127 A Perceptive and Touching Friendship (2/2)
”You have to pay for the crab roe porridge from the canteen, it isn't included in our dormitory fees. That's such a waste.” Ning Que smiled and continued to indicate for Chen Pipi to sit down. ”Furthermore, there's no need for us to say such things like begging for help. It's called sharing information.”
”Sharing?” Chen Pipi looked at him contemptuously. ”With your lowly skills and my genius?”
Ning Que did not let his scorn hinder him but continued to wave his hands at Chen Pipi, asking him to take a seat. He answered seriously, ”I just started on the path, but who knows which one of us would end up further? If you're nice to me now, I will be able to reciprocate in the future. There is no loss for you. Furthermore, I can teach you math, why not?”
Chen Pipi was somewhat persuaded by Ning Que's words. He sat down with a proud sniff and reached out for a cold bun and some salted vegetables before cramming them into his mouth.
”Why do you only move around at night? Isn't it better for us to meet in the day?” Ning Que said.
Chen Pipi answered with a mouth full of bun, ”Senior sister Yu stays here all day to write calligraphy. How would I dare come? You have to understand, the Academy bans us from helping students outside of this building. I am risking a beating from the seniors just by leaving you instructions in the message. Shouldn't you be more grateful for this?”
”Am I not treating you to buns right now?” Ning Que answered with a smile. ”I know that the rules of the Academy are strict. The instructors wave their fists around indiscriminately for no rhyme or reason. Why do I hear that you're more afraid of Second Brother?”
Chen Pipi looked at him. He knew that the lad was very curious about the happenings in the mountains behind the Academy. After a cold laugh, he said, ”The cold hard rules of the Academy are practically made of cotton as compared to Second Brother's fists.”
The two sixteen year olds ate with much gusto, and before you knew it, the buns and salted vegetables were gone. Chen Pipi found the female professor's water bottle under the east windows and drank from it before rubbing his tummy. He looked at Ning Que and pretended to be nonchalant, saying, ”What do you want to know today? If it is about how you can enter the second story, you might as well forget about it. Teacher might dote on me, but I cannot say anything about things like that.”
”We've known each other for some time now. Do I look like someone who would hanker over a free lunch?” Ning Que smiled cheekily to hide his disappointment. ”I wanted to ask you, now that I can feel the Breath of nature, what should I do next?”
”You've only just entered the Initial Awareness State. You have to cultivate your heart and stabilize your cultivation. You mustn't be greedy.” Chen Pipi explained seriously. His brows scrunched suddenly and his right hand which was drawing secretly behind his back froze. He looked into Ning Que's eyes and asked uncertainly, ”You only have 10 open acupoints?”
Ning Que answered honestly, ”I tried to look into it yesterday, but the image in my brain was too blurry. The Ocean of Qi and Mountain of Snow looked like two black blobs and I couldn't make out how many points were blocked. I would like for you to help me look today.”
Chen Pipi sighed and shook his head. ”No need, you only have ten acupoints. You're straddling on the fine line between being able to cultivate and not. If your willpower was even one notch lower, you will definitely not be able to.”
He looked at Ning Que without expression, all the while thing that Ning Que, that fellow, had eaten such precious Heavenly Power Pills. He might not know it himself, but there must definitely be other interesting incidents. He had finally been able to successfully open his acupoints and change his fate, which was a feat by itself, but he had only managed to open 10, and was below average amongst cultivators. It was such a pity.
Ning Que did not show any disappointment, but had only smiled after freezing up slightly. ”It's better to have 10 than not a single one at all.”
”You don't have to be entirely disappointed. Not everyone who enters the second floor is geniuses at cultivation.” Chen Pipi felt that he had to comfort Ning Que even more when he didn't display any self-pity. He patted his shoulder and said, ”The teachers don't pick disciples by looking just at their potential for cultivation. If you're able to excel at a certain subject, you might get noticed too. You'd most certainly be able to enter the second floor then.”
Ning Que knew that Chen Pipi was trying to comfort him and he smiled gratefully. His gaze landed on the row of shelves behind him subconsciously. He knew that the path to the legendary second story laid behind those shelves. He just didn't know if he'd be lucky enough to pass through it. Or would he have to, as the female professor puts it, pry it open?
He retracted his gaze and continued asking, ”If the Initial Awareness State is to know the existence of the breath of nature, how do you continue to use it? I can perceive the existence of objects through the breath of nature, but I cannot move them. I am not being greedy, but am just curious.”
”You can perceive the existence of objects?” Chen Pipi looked at him with wide eyes.
”That's right,” Ning Que held up a finger and listed the objects he felt. ”The first night, I perceived the flames, and then the pillow, paper, bed…and the silver under it, the tree in the courtyard and a bowl of hot and sour noodles.”
Chen Pipi's eyes got even wider if it was even possible. He thought to himself, one needed to be in harmony with the Qi of Heaven and Earth as well as be able to communicate with it to perceive objects. But this… could only be done in the Perception State. How did Ning Que manage it?
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