Chapter 10: Don't Go Anywhere!

Chapter 10: Don't Go Anywhere!

Covered in sweat, Hui opened his eyes and gasped a breath. He sat up. All alone. The room sat as empty as it had before.

No, not quite. At the foot of the bed, a bowl sat on the ground. Two blue stripes wound around its rim in the familiar pattern of the Starbound Peak cafeterias earthware. A spoon hooked over its edge. Inside it, a small brown dish laid, stained with the remnants of a putrid-looking black liquid.

Hui stood and stretched. Energy rushed inside his dantian, already close to full. He took a deep breath and let it out, and felt qi circulate in and out of him with the breath. The air around him swirled with qi, so thick that he nearly choked on it. No wonder my qi went out of control. With so much qi around, even if I wasnt trying to, Id still absorb too much.

He breathed again, relishing the feeling of qi circulating inside him. I wasn't a waste, after all. Though... it's a small miracle I never felt qi until now, with it so thick on this peak!

A bell tolled, interrupted his thoughts. He felt as though he was inside the bell, acting as the things clapper. Every time it rang, his entire body shuddered with the force of the sound. Hui clapped his hands over his ears and looked around. So loud! Wheres it coming from? Is this an attack?

At last, the bell quieted. Hesitantly, Hui lifted his hands off his ears.

Loud as thunder, a voice cracked over the peak. Uh, hello? Its Lao Gongren. Am I doing this right?

Hui slapped his hands back over his ears. Cowering, he stared up at the sky, brows furrowed. Wait, dont tell me. Is this is this Masters doorbell? It even has a voice message function? How high-tech!

He stood, gingerly removing his hands from his ears. "Lao Gongren?

Is Weiheng Hui up yet? I uh sorry, I hope Im not disturbing anyone.

Hui ducked and pressed his hands over his ears yet again. One way communications, huh?

He jumped into his boots and pulled his robe on, pausing a second at the sight of pristine blue. Wait, who cleaned it? Sis Mei?

He shook his head. Later, later. Before Lao says anything else and bursts my ears! He sprinted down the mountain.

Instead of struggling to run, or suffering the usual side effects of a long illness, to the contrary, his body seemed to float with each step. He ran effortlessly, each step eating up the ground. Air rushed through his lungs, the effort barely enough to make him breathe hard. He laughed and jumped, flying through the air before he plummeted back down. Racing on, he rushed down the rest of the mountain, jumping ten feet at a time like a kid on the stairs, a big smile pasted on his face.

A familiar face awaited him at the base of the peak, one of the very first cultivators he'd ever met. Despite the passage of years, Lao Gongren looked exactly as young as he had when he'd picked up the small child in a distant village, barely older than twenty.

Someones in a good mood, Lao Gongren greeted him, smiling.

Hui nodded. He spread his arms out. Lao, do you notice anything different about me?

Lao Gongren squinted. His eyes went wide. Youve entered Foundation Establishment?

Yes, I hit Qi Gather what? Hui frowned and focused inward, drawing his dantian into focus. It isnt full yet, though. How could I have?

Curious, he circulated his energy and pushed it against the walls of his dantian. Pliable, his dantian shifted, expanding with the force of his energy.

Qi Gathering, fill your dantian. Foundation Building, expand it. Did Did I sleep through all of Qi Gathering? Blast through into Foundation Building in my sleep?

I really am a genius!or so Id say, if I hadnt read so many cultivation novels. Ive managed the first step, but thats all. And about five years too late, at that.

Still! Im a cultivator now. A proper cultivator! Ah, it feels so good!

He grinned sheepishly. Y yeah! Foundation Building.

A week! Lao exclaimed.

A month, a month, I definitely wasnt going there more often than monthly!

Lao sighed and put his face in his hands. Hui.

Yes? Hui sat down in his best contrite pose, all his attention focused on Lao.

You are aware that most cultivators do not have to eat, right?

Hui nodded.

Starbound Peaks cafeteria is something Lan Taijian personally funds. It serves only the highest quality spiritual rice, spirit beast chicken, and spirit chicken eggs, among other ingredients. Eating spiritually-enhanced food is a luxury for cultivators, a luxury that can boost ones realm and aid in ones development. Lan Taijians disciples consider it to be an honor to be invited to the cafeteria, moreso if they are given a vaunted pass to come as they please.

Oh, Hui said. I had no idea. It was delicious food, though.

Do you understand what you have done? Lao asked.

Whatwhat the cafeteria rat has done. If I was Lan Taijian, I would hate that rat, Hui said, grimacing fiercely.

Lao glared at him from between his fingers. Do not leave the mountain. Do not enter Starbound Peak. And especially, especially, do NOT go to Starbound Peaks cafeteria.

Er Im sorry, Hui muttered, eyes downcast. But elder sister Meis congee

Sighing, Lao waved his hand. This wouldnt be so big of a deal if Lan Taijian didnt have it out for Weiheng Wu. Disciples get in fights all the time. Kill each other, even. Its simply the way of the cultivation world. No ones ever escalated a spat like this to the Peak Lord level before, especially not when one side is an inheriting disciple, and the other is from the outer sect. As the Sect Leader says, Let them hash it out themselves! Only the strongest survive!

Ah really? Hui asked, curious.

Lao shook a finger at him. Dont get any ideas, now.

I wasnt! I value my poor little life, thanks, Hui replied. Im not a psychopath like that Chang Bolin guy. Im not going to run around killing people for fun.

But it is good to know I wont usually get punished for a little revenge

Well, in the end, I doubt youll be in danger. If Weiheng Wu shows up and vouches for you no one wants to step on the tigers tail. Though if he stays in seclusion, theres a good chance you could end up with lashes or manual labor.

Oh, thats all? Hui asked.

Even Lan Taijian cant get Weiheng Wus inheriting disciple exiled over a spatth, thats all? Hui, you do understand how serious those punishments are, right?

Ive dealt with both before, he said flippantly, waving his hand. What, you think the debt collectors left me alone? Whenever they got bored, theyd work me over a little. Lashes? Ive had worse. And manual labor? Dont get me started. Ha, I remember that summer I spent on the tuna boat I thought I was dead for real that time. Now that Im a cultivator, how hard can manual labor be, anyways?

Lao furrowed his brows. After a moment, he shook his head. Hopefully you can avoid both. But right now, the best thing you can do is lay low.

Hui nodded. He stood and bowed formally. I understand. Thank you for warning me.

Ah, its fine, nothing worth thanking me for. As long as you understand and obey, Lao insisted.