My incomprehension must of shown on my face, as the man stops and takes a second to examine me, then switches to another language. The language he now speaks sounds vaguely Italian to me, though varied enough that it could very well be something else.
I shake my head to indicate that I don't understand, causing the man to frown. He seems to go into thought for a moment, then gestures to himself and says,"Kang Cheng."
Seeing his action, I realise what he wants me to do. I point at myself with my good hand and explain, "Sarah... Engli-" I cut myself off as I begin to say what I speak, as I'm not sure if England even exists in this era. I think London has existed for around two thousand years though, so unless I'm in a time before the birth of 'Jesus', it should be a good place to use.
"Uh, London?"
His eyebrows rise, then he turns to the woman and says something to her, causing her to nod and step out of the room. I look at Kang Cheng with confusion, but he just stands up and smiles at me, then raises a hand in a wait gesture.
After a couple of minutes of silence, the woman returns with a second man, this one elderly and in a black robe. He greets Kang Cheng, who starts a short conversation with him. After a quick back and forth, the new man turns to me and pauses, before speaking, "Parlez-vous français?"
French? From what I remember of my history classes, France made contact with China far later then when the founding of the Kingdom of England occurred... So, "English?"
The man furrows his brow, then says, uncertainly, "...Fulang?"
...What?
The man looks at the woman to the side and says something to her, leading her to smile and nod. He speaks to Kang Cheng, who nods, then turns to leave, with Kang Cheng following behind.
With those two gone, I'm left staring at the woman, who walks towards me. She stops by the chair, pours some tea out into two cups, then hands me one. She moves the tray over to the desk, then sits in the chair and takes a sip.
That done, she points at herself and says, "Name, Shi Min." She then points at me, "Name, Sarah."
Ah, I get what she's trying to do; she's trying to teach me.
Nodding at her, I begin a long game of learning a completely foreign language from scratch.
…
I've been confined to this bed for five days now, with the woman, Shi Min, treating me. Due to Accelerated Learning, I've managed to learn a surprisingly good amount of Chinese so far, with Shi Min even managing to communicate to me that I can finally get up and step beyond the room I've been stuck in.
I even got a notification for it,
[Ability Learned – Old Mandarin (Skilled): The language of northern China during the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. You've found someone kind enough to take the time and teach you it, leading you to have a young adult's level of speaking ability in it.
You won't be winning any debates anytime soon, however.]
Shi Min enters the room and sees me awake, causing her to give me a smile. As I look to her, she walks to my bed and pulls the cover off me, then helps me sit up. In the time I've been here, Shi Min's been the one to help me wash and change, so I don't mind the move.
She takes my hand and supports me as I stand, my new, blue robe covering my form. Leaning on her, I take a second to find my balance, then smile at her.
"Good?" She asks me, worried.
"Good." I reply. She nods and releases my hand, letting me walk on my own. As I take my first steps to the courtyard, I stop and turn to her, asking, "...Jian?" I point at my sword.
She follows my gaze, before turning back to me, "Safe. Later." Trusting her, I leave the room and walk out into the light of the day. Although I saw the courtyard in my dream, there is an extra layer of reality to what I'm seeing now. The surface of the yard is paved by large square stones that stand out against the dark wood of the buildings.
Shi Min takes in my appreciation, "You like it?" she questions.
"Yeah," I breath out, "new." She laughs and start walking away, before looking back at me and gesturing for me to follow. I move to walk beside her as we pass through a circular hole in a red wall, that opens up into a large garden with a small body of water in the centre, on the bank of which sits a red gazebo.
We pass to the left under a tree with a wide crown that stands in the centre of a circular floor of stone. We move through the remainder of the garden and take another opening that leads to an open area, with a large temple gate to the left. Standing in front of the gate is the greying man, Kang Cheng.
He sees us approaching and nods to Shi Man, then greets me, "Hello, all better now?" He asks.
I give him a smile, "Yes, thank you." He gives me a smile in return and says something I half understand to Shi Min. She turns to me, "Come, the Abbot wishes to see you."
The Abbot... The leader of the temple?
Suddenly worried, I ask, "Is everything alright?"
Kang Cheng nods his head, "Don't worry, he just has some questions for you."
My worries somewhat abated, I follow them through the gate. We pass through a few more, move around a couple buildings, and walk by some children in their little robes, before coming to a stop in front a simple looking courtyard. Shi Min pushes open its gate and steps through, then waves us in.
The courtyard is filled with all kinds of cultivated plants and flowers, and is made from the same dark wood as the others I've seen so far. At the far end of the courtyard sits a middle-aged man in a black robe, reading a book under an eave. As we approach him, he takes notice of us and closes his book.
He stands and folds his hands in front of his chest, then bows towards me. He straightens and asks me, "Have you recovered well, Madam?"
I feel like I'm going to be asked that question a lot today. Still, no need to be rude to my hosts.
"Yes, Abbot." I bow in return. It feels like the proper etiquette.
The Abbot smiles, "Good, I want to ask you some questions, if that's alright with you?" I nod. "First, can you tell us who you are, and what you were doing alone in the forest of Mount Heng?"
Should I tell them the truth? I could lie to them about my situation, but as Taoists who might possess supernatural power, they could be able to tell if I lie.
How about some half-truths, and see how it goes from there? After all, from what I know, Taoists are all about humility and going with the flow, so they might just accept the truth without batting an eye.
Here goes nothing.
"...My name is Sarah, from England, a kingdom in the far west. As for why I was in the forest... I don't know. The last thing I remember before I woke up in the forest is going to sleep in my bed."
The Abbot stares at me, seemingly in contemplation. He looks over at the other two, then back at me and says, "...Madam, every life is entitled to keep their own secrets, but we won't be able to help you with our best effort if you are not willing to share with us."
Do they actually possess some form of lie detection?
I turn to look at Shi Min who gives me a smile and a nod, then face the Abbot and confess, "I'm sorry, I didn't want to lie to you all, I just wasn't sure if you would believe the truth." I furrow my brow.
"Whatever do you mean?" asks the Abbot. "No matter how strange the story, we will assist you in any way we can."
"I wasn't lying about my name, or where I'm from, but I was lying about how I ended up in the forest. Its just..." I show them an unsure expression, "I think I've come from the future."
For a second, there is no reaction from anyone, before a surprised look appears on the Abbot's face and he opens his mouth, "...Pardon?"
…
So it turns out that Taoists aren't as unflappable as I'd believed.
After my 'confession', all three of them started asking questions in quick succession, before they realised they'd lost their composure and settled.
The conversation moved from the courtyard into the residence of the Abbot, who's name I learned was Chang Fan, which apparently means 'always ordinary'.
Once inside, Shi Min made us some tea, before we all sat down on some cushions around a low table. I stayed silent as they took some time to gather their thoughts.
Kang Cheng was the first to break the silence, "Madam, why do think that you have have arrived here from the... future?" The word looks like it unsettles him as it passes beyond his lips.
"...Well, I don't know what year you all live in, but when I'm from, it's the year two thousand and twenty-five." I stop to see if they have any questions, but they seem content to let me talk. "I was honest about going to sleep before I arrived here, but I omitted that I maybe saw what brought me here."
Shi Min regards my story with narrowed eyes, before relaxing and speaking, "Do continue, Sister. I am fascinated by what you're saying."
The Abbot nods in agreement and gestures for me to continue.
I think on my story for a moment. "I was deep asleep in my bed, when I was awoken by the sensation of falling. As I panicked and flailed, I fell through my bed and landed on the dirt in the forest. I got to my feet and looked to where I fell from, and knew some kind of… hole, was floating above me." I take a sip of my tea to wet my dry mouth.
"I couldn't actually see anything, there was no physical hole, I could just... sense some absence directly above me. I reached out my hand to see if I could feel anything, but it vanished, along with two of my fingers. The hole seemed to only linger for a couple of seconds before it disappeared, but I'm certain about what I felt. After that, I eventually wandered off into the woods, where I made a gourd for water, found a sword, and attempted to treat my injuries."
I finish weaving my tale and wait for one of them to speak up.
The Abbot is the one to open his mouth, "Your tale has so many implications that I don't even know where to begin."
"But, I'm inclined to believe you, Madam. You have an air about you that seems at odds with the world around you, and you quite honestly seem a bit lost. If what you say is indeed the truth; then you are far from your home, in a strange time and an unknown land." The Abbot gives me a smile.
"In that case, from now on, you are guest of the Grand Temple of Mount Heng. Until the day that you wish to leave, you can call this temple your new home, on the condition that you aid in the upkeep of the temple."
I abruptly stand and stare at the Abbot with watery eyes, before giving a deep bow, "Thank you!" The Abbot seems startled, but he accepts the bow with a nod of his head.
Straightening out, I turn to Shi Min, "...Can I hug you?" She looks unsure for a moment, but stands and opens her arms. I step into her and close my arms around her, whispering, "Thank you for saving me." I give her my earnest thanks.
Shi Min had told me how she had been the one to find me in the woods while she was out collecting herbs, and managed to carry me back to the temple, where she worked tirelessly to keep me alive.
Without her, I'd be dead.
Again.
I finally release her as the Abbot speaks, "Taoist Shi, please take our newest member to the disciples' living quarters and find her a bed. I would like to speak to Taoist Kang for a moment."
Shi Min, looking relieved now the hug is over, nods at him, "Understood, Abbot. Follow me, Sarah, I'll give you a small tour on the way."
She turns to leave, so I follow behind her, leaving the two men to their conversation.
…
The walk to the living quarters doesn't seem to take that long, not with Shi Min introducing the facilities to me as we pass them. When we arrive at the living quarters, what appears before me is a wide building with multiple doors placed around it, surrounded by a red wall that leaves a large gap between the two structures.
A young disciple steps out of one of the doors as we approach, causing Shi Min to call out to him, "Junior Brother, what are you doing out of bed?"
The boy jumps, startled, but calms down once he sees Shi Min, "...Ah, Senior Sister, I-I needed to use the bathroom." He stutters, slightly nervous.
Shi Min regards him for a moment, before smiling at him, "Hurry back then, I would like to introduce you to a new disciple." Shi Min motions to me, causing the boy to notice to me. His eyes widen as he makes out my features, his face paling, "...Ghost?" He turns and runs back into the building, forgetting to close the door.
Shi Min turns to me and laughs, "You're going to have to get used to seeing that for a while, most of the disciples here have never seen someone with your complexion or hair colour. They won't mean anything by it, so I hope you'll forgive them."
I recover from the boys reaction, and laugh along with her, "Don't worry, they're just children, I won't hold it against them." Shi Min looks happy at my words.
She leads me into the quarters and to a room with ten beds, nine of them occupied, and finds me one between two others, all the while the children stare at me. "Here you go. It's not much, but it serves its purpose." She pats the bed.
I ignore the whispering of the kids, and sit down on it, finding it surprisingly comfortable. Once Shi Min sees that I'm settled, she turn to leave me, but not before saying one final thing, "I sleep in the Medicine Hall quarters, so if you need anything, have one of the Junior Brothers lead you there."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Shi Min." She gives me one final smile, then steps out of the room.
I lay down on the bed and make myself comfortable, then try to get some sleep, which quickly finds me.
For the first time in almost a week, I feel safe.
--AN--
Chapter six, all for you. Yes, specifically you, John. I know you're reading this.
Fuck google. Their search has gone to the hells in recent years, it's almost impossible to get an actual answer to anything you look up. Now, you just get links to websites that list their 'Top 25 Favourite Types of Boards to Use When Sliding Down the Dunes of the Sahara'.
What the fuck does that have to do with Taoism?
As always, point out any grammatical mistakes, and be sure to leave your criticisms. How else am I meant to improve my writing?
Until the next chapter.
xoxoLast edited: Thursday at 2:26 PM Like ReplyReport Reactions:Meep!, thepsyborg, KarlosEriksson and 77 othersSlaughterJan 25, 2026Add bookmarkView discussionThreadmarks Chapter 7: Forbidden Love View contentSlaughterSeeking EternityJan 27, 2026Add bookmark#38I've been the guest of the Grand Temple of Mount Heng for almost a month now, and I'd like to believe I've adapted to its lifestyle rather well; I've even made sure to help out with the temples upkeep to earn my stay.
Life in the temple is fairly simple and easygoing. After experiencing their daily rituals enough times, and with some help from Shi Min, I've come to understand how these Taoists structure their days, and the significance behind the actions they take.
For starters, they wake with the rise of the sun, sometime between five and seven in the morning, when the Qi is purest. According to Shi Min, this is considered the Mao hour, and is a time of transition, where Yin gives way to Yang.
Once they've woken up, they conduct their morning rituals.
This involves the burning of incense for the purity of their space, and the reciting of the Eight Great Spirit Spells, again for purity, only this time for the mind, speech, and body. They then recite a bunch of different scriptures, which supposedly have the ability to do things such as settle the heart, to aid in internal alchemy, and to cultivate a protective internal radiance.
When they finish their recitals, they chant praises to the gods, and to the ancestors of their Taoist school. Then, they practice a form of internal martial arts called Daoyin, which circulates the energy generated during the liturgy through their meridians.
After they've finished their early morning rituals, they go to breakfast, which consists of only vegetables, and eat in silence. I've also observed that they only eat after giving an offering to what they call Hungry Ghosts.
With their breakfast eaten, they set about doing their Mindful Work. This is a ritualised form of chores, such as sweeping, gardening, and temple maintenance, and is performed as a moving meditation.
At noon, the peak of yang energy, they offer incense and food to the gods and ancestors, then go to their noon meal. This is often the largest meal of the day, and is used to observe the Five Contemplation's, where they reflect on where the food comes from, and of their own worthiness to eat it.
Their afternoon is dedicated to study and stillness, during which they study the Daozang, the Taoist canon. They then perform a silent ritual and sit in meditation, where they empty their mind and allow the Tao to flow through them. When they've finished their meditation, they drink tea in a formal, mindful ritual, to maintain alertness and to aid their digestive health.
When evening comes around, they transition to stillness and chant scriptures to help the souls of the deceased find peace. To signal the end of the active day and the retreat of yang energy, the temple sounds their Twilight Bell 108 times, before they go to their evening meal. The meal is usually very light, what is called medicinal food, and often skipped entirely to keep the body light for nighttime meditation.
By night, they return to their quarters and practice their internal alchemy, then sit in final meditation, when the body's yin is at its maximum, in order to capture the First Birth of Yang, the first spark of yang of the coming day. Finally, they fall asleep on their right side, in a position known as the Sleeping Lion, to keep the body's energy channels open and to aid in longevity.
Personally, I think it's a bit much.
But who am I to judge? They seem happy with who they are and what they believe. Plus, I know at least some version of the Tao is real; after all, I was sent here by it, so who can say if they're right or not?
While the lifestyle doesn't interest me, the internal alchemy and martial arts they practice seems like a good first step on my road to eternal life. I planned to talk to the Abbot about becoming a formal disciple of the temple, but I don't know if I'll be accepted.
The members of the temple have treated me right, and helped me to get acclimated, but I'm unsure if they'll allow me to leech their methods without becoming an actual Taoist. If needs must, I can pretend to follow the teachings of Taoism, even if I don't align with them as a person.
I won't enjoy it, but I'll do it; I just don't want hurt the feelings of Shi Min.
See, she hasn't been pushing me into becoming a disciple of the temple, but I sometimes see her desire to bring it up written all over her face when we talk. If I was to join, just to be insincere in my faith, I think it would hurt her.
I also... might have developed a little bit of a crush on her.
I'm sure there a psychological term for falling for your saviour, but I promise, that's not what is happening here. I've always been attracted to women, but apart from a few dalliances in university, I've never been in love. While that's not how I feel for Shi Min, I can definitely see myself pursuing her romantically.
I would follow up on my feeling and tell her how I feel, or at least flirt with her, but the Quanzhen school of Taoism that Shi Min belongs to mandates celibacy.
That, and I don't know how Shi Min would react, given my lack of knowledge on how same-sex relationships are viewed in this era we live in. She could distance herself from me, threatening my position in the temple, but from what I know of her, she doesn't seem like that kind of person, though I'd rather not risk it.
I'm meeting her later today after the noon meal, where I plan to bring up my intention to join the temple to her. If all goes well, by tomorrow, I might be learning my first cultivation technique.
…
Seated under a tree in the gardens of the outer temple, I look up from the book I'm reading, the Zhuangzi, a foundation text that exemplifies the ideal Taoist sage, as a young boy dressed in blue robes approaches me, "Junior Sister, Elder Kang has requested that you meet him in the Medicine Hall, and has asked that I bring you to him."
I joined the temple, as you can tell.
"Thank you, Senior Brother, I'm ready when you are." It's going to take me a while to get used to how these Taoists address each other.
The young boy nods and begins walking back the way he came as I follow behind. We pass through a small gate in the red wall, and take a stone path to a small building attached to a larger, multi-storied one. The boy knocks on the wooden door, causing the voice of Kang Cheng to sound from within, "Come in."
The boys opens the door and signals me to enter. As I do, the first thing I notice is the subtle smell of nature that pervades the room; the second thing, is that Kang Cheng is not alone. Seated beside him is a woman, older than me going by the small wrinkles around her eyes, dressed in a white, long sleeved robe.
Kang Chang notices my gaze, and introduces the woman to me, "Disciple Sarah, this is Hall Master Hong. She supervises the Meditation Hall, ensuring that it remains conductive to quiet contemplation and internal alchemy. She's going to be the one to handle your introduction into our temple." He looks to Hall Master Hong.
Hall Master Hong gives me a quick once over, "I always enjoy admitting a new member to the temple." She smiles at me, then turns to Master Kang and bows, "I'll leave you to your refining."
Master Kang bows back, before waving us out. I say goodbye the young boy, then go after Hall Master Hong. She walks me to a small, closed off courtyard, out of the way of the rest of the temple.
Hall Master Hong takes me inside and tells me to sit, then walks off into the another room. A minute later, she returns holding a folded robe and a black, square hat. She places them down in front of me, then says, "This is the clothing you will need to wear for your initiation ceremony. You can get changed in the back." She gestures to the door she came from.
Picking up the clothing, I enter the room and slide the door shut. Opening up the bundle, I see that it's a loose, blue, ankle length robe, with wide sleeves. I disrobe, and after a minute of struggle, manage to don the new robe. I go back to Hall Master Hong, who checks that I'm wearing the robe correctly, then leads me out of the courtyard and into a small building further in the temple grounds.
Hall Master Hong lights some incense then kneels on a cushion, before signalling me to do the same, so we face each other.
"Disciple Sarah, as one who has chosen to admit themselves to the Grand Temple of Mount Heng, you need to perform three rituals for you to be accepted as a formal disciple." She stares into my eyes with a heavy look.
"Firstly, you must make formal vows to follow the Tao and to respect the lineage of the Quanzhen school. Do you wish to do so?"
The atmosphere of the hall is stifling, the pressure of the ceremony weighing down on my shoulders. The vow about the Tao can be ignored, as I don't trust it, but I can vow to respect their lineage. All the school has done is help me.
I try to express sincerity to her as I answer as formally as I can, "I do. I, Sarah Worthington, vow to follow the Tao, and to respect the lineage of the Quanzhen school." I get a notification as I finish my vow, but I ignore it for now.
Hall Master Hong accepts my vow and bows to me, leading me to bow back.
"Secondly, to become an official disciple, you must recognise a master of your own choosing, who will provide you with spiritual guidance. Do you wish to do so?"
As much as would I love to be under Shi Min, she is a Master of the Medicine Hall, so isn't the most suited to guiding me in my cultivation. But Hall Master Hong... She is in charge of the disciples internal alchemy.
"Hall Master Hong, are you open to accepting me as your disciple?" Hall Master Hong hears me and sits in contemplation. Once her mind is seemingly made up, she nods at me.
"Thank you. Then I, Sarah Worthington, recognise you as my master, the one who will guide me on my spiritual journey." We bow to each other a second time.
"Finally, you must accept purification in the form of rites, and must perform a first reading of the Tao Te Ching. Do you wish to do so?"
This time, I have no concerns. Rites are symbolic, and probably have no actual power, while I've read the Tao Te Ching in my former life, so I know what to expect.
"I, Sarah Worthington, accept the rites of purification, and the first reading of scripture." We bow a third time.
"Then, as a Master of the Quanzhen School of Taoism, I have witnessed your vows, and accept you as an official disciple of the Grand Temple of Mount Heng." Hall Master Hong relaxes and smiles at me, dispelling the serious atmosphere.
"As you have chosen me as your Master, I shall be the one to teach you, and to make sure you don't lose your way on the your journey to the Tao." She stands and gestures me to do them, then we bow to each other for the fourth and final time.
Suddenly, she looks at me in my eyes with a solemn expression, "It matters not to me the life you've lived before you came here, nor do I know your circumstances, I only hope that you don't disturb the sanctity of the temple."
I hear the subtle threat, but I also know my new master bears me no inherent ill will, she's just looking out for the temple.
Seeing that I've understood her warning, she starts to speak, "My birth name is Hong Yi, meaning 'great harmony'; and my Taoist name is Lingzhao, meaning 'to illuminate the spirit'. From this time onward, I am your master."
Going by what I've seen of the lives of the disciples, the taking of a master is a fundamental aspect of Taoism, with the relationship between them sometimes being closer than that of a parent and their child.
"Tomorrow, I shall impart to you the process of internal alchemy, and guide you on your first meditation. For now, it's getting late, you should be making your way to your quarters." Master Hong gives me a smile and sends me off. "When you wake up, come find me in my courtyard."
I give her a bow, and leave the hall. Although her first instruction as my master is for me to get some sleep, I'm too excited.
I need to share this with Shi Min.
My walk to her quarters in the Medicine Hall is brisk. When I get to her door, I give a few rapid taps and wait. After a couple of seconds, Shi Min opens the door, sees me, and breaks out in a smile.
Gods above, I wanna pounce on her.
"Junior Sister Sarah, what brings you here?" She invites me in and starts to pour some tea as I sit.
From there, I tell her all about my day.
…
I wake up bright and early with the other disciples, and start to make my way to my masters small courtyard, before I remember to open the notification from yesterday,
[Ability Learned – Lying (Basic): Haven't you been a bad girl, telling fibs to your master. You have lied successfully to a being with greater power than you, causing them to believe something false.
With this ability, a 15% chance of your lies being believed is added onto your natural deceptive prowess.]
Sassy, but okay. I'm not a compulsive liar, but if lying to someone helps me in advancing in my goals, I'll do it in a heartbeat.
Moving on, I arrive at my masters quarters and knock, where Master Hong calls me in, "Enter, disciple."
As I enter, I see Master Hong sitting in meditation, and apologise, "Ah, I'm sorry master, I didn't mean to disturb you."
With her eyes still closed, Master Hong replies, "Nonsense, I was waiting for you. Take a seat, " She motions me to sit, "I'll start to impart the technique in a minute."
After a little wait, Master Hong opens her eyes and moves to sit in front of me, "Now, are you ready to learn to cultivate?"
Fuck yeah I am.
--AN--
Next chapter, Sarah learns how to overturn heaven and earth, and topple gods from their thrones… or something like that.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, be sure to point out any grammatical mistakes, and leave any criticisms you have.
Until the next chapter.
Master Hong gets comfortable, then starts to explain, "The process of internal alchemy differs from school to school, divided by philosophy. The school of our temple is the Quanzhen, which believes one must purify the mind before one can safely start to influence the body's energy."
She looks at me intently, making sure I'm following along. After I give her a nod to signal my understanding, she moves on, "If one's mind is chaotic, your Qi, in turn, will be chaotic. As such, before one can even begin to cultivate, their spirit must be stabilised through meditation."
She switches to a cross-legged position, her spine straight, then gestures for me to follow along. Once she makes sure I've assumed the pose correctly, she carries on, "Without spirit, one lacks wisdom; without life, one lacks the vessel to sustain spiritual realisation. The goal of meditation is to enter a state of no-mind, where one forgets the self, and forgets the physical world, allowing the Original Spirit to emerge."
Master Hong guides me in my first attempt. If meditation is about emptying the mind, then... what I need to do is dissipate my focus? But, if I'm focusing on forgetting my self, I'm actively working against the goal of meditation, which contradicts the whole process.
My thoughts are interrupted by a poke to my forehead. Opening my eyes, I find Master Hong kneeling in front of me, "Disciple, I could tell by the look on your face that you were overthinking it. Tell me your thoughts, and I will help you." She gives me smile.
I explain to her my thinking, causing her to roll her eyes at me, "Achieving a meditative state is a gradual process that takes time. It even took me two months to first reach it, and my master told me I had talent in it."
Giving her a nod, I start again. This time, I try not to think too much about the act, and let it do it's magic.
As I sit in silence, a thought comes to me. Stopping, I see Master Hong sitting in meditation, so I whisper, "Master?" She hums, curious. "I think I've done this before."
Master Hong opens her eyes and leans forward, "Truly, disciple? When?" She asks me, curiosity in her voice.
"In the forest of Mount Heng, before I was saved by Shi Min and brought to the temple. I was looking for a weapon to defend myself, when I came across my sword. I don't know why, or how, but something about the sword called to me." I lie. "With it in my hands, I leaned against a tree to examine it, and woke up sometime later, bewildered."
Master Hong has a surprised expression on her face as she takes in my story, "...Fascinating. Could you just align with the Tao in a way I can't perceive? Or perhaps there is something special about the sword?" Master Hong start to theorise. "Where is the sword now? Do you think it could help you reach such a state again?" She continues to question me.
"The sword is in my quarters, master. Should I go and get it?" Master Hong immediately nods, causing me to stand and bow, before leaving the hall.
As I walk back to my bed, I realise I might of made a mistake. I only achieved the state when attempting to divine the origin of Jian, how am I meant to do it again, when I already know all about it?
...Could I activate the divination, then cancel it halfway, before I connect with Jian? Then rinse and repeat, until I reach some modicum of meditation?
That's the best I could think of to do for now, anyway.
Once I reach my quarters, I grab Jian and walk back to Master Hong's courtyard. Entering, I find her drinking some tea, before she notices me. Seeing the sword grasped in my hand, she raises an eyebrow questioningly, "No scabbard? We'll have to find it one later if you want to continue using it."
"Pass it to me for now, I would like to see if I can figure out if there's anything unique about it." She raises her hand, palm up, leading me to carefully place Jian handle first in it.
Master Hong grips Jian and examines it, turning it around and searching its form for something, "From I can tell at a first glance, it's just a normal Jian... Made in the last twenty years at least, going by the hilt."
"Do you know a lot about swords, master?" I ask her.
"Hm?" She answers, distracted, "No, not really... I went on a pilgrimage about ten years ago, and encountered a Taoist who specialises in the art of sword making that taught me some things."
Master Hong, done with her inspection, hands Jian back to me, "I can't find anything about your sword that would lead me to believe that it's the reason behind your meditation. To me, it seem like you reached that state through your own ability." She moves back into her cross-legged position.
"Still, no need to discount its influence. Try to meditate again, this time with the Jian in your lap."
Doing as she says, I place Jian across my knees, like I once did in the forest, and try again. I allow the process to lead itself, while trying to feel the presence of Jian with my plan of half-divining it.
It takes a couple of minutes, but I feel the boundary between my mind and the outside world start to blur. Just as the state starts to set in, it's interrupted by a notification,
[Ability Learned – Meditation (Basic): Aided by Dao Child and some partial divination, you have successfully reached a selfless state, opening yourself up to the natural world.
With this ability, you can once again reach this state with greater ease.]
Master Hong notices my distraction, "Disciple, are you having trouble, has the sword not assisted you as I had hoped?"
"Ah, no master, I entered the state, but it felt like something kicked me out of it." I answer, evading her question.
Even though, as my master, she wishes to help me in any way she can, I have no plans to ever tell anyone about my true origin, or my inborn power, Dao Child.
"Oh? Strange." She raises an eyebrow at me, "While that will require further investigation in the future, for now, I'm happy to know that you successfully reached a meditative state." She smiles at me.
"The speed at which you achieved it speaks of your talent. While I wouldn't like to rush your training, as long as you vow to me that you will not train by yourself for now, and to only do so under my supervision, I can begin to teach you the steps to internal alchemy." Master Hong has a serious expression as she issues this request. "Do you vow?"
Accelerated training at the price of a little delay? Yes, please. Even if I can only train when with Master Hong, Dao Child should guarantee that the speed at which I do so will be fast.
"I vow, master." I tell her, solemnly.
Master Hong gives me look of appreciation, "Good." She nods, "To begin with, you must learn about the Three Treasures; Jing, Qi, and Shen. Jing is ones essence, the fundamental energy we are born with, split into prenatal yin and postnatal yang. Prenatal yin is the acquired from your parents, while postnatal yang is gained after birth, through food, water, and breath."
"Yin and yang create and replenish each other; yang circulates through the eight extraordinary vessels, which becomes and replenishes yin, which in turn causes the marrow to become blood, body fluid, and, for a man, their semen." Master Hong pauses and looks at me, causing me to nod at her.
Satisfied, she continues. "Qi is your energy, your breath, the vital force that permeates everything and links you to your surroundings. Qi flows around you and in your body through your meridians, carrying energy and improving longevity. Finally, there's Shen, the spirit. Shen is the most refined form of energy; it represents our consciousness, mental health, and connection to the Tao."
Master Hong finishes her talk, and takes a sip from her tea to wet her dry mouth, "The Three Treasures are the essential substances of life. The practice of internal alchemy is the process of refining these energies from their densest physical form, into their most subtle spiritual form."
"Internal alchemy is divided into five major stages; Jing, Qi, Shen, Emptiness, and Unification. For now, all you need to know is the Jing stage; only when you have completed it will I teach the Qi stage, okay?"
Why does I feel like I've joined a cultivation sect? As this is the marvel universe, I thought the temples energy manipulation would be all about Chi. Unless their stages are more theoretical, and are about reaching certain states of thought? I guess I'll find out after when I begin.
I nod at my master, agreeing to her terms.
Master Hong goes on, "The Jing stage is about establishing a foundation for future cultivation. It focuses on the conservation of ones Jing and the opening of the meridians, to achieve a sufficient state of physical and spiritual health. This is to ensure that the initial step into internal alchemy is successful."
Done, Master Hong stands up and abruptly walks out of her home. Once out in her courtyard, she calls out to me, "Come, disciple!" I head outside, where I find her standing with her arms loose by her side, "To begin, I must teach you Daoyin. For now, I shall demonstrate, so you can get an idea about what you will be doing."
Master Hong raises her arms and starts to slowly pull them to herself, before pushing them out and moving to them side. Her feet follow her movements, while she breathes in time with controlled inhalations and exhalations.
...Isn't this just Tai Chi?
While she performs for me, Master Hong continues her teaching, "Daoyin is a set of exercises, each designed with a different goal in mind; such as the harmonisation of Qi, relaxation of the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm, training of the Lower Dantian, and the general improvement of health."
"With it, you aim to turn your physical energy into a refined internal flow, and to make sure that there are no blocks in your muscle that will interrupt that flow." She stops her movements, and looked at me, "When I have judged that you have mastered this technique, then you will be ready to move onto the Qi stage; the refining of Jing into Qi."
Master Hong walks up to me and guides me into assuming the initial form of Daoyin. As I attempt it, she corrects my movements and adjusts my speed.
It takes me ten minutes of flailing before I get a notification,
[Ability Learned – Daoyin (Basic): The precursor to modern Tai Chi; Daoyin is an exercise made to create flexibility of the mind, thereby creating harmony between internal and external environments, and aid its practitioners in developing a healthy spirit. You have been taught this by your master, Hong Yi, who sees your innate talent with Taoism, and hopes you will achieve the Tao.
When this ability is mastered, you will be able to easily overcome the initial step in turning your Jing into Qi. For now, enjoy the improved physical ability.]
As I read my new ability, I feel my movements and breathing become smoother. Master Hong notices my sudden improvement, and lets out a light exclamation, "Disciple, you have become proficient in Daoyin this quickly? Your talent in the Taoism is very impressive; if I were younger and more impulsive, I could see myself becoming quite jealous." She lets out a small chuckle.
"But don't be getting a big head, disciple; you may be talented, but effort will carry you more than you can know." She advises me.
Under the sight of my master, I spend the next two hours repeating the movements until they become muscle memory.
…
It took me another three weeks, but I finally mastered Daoyin under the ever surprised gaze of Master Hong,
[Daoyin (Mastered): Through repeated practice, a little help from Dao Child, and the guidance of a great master, you have mastered this ability. Aside from an increase to your physical attributes, you can now begin to safely cultivate the internal alchemy of your choosing.]
As the ability says, I've gained an increase to my strength and stamina, with the temple chores being noticeably easier then ever. The increase even made me realise how Shi Min managed to carry me from the forest when I passed out. With permission from my master, I've spent time training with Shi Min, who helped to correct some mistakes in my form.
Being in close proximity with Shi Min for long periods, our bodies close, with her soft touches upon my skin, has been torture. If I didn't have Daoyin to help calm me down and release some tension, I would be too fucking horny to even move.
Anyway, after mastering Daoyin, Master Hong has started teaching me the Jing stage, which has come to me quite easily. I also discovered that there is a level above 'Skilled',
[Internal Alchemy – Jing Stage (Proficient): Regulate your breathing, calm your emotions, and use Daoyin to open your energy channels. You have begun to focus your physical energy into your Lower Dantian, building a reservoir of energy.
At this stage, the energy can only improve your physical and mental health. When mastered, your Jing can begin to be refined into Qi.]
I've made some progress in this stage, with support from Master Hong, and have begun to see the initial benefits. For starters, if I want to, I can sleep less every night, and I have an easier time concentrating during lessons. My memory, which I was already quite proud of, has improved further, with it now bordering on photographic.
Beyond the steps I've taken in my cultivation, today I've been invited to tea with the Abbot. Now, I'm sitting in my quarters in quiet meditation, waiting for the scheduled time to come.
My peace is broken by an old voice, "Disciple Sarah?"
Opening my eyes, I find the older man from my first day here standing in the doorway. "I didn't mean to interrupt your meditation, but I'm here to bring you to the Abbot." He has a kind look on his face, "I don't know if you remember me, but my name is Lai Haibo, the Master of the Guest Hall."
I smile at Master Lai, "Master Lai." I stand and bow, "How could I forget? If it wasn't for you, Sister Shi would've probably not taught me your language, nor would I have been able to join the temple."
Master Lai has a slightly happy expression as he takes in my words, "A small thing, others would have done the same thing in my place. Now, are you ready?" He asks, causing me to nod, "Then follow me."
He turns and steps out, then waits for me to walk to him, before we start our walk to the Abbots courtyard. Along the way, Master Lai strikes up a conversation, "How are you finding life in the temple? The Abbot has informed me of your circumstance, I'm sorry there is nothing I can do to help." He apologises, quite unnecessarily, "I hope you're adapting well, I know it must be a great change from your previous life."
Master Lai seems like a nice man who means well, so I open up to him slightly, "...Honestly, as nice as the temple is, and as much as it has helped me, I feel kind of... lost." Master Lai stays silent, letting me speak my mind, "Life as a Taoist reminds me too much of my past, with my days monotonous, doing the same thing over and over again... I don't know if I want my future to be full of the same."
I don't why I'm opening up to Master Lai like this; maybe it's his calming presence, or the unassuming air of wisdom that follows him.
"Where I come from, life is chaotic, with too much noise, and too many people; the world has lost its spark, and the end approaches us... But here, life is full of opportunity, with wonders waiting to be explored." I pause to gather my thoughts, "...This dynasty doesn't even know of the existence of my homeland, did you know that? And that there's even an entire continent west of its waters, that won't be found for another two hundred years?"
Master Lai raises his eyebrows at that, but stays silent.
"My point is, I want to change. I want to move on from who I was, and find who I can be... And I don't think I can do that if I stay in the safety of the Grand Temple." I finally put in order and voice what I've been subconsciously feeling.
Master Lai lowers his head in thought as we walk to the Abbot.
Eventually, he opens in his mouth, "Sarah," He starts, forgoing formality, "I won't pretend to understand that I know what you are going through, but what I can tell you is that, underneath all of that, you are feeling what everyone does at some point in their lives." He stops, causing me to stand beside him, and looks at me, "All people, no matter their age or circumstances, one day think to themselves 'What am I doing with my life?'."
"Even I, before I joined the temple and became a priest, had the same thought. It's what pushed me to become a Taoist in the first place." He gives me a look of understanding that make me want to cry.
"Although all that I can do for you is be there if you want to talk, what the Abbot has for you might help you come to a decision." Master Lai smile at me, then resumes our journey, with me following at his side, lost in thought.
Wondering what the Abbot's got for me.
---AN---
Chapter's a bit longer than usual, so enjoy. I don't expect the chapters to get much longer in the future, as I'm happy with the pace.
Thank all the gods above, below, and inbetween, for the existence of wikipedia.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, be sure to point out any grammatical mistakes, and leave any criticisms you have.
Until the next chapter.
We arrive at the Abbot's courtyard in record time, where Master Lai knocks, causing the voice of the Abbot to welcome us. Entering, we find the Abbot in the same position as before, book in hand under the eave. He notices us and stands to move into his home, while waving us in.
Once we are all sat around the low table, with tea in hand, he starts to explain why he requested this talk, "Disciple Sarah, after our previous talk, where you revealed your origins to us, I realised the Grand Temple would not be able to help you. For this, I am truly sorry." He bows his head to me, his body radiating regret.
"Abbot, there's no need to apologise. I had no expectations of the temple being to help me in this way, nor do I hold any ill will against it for that." I reassure the Abbot. He straightens and looks at me, with an apologetic expression on his face.
The Abbot takes a second to regain his composure, then continues, "While trying to find ways the temple could help you, I sought the counsel of the current librarian. He was apprenticed to a Taoist who walked all of China, before she settled down at White Cloud Temple in the capital. The reason I mention this, is because he told me that in her travels, she encountered a group of beings, called 'Sorcerers'."
My surprise must of shown on my face, as the Abbot questions me, "What is it, disciple? Do you know of them?"
Should I hide the fact that I am aware of the Mystic Arts? Although... they don't know anything of the future, so this could be an opportunity to create a backstory for myself, in case I get investigated in the future.
"Ah, yeah." I start, "In my time, the Masters of the Mystic Arts, an order of these sorcerers, are pretty much public knowledge. There's a man called Stephen Strange, who is member of a group called the Avengers, which routinely save the planet from destruction, that is known as the Sorcerer Supreme."
Both the Abbot, and Master Lai, listen with rapt attention, not interrupting me, "According to this Strange, the Masters of the Mystic Arts are practitioners of magic, who dedicate themselves to defending the earth from mystical threats that wish to harm it." I finish and look at the two, waiting for any questions they might have.
They exchange a glance, before the Abbot speaks up, "...Though your words allude to many dangerous events, your description of sorcerers mostly matches the information given to me by the librarian. According to his master, she was given an item by these sorcerers, as thanks for her cooperation in an important matter." The Abbot stands and walks over to a dresser, where he pulls out a copper disc, engraved with unknown symbols.
A magic item?
As the Abbot brings it to the table and shows it to Master Lai, I try and use Spirit Read to divine it. Closing my eyes to concentrate, I commune with the item. Somehow, the process feels easier then with Jian; perhaps on account of my training, or meditation, which recently reached skilled?
After a couple of seconds, the item opens itself up to me,
[Spirit Read
Name – Disc of Guidance
Type – Magic Item (Support, Eldritch Magic)
Function – Projects the image of an arrow, that rotates to point to the closest Sanctum.
History – One of many created by a master sorcerer of the Mystic Arts; they were made with the intention of being given to trustworthy people, to guide them to a Sanctum should they require assistance. This particular one was given to a female Taoist, after she assisted the sorcerers in saving a village from a demon.
When one wishes to use it, them must only speak the passphrase, 'Lead the way.']
I need this.
While I could use Stickfall to find my way to the... Hong Kong Sanctum, I think? It would take me months of trial and error. But this... This is an easy ticket into learning sorcery, and a way for me to start the quest given to me by the Heavenly Dao. With magic in my hands, I might even be able to escape this era and reach the future.
Finished with Master Lai, the Abbot turns to me, while explaining, "The Taoist told her disciple that this item can guide one to the home of the sorcerers, where it can be exchanged for a service." The Abbot gives me a pointed look, "I wasn't sure if the tale was to believed, but given your knowledge of these sorcerers, I know, now... that this service should be rendered onto you, dear girl."
By the time the Abbot finishes, my thoughts are racing. Master Lai notices my state, and asks, "Disciple Sarah, are you okay?"
Why are these people so nice to me?
I look between the two with watery eyes, "...What have I done to deserve this gift? Ever since I've come here, the temple has done nothing but help me. People like you... I wish I'd met you when I was young."
Maybe my life would've been...
The Abbot get up and walks around the table to my side, then kneels down, "Disciple, what we have done for you, we would've done for anyone who came to us in need. There is too much apathy in the world, too many who would ignore the pain of others. That is not the Taoist way." He looks a me with a kind expression on his face.
"When you can reduce the suffering of a single person, why wouldn't you?" Master Lai says nothing, but I can sense that he agrees with the Abbot.
I wipe my eyes with the sleeve of my robe, then look at the Abbot, my voice quiet, "...Thank you."
He gives me a slight smile, then moves back to his cushion. He picks up the Disc of Guidance and turns it over in his hand, before placing it in front of me, "Here. The librarian is okay with me giving this to you, so from now on, it's yours. Though, I hope you don't leave us too soon, at least not before we've trained you in the art of combat." He adopts a serious look, "As much as I wish it wasn't so, the current China is a dangerous place, even more so for a lone, foreign woman."
Master Lai speaks up once the Abbot finishes, "Indeed, the Abbot is right. In my travels through the outside kingdoms, I faced much prejudice on account of who I am; but not as much as you will face here, I fear."
Master Lai looks at the Abbot, who nods, "We don't want you to think we are forbidding you from leaving temple grounds. We simply wish for you too not rush off, not until you master the Qi stage."
I understand the serious of what they're saying; it's much of what I've considered myself. While I do want to run off to the sorcerers as soon as possible, they're not going anywhere any time soon. I can take my time here, with from the priests, learning to defend myself.
I bow to the two, then straighten up, "I understand, Abbot. I too don't wish to put myself in danger, just because I ignored the risks."
The Abbot looks thankful that I agreed, "I am glad, disciple." He gathers the empty cups from the low table, and stands to put them to the side. Feeling the conversation coming to a close, I stand and bow to the two masters, "Thank you for the talk, it has helped me greatly."
They bow back as I turn to leave. Once outside the Abbot's courtyard, I head off in the direction of my masters home.
It's time to start speeding up my cultivation.
…
After another two weeks of training, I finally mastered the Jing stage,
[Internal Alchemy – Jing Stage (Mastered): You have successfully built your foundation. With all your energy channels opened, and a reservoir of your Jing gathered in your Lower Dantian, you can now begin to convert it into Qi and step onto the path of cultivation.]
My completion of this stage did not come with any improvements to my physique. Master Hong informed me that the benefit of this stage is the same no matter the level of one's progress.
Master Hong was happy to see me master this stage so quickly, but requested I hold off on moving on to the Qi stage until she has taught me the art of combat. When I asked her why, she told me that she is worried that one day, I could consume all my inner power while fighting a foe, and will be lost in how to continue, due to having only acquired muscle memory for that level of combat.
I acknowledged the fear, and agreed with her point. So, today, after over two months in this world, I'm finally learning how to fight.
I'm standing in my masters courtyard, with her opposite me. Off to the side is a weapon rack, on which stand a couple wooden swords, "Master, am I going to learn to fight with a sword? Isn't that too early for me?" I question her, worried she might be skipping a few levels.
Master Hong rolls her eyes at me, then assumes a stance, "While my goal is for you to become proficient in two martial arts, one internal and one external, I myself have only mastered the Baguazhang, an internal art. With your mastery of Daoyin, you already have the body strength to pick this up quite quickly."
She begins to walk in a circle, her hips facing the direction she's walking, while her upper body twists towards the centre of the circle. Her arms are out and up by her sides, mimicking holding a large bowl, "The Baguazhang utilises circular walking to maintain distance from your foe, which grants you room to evade and deflect attacks. Using your positioning, you can employ hand strikes, footwork, and throws, to deal with multiple attackers."
Master Hong demonstrated a few strikes on an imaginary foe, while keeping to her circular movement. As she finishes her last strike, the air in the courtyard is disturbed, blowing outwards from her palm and picking up some scattered leaves, "...When you can harness your Qi, you too will be able to use it in your attacks."
I must be sporting an amazed expression right about now, as once Master Hong turns to me after she finishes her demonstration, she laughs at the look on my face, before getting serious, "Assume the initial stance in Daoyin, and we can begin."
…
Me and Master Hong are circling each other, both of us reading the other. Master Hong moves first, stepping in and sending a palm strike from her left, which I push away. While she's extended, I move beside her and gently pull her arm away from her, to throw her off balance. I know she's allowed me to do that, I'm nowhere near her level yet.
As she tries to recovers, I get behind her and strike her back with two palms, sending her tumbling. Master Hong takes a moment to regain her balance, then calls for a stop. We bow to each other, before Master Hong starts to talk, "Well done, disciple. You took advantage of the opening I gave you, and used it to disrupt my stance." She praises me, sincerely, "Judging by the skill you've shown, I think its time for you to start learning from the master I've invited."
She straightens her ruffled robe, then leads me out of her courtyard and starts to walk me somewhere. While we are on the move, I take the time to check my new ability,
[Baguazhang (Skilled): An ancient martial art that uses a circular stepping pattern to create distance and control ones opponent. This art specialises in evasion and deflection, and turning your foes force against themselves. Combined with various strikes and kicks, this internal art is deadly in the right hands.
Your proficiency with Baguazhang has increased your physical ability, your Qi control, and your combat instincts. In the future, when you take on another martial art, you will find that it comes easier to you.]
There isn't much there that I didn't already know, but the benefits are helpful.
Master Hong stops us outside of a building I haven't seen before and knocks. A second later, the door is opened by a young girl, about ten years old, dressed in a blue robe. She looks up at us with a nervous gaze, "Masters." She bows, "The Hall Master in seeing a guest right now." She steps to the side to let us in.
We enter the room, an open space with minimal decoration, where Master Hong smiles at the girl, "We are expected, disciple. The guest has come at my request."
The girl blinks, before a startles expression appears on her face and she bows, "Uh- Of course, Elder." I chuckle at the girl as rushes off further into the building. She comes back a minute later with Master Lai and one other man; who looks around the same age as Kang Cheng, but dressed in a black robe, armor covering his chest and shoulder, with greaves protecting his legs.
As they reach us, Master Hong greets the new man, "Fellow Taoist Wu, thank you for coming at such short notice."
The man, Wu, bows to her, the starts to speak, his voice gravely, "Taoist Hong," He starts, "You called, so I came." He looks at me, his eyes widening slightly, perhaps at my foreign appearance, then focuses back on Master Hong, "Is this the one?"
She nods at him, then turns to me, "Don't mind him. Wu Cai may be a man of few words, but he is the greatest warrior I know." Wu Cai grunts, causing Master Hong to let out a small laugh, "Master Wu is a master of many forms of combat, but specialises in swordplay, which is what I invited him here to teach you."
Master Lai, who has stood aside in silence, takes this moment to speak up, "Indeed, disciple Sarah." He addresses me, "Master Wu is a Wandering Taoist, who has been on many a journey with me, saving my life more times than I can count." Wu Cai gives a Master Lai a sideways glance.
Master Hong nods in agreement, "It's as Fellow Taoist Lai says, disciple." She bows to Master Lai, "Thank you for receiving him, Taoist Lai, but we must be going now." She turns to Wu Cai and nods her head to the entrance, causing him to start to leave, but not before saying farewell to Master Lai.
After me and Master Hong say our goodbyes, we leave, and start heading back towards Master Hong's home. Once inside her courtyard, she stands to the side while Wu Cai moves to grab two wooden swords from the rack. He moves to the centre of the yard, then throws one to me.
As I reach out and catch it by its handle, I'm stabbed in the chest by Wu Cai. I collapse to my knees, dropping the sword, and clutch at my chest in pain. Wu Cai bends down and picks up my sword, as I look up at him with a grimace on my face.
He looks down at me with a frown, "Before one can become a warrior, they must first master pain." He hands me my sword to me as I try to rise, "For the next two hours, I am going to attack you, and you must try to defend. If by the end you are unconscious, I will leave. Is that understood?"
I give Wu Cai a shaky nod of my head as he steps back and takes a stance.
...This is gonna be rough.
---AN---
Thanks for reading. I feared this chapter would've been later than usual, as my sister came to stay the night, and brought of all four of her wretched spawn. Thankfully, I survived... barely.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, be sure to point out any grammatical mistakes, and leave any criticisms you have.
Until the next chapter.
"Ha...Ha..." I'm panting with exertion, sweat covering my entire body and dripping down my face. My whole body is in pain, and my lip is bleeding from where he struck it, but I'm barely holding on, and I'm starting to get used to his attacks.
I received two notification after the first hour, but I've been too busy to look at them. Wu Cai is a relentless and skilled warrior, who attacks me from all angles, giving me no time to recover; though I'm certain he's going easy on me, and he hasn't been aiming to seriously wound or disable me.
I'm holding the sword level in front of me as I wield it with both hands. Wu Cai steps forward and goes to strike at my side, so I dodge slightly and flick my sword out to parry. He uses his superior strength to withstand me, and slides his sword down mine to hit at my hands. I step back out of the attack and regain my stance.
As I stand with my guard ready, Wu Cai drops his stance, then looks over to my master, who nods, "Time." He calls, "Well done. You've managed to last the two hours without collapsing." He nods at me with approval, "I will teach you. For now, get some rest. We'll begin tomorrow, after breakfast."
I drop down to the ground in exhaustion and lean back on my hands, then sigh with emotion, "...Everywhere hurts." Master Hong walks over to me with a cup of water and hands it to me. I take it and nod to her with gratitude, before taking a gulp.
Master Hong laughs at my state, "You're not the first to feel the tender teachings of Wu Cai, disciple." She looks over at him as he stores the swords, "Shi Min once wanted to become a warrior, and learned under him for a time when he was a resident. Of course, she later realised that she can't deal with pain all that well, and didn't like inflicting it, so chose to become a healer."
Shi Min wanted to become a warrior? An image of a muscled Shi Min appears to me as I think of it, causing a faraway look to appear on my face.
...I'm too tired to be horny.
Master Hong gives me a gentle push as she sits beside me, "Disciple... While the Quanzhen school mandates celibacy, it wouldn't be fair of me to hold you to that." I give her a startled look, "I know you took your vows, and I believe you mean to uphold them, but I also understand that the Taoist life isn't for you." I lower my eyes, not wanting to see her disappointment.
"I don't hold it against you." She reassures me, "When I see how hard you train, and feel the fire burning inside you, I know that you will one day leave to find whatever it is you seek."
I look up at her, as she gives me a small smile and pulls me into a side hug, breaking formality, "No matter how far you go, or what you do, I will always be your master. You can return to me anytime, and I will accept you, no matter your condition." I lean into her with tears in my eyes.
She's the mother I've never had, but always wanted.
"...Thank you, master." She gives me a small squeeze.
We sit in silence as Wu Cai bows and leaves the courtyard, before Master Hong whispers to me, "...So, Shi Min?" She asks with a teasing note in her voice, causing me to give her a small glare. Master Hong laughs, "I won't stop you, or tell you how to feel, but don't push her. Shi Min took her vows, and is serious in them... But, she's still young, younger then you. It's her decision to make."
Master Hong's words ring in my ears as I listen to her. She's clearly seen, somehow, how I feel about Shi Min, and is advising me to be careful. She's right, of course. Shi Min is a devout Taoist, and I would hate to be the one to cause her any emotional distress. At the same time, master wouldn't tell me any of this if was any chance of that, right?
Should I tell her how I feel, and hope for the best?
...No, it wouldn't be fair. I plan to leave the temple soon and seek the Masters of the Mystic Arts, I can't throw this on Shi Min and then run off.
I look at my master, with sadness written on my face, "...It's not fair to her." Master Hong stares at me for a second, the gives me a small nod.
"I suppose your right." She says in a quiet voice, "Still, don't live with regret, disciple; it's a sickness, one that will slowly start to eat away at you." She gives my arm a quick rub, then goes to stand, "Get to bed, Disciple. You need the rest." I wipe my eyes and follow her in standing, then give her a deep bow.
As I reach the entrance to her courtyard, I turn back to her and call out, "Master?" She gives me a questioning look, "...I love you."
Master Hong takes in my words, then looks at me with sadness in her eyes, "Goodnight, Sarah."
With those words lingering in the fading light of the setting sun, I make my way back.
…
The next day, as I head to my first lesson with Wu Cai, I check the notifications I ignored yesterday,
[Pain Resistance (Skilled): You have begun to learn how to compartmentalise your pain, and ignore it in the moment. You still feel any and all pain inflicting you, but you can push it away, allowing you to focus on what's happening.
At your current stage, your pain resistance is increased by 40%.]
I did feel my ability to take hits from Wu Cai had improved. While this doesn't improve my actual defence, I can see it being immensely helpful to my survival.
[Ability Learned – Swordsmanship (Basic): Through the gruelling teachings of a sword master, you have started to learn how to properly wield a sword in combat. At this stage, you'll barely be able to defend yourself from a single opponent.
This skill grants a small improvement to your muscle memory, reflexes, and dynamic vision.]
This skill might be the reason I managed to pass the test. By the end of it, I started to be able to react to Wu Cai's strikes and defend myself, if only a little.
I shift my focus from the notifications as I come to my masters courtyard. It's a little after breakfast, meaning Wu Cai should already be inside, but I knock anyway, to be polite, and the voice of my master to call me in.
Entering, I find Master Hong standing in the doorway to her home, watching a topless Wu Cai train with a sword, his robe falling over his hips, hanging on by the belt that secures it. I walk around him to Master Hong, where I look at her a pointedly and gesture with a little nod at Wu Cai. She rolls her eyes at me and swats me on my arm, causing me to laugh.
I stand beside her, enjoying her presence, and settle in to wait for Wu Cai. After ten minutes, he finishes and walks over to us, where Master Hong hands him a towel.
Once he's finished wiping himself down, he turns to me, "Are you ready?" He asks, the question loaded with meaning.
I give him a resolute nod. He stares at me with a deep look, then turns and moves to grab a second sword, which he tosses to me. This time, I keep up my guard as I catch it, leading me to dodge his opening attack. He steps back and nods at me approvingly, then starts to seriously teach me.
"Your master tells me you wish to use a Jian, correct?" I nod. "While a Jian is not my preferred weapon, I have more then enough experience in swordplay to be able to teach you." He lifts his sword to point it at me. "The Jian is a weapon of precision, finesse, and agility, and doesn't require a specific style for it's full potential to be drawn out."
"For one who wishes to wield a Jian, there are thirteen techniques that must be mastered. With these thirteen, all opponents can be dealt with if one is sufficiently skilled. Now," He waves his sword at me, "guard, and receive."
I do as he says, just in time for me him to stab at me. As he does, he explains, "Thrust, the most essential move of the Jian. A direct, linear strike that uses the power of your legs and waist, channelled through a straight arm, to stab the tip of the sword at the throat, chest, or abdomen."
He lifts his sword, and brings it down in a quick strike, which I barely manage to block. "Split, a downwards strike that relies on speed rather than weight. You send out your Jian in a snapping motion that uses the front third of the blade, to target the top of the head, or the shoulders."
His sword is pulled back, then he moves his wrist in a way I miss, before the tip is a centimetre from my left eye, "Point. A hard to parry move that uses a rapid flick of the wrist to target the eyes or wrists."
My heart is beating frantically in my chest as he moves back. I look over at Master Hong who is watching the lesson, but she just nods. Slightly reassured, I refocus on Wu Cai.
He notices my fluster, "No need to worry. These three are all we will be focusing on today." He walks up to me and adjusts my stance, before moving back to his spot. "Good. When you have an understanding of these moves, we will move on. Ready?"
"Yes."
No.
…
My body is aching in places it didn't know it could as I walk back to my quarters. As I plod along home, I spot Shi Min walking in my direction, at the same time that she notices me. Her face breaks out into a smile, as she quickens her pace to reach me.
She stops in front of me and notices my state, going by the frown on her face, "Sister Sarah, are you okay? What happened?" She looks me over, taking in my ruffled and bruised appearance.
I give her a reassuring smile, "Wu Cai." I explain, simply. Shi Min gets a look of realisation on her face, then lets out a quiet laugh.
"Ah, I understand." She grabs my good hand, and starts to lead me off somewhere, "Come on, I'll treat you. I can't have you going to bed with these injuries." I squeeze her hand, and let her pull me along.
After a couple of minutes of walking in silence, with a certain tension around us, we reach her quarters. Shi Min enters and gestures me in, before she closes her door. She moves me over to chair and guides me into it, then walks over to a chest in the corner, from which she pulls out some bandages and small, circular pot.
She walks over to me and kneels before me, then gently grasps my bruised right hand. She opens the pot, revealing a paste of some kind, and scoops some out with her fingers, then slowly rubs it in.
Her fingers clutch on to mine as she shyly looks up at me, her cheeks rosy, "...Sister Shi." She whispers my name. I interlock our fingers, feeling her pulse quicken through our touch. She starts to stand, her warm hand in mine, before she give me a shy look.
I stare into her dark eyes, and start to pull her onto me, asking for neither permission, nor forgiveness. Her knees balance her on both sides of me, using the chair for support, as she tilts her head down and slowly starts to lean in.
Her soft lips touch mine.
I bring my good hand up to her thigh, and start to run it up. As my hand reached her hip, I pull back my lips and give her questioning look. She gives me a small nod, causing me to start untying her belt. I carefully undo it and pull it from her, leaving her robe unsecured.
I gently pull it open, exposing her to me. I look upon her body and take her in, from her soft looking stomach, to her small breasts, their nipples hard. Shi Min gently lifts my chin until we are staring at each other, our breathing quick, then pulls me in until our lips touch again. I move down and start to kiss at her neck, before working my down to her breasts.
Shi Min steps back off me, grasps my hands, and starts to walk backwards to her bedroom. I follow her until she hits her bed and falls back onto it, then climb on and support myself over her. I lean down to kiss her, then move back to her chest and kiss around her breasts, giving her nipples a lick, causing her to let a quiet gasp.
I chuckle and start to kiss down her stomach until my head is level with her vagina. I stop and look up at her, waiting for her to signal if she wants to continue.
Shi Min gives me a shaky nod.
I lower my head and kiss at her clit. She lets out a surprise gasp, causing me to smile up at her. Her face is flushed as I stick out my tongue and start to eat her out, kissing her lips and gliding my tongue up slit as she moans.
I take my time with her, making this as pleasurable for her as I can. When I start to feel her wetness on my tongue, I bring my fingers to her pussy and start to rub them in circles, causing her to buck slightly. I eat her out slowly as I push my fingers in, curling them in her.
Shi Min grabs at me and clutches her thighs around my face, moaning quietly, as I start to finger her. She starts shake as I speed up, before she starts to let out little gasps.
She tightens down on my fingers as she starts to cum, her hips rising off the bed; her moans bouncing off the walls the room. As she finishes, she releases me. I give her one last kiss, then start to rise back up, leaving a trail kisses until I'm laying over her. She's red in the face, and her hair is matted with sweat, but she's never looked more beautiful.
She looks up at me with tired eyes, as I lean down and kiss her, sharing her own juices with her. Her arms come up and wrap around my neck as she pulls back. With a slight breathlessness, she whispers, "...I've never done that before."
I let out a quiet laugh, "I have."
Shi Min laughs with me, "I can tell." She releases me and rolls me over, until we face each other. "Do you want me to return the favor?" She asks me, a little nervousness in her voice.
I shake my head at her, "Tonight was about you."
As she stares at me, I can tell her thoughts are racing through her mind. She has just willingly broken her vows, with someone she must suspect is going to leave, no less.
Shi Min shuffles into me and leans her head on my robed chest, "...I didn't want this to happen." She pauses, but I let her gather her thoughts, "I know you're eventually going to leave." She hugs me around my stomach, "...and I can't come with you."
I hug her back, and start rubbing her back, "I wouldn't want you to." I start drawing circles, "The life I'm pursuing... It goes against your beliefs. I would never force you into such a choice."
She nods into my chest, her body relaxing "...I'm going to miss you." She whispers, her voice heavy with tiredness.
I hold her until she falls asleep, then soon follow.
I'm going to miss you too, Shi Min.
---AN---
Poor Shi Min. I've never written a sex scene before, so I hope it was alright.
Here's a surprise upload to celebrate ten chapters, have fun. There won't be one tomorrow though, sorry about that.
When I first started writing this, I didn't think I would do more than the first chapter, now look at me lol. Thank you for all the support so far, be sure to keep watching for more to come.
As always, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, be sure to point out any grammatical mistakes, and leave any criticisms you have.