Cultivating Chai

“Xiao Feng,” Elder Haoyun spoke, his tone sombre. “Can you repeat what you just said?” He asked, even though the perceptions of a cultivator would not allow him to mishear in most circumstances.

“Elder Haoyun, I wish to quit the Martial Division of the Frontier Sect,” Xiao Feng repeated, his visage seeming unperturbed. He knew, of course, who he was addressing. He was well aware of the fact that the Nascent Soul Elder standing before him could survive an RPG or it’s equivalent at point-blank range.

Well, not just survive— he was pretty sure that Elder Haoyun would come out unscathed.

However, it had only been what… a day? A week? He didn’t know how long he had been unconscious for after that interaction with Xiao Feng, but it clearly hadn’t been too long since he had assumed the role. The respect and reverence the original Xiao Feng’s soul held towards Elder Haoyun did not carry over to him. The memories he could recall were just that—memories, lacking the accompanying emotion the original Xiao Feng would’ve felt towards the Elder.

Xiao Feng was a hero. Elder Haoyun could be offended by his words all he wanted, yet it would be unwise for him to deny the request of one responsible for saving another Nascent Soul’s life.

War heroes were important to the morale of any army, whether it be back on Earth or in the unfamiliar land he found himself in. After Elder Haoyun had publicly acknowledged him as one before a captive audience, he would more than likely capitulate to his demands. He would certainly not force him to stay in the Martial Division if he did not wish to be there.

The surprised gasps and whispered chatters were no longer something Elder Haoyun could ignore, it seemed, as the blood rushed to his face before he commanded, “Clear the room, all besides the injured. Now.”

The sharp emphasis on the last word signalled to his audience that his directive was not made in jest. That was enough for them to all but flee the Healing Hall, allowing him only glimpses at their robes, leaving behind Xiao Feng, the other injured cultivators and Elder Haoyun.

Then, to Xiao Feng’s surprise, Elder Haoyun exhaled a long, weary sigh.

“I suppose I cannot blame you,” He muttered wistfully, shaking his head. “While your actions have made you a hero in the eyes of the Frontier Sect, the rare few who possessed the wherewithal to observe your charge mid-battle described it as ...madness. Sheer madness. What were you thinking, Xiao Feng?”

“I wanted revenge,” He growled out as a wrathful impulse hijacked his body for a few brief moments.

“I wanted revenge,” He repeated again, this time willingly in a far softer tone. “And now you have informed me that my actions have led to the death of a Nascent Soul Cultivator. In the crucible of life and death that is cultivation, such an accomplishment is truthfully beyond what I expected. Since I will never know the names of the perpetrators that cost me so much, took away so much from me, this… it is enough. Now, Elder Haoyun, it is time I start living my life for myself,” Xiao Feng softly declared, his expression melancholic.

The silence stretched on from moment to moment as Elder Haoyun contemplated his words.

“You wish to leave the sect, then?” Elder Haoyun asked, his tone resigned.

“No,” Xiao Feng replied calmly.

“No? Elder Haoyun questioned, not following his intentions.

“No, Elder Haoyun. I do not wish to leave the sect. Instead, I request a transfer to the Frontier Sect’s Alchemy Division.”

“The Alchemy Division? What in the world do you intend to do there?” Elder Haoyun asked, his tone conveying his bafflement.

“I will develop my own tea, Elder Haoyun,” Xiao Feng calmly stated.

“Tea?” Elder Haoyun asked, his tone sounding even more baffled. “The mortal drink—tea? Crushed leaves steeped into water to stave away hunger during poor harvests. Why in the world would you want to make tea?” Elder Haoyun questioned.

“Not any tea, Elder Haoyun,” Xiao Feng corrected. “I will research alchemy to develop medicinal tea that can be beneficial to cultivators. To that end, I request a small shop within the premises of the Frontier Sect.”

“A shop… A simple shop pales in comparison to the rewards you could ask of me— from cultivation techniques reserved for the core disciples to pills that would greatly increase your chances at reaching the Core Formation stage. Are you still sure that a shop is all you want?” Elder Haoyun asked, his tone incredulous.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I will sell the blends of medicinal tea that I refine through the shop,” Xiao Feng explained.

Once again, there was silence.

“They say that cultivators who are pushed to the brink of life and death gain epiphanies. Though I have come close, it pales in comparison to you, Xiao Feng. You who survived the blow of a cultivator two whole stages above you… I suppose it would be remiss of me to deny you what you seek, even if I cannot yet understand it. Very well, I will accept your resignation once you have recovered completely,” Elder Haoyun declared before witnesses.

“Thank you, Elder Haoyun. While I may not be a part of the Martial Division for much longer, I shall never forget the kindness that has been imparted to me by all of you,” He said, actually meaning every word. It had been a dream of his back on his real home, Earth, to open a tea room of his own once he had saved up enough money. As a broke college kid, he was about as far from making his business idea a reality as one could be, but if he was going to be given a second chance….

“Go with pride, Xiao Feng. I do not understand what you hope to accomplish in the Alchemy Division, but that is no reason to stop you. You have done more for the sect than what most core disciples and even Sect Guardians do for it across their lifetimes. The least we can do in return is to give you the freedom to pursue what you wish to.”

The words that needed to be said had been exchanged.

Although Xiao Feng was still bed-ridden, that did not stop him from bowing as low as he could.

Elder Haoyun, an esteemed Nascent Soul cultivator of the Frontier Sect, bowed to him in return— granting him great face.

“I will see to it that you are not troubled in the Alchemy Division,” Elder Haoyun offered as his parting words, before he stepped outside the Healing Hall.