Chapter 26: Meet My Friend

Chapter 26: Meet My Friend

It took me some time to find Feng Wu. He was resting by the shore, cultivating quietly to the sound of waves. As if detecting my presence, he opened his eyes and from a glance he already knew my answer to the Verdant Lotus sect's offer.

Our dialogue was quick and short, although I did want to introduce him to Elder Ming and the others. He was a cultivator! And a second-class disciple at that. For most of the younger generation in the village, it was the first time they'd seen someone of his caliber!

First, I visited Wang Jun and Master Qiang at the forge with the disciple in tow. But on my way there, a gaggle of children stopped us right in front of Mrs. Wang's home. I immediately had an idea.

"Peasants, remove yourselves from the path of this young master and his entourage!" I declared, shooing them out of the way. Contrary to my words, the children didn't shy away and instead drew closer with rising interest on their faces.

Xiao Bao, the youngest and rowdiest of the bunch, wiped the snot from his face and pointed at Feng Wu. "Who's this guy?!"

"He is the honored guest of our village, the second-class disciple of the Verdant Lotus Sect, Feng Wu," I replied, trying to keep a straight face.

Feng Wu, catching onto the act, played along. With an imperious air, he swept a bow in their direction. His sharp and impeccable appearance gave him an air of mystique and grandeur. "At your service, young masters and ladies," he said, his voice filled with feigned pomp and circumstance.

Xiao Bao's eyes widened in admiration, while Mei-Li, a shy girl usually found hiding behind the others., blushed fiercely. "He's... handsome," she whispered to her sister, but loud enough for all to hear.

Feng Wu, in response, looked slightly taken aback but recovered quickly with a gentle smile. "Thank you, young lady. That's quite a compliment."

The children erupted into giggles, pushing Mei-Li forward. She stumbled, her face now a bright red. "I... I want to be a cultivator too," she stammered, looking up at Feng Wu with sparkling eyes.

Feng Wu bent down to her level, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Then work hard, young lady. Cultivation is a path of dedication and discipline, but it can also be very rewarding. Perhaps, one day, I will see you at the Verdant Lotus Sect."

The promise elicited excited squeals from the children, their eyes all filled with dreams of grandeur. Even Xiao Bao seemed taken by the idea, his usual rowdy nature replaced by a determined glint in his eyes.Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

"Well, then, children," I said, trying to regain control of the situation. "The esteemed disciple Feng Wu and I have important business to attend to. But before we go, do you all promise to work hard and follow your dreams, just like Mei-Li?"

The children nodded enthusiastically, the joy and excitement in their faces reflecting the impact of this unusual encounter. As we continued on our way, I turned to Feng Wu, laughing. "Thank you, you've just become the hero of our village's younger generation."

Feng Wu chuckled, his eyes shining with uncharacteristic warmth. "As long as it inspires them to reach for their dreams," he responded, looking back at the children who were still buzzing with excitement.

Wang Jun and Master Qiang were hard at work in the forge, as always. They were likely growing tired of my constant visits, but they seemed quite suprised by the company I had brought with me. The large, older blacksmith still had the height advantage, but Feng Wu's posture didn't make him seem small at all in comparison to the largest men in the village.

"Master Qiang! This is Feng Wu, an esteemed disciple of the Verdant Lotus sect! He'll be the one I go with for the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet!"

He looked at him with an inspecting eye, before finally speaking. "You need some armor?"

Feng Wu glanced at Master Qiang, his eyes assessing the strong and rough hands of the blacksmith. "I might, indeed," he said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Though I am more interested in acquiring good quality weapons and utility wares. The Verdant Lotus sect always has need of fine craftsmanship."

Master Qiang's eyes gleamed with interest. "Aye, I reckon we can strike a deal. Quality wares for a fair price."

While the two continued their conversation, I pulled Wang Jun aside. He was watching Feng Wu with eyes full of admiration. "He looks every bit the part of an esteemed cultivator, doesn't he?" I asked.

"He's impressive, that's for sure," Wang Jun replied, still unable to take his eyes off Feng Wu. "You're going to be learning from him?"

"Maybe," I replied with a laugh. "Who knows? Maybe during our journey we'll trade pointers!"

As they conversed, I found myself lost in their exchange. I wasn't oblivious to the gravity of their conversation, but the layers of meaning that seemed so obvious to them felt out of my grasp.

Elder Ming finally broke his gaze, turning to me with a soft smile. "I trust your judgment, Kai. Always have. Remember, this is your journey. Be sure to make the most out of it."

His words, simple yet profound, served as a reminder of why I was embarking on this journey. It was more than a competition or an opportunity to learn from the best. It was my chance to explore the vast world of alchemy beyond the confines of our village, to see how far I could go with my talent. Hearing him give me his blessings made me relax, and ease the tension from my shoulders.

With renewed determination, I responded and bowed, my hands clasped together in front of me. "I understand, Elder Ming. I promise to make you proud."

As we left Elder Ming's house, a strange silence settled between Feng Wu and me. Despite the discomfort, there was a newfound respect in Feng Wu's gaze. It seemed like the silent conversation between him and Elder Ming had resolved in my favor. But it was clear that the real test was yet to come.

I took him to the Soaring Swallow Tea House, where Lan-Yin worked to serve the few seated. She noticed me immediately, raising a brow at Feng Wu beside me. But she seemed to have an inkling of who he was. I had spent last evening talking to her about my meeting and subsequent offer.

"Lan-Yin, meet Feng Wu, the disciple of the Verdant Lotus Sect I was telling you about," I introduced him, keeping my voice low to not draw too much attention from the other customers.

A blush spread across Lan-Yin's face as she glanced up at Feng Wu, the handsome stranger who stood a head taller than most of the men in our village. "Nice to meet you," she said shyly, "What can I get you?"

Feng Wu gave a polite smile and ordered a cup of jasmine tea. We found an empty corner in the teahouse and sat down on the low cushions, the soft chatter of villagers providing a comfortable background noise.

"Kai," Feng Wu broke the silence, his gaze serious, "I need to know how committed you are to this. Training and cultivation will not be easy, and it'll take time."

"I'm ready," I responded, meeting his gaze squarely. "But I have a concern. What if my cultivation rank becomes too high? Would that make me ineligible for the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet?"

A faint smile appeared on Feng Wu's face. "At your current level, it would take about three or four years of rigorous cultivation to reach the second rank of the Qi Initiation Stage. For the competition, you have nothing to worry about."

His words brought relief, but I couldn't resist the curiosity. "What about you, Feng Wu? What's your cultivation level?"

"I'm at the fourth stage of the Qi Initiation Stage," he replied without hesitation.

My eyes widened. It was already at the realm of superhuman. I've heard of fourth-stage cultivators that could split boulders in half. The protagonist of 'The Storm Sage Chronicles' was a similar rank, and he could conjure up such powerful gusts of wind using a fan that it could cause gouges in the ground. It truly was a testament to the caliber of disciples at the Verdant Lotus Sect.

"But the Sect Leader...he's at a different level," Feng Wu continued, "He's at the third stage of the Essence Awakening Stage. It took him forty-five years of consistent cultivation to reach that stage."

The Essence Awakening Stage. I've seen illustrations before. Elders who could form pure qi to make barriers and manipulate objects. Elder Ming once told me that the Whispering Wind Sect elders use it in the festival in Crescent Bay City to fly in the air and commit acrobatics in the sky!

It made me wonder just how powerful those of higher cultivation ranks were. The Wind Sage was hailed as a legend who equaled the power of a sect just by himself. Surely he was at the Spirit Ascension Stage? Or even higher? At this point in time, even reaching the Essence Awakening Stage would require significant effort.

I asked Feng Wu, but he shrugged. Nobody he knew had seen the Wind Sage before.

"I doubt those of the Whispering Wind sect have seen him either. And they share the same elemental alignment! He's a recluse, probably in closed cultivation for the past few decades." He muttered.

I frowned. Closed cultivation seemed really, really lame. I mean, who'd want to shut themselves off in a secluded area for an undisclosed amount of time, only to get the slightest bit stronger? Wouldn't it make sense to just go out, train, and polish your skills against the world? Meditation was a foundational part of cultivation, but I couldn't see myself doing that sort of thing to get stronger.

But before I could ask him more about the intricacies of cultivation, a notification from the Heavenly Interface arrived.

Your skill has reached the qualifications to evolve to the next stage, Nature's Attunement.