Chapter 39: Recovery and Training

Chapter 39: Recovery and Training

Our departure was marked by many farewells and gifts. We accepted the food and water but politely turned away any other luxuries. Feng Wu had a strong moral compass. Admittedly, refusing money hurt my heart slightly, but I knew that I gained more than enough from my experience here at Qingmu.

Hua Lingsheng seemed devastated but understood that it was necessary. I gave him a firm handshake and bade him farewell.

"Will I see you again?" He asked, his voice tinged with hope.

I snorted. "I'd hope so. I have to pass by Qingmu to return home."

It was odd having someone who idolized me so much. It was different from how the children back home looked up to me. I didn't know how to describe it. It felt more...genuine?

But throughout it all, I understood why taoists were able to refuse materialistic rewards. Feeling how sincere their gratitude was, how could I expect more? Although clearly the Silent Moon sect took whatever they were given. They seemed like the type.

I'd probably see Xu Ziqing and his bunch again in no time. They were likely headed back to their sect, and from what Feng Wu told me, they were close proximity to Crescent Bay City.

The horses seemed to recover from the battle which took place in their stables. I was glad. Although my potion stash had been reduced to a fraction of what I had originally brought, they weren't used in vain. Besides, the extracted essence of the Moonlit Grace Lily was still there. The potions I used could always be remade, but the same could not be said for a person's life. No regrets there.

"Farewell, heroes!"

"Bye, Kai! Make sure to visit soon!"

"Bring Tianyi with you!"

As we departed from the village, I waved back cheerfully, smiling brightly. Feng Wu gave them a small wave, but I continued until we were past the horizon. I turned to Feng Wu and asked him a question.

"How long till we reach Crescent Bay City?"

"At this speed, we should arrive by tomorrow."

"Is there anything I need to watch out for? Like, avoiding conflict at a noodle shop?"

Feng Wu snorted. It seemed the longer we spent with each other, the more of his relaxed personality came out. Either that, or I was slowly figuring out what his expressions meant.

"Why would you need to avoid conflict at a noodle shop?"

"Isn't that where most cultivator fights occur? I see it almost every time in all the books I read. Should I learn how to fight in an enclosed space?"

He paused for a moment, his eyes glazing over as if recounting the past. Then, slowly, his expression changed, his eyebrows lifting in realization.

"Well, now that you mention it," he said, continuing to look forward, "I suppose a lot of conflicts have taken place in restaurants or tea houses. But that's hardly a rule. These are places where people gather; naturally, confrontations might occur."

He chuckled, and I joined in. It was a silly notion, but one that somehow rang true. Feng Wu continued to talk, and I sat and listened with Tianyi perched quietly on my shoulder. She seemed to be listening intently, facing her entire body towards Feng Wu.

"You know, I have engaged in battles in noodle shops, tea houses, and even a dumpling stall once," Feng Wu mused, a nostalgic smile on his lips. "But I've also fought in dense forests, and beside raging rivers. The world of cultivation is vast, and conflicts can happen anywhere."Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

"Well, then I guess I don't have to start practicing my noodle shop fighting techniques," I said, still chuckling.

I pressed down on my hand, preventing it from bending too far in a direction it shouldn't have been. The pain was immeasurable and I had to keep myself in the fetal position, waiting for the pain to go down.

A wave of concern washed over me, as Tianyi fluttered over and landed on my head. Ah, my ever-so-beautiful butterfly companion. You've come to save me!

I nudged her towards my right arm, and she cautiously approached my hand as it continued to contort. A wave of qi passed from her through me, soothing the pain. The effects were immediate; my appendages weren't trying to twist themselves off, and the turbulent qi within began to settle down. I would kiss her if I could. Tianyi's getting the finest wine as soon as we reach Crescent Bay City!

"Are you alright, Kai?" Feng Wu asked.

"I'm alright, just a mild case of Qi Deviation," I managed to gasp out through gritted teeth. My voice must have sounded strained, and the pain in my hand was sharp, throbbing in time with my heartbeat.

"Mild?" Feng Wu questioned, his eyebrows furrowing. "Your hand looks like it's trying to solve a geometric puzzle on its own."

Despite the situation, I couldn't help but chuckle at his description. It hurt to laugh, but the humor was a welcome distraction from the pain.

"Are you able to fix it?" I asked, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. "Or not, I think Tianyi might be able to by herself..."

Feng Wu's expression became serious, his gaze fixed on my hand. "Yes, but it will be painful. Very painful. It's akin to putting a dislocated arm back into place. It would take a lot less time than what Tianyi is doing right now."

I grimaced at the thought, but I knew that leaving it untreated was not an option. I trusted Feng Wu, and I knew that he wouldn't suggest it if it wasn't necessary.

"Do it," I commanded, steeling myself for what was to come.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

I nodded firmly. "Just get it over with."

Feng Wu took a deep breath and then placed his hands over my contorted hand. He closed his eyes, focusing his energy. I could feel the warmth of his qi enveloping my hand, and I knew that he was aligning my twisted meridians.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice soft.

"As I'll ever be," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

Without another word, Feng Wu began to manipulate the twisted qi within my hand, forcing it back into alignment. The sensation was akin to my arm's muscles cramping up as hard as they could. I couldn't help but let out a high-pitched scream, my entire body tensing as waves of agony washed over me.

The process felt like an eternity, but in reality, it was over in a matter of seconds. My hand was back to normal, the twisted fingers straight once more. The pain was still there but duller, a throbbing ache rather than a sharp, piercing sensation.

Feng Wu released my hand, and I could see the concern in his eyes. "How do you feel?"

I took a few shaky breaths, trying to steady myself. "Like I've just been run over by a herd of wild boars, but better. Thank you."

He gave me a small smile. "Rest now. You've had enough training for the night. Don't exacerbate your condition."

I couldn't have agreed more. My body was spent, and the ordeal had drained me both physically and emotionally. After moving Tianyi to an appropriate spot where she could rest, I crawled over to the Wind Serpent egg, cradling it in my arms as I lay down by the fire.

"You've got a lot of growing to do, little one," I whispered to the egg, feeling the warmth of its life energy. "And so do I."