The Dao of the Awakened, a Xianxia/Cultivation Quest

Dialogue is really hard.

The resolution of the study group action will resolve at the beginning of the next update.

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Song Chyou exclaimed, "I am so happy to be here!" She brought over her meal of rice, beef braised in shaoxiang wine, and steamed cabbage. Sitting down, she gave everyone at the table a wide smile. Hua Yin returned it. Gao Jin gave a slight grunt before returning to inhaling his food. Guan Zhi gave a slight smile before going back to relishing the meat in his bowl. As she sat down, she bumped Gao Jin, who gave her a side-eye. "It's so exciting to have friends. Thanks for inviting me!" Gao Jin turned his side-eye towards Hua Yin. As usual, Gao Jin stood out because of the red armband he wore.

The peasant girl cheerfully started in on her dinner, making the occasional excited observation or remark. The rest of the group were silent, focusing on their meals. Hua Yin thought that Song Chyou really did not know how to not natter on. But he didn't mind it that much; it was a nice enough accompaniment to the food.

Li Gai arrived and saw the newcomer. He paused for a moment, giving the group a wide-eyed look. "Another Awakened?!" His voice was both incredulous and hurt, as if he'd been punched in the stomach from out of nowhere. Feng the hawk screeched in indignation from the boy's shoulders. Tears welled up in Li Gai's eyes. He blinked and walked away. Guan Zhi grimaced and got up to follow. It was the first time that Hua Yin had seen such an emotion on Guan Zhi's face. Gao Jin pursed his lips but quickly went back to his food.

Hua Yin did not know what to do. He did not know if he was supposed to go after Li Gai or stay there or say something. In the end, he did nothing. He just looked upwards and thought. He turned all of his prodigious intellect to the problem and came up with no solutions.

For once, Song Chyou went silent. She obviously did not know what was going on, but she knew that it somehow involved her. She looked downwards and started picking at her food.

She asked the air shyly, slowly, and with an element of regret, "Was that my fault?"

No one answered her.

-----

The return of cultivation class to the learning hall was strange. Hua Yin had almost gotten used to training in the Font of the Supplicant's Tears. As he sat down, he saw that Song Chyou took the seat behind him with Feng Chaoxiang next to her. Gao Jin, as always, was next to Hua Yin. He had closed his eyes, and it looked like he would be napping his way through the class.

Hua Yin returned to his notes, reviewing before class started. He had done well in the last week of classes, and he hoped to continue doing well this week. Hua Yin was used to excelling. That stretch when he had not felt wrong.

When Core Disciple Mao Yujing entered the room, it quieted. Even from the entrance, she began to ask questions. Aiming her voice at one of the noble twins, she asked, "Qi is in everything alive. As cultivators who take in Qi, do we give off Qi?"

The twin paused for a moment in thought and then said, "Honored teacher, we do. Though unlike mortals, we take in more than we project when we cultivate."

"Correct, though a little textbook." She asked him more questions that eventually stumped him. She had a tendency to do that, to ask questions until the disciple answering stuttered without an answer. Hua Yin thought it was because it forced the student to think, to scrabble for a response. Whether that was an effective teaching technique for most students, Hua Yin did not know. But he did know that it pushed him to always have something ready.

And presumably it pushed the other top performers in the class, because again and again Tao Yanygyuan had insights that made Hua Yin need to ponder the meaning of the Dao and the Writ. Yang Genji was thoughtful and was never quite stumped. She combined the knowledge from her prior training with what obviously had to be extra studying. Lao Ai was as brilliant in this class as she was in the talismongering program. Even Zhe Chao pushed the conversation. And though they had a bad tendency to glare at the back of Hua Yin's head, Hua Yin had to recognize their scholastic excellence.


But it didn't matter. This week, he did it again. He was in the top of the class. Or at least he thought he was. He answered more questions than any of the nobles, had more insights than Tao Yangyuan, and was more on point than Lao Ai. He constantly felt Zhe Chao's eyes trying to dig into his soul and force him to do badly. But none of that mattered because he knew that, at least for this week, he was the best in the class. As it should be.

+2 Successes to Knowledge: Cultivation Progression.

-----

After class on the first day that they got back to the learning hall, Hua Yin approached Tao Yangyuan with his study group idea. The flamboyantly dressed boy dressed boy paused and turned when Hua Yin called his name and smiled when he realized who it was. As usual, Tao Yangyuan was dressed extravagantly, with a pink scarf, a white sash, and bracelets of sky blue.

"Brother Tao Yangyuan, I hope you are doing well." Hua Yin bowed, fist in hand.

"Always brother. It's a beautiful day in the Broken Tree." It was really not. It wasn't quite storming, but the air was wet with the potential, and the sky was clouded.

"If that's what you see brother, I will not gainsay it. I was hoping I could bother you for a moment."

"Like a breeze on a hot summer's day, you are welcome."

"I thought it might behoove some of us to get together to study for cultivation class. After all, the exam is just a few weeks away. There might be a room in the Archives we could use."

"I may be interested. Who else will be coming?"

"I intend to invite yourself, Yang Genji, and Lao Ai. We are all doing well in the class, and we should be able to do even better together."

Tao Yangyuan stood there for a moment and considered.


Tao Yangyuan nodded. "That seems like a good idea. I agree."

"Great! I will approach the others and then let you know when we should meet in the Archives."

Hua Yin knew that approaching the others was likely to be more difficult, but in the meantime, he was satisfied. He had at least one person to study with. His friends were great, but they did not push him academically. Hopefully studying with some top performers would truly ready him for the cultivation exam.

Hua Yin found Yang Genji at the training fields. The blonde-haired girl was going through her forms. They looked nothing like the Wooden Hand, focused more on graceful dancing than solid stances. He waited a bit for the Awakened girl to stop. Once she noticed him, she came over. Her hair was barely mussed by her exercise, and Hua Yin was again struck by her looks and her presence. It was not overwhelming. She was only at the Pinnacle Initiate realm after all. But he felt it all the same.

He also felt nerves. He did not have many experiences convincing people of things. And he definitely did not have much experience speaking to girls.

"Sister Yang Genji." He bowed. "I was hoping we could speak."

The noble nodded as she brushed back her hair. "Then speak, brother Hua Yin."

"I was hoping that we could study together."

Yang Genji gave Hua Yin an inscrutable look. "Why?"

"Because I think that if some of us top performers in cultivation class were to push each other further, we would surely excel on the test. After all, Core Disciple Mao Yujing said that more than one of us could receive the prize."

Yang Genji nodded, her face clearing up. "Who else have you recruited?"

"Tao Yangyuan."

"Let me consider it for a moment. It is not every day that one of my competitors offers me a chance to train with them."

Hua Yin nodded while listening to her and her upper-class western accent.


Yang Genji looked resolved as she said, "I will be there." She went back to her training without another word, but she looked contemplative as she did.

Lao Ai was the final piece of the puzzle. Hua Yin approached her when she was after talismongering class. As usual she had performed excellently. And as usual, she was with the ridiculously beautiful girl who had charms woven through her hair.

Hua Yin was somewhat intimidated. He had approached the others while they were alone. Now he had to approach two girls. It was scary.

"Sisters," he bowed with fist in hand, "I was hoping I could speak to Lao Ai for a moment."

Lao Ai startled. The other girl gave Hua Yin a coquettish smile, her voice melodic as she asked, "And what would this have to do with, brother Hua Yin?"

"A matter of our studies, sister."

The girl tilted her head and considered for a moment before giving him a smirk. "You still don't know my name, do you brother Hua Yin?"

An embarrassed look came over Hua Yin's face as he said, "I am sorry sister, we have not yet had the pleasure to meet until today. My great apologies."

She hid her face and a titter behind her hand as she said, "So polite brother. No apologies are needed. This one is named Ling Daiyu and hopes to better make your acquaintance." Her face returned to her earlier smile. She pushed Lao Ai towards him with one hand.

Lao Ai looked shy but she walked with him a short distance away.

"Sister Lao Ai. I am starting a study group for the cultivation class. After all, Core Disciple Mao Yujing said that more than one of us could succeed."

Lao Ai was silent for a moment before she asked quietly, "Who would be part of this group?"

"Tao Yangyuan and Yang Genji have agreed to join. We were hoping you would be the last of us."

Her lips pursed for a second at the mention of Yang Genji's name. "How often would we meet?"

"As often as we can before the test."

She nodded. She seemed to think it was a good idea. But then she hesitated.


Lao Ai seemed to resolve herself. "I will do it on one condition. If Ling Daiyu can join us."

[ ] Lao Ai would be a valuable contribution. Invite Ling Daiyu to the group. How bad could she actually be?

[ ] Ling Daiyu would be a distraction. Lose her and Lao Ai. Lose whatever bonus that Lao Ai would give to the group.

+2 Successes to Persuasion Progression.

----

In talismongering class, Core Disciple Guo Xinyi had more artifacts on table at the front of the class, including a beautiful looking sword with intricate etchings on the flexible looking blade. It was a little longer and thicker than a jian but was still a straight blade. She took it up to show the class. She held it obviously expertly. The big woman's voice boomed as she said, "This is a flying sword. Once it bonds with a user, requiring blood and the infusion of Qi into etchings that have put on the blade, one can command it to move as one desires. Some cultivators are so graceful that they can actually ride one." She threw the sword over the crowd. Some dodged away in fear of the obviously sharp blade. But it did not fall on their heads. It fell for half a second and then froze. It froze so abruptly that the springy blade shook.

Hua Yin turned his head at motion. Core Disciple Guo Xinyi took a running jump and landed on the blade. She hovered over the crowd. "Items like this are the only ways that those who are below the Heaven Realm are able to fly." The rather large woman hovered over the class on the sword. "That is one of the reasons why the Treasury is so important; talismans allow cultivators to do things they could not otherwise do. They allow a water Attuned cultivator to throw around fireballs and steel cultivators to fly. The right use of a talisman at the right time can change the course of the battle. That is not to speak of the sheer convenience that talismans can bring. The right talisman can create sweet water in the desert and warmth in the depths of winter. Who doesn't want a spatial ring so that they can store objects and retrieve them as desired? All of these items may be in your capability. You won't know unless you join the Treasury."

She returned to the stage with a backflip. Hua Yin was almost sure that wooden stage shook at the large woman's landing. The blade returned to the table. "But that is a little in the future." She grimaced, "I dislike the fact that talismongering is not a core course. I am not able to give you as deep of an understanding of the talismonger's art as I would like to. But we can at least take this week to talk about etching."

She called the sword into the air and set it to spinning slowly. "As you can see, my sword has etchings carved into it. These arrays form channels for Qi. They are machinery. Once I have invested my Qi in them, they are given power. . ." She continued on that vein for most of the week, briefly going over the intricacies of enchanting metal with tools and Qi so that it would take on a variety of effects.

On the second to last day of class, the Core Disciple had a table full of booklets. "I know you've all probably had test after test thrown at you; I sure did when I was a first-year. But we still need to examine you to see who we would like to invite to the Treasury. So please take an exam."

Sitting back down from taking one of the exam booklets, Hua Yin was nervous. He had so well in the other optional course, and now we wanted to excel in this class. But he knew that his competition was stiff. As usual the top performers were in the class. And course, Lao Ai was in this class. Everyone who observed her last week knew that she had a more than solid grasp of the material. But Hua Yin was determined. He wet his writing brush and opened up the exam.


Waiting for the results was nerve wracking. But when he entered the class the next day, Core Disciple Guo Xinyi smiled at the class. "Everyone did well. I am proud of you all. But the winner of the crafting supplies is Lao Ai." She clapped her hands politely as the small girl walked towards the stage. Hua Yin noticed that Ling Daiyu cheered on the slight girl the most loudly. Lao Ai blushed, and Hua Yin finally noticed that she had begun wearing makeup. She had not on the trip to the Broken Tree.

Hua Yin nodded his head. He was not surprised at Lao Ai's performance. Receiving his booklet back, he saw that he had done quite well, especially considering that he had known absolutely nothing about talismongering just a couple of weeks ago. It just wasn't as well as Lao Ai, and though he was not satisfied with that, he wasn't resentful. Lao Ai was a nice enough girl. He had shared the journey to the Broken Tree with her and that would always be a special bond.

+1 Successes to Craft Progression.
+3 Successes to Knowledge: Crafting Progression.

Due to attending every optional class that the Broken Tree offers, Hua Yin receives the True Scholar Talent. By combining his broad base of knowledge, he will be able to better meet challenges that require academic knowledge. He will receive +1 die when facing a Knowledge: Alchemy, Knowledge: Crafting, or Medicine test.

------
Guan Zhi and Hua Yin walked the path towards the Kiss of Tribulation. They had invited Gao Jin and Li Gai, but both had their own projects they were working on. Gao Jin was spending extra time practicing with his hatchet. He was worried that only working unarmed for so long would regress some of his progress with the weapon. Li Gai, well Li Gai was off doing his own thing. The pudgy boy was still doing his damnedest to break through to the Low Spirit Realm, but like so many other mortals, he was finding it very difficult to do so, even with the Boons that he had traded for.

"How is Li Gai? He seemed upset at dinner the other night," Hua Yin remarked.

"He's. . . alright. He just hasn't broken through yet. But he thinks he's close. Bringing another Awakened by for dinner, especially someone who's already Mid Initiate, was a lot for him to handle."

"Song Chyou is a good person who needed friends."

"I don't doubt that. I don't mislike her. It was just bad timing."

"When would have been the right timing?

"After Li Gai broke through."

Hua Yin pursed his lips. "It is not our fault that we are Awakened."

The demon-blooded boy responded in a calm voice, "Of course not. But look at it from his perspective. The only friends he has here on the mountain are all advancing ahead of him. They're all Awakened who will advance faster and further. He fears that we will leave him behind."

"Such is life. Some people just advance faster."

"You're not getting it. What I mean to say is that he cares about us as friends. Take me for example, if I didn't have you, Gao Jin, and Li Gai, I would be very lonely. Not everyone is as open to the demon-blooded. And the Broken Tree is an intimidating place. He is afraid that he will be left alone."

"But he should not be. We would not do that to him."

"Feelings are not rational. It is why the monasteries teach their students to eschew attachments of emotion." Guan Zhi gave a toothy grin, his tusks prominent. "Then again, I was never a good monk."

Hua Yin chuckled. "Be that as it may, what do we do about Li Gai?"

"We support him as best we can. We try to be sensitive. It can't be an easy thing being outshined by all your friends. Especially when they bring others around who shine just as brightly. Before you broke through and improved at physical training, he could at least say he was better than you at something. Now he can't even say that."

Hua Yin nodded in contemplation. The boys were silent for the rest of the trip.

When Guan Zhi and Hua Yin finally got up to the Kiss of Tribulation's plateau, Hua Yin sighed in relief. Sure, he was able to make it much more easily than he had in the past, but it still wasn't an easy journey. They both greeted Tianlang who came out of its cave searching for its tribute with a bow, offering up the pork buns they had gotten from the dining hall. Hua Yin reminded himself that he really needed to try one before Tianlang got to them all.

Sitting down and crossing his feet in front of the Kiss of Tribulation's rod, he breathed. A shallower breath than he usually breathed when he was cultivating with the Sprout's Yearning. He had to slow his breath, had to calm down. There was anxiety biting as his equilibrium. Between Li Gai and his own worries about cultivation, his mind was clouded with distractions. But he knew he was so very close to breaking through. Gao Jin, Song Chyou, and Mo Xiang had all broken through to the Mid Initiate Realm. It was his turn to do the same.

Constant breathing, breath after breath. He imagined starlight on snow. The gentleness of it. The loneliness. The way the snow took what the light had to give it and became more. He took in the energy of the world around him, and let the cultivation technique take over. Lightning, storm, metal, and what he now knew to be celestial. He took in what the world had to give and let is move within him. He held onto as much of it as he could even though the air was rich with Qi. He took everything he could, every bit of Qi that was available. He let it flow through him, and he directed that flow to the blockages that he felt inside.


Pressure built deep inside. Energy gathered itself. The blockages bulged. And then it happened. The flow became too strong for the blockages to handle. The blocks in his primary Qi network shifted and broke, fragmenting into a million tiny pieces. The impurities within broke down, shattering in the face of the torrent of Qi that he pushed through his Qi system. He felt a rush of energy as the flow inside increased, now freed from the obstructions that had held it back. A light came on behind his eyes, and the world flashed for a moment. Suddenly there was a moment of intense aliveness in him. Life felt so much sweeter. Everything was in synch. For a moment, it felt as if the entire world was listening to him, as if he could bend it to his will. It felt like he could do anything as he rode the glow of the breakthrough. He felt a surge of strength in his muscles. His sense of balance shifted. Everything just felt easier.

And then he noticed the stink. A sticky, tar-like substance was emerging from his skin. It smelled of sewage warmed in the summer sun. Hua Yin gagged at his own stench. It was one of the vilest things he had ever experienced. He touched the viscous material and watched as his fingers stuck for a moment before some of the black material slowly separated from the stuff on his skin. Again, Hua Yin wretched.

From behind him, he heard a deep basso growl. "Get off my plateau until you clean up pup. You smell even worse than you usually do!" Hua Yin scrabbled up to his feet in double time. Sure, he enjoyed the feeling of newly breaking through, but between how he smelled and the giant wolf chastising him, he was ready to go back and wash.

Guan Zhi gave him a smile and congratulated him. But he was pinching his nose with his left hand. "Go. I will stay here and continue to cultivate."

The journey back down to the disciples' area was not the most pleasant he had ever taken. The times he had to touch the mountain in order to make it safely on the path, he came away with rocks and dirt on his hands. His robes stuck to him. He realized that he never quite got used to the smell.

But when he was finally down, he preened. Others looked at him and knew that he had broken through to the Mid Initiate Realm. They gave him looks of envy. Though he didn't like being glared at, it still reaffirmed that he belonged here at the Broken Tree. He saw Yang Genji, and the blonde-haired girl even gave him a smile. He was, however, grateful he didn't see Li Gai.

When he got back to the dormitories, Gao Jin looked at Hua Yin, still covered in impurities. Gao Jin nodded in satisfaction and said, "Good. You were taking too long." Hua Yin facepalmed. He regretted it when his hand stuck to his face.

+7 Successes to Cultivation Progression.
Hua Yin is now at Cultivation Level 2 (Mid Initiate) and receives +1 STR, +1 AGL, and +1 CHA.
+1 to Midnight Visitation Progression.

------

Physical training was hell. But it was hell that he could be bear. Hua Yin marveled at how much progress he had made. He had looked into the mirror in the communal bathroom and had been struck by the changes that cultivation and training had wrought on his face and his body. His cheekbones were more prominent without looking gaunt. Baby fat had given way to sharper angles and stronger features. His hair had taken on lustrous sheen, as if he had spent time and products on it. His skin had cleared. Where he once suffered from pimples and had acne scars, his skin was now unblemished. All across his body, muscles had formed that he did not know were there. Softness had given way to hard muscle, earned by hard exercise. Where once he had been skinny fat, weak with a small paunch, he began to look athletic. Sure, he wasn't quite the handsomest or most well-built person in the world, but he knew he looked much better than he had just a few weeks prior. It was a transformation that could not have come fast enough or been more welcome.

Running up and down the mountain with a large bag of rice over his shoulder was a pain. But with his latest breakthrough, he was solidly in the middle of the pack. Mo Xiang and the other nobles were ahead of him, as were Guan Zhi and Gao Jin, but Hua Yin was moving right along with Li Gai and the broad majority of the mortals. He saw the backs of the leaders not as tiny specks, but as goals that he would reach at some point. Ming Xue looked behind at him running, but he could not see the expression on her face through the long mop of red hair. She turned back and ran quicker. Hua Yin also tried to speed up.

He was not the only one to have improved. Tao Yangyuan had also been back of the class, but he seemed to have recently broken through. The already dashing looking boy looked even better than he had, his presence making him that much more striking. His flimsy musculature had filled out somewhat. Now he was solidly in the middle-back of the pack where before he had been towards the back, though never as far back as Hua Yin and Lao Ai. It was good to see that one could both excel at academics and still succeed at physical training. Never mind that Lao Ai, the non-Awakened, was still struggling in the back. The rice was proving a huge impediment for her. She had also improved, but not nearly as much as Tao Yangyuan and Hua Yin had. Hua Yin noticed that Ling Daiyu would occasionally drop back to encourage her, like Gao Jin and Guan Zhi had done for Hua Yin at one point.

In forms practice, Hua Yin actually felt comfortable. He moved from stance to stance, planting his feet, twisting his hips, moving with authority. He had a grasp of both the martial art and of his body. He could do this and he did. Core Disciple Chu Quiang gave Hua Yin tips, but they were less forceful than they had been before. Instead of trying to fundamentally fix something deeply wrong, the Core Disciple was now giving Hua Yin advice to sharpen what was already there. Hua Yin even saw Core Disciple Chu Quiang give him a nod of approval at one particularly fierce blow. Pride welled up inside of his stomach. He never would have imagined himself here when he was just a mortal.

Sparring that week was… dare he say it? Passable! He was lucky enough to be paired only with mortals that week. He didn't win all of his matches, but even the one he lost he did well in. It had been a close fight. He would have given his left arm for a close fight just weeks before. It was exhilarating learning what his new body could do.

Sure, physical training was hell, but maybe he could thrive even in hell.

+2 Successes to Unarmed Progression.
+2 Successes to Wooden Hand Progression.
Hua Yin has advanced to Unarmed +2.
-----

[ ] Go to physical training during the week. Sure, it was hell, but Hua Yin knew he was getting better. He was no longer a complete and utter embarrassment, but he knew he could do even better.

[ ] Go to cultivation training during the week. Cultivation's the whole point of coming to the Broken Tree, isn't it? It'd be a waste to not go to class. Hua Yin will be returning to the learning hall this week.

[ ] Practice the Levin Step. Hua Yin had reached the first stage of the technique. He could now use it in a fight, but there was more to the manual and studying further could only help his combat abilities. He knew there was more mortal insights to glean and then after that, Hua Yin could learn how to invest the Step with Qi.

[ ] Take extra time to study combat skills. Hua Yin could take what spare moments he had in the day and work on his unarmed skills at the training fields. Guan Zhi and Gao Jin said they would be there, and maybe would be willing to help if asked.

[ ] Take extra time to study for cultivation class. Hua Yin could go to the Archives to do further reading on cultivation, both as a skill and general knowledge. Hua Yin was not top of the class, that could not be borne. Tao Yangyuan was always at the Archive, and this might be a chance at developing a relationship with him.

[ ] Study Core Disciple Chang Minhua's annotated medical texts. These books will inevitably give Hua Yin an advantage when preparing to treat the human body, both mortal and cultivator.

[ ] Cultivate at the Font of the Supplicant's Tears. Hua Yin would go to cultivate at the Font of the Supplicant's Tears. Unless there's a write-in otherwise, he will use the strongest cultivation aide that he can. Ming Xue also spends her morning cultivating, and maybe they could build a friendship on that foundation.

[ ] Cultivate at the Kiss of Tribulation. He might see his friends there, and maybe even get a chance to speak to Tianlang. Unless there's a write-in otherwise, he will use the strongest cultivation aide he has available.

[ ] Find others to get to know. There's a lot of new disciples. It would be good to build Hua Yin's network. For example, he still had not gotten the names of the noble twins, and they both seemed pretty friendly.

[ ] Study the Writ of the Broken Tree. Sure, it's mostly koans and philosophical musings, but Hua Yin was told there were cultivation insights within. He could study the Writ further and see what insights it could give.

[ ] Gao Jin has offered to spend some time sparring with Hua Yin if he has time in exchange for Hua Yin's help practicing reading. The two boys will practice together in their dormitory. This will also improve Gao Jin's literacy.

[ ] Find a new martial art. The Wooden Hand didn't seem to be the perfect mesh for Hua Yin. He could go to the Archives to find something that fit better. He'd need a pass to see the really good stuff, but there had to be basic manuals that disciples could look at, right?

[ ] Spend time with Li Gai. Hua Yin knew that Li Gai was feeling disappointed in himself and could definitely use a friend to support him.

[ ] Explore the Supplicant's Stone and its attendant woods. There are caves, there are woods, there is adventure waiting. Core Disciple Li Ren had mentioned that there are hidden testing sites that may help with cultivation.

[ ] Write-in.