30 Techniques (2/2)
”Of course. Ya just don't understand how incredible that is. Techniques and equipment go from common to uncommon to rare to epic to legendary.”
”This country's only got one legendary grade cultivation technique! And that technique created a whole damn dynasty! Yer dad wouldn't be here without it!”
”What about your technique, master? If it's so strong why is it here?”
”Well… that's… it's not really complete. But I'm workin' on it.”
”Master, don't you just wanna test it on me?”
”Don't interrupt! But… well…” Yin Xue paused ominously.
”I gave ya two other techniques too. They're pretty close to what ya want, and they've been tried and tested. But I think this technique suits ya better. So, what do ya think?”
”Master, what does it do?”
”Well, qi's a pretty confusing thing. We don't understand it that well. What we do know is qi has a mind of its own. Most techniques try and stay away from that.”
”That's why they usually do things we can imagine pretty easily. Like, making hands,” he gestured to the ghostly hands around him.
”As far as I can tell,” he cleared his throat and spoke in a more official tone, ”the Qi Manifestation technique expresses the innate force and will of your qi. That's what ya want, right?”
It definitely sounded appealing. Even if I was being obviously manipulated, testing a mysterious cultivation technique was right down my alley.
I was also interested in my qi's will. It had already acted independently by consuming the demon. The possibility of controlling that power was… exciting.
”Master, what happens if I can't learn your technique?”
”Don't worry about it. Ya'll learn many techniques in your life, and not all of them will suit ya. This early on, just switch to a different one.”
Sure, this option wasn't the wisest one. But I didn't just want to tread the same path as some previous scholars. I wanted to do something new, something special.
”Then I'll choose the Qi Manifestation technique.”
”Haha! Great choice!”
Yin Xue clapped joyously and ghostly hands whisked away the books from my arms.
”I'll give you a less precious copy, here,” the hand came back, bringing with it a plain booklet, ”I'll change it if I figure anything new out.”
He led me towards the vault door, chatting while he walked.
”Now, apparently yer supposed to cultivate by my side, but that's annoying. Go cultivate in yer room or something, I'm sure yer'll be fine.”
He opened the door, then stopped and stared at me for a second.
”That's yer cue to leave, brat.”
”Oh… I thought you said you'd… 'help me all you could'?”
”And I did. Bye.”
I grudgingly stepped out of the vault and watched Yin Xue slowly close the door. With only a few inches left, it stopped, and he made a last remark.
”Look, make sure ya come back every week or so. I need to document… I mean… talk to ya about yer progress.”
With that, the vault door slammed shut. I couldn't help but laugh at the whole encounter. Yin Xue was such a stereotypical mad scientist, but he had somehow landed a job in a school library.
First, I had been the test subject for Sirius's mysterious experiment, now this? It seemed I was destined to be a lab rat in this life.