Chương 42: Cultivation.

Drac Above the rooftops of Mouve. A simple job this one is. Guiding a 'duke' back to his pretty castle. Leaping from a building in a single jump, I quickly found myself spying from a nearby roof at the Mouve Cathedral. I could go there now, sneak in and find the water. But the rule with the supernatural is that only the chosen can touch it. I would be reduced to a mumbling fool for simply taking a drop. So I must do what everyone does: wait for their turn for the god's nectar.

With my seeing glass, I look at the living in the church's accommodation. The priest lived like a king. I zoom into an empty bedroom window, spotting gold chalices, each for different drinks and wine. Alarian rugs on the pipe-heated floors. Paintings of the cardinal cover every wall. A target I would've been hired to kill on a normal day. But I must control myself. I had a job to do. A free job. A favour that must be paid back. Footsteps. Many. A heavy man led the group. Success.

"It's futile!" The horn gloated.

"I have gathered my fastest men! Fully rested! You have NO chance of escape!" The bald man's rattail twisted in the wind as fire blazed as a scorching sphere around him. He looked better than the umbra claimed.

"Leave your boss, and I will let you go!" My mask hummed with mana, and I spoke with a duke's voice.

"Suck my dick."

"How dare you! I gave you mercy!"

"Would you rather lick balls?"

"BASTARD!" The horn's hand pushed forward, shooting four spheres of fire. My sword hummed. Slice them with ease. They exploded on the tiles behind me as the horn launched himself with his fist of fire hammering down. An illusion shattered; the umbra that surrounded me disappeared like fading smoke. MY disguise as the duke had vanished.

"W-WHAT?!"

"Surprise." I blocked with my Jian, sliding down his fist to my right. Burning the roof, Fjord turned to attack, not noticing I had already sliced him in the stomach.

"AARGH!" A simple job. Misdirection. I clicked my fingers. An explosion sounded in Liu town. Can't follow now.

"I have never killed a customer before…" The horn grunted as he stood up, fishing for an object in his breast pocket. A little vial.

"I will not be me." He drank the strange liquid. His severe stomach was healing in a flash. Not even a scar is left.

"You bloody bastard! I have been trying to find you all night!" He grinned wide, showing his golden teeth. He lifted the vial to his face, teasing with a sarcastic expression.

"Um? Interested." I gripped my sword.

"NO no no~ You kill me; you will never find it." I can just find the priest.

"And you won't find the priest either." The horn chuckled.

"My dear Bieye was honest under my fists. Her mouth let it loose! I know everything!" Kobi…

"Yes." His maniacal smile grew on his cheeks.

"Do you understand now?" I sheathed my blade.

"Good. The job is still the same. With a different reward." Large drew closer to me, wrapping his smelly arm around my shoulder.

"His head for your brother's life," he whispered near my ear.

"But if you disappoint me again, don't be confused when paladins come after Kobi."

"It… will be done." CHARLES Running through the forgotten tunnels Around a resting Duke's arm, a rune made with Drac blood sparked and burst with fireworks.

"Rune broken." Zhi carried sleepy Kobi in her arms, who was covered in a strange towel. We must move fast! Explosions unsettled dust from the ceiling.

"Your shop…" Zhi shrugged as she ran.

"An ingredient can be replaced! People can't be!" I take what she said to heart, feeling my friend's heartbeat on my back.

"How far?" she asked, huffing.

"I haven't run this much in years!" Beatrice ran up front with her fellow Umbra, making me feel guilty for not practising my Umbra steps.

"About a mile. Charles let me—""No." Mana flowed through and around my legs, and I kept pace.

"I'm good." TARION Hours later Greystone Manor. I woke up from a dreamless sleep. Shirtless, my exhaustion still sapped my energy, and my body felt alien. No broken bones. My face no longer stings. But my strength. I feel normal. STATUS. Nothing. Zhi retracted her needles into a sack.

"My uncle…"

"Asleep. The old man underestimated his body. He may need to rest for a while before he can get his strength back again. After an ambush, he must surely be exhausted. Luckily your bodyguard, the famed Kurt, and your brother were there to protect him."

"My brother… Kurt… How are they?"

"No injuries were seen. But I did hear murmurs that Kurt killing around forty men on his own to escape unscathed is the miracle."

"Good," I sighed with relief.

"I needed at least one miracle today." I must meet them in the morning.

"My job is done," Zhi said as she sat back in my chair. I slowly sat up on my soft bed. Sweat and other gunk dirty the nice linen.

"I even cleaned the dirty razzorflower clogging meridians. Can't even say thank you?" I squeezed my hand, barely able to hear the liuen doctor.

"When did you learn cultivation?" I was broken out of my consuming thoughts.

"Cultivation?" Did I wake up in the wrong book?

"Even when you slept, you flowed mana around the body like a Qi user, yet your lower dantian – the basin – is underutilised. Actually, it's the healthiest organ in your body."

"I called it mobile meditation." I moved my legs to face Zhi.

"It's how I collected mana to store for forging a circle. By collecting ambient energy from the air into my skin, I would never run out of energy."

"Fascinating," Zhi scanned my body, and I did the same from within.

"You managed to discover cultivation all on your own." I ignored her praise, searching my heart with my mind's eye. Lands above, It's gone. All my circles. Not a trace left.

"Zhi, can you –""No. I can't bring them back."

"But my heart—!"

"Healed. As if brand new. Never seen anything like it. The power of holy water is amazing. The Church monopoly of this land was inevitable with such power in their hands."

"Holy water?" I asked Zhi. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"It seems that from the time you consumed holy water, it remained in your body, neither absorbed nor removed. It is like it knew when to heal you." I remember the darkness of my 'death' and the dragon that resided there. It wasn't death, but somewhere within me? Was that the gift the dragon spoke of? And so with your heart made anew, you must build your circles again. Properly. Gradually. Or suffer the same consequence without such luck on your side. My soul felt heavy as I heard the diagnosis. All my effort.

All that strength has just gone. The room felt colder than usual; candles appeared less bright. The world was dull with these normal eyes. I heard the wind whistle, and I stepped up to walk to my balcony overlooking the courtyard. The green forest looked gloomy in the distance as it sat below the terrifying, jagged northern mountains. Zhi followed me, admiring the scenery herself.

"Never seen Osberg from high up. So beauty under the stars."

"Mm," I said. My sombre feeling is making me feel heavy despite my now excellent health.

"I should be happy." I eyed my right hand, tensing it.

"I no longer feel my heart will fall apart at any second." I circulated mana.

"Mana no longer feels like glass in my veins." I touched my heart.

"To start again, after suffering through it all…" I need to get stronger. Why? To protect Vanessa, to protect my lands. I can't feel useless again. Like today. Without my men… Zhi's hand held my arm.

"I can't help you get back your circle faster. But I can teach you." I perked up as Zhi turned me around and took out a strange spectacle. With an index finger pointed at my heart and traced down my abs to my bowels.

"I had used what was left of the holy power in your heart to heal your meridian and heart. But only you can build those circles using the holy power residing in your basin."

"Wait, I'm getting confused. There is still holy essence in me?" Zhi looked up at me.

"Some still remain. Just enough to speed up the forging." Zhi put back her spectacular.

"Compared to razzorflower you munch like a cow to grass; the effect is tenfold. And with no side effects." The cold room suddenly felt warm as I could barely hold back my smile.

"But why? You've already done so much for me." Zhi folded her hands behind her back.

"You found another solution," she said, turning and making her way to the door.

"I am just paying it forward."

"Hmm," I chuckled softly.

"Well, thank you."

"Thank you, TEACHER. We will start CULTIVATION tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes, Teacher." I bowed like a luien, making her laugh. At the door, she waited, asking.

"You suffered years with the Gu. Why didn't holy water heal your sickness?"

"Not all nobles are treated the same," I answer.

"It appears that it was judged to be a wasteful expense for someone like me. The mouve tragedy was my first sip of it." I smiled.

"I see," she replied with pity.

"Even with coin, hardship can happen to anyone." She closed the door. How bizarre. It's been a while since I read the story, but I remember the prince telling Vanessa that her holy water wasn't working on his poison. The priest also said the same thing about their holy water's effectiveness. The only poison that could ever affect a tenth circle is GU. Yet holy water eradicated mine? Why did they lie? I closed the balcony behind me. Finally, alone, the whole situation fell on me like bricks.

A very long night full of failures and loss. Yet it ended with hope. The future remained bright as long as I didn't give up. A knock on the door.

"Come in." And in came my new associate, an assassin with dark skin.

"I hope Kobi's room is comfortable even if it's still underground." He flicked pieces of paper across the room. The air pulsed. And the wind outside became silent. Fuck.

"What's he got over you?" Drac stepped forward, unsheathing his cool, golden-pommelled jian slowly. I thought quickly, "He has holy water?" Drac continued, his blade glowing runes which translated to sever. DEATH. Each step he made trembled me to my soul. DEATH. My heart pumped like a locomotive. My eyes widen, watching the assassin with all my focus. DEATH. NO MORE FAILURE. I search deep within me. Circleless, I plunged into my basin. Power spread across the body like lightning.

Purer power had never possessed me before.

"I'm sorry," Drac said behind me. The world slowed as a blade swung from the left. Drac's Jian cut nothing but the air as the elbow strike blew spit from the shocked assassin. His jacket was like metal. Drac fell backwards into a bookshelf but dodged a sidekick that could crack stone. I pulled out my bootless feet from a falling bookcase.

"You attack, then you run away!" I sped along with him, and he guarded my right punch with his sword.

"DIDN'T YOU WANT MY HEAD?" I grabbed his sword with the new white energy. Pulling the weapon up, a palm strike was intercepted by another palm. The wind cracked, blowing books and papers aside. A left leg swiped his right, and he lifted his leg to evade it. Pushed my weight on him, causing him to be unbalanced.

"VENTUS!" Drac shouted, and a gust of wind blew me up to the ceiling. A fucking Mage, of course! With white energy, I pulsed away from a stabbing sword. Light like a feather, Drac flipped and sprinted off the ceiling, with his blade following me. Holding on to a hanging chandelier, I focused all my new power on my right fist, parrying away his stabs and slashes. A fist and blade blurred silver and white.

"When did you learn how to QI?" Drac asked as he tried to kill me.

"Don't know, mate. Ask Zhi after you kill the ONE PERSON WHO IS TRYING TO SAVE YOUR ARSE." I jumped off the chandelier, and in the middle of that, I twisted, letting his Jian slip by as he stabbed. Leaning to the left, a left palm struck Drac's weapon-wielding hand, and his jian spun away, ending up stuck to the ceiling. A punch was almost blocked, but the feint worked as I grabbed his jacket by his chest and sleeve, throwing down with a classic Seoi Nage.

The falling assassin created a crater of broken wood and splinters. He rolled away from a dropkick that made a larger mess.

"Hey, listen." Drac slipped my feet. An attempt he failed with my jump. He spun up with a back kick that I blocked with two arms.

"Lands above…! We don't need to fight!" A left tried to drag my arms to open my face for Drac's right punch. Like instinct. My eyes warmed with QI, and only a small line was marked on my face. I tilted back from a backhand that exploded the air, kicking the assassin in the gut.

"ENOUGH, YOU FUCKING HYPOCRITE!" The foreigner froze mid-attack. The assassin of justice. Only the rich and the evil blood touch his blade. But you're willing to work with the devil! Eyes, once focused on the kill, now aflame with anger.

"Willing to work under a PIMP, AN ABUSER, AN EXPLOITER OF HUMAN SUFFERING. You were there that night at the raid. Did you see how young they were? How aged the eyes were –""I HAD AND HAVE NO CHOICE, DUKE!" The assassin paced around, kicking wood splinters around.

"LOOK AT KOBI; WATCH THAT CURSE GROW. TAKE HIM PIECE BY PIECE. HE'S MY ONLY FAMILY." The emotion he was holding on to was finally laid all out.

"YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WANTING TO SAVE SOMEONE YOU LOVE AT ALL COSTS!!" Tears dripped on his mask.

"I do," I whispered.

"I really do." A brother and another flashed in my mind. A beautiful woman remained. Always. I heard wood creak, and a Jian fell into Drac's hand. More runes shimmered on his blade, and the sword exploded in a blaze of red fire.

"I will do what I must." Pointing his blade at me his me. His bloodshot eyes said he was sorry while his blade charged. As I thought, he held back. That Jian wasn't a simple sword. Such a softie.

"You do realise you will be tied to him forever. He is a smart man. He drip-fed the water, keeping your brother as a half-cursed human." Drac wiped his tears.

"But he will be alive." Energy collected on the tip of his sword. I closed my eyes, searching within myself for the hope. There was.

"Use that spectacle of yours. Search me."

"What are you babbling about, Duke? … It's too late." I spread my arms wide.

"SEARCH ME." The assassin watched me, eventually giving up and bringing out his Seeing Eye. Putting it over his right eye, he was scanning, looking from my head, my heart to my basin. There is the face I was looking for.

"I thought…"

"Only in my heart? Fortunately for you, it wasn't. Your runes can contain energy, yes. So can you transfer it?"

"Easily…" Drac looked down in thought.

"It wouldn't be enough to cure the curse."

"For the average man," I said.

"But enough for a boy only half-consumed." To my absolute shock, Drac lifted off his hood and brought down his mask. Long locs fall down the sides of his head. The handsome fellow's eyes looked with curiosity. Wait, that mark… a cross on his cheek. I smiled widely, remembering one of the coolest characters in the series. A briefly shown character was so popular that readers wanted him to be a love interest. The saint's resident travelling cook, Kwaba.

Like a good luck charm, any place the saint's caravan travelled was free of trouble. I can see why. Kwaba started his service to the saint after hearing of her good deeds and her willingness to heal all from the curse, no matter how rich or poor they were. He was alone then as the only southerner in the group. No young boy travelled with him.

"Why?" Drac asked me.

"Why would you? After I—""You're an Osbergian. One of many that I failed." I walked past the crater in my bedroom and held his shoulder.

"I will not fail you again." Drac fell to the floor and wept tears like a hurting brother should.

"Vanessa?" I turned to the door, an inch ajar.

"It's okay. We hashed it out. I will see tomorrow morning." A weapon fell on the floor. Feet shuffled away, and a door across the corridor closed. I smiled as I brought up Drac.

"Well then. Let's wake your brother up for the fourth time." Underground in Umbra's room, I lay on the floor again, surrounded by glowing runes. A boy snored next to me. Sleeping like a baby while black mist swirled over half his face. I'm giving it up. My hope. My strength. But I didn't feel like a hard choice at all. When I was his age, I wished a person had made such a choice for me.

"Do it." At my order, Drac doesn't hesitate, placing his hands on the rune.

I awoke amidst crying. Brothers embrace each other, smiles wide on the joyful faces. It was worth it. Truly. Drac knelt before me; his brother imitated him. He hit his chest with a thunderous salute. Kobi didn't copy that.

"I am your man, your dagger, your shield." I saluted back.

"First thing tomorrow morning, meet your new colleagues in the Umbra training hall."

"YES, YOUR GRACE." A long night ended well. TARION BEDROOM I couldn't sleep. Sunrise peeked through my window, but I remained seated on a mat meditating. I collect mana from the air, forging my circle bit by bit. I was losing patience. If only I had had some razzorflower tea. No. I couldn't ruin it again. I must build from scratch. Forge a circle without a blemish, not a crack. I remembered what Zhi said. Cultivation. Is it the same cultivation of wuxia novels?

The Dragon Ball Z-like power that harnesses the energy of nature? The Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon kind? The siting in a cave to live for ten thousand years in cave kind cultivation? It can't be the same world as 'The annoying prince loves me', which never mentions such a thing. But it didn't mention GU. It's a large world, and it was a small story. I lost patience. Searching deep in my basin, I bring the mysterious QI from within. In my mind's eye, the pure energy enveloped my heart.

I am overwhelmed by the refreshing feeling. Is this how everyone feels? No pain. Such pleasure. I persisted, forming a ring around my heart. Qi condensed, getting harder to contain, but it was manageable. I could endure. QI essence exploded from every pore, blowing away books in my untidy room. Plonk. Fuck. Off. I crawled into my bed, with QI simmering off me like fumes. A bronze-grade circle spun around a healthy heart while I slept for eighteen hours.