41 Possibilities (1/2)
The next week of my life would decide if I was destined to be ridiculed or be triumphant. Honestly, there was no time to waste. But time with my parents was anything but wasted.
Mother finished preparing a wonderous array of overflowing dishes, bringing them to the dining room.
”Eat up!” she proudly exclaimed, ”You're all skin and bones!”
Unfortunately, she was right. My body had wasted away to a husk, and even lifting chopsticks was a strain. Nevertheless, I gave my thanks and dug in.
For a few minutes, conversation disappeared as I wolfed down plate after plate of food. Mother and father sat patiently waiting for me to finish my feast.
Finally, stuffed to the brim, I lay back in my chair, content. Drowsiness from all the food tugged at my eyes, but I stayed chatting with my parents for almost an hour. Eventually, I had to bring up the dreaded topic.
”Mother, I'm gonna go back to school next term.”
”What? How could you–” she stopped herself and sighed, ”That evil boy is still there, and the school did nothing about it! Baby, that place is dangerous!”
”I know, mother. But I knew that from start, nothing's changed.”
”Nothing has changed? How could you say that?!”
”I love you, and I hate scaring you,” I solemnly replied, ”but cultivation is what brings me joy! I can't stop here.”
”Baby, you're being reckless! What if you get hurt like that again?”
”Mother, I really don't want this to happen again. I was way too arrogant, and I'm really trying to change. I'm gonna be super careful.”
Mother composed herself, showing a stern expression, ”If you go back, can you promise me that you'll never get hurt like that again?”
I wanted to lie on instinct. To reassure her that it would all be okay. But that simply wasn't the truth. The torment I had been through was only the start.
Was it better to tell a white lie? Or to hurt her with the truth? No, the choice was clear. No more lies. No more false promises.
”I'm sorry mother, I can't. But I promise I'll be really, really careful.”
Mother took a deep sigh and stared me with a wistful expression, ”I can't stop you, can I?”
”I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.”
”Why did you have to turn out just like your father.”
”Hey,” father objected, ”what do you mean by that?”
”You're both so damn stubborn! You just won't listen to rhyme or reason.”
”Hm. I'd prefer if you called it 'perseverance'.” Father added with a cheeky grin.
”Shut it, you.” She retorted playfully.
Mother cleared away the dishes, and the tense mood began to clear. I spent the rest of the afternoon lounging and chatting, until father returned to his study, and mother disappeared somewhere in the house.
I sat on the garden bench, watching the sun fall in perfect alignment with the circular entranceway. Despite the peaceful setting, my thoughts were tumultuous.
How I could I optimise next weeks training? My goal was functional combat, and I had to play off my strengths.
With my emaciated body, I had no hope of relying on physical strength. My stamina was weak, so a drawn-out fight was dangerous.
Thankfully, my soul was full to the brim. Qi leaked out of the unclosed valve, and I realised my luck. If I had left that closed after the fight, my soul would have exploded by now.
So, using my overwhelming qi was the only option. But I didn't even know if I could use the Qi Manifestation technique effectively. Would it work on regular students with pure body cultivation?
If I didn't rely on that technique, the other choice was developing direct qi attacks. But regardless of my tactic, there was a crucial person that could help me: Father.
I made my way to father's study, knocking on the door.
”Come in!”
Making my way in, I sheepishly greeted him, ”Hi father.”
”Hm,” he looked up with suspicious eyes, ”what's on your mind?”
”I'm thinking about next week.”
”That 'hunting season' you mentioned?”
”Yeah. Honestly, I'm super weak right now. But I need to be ready to fight for next week.”