36 Consume (1/2)
”I don't have much to do around here,” Crow continued, ”but I'm sure as hell not letting a troublesome kid like you hang about.”
His answer disappointed me, but it reassured me that he came to the same conclusion that I did. I decided to change my line of questioning.
”No, I realised that. I wondered if you could give me some advice to cultivate on my own.”
Crow seemed to relax a bit, his posture opening up.
”I could give you some tips. What do you want to know about?”
”Um, I guess first off, where's the best place to absorb earth qi in the mountains?”
”Well, earth qi emissions are proportional to the amount, and quality, of the minerals around you. These mountains lack quality, however cultivating in the heart of the mountain should offset that.”
”Are there any other caves I can enter then?”
”I don't believe there are any close enough to your school. But these caves go a lot deeper than just this hall.”
”There are caves behind here?”
”Yes, but they are quite dangerous. The deeper you go, the stronger the elemental beasts.”
”Elemental beasts?!” I exclaimed in surprise. This was the first time I had heard of any fantasy creatures in this world.
”Of course. Why do you think there's a guard outpost here?”
”Oh… I thought it was to protect you…”
”To protect me?” Crow spluttered out a laugh, ”the researchers in this hall are all quite capable. The guards are there to alert the garrison if there's a beast wave. And,” he narrowed his eyes,
”To keep out any unwanted intruders.”
His threat reminded me that my time was short.
”Is there anywhere that's safe for me to cultivate?”
”Hm,” he looked me up and down, ”you've got no fighting capabilities. You'd have to just sit outside the door, and that's a pain.”
”Couldn't I just sit there? I wouldn't bother you!”
”Oscar,” he sighed, ”there's no point. With your affinity, the absorption will be negligible. If you become stronger, and can safely go further into the caves, that's another matter.”
His words made sense. I had no way to use my abundant qi for now. I definitely wasn't ready to fight any beasts.
”You've got your advice. Now if you would leave?” Crow waved his arm at the door.
”Sorry, I've just got one last question!”
Crow growled in displeasure.
”What's the best way to absorb poison qi?”
”Just cultivate next to poisonous herbs! It's not that hard! And come back when you can put up a fight.”
”Yes Crow, I'm sorry, thank you so much!”
”Yes, yes,” he pointed to the door more emphatically.
I hurried out of the door, through the hall and into the courtyard. The guards greeted me cheerfully, and I said my farewells before heading back to school.
As I was jogging back, I thought about movement arts. Concentrating qi in my lower dantian had potential but being unable to tense my core was a major drawback.
If I couldn't tense my core in a fight, and I took a blow to my stomach, my composure would be shattered. I needed to learn to hold qi there with a tensed core.
While jogging, I continually drew qi into my dantian. It took almost all my focus, and my steady jogging turned into an exhausting, stumbling wander.
The 30-minute journey there turned into a gruelling hour-long trek back. Sweat poured from my body despite the cool breeze, and I was physically and mentally exhausted.