away earlier, as they were too tense after the fight. No point stressing them further with another meeting, especially one with the chance of turning violent.

Luckily, that part turned out to be not a problem. As I walked downstairs, I let out a long breath, releasing some of my internal energy reserves.

“Well, this has been an interesting night, hasn’t it, kids?” I said once I returned to the basement. Su Mi was still shaken after the explosions, and Yu Xing was not much better.

“It was … something,” Yu Xing tried to answer, but his voice trembled. “Sorry, master. I know I shouldn’t —”

“I will cut you right there, kiddo. You have just faced an enemy that’s several times stronger than you, and survived. The last thing I’ll begrudge you for is feeling a little shaken up. It’s very normal.”

He still looked ashamed. “You don’t seem to be shaken up. Not now. Not before you faced the enemy without figuring out how to use martial arts.”

I chuckled. “That’s one advantage of the life I lived, kiddo. When you face death as many times as I did, you get better. Pray that you don’t get used to it.” He didn’t seem particularly convinced, but I knew that it was not something that could be taught by talking. It was one of the things that only experience could teach.

Assuming survival.

“So, a breakthrough,” I said, changing the subject. “Show me what changed. Start with a simple punch.”

The request provided him the distraction he needed. He swung his fist, delivering a punch I had seen him practicing thousands of times. The mechanics of the punch were still the same. But, none of those times, the blow had been accompanied by a hint of wind, affected by the release of his punch.

The key was the transformation of his internal energy, like I suspected. The concept of gale was much stronger in his attack, enough to have a little physical representation. More importantly, I also kept an eye on his physique. Normally, the feedback from a simple punch shouldn’t have any further impact on his body to strengthen his meridians, but it had a subtle improvement.

I asked him to move to more difficult punches. His improvement was across the board. “Good news,” I said. “Alignment with the elemental concept of your martial style looks to be even more important than I expected. If I help you to cleanse the internal energy and cure meridian damage, the next breakthrough shouldn’t be too far away.”

Su Mi cut in. “Wouldn’t it be risky? Too many breakthroughs might hurt his foundation.”

“Possibly,” I admitted with a shrug. “He doesn’t have to take the risk. Actually, personally, I prefer if he doesn’t, but that means not examining the truth about why the traitors to his old schools are around.” I could have tried to convince the kid one way or another, but I decided against it. He was old enough to decide what to do with his life.

Su Mi turned to him. “You have to slow down,” she said. “I know you want to take revenge, but it’s not the way.”

Yu Xing looked hesitant, but then turned determined. “I have to. It’s … I just have to.”

I believed Su Mi was right. Just not too long ago, Yu Xing was happy to find a chance to practice martial arts to a limited degree, but he was talking about revenge like it was his most important mission. But, I didn’t intervene, aware that it was hopeless to convince him otherwise. He wouldn’t listen to me.

No teenager would. The best I could do was to make sure he was equipped accordingly.

Su Mi continued to look at him, her growing anger enough to destroy her earlier skittishness. Yu Xing flinched, but said nothing. “Fine,” Su Mi declared. Yu Xing relaxed at that declaration, thinking that he had won their little argument. A mistake, as surrender was the last thing Su Mi’s tone had implied. She turned to me. “Teach me how to use martial arts,” she said.

Yu Xing looked at her in shock, then turned to me. “Master, you can’t!” he gasped.

I looked at Su Mi, trying to read whether her declaration was just about bluffing the kid. If I believed that was the case, I would refuse it. However, her determination was clear, burning in her eyes. At that moment, I could see that it was not just about Yu Xing. It was also about whatever memory that had been dragged to the surface by the explosions. “Go to the next room, calm down, and think about your request,” I said. “I won’t agree unless you request it in a calm manner, and accept the risks.”

“Master—” Yu Xing started.

I gestured to him to stay silent, but said nothing until Su Mi left the room. “You want me to override her decision about what to do with her life,” I said. Yu Xing looked hesitant, but nodded. “What would you feel if I grabbed you and dragged you to a safer city and forbade you from interacting with those bandits?” I asked.

“D-don’t we need something more from the city?” he asked.

“Frankly, no,” I admitted. “I’m not saying that there are no benefits to staying, but considering the growing risks, staying is not the best decision anymore. I had already read a lot of books about various styles, and even managed to acquire a valid path to reach the Connate realm.”

“S-should we leave then?” he asked.

I sighed. “Kid, I wasn’t joking when I said I had faced death more times than you can count.” I waved my hand. “This is nothing. Now that I have figured out how to use internal energy, staying here doesn’t pose too much of a risk for me. But, I can’t say the same for protecting you two. Just as the earlier events had shown, I can’t promise that I will always be there to guard you. Things could have gone far worse if that assassin hadn’t underestimated you.”

“Does that mean we will leave?” he asked.

“Ultimately, it’s your call.”

“I want to stay, but … Su Mi doesn’t have to risk herself by learning. We don’t even know which martial style is best for her. What if she ruins her future?”

“That’s her call, just like this is yours,” I responded. “You can try to change her mind, but when push comes to shove, everyone has to take responsibility for their own lives. For better, or worse.”

He paused, avoiding my gaze. “It’s not fair.”

I chuckled. “Was it fair when you had to sell everything you had just to get a chance to get admitted to a martial arts school, while others were supported by their families? Was it fair when I killed someone at the city entrance just because he tried to block our way, working for his own organization? Was it fair when thousands of villagers had been unsettled by the savage beast attacks, only to be oppressed and blackmailed by the people that’s supposed to protect them?”

“It’s not,” he admitted.

“Exactly, expecting fairness from life is a fool’s errand. The best you can do is to play your cards to the best of your ability. Su Mi is also doing that.”

“But, she’s taking that risk for me —” he started.

“No, not just for you,” I responded. “It’s probably making her act faster than she would like, but don’t forget how she reacted to the explosion. She has her own challenges in life, ones that she might need to face head-on, without any help.”

“She won’t have to —” he started, but I flicked his head.

“Do you know how to split yourself into pieces?” I asked. He shook his head. “Are you willing to abandon every single thing in your life to constantly hover over her to the point of driving her crazy?” He shook his head again, chastised. “Good. I want you to go there and have a talk with her. No argument, no trying to browbeat her. Just tell her what you think, then accept her decision.”

He nodded. “Thanks, master,” he muttered and walked toward the door. He didn’t seem to be convinced, but considering his age, that was the best I could hope for.

I could have probably eavesdropped on their talk if I tried, but there would be no point. The last thing I wanted was to waste my time like that. Instead, I flipped open the book I had taken from the unlucky kidnapper, trying to get a general feeling of the style, one that seemed to be designed to embody the concept of shadow.

Something that was even farther away from the traditional elements than the very specific interpretation of the wind, which was even better. But, before I could even get a basic understanding, Su Mi returned.

“I’m ready, master.”