80 Spiral circulation and Compressed circulation (1/2)
The next few days went by in a blur, Zhi Ruo went into full time cultivation. Hartley thought it was just her way of dealing with the grief of finally knowing what exactly happened when her family fled the capital, in a way this would give closure to her childhood ordeal and she could now point her anger in the right direction.
AsZhi Ruo went through her sessions of cultivation she realized she had never felt this motivated, when she thought about it, she realized that she couldn't remember ever having felt so determined, so secure in her belief, so happy that she had met Hartley and had embraced the path of cultivation. She felt a tiny frown and remembered how safe she had felt in her mother's arms, she felt so cared for and in no danger at all. Her mother had to be avenged and she was going to do it.Zhi Ruo sat in the bedroom of the War mansion staring at the depiction of war painted on the walls.
Hartley had toured the massive estate of Kang under the lemon-like sun which lauded over the grass and trees, The well kept grass seem to stretch out for miles, there was a mini forest far to the east. The scenery looked like a painting which an artiste had painted meticulously taking pains to not put a brush stroke wrong. There were five mansions plus the white stone castle, The mansions were a kilometer apart and placed as if they were the points on a compass with the largest one in the middle, Hartley and company were staying in the most southern one that Kang had called the war mansion, the theme of this mansion was in fact war.
Some of the walls were painted withimpressive murals, mostly of battlefields, other walls painted white, supported huge racks of old weapons, a lot of spears and knives, swords and shields, pikes and maces, bows and arrows all arranged neatly hanging on the walls or in piles that sat neatly at the corners of certain rooms as if they were a substitute for furniture.
Hartley had only seen Kang three times since he had been on his estate, the last time he saw him, Hartley gave his gratitude towards the man, but couldn't help feeling apprehensive about the situation, so Hartley had offered to pay a fee for the use of the mansion, which was refused with a giggle. After his experience with Viscount Sanzu Hartley didn't expect anyone to help him for free, there was always an hidden agenda even if one couldn't see it. As if he was a mind reader Kang smiled and asked. ”Are you wondering what I want in return.” Hartley didn't want to be disrespectful to a saint and nodded his head in answer. ”Well....I have no need for coins and I certainly don't need the bustle of a noble position....” He laughed and looked Hartley in the eyes. ”This is me helping out someone like myself with abnormal potential. maybe in the future I can have a powerful ally.”
Hartley had a sheepish look, when did he become abnormal like Kang?....
Dust puffed and drifted with every step as Hartley moved across the sandy floor, closing the distance between him and the black metalic humanoid shape, his fist flew forward turning into a bright shade of blue with a white glow and connected with a loud metalic clang. The punch landed on the right side of its chest, the black humanoid figure staggered back for about four steps, There was a small crack on its shoulder area which quickly started to repair itself and soon the training dummy was back to normal, looking brand new.Hartley gaped at the defense of the self regenerating training dummy.
It was shaped in the same dimensions as an adult human but without a face, just an oval shaped featureless head.
Hartley was standing on the sandy floor in the huge circular training ground at the rear of the Stone castle, there were a few people sparring in hand to hand combat while others went through weapons training slashing their weapons against the training dummies. Men cheered and encouraged others in the lively environment as loud clangs accompanied by sparks skittered through the air. Thepeople training mainly made up the guard force stationed on the massive estate, there were some 1st layer xanthians mixed in with some men at the peak of the houtian realm.
A sudden familiar giggle sounded from Hartley's back.... Hartley turned around to see that Kang had snuck up on him, without a greeting he said ”your move was very efficient and streamlined” Kang paused then continued. ”A good technique, quite good... but they way you use your elemental power is very crude....very crude indeed.”Kang said this while shaking his head in disappointment. ”You use your elemental power like a hammer trying to peel an orange, it is brute force and nothing else, just like the way your punching technique is very efficient and streamlined, so also should be your power manipulation...look... and pay attention.”
The tall thin white hair man dressed in a pristine white robe that flapped as he walked over the dusty training ground without his steps producing any swirls of dust, approached the training dummy, Hartley immediately engaged his advanced state of focus and squinted his eyes determined not to miss the most minuscule of details.