Cultivating Chai

6:

The rest of Xiao Feng’s journey ended up being a sombre one, as Mei Chen no longer engaged in conversation with him besides checking with him to make sure he didn’t need aid while traversing patches of challenging terrain.

Roughly two hours later, they found themselves before a protruding facade hewn entirely from the same greyish-white stone that made up the mountain. Accessible via steep stone steps that Xiao Feng had carefully made his way through, the structure seamlessly blending in with the mountain.

Greeting him were two thick stone pillars, their top and bottom fused with the mountain to perhaps give the impression that they were holding it aloft. The pillar to his left depicted a long-tailed dragon whose length was wreathed in a vivid depiction of powerful flames as it coiled around the pillar, its mouth open and teeth bared in a prideful roar.

The pillar to his right depicted a much smaller yet no less formidable Skywing, a mythical spiritual beast whose wings stretched out four times the length of its body from head to talons. Arcs of wind blades spilled outward with the Skywing as its epicentre, depicting its fabled vicious nature.

One represented fire, the other wind. The two schools of alchemy practised by the Frontier Sect, also the most efficient ones the Azure Lotus Sect was aware of.

Xiao Feng took in the jade-slab portico that had the words “Alchemy Division” carved onto its surface.

Finally, he took in the reinforced metal-plated double-doors that were coated with poison-tipped spikes, noting that the defensive mechanisms in the Frontier Sect itself were not that extreme.

Probably because the Frontier Sect is packed to the brim with cultivators eager to fight. Nobody is going to charge in there without a plan. The Alchemy Division though? Seemingly, not so much.

“Honoured Alchemists!” Mei Chen called out, her voice amplified with a touch of Qi. “I am Inner Disciple Mei Chen, here under the direct order of Elder Haoyun. To my left is Cultivator Xiao Feng, who has sought transfer to the Alchemy Division. Please grant him entry!”

Xiao Feng’s gaze shifted to the double-doors, wondering how long the holed up alchemists would take to respond.

He was slightly surprised when one of the metal-plates from which a poisoned spike was protruding began to sink inwards, the rattle of a chain audible as it was replaced by a metal tray.

“Cultivator Xiao Feng, place your identification if you truly are who you claim to be,” A scratchy voice demanded from the other side, their words sounding out clearly.

Xiao Feng allowed himself a glance at Mei Chen, who nodded and only then did he step forward and place the blue jade identification token on the tray.

The same rattle echoed out as the tray sunk in, heralding the return of the poison spike.

Once it had returned to the original spot, silence once again befell the entrance to the Alchemy Division.

A few moments passed by without any further question or response. Just as Xiao Feng was beginning to wonder if something had gone wrong, the silence blanketing the mountainous overhang was replaced by the whirring of a much larger chain.

Xiao Feng watched with building anticipation in his gut as the double-doors guarding his path to the Alchemy Division receded inwards, creating a gap that was a little larger than what he needed to pass through.

“Only the alchemist aspirant, now,” The same scratchy voice declared, his tone firm.

Nodding, Xiao Feng turned his gaze to Mei Chen.

“Thank you, Sister Mei Chen,” Xiao Feng offered, his tone warm as he did so.

“I was merely doing my duty,” Mei Chen politely replied.

“Still, thank you. You were considerate of me throughout the journey when you could have chosen not to be. I appreciate it,” Xiao Feng explained, his smile genuine as he did so.

It was the regular Earth kindness his old man had drilled into him, which was basically ingrained habit at this point. He always remembered to say his pleases and thank-yous to people that rendered him a service of any kind, because that’s what decent folk did.

Xiao Feng had not expected a light blush to colour Mei Chen’s features as she nodded, accepting his gratitude.

I wonder when was the last time Xiao Feng said thank you to anyone, He thought and the answer to his question did not require more than a couple seconds to process.

Apparently, cultivators were not the best at being upfront with their emotions.

“See you, Sister Mei Chen. Send my regards to the others, I’ll miss them,” Xiao Feng said his parting words, before striding forward with firm steps.

Perhaps it was a bit rude, but Xiao Feng did not look back even once as he stepped inside the territory of the Alchemy Division. Of course, he did not particularly mind, but it would have been a markedly un-Xiao Feng like thing to do.

After all, a cultivator did not look back once they decided upon a path.

Such was the way, after all.

The Martial Way.

As Mei Chen watched Xiao Feng step inside the Alchemy Division, she could not help but be perplexed.

Elder Haoyun had ordered her to report on Xiao Feng’s behavior and highlight any inconsistencies or aberrant behavior.

While the Healing Hall had granted him the all-clear, Xiao Feng was a unique case in the sense that, they had been able to find no records that hinted at even the possibility of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator surviving the blow of a Nascent Soul.

Why had Xiao Feng survived when any other in his place would have instantly died?

Had it been a concealed artifact, it would have been long since discovered by the healers that had operated upon him while he was unconscious. Had there been any anomalies within his Dantian, Elder Haoyun would have discovered it.

Had the Demon let Xiao Feng live? Had he done something to his soul?

Unlikely. A Nascent Soul cultivator would not sacrifice himself for a plot involving a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, leave alone one that belonged to the self-centered Demonic Path.

However, it was true that the current Xiao Feng was much different from the brooding, ever-serious person she had seen in the Martial Division.

He does not try to mimic who he used to be, makes no effort to regain what has clearly been lost. Is it not natural to change, after dying once? Mei Chen contemplated. For all intents and purposes, Xiao Feng had died once. Even the Healers treating him believed that his recovery was an impossibility.

Mei Chen found herself thinking back on the words Xiao Feng had said to her, Would it not be a pity if I squandered away my second chance at life the same way, bleeding out on a battlefield without stopping to consider why the Heavens have bestowed this chance upon me?

It was not the words itself that had surprised her, but rather the man who had spoken those words.

Xiao Feng was a fearless dragon amongst men who had broken formation and charged deep into the enemies lines on his lonesome. He was a seeker of blood and death, who slew one enemy after the next, not pausing to consider that more than a few were stronger than him, faster than him and more experienced than him.

They had died anyway.

How curious. I wonder what truth you have stumbled upon, Xiao Feng, to change so much in the span of a few days.

Mei Chen allowed herself a final glance at the now closed Alchemy Division gates, before her silhouette blurred in motion as she began her much faster journey back to the sect.