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81.98% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 264: Chapter Sixty Four - Three strikes and you are out!

Chapter 264: Chapter Sixty Four - Three strikes and you are out!

The tea shop manager was a refined, genteel woman, versed in the etiquette of tea brewing, poetry and was apt at making her guests feel welcome and relaxed... but every coin had a flip side.  Without warning, this coin revealed it tail.  "Get out!  How dare you disturb the tranquility of laoniang's business!"

Two young ladies were pushed out of the doors without breath spare to defend themselves, while two embarrassed relatives bowed in apology and appeased the hostess with a few silver each.  The woman tested the weight of the purses in her palm before sounding out a loud 'harrumph' and striding back inside, where she once more transformed into her amiable, elegant self.

Without tea to drink and the mood of shopping spoiled, it seemed it was time to return to the Institute.... and it seemed that the two parties of two just happened to be intending to return in the same manner; via Griffin.  They walked in cold silence, but once their joint destinations became obvious, the competitive nature of females began to once more rear its head.  Carmen was undoubtedly the instigator this time; after giving a disdainful glare in the direction of the two girls across the street, she hurried her pace to get ahead.

Ordinarily, Merylin would never rise to such obvious provocation, but the number of griffins flying too and from school were limited and it was true that she did not wish to have to wait half a shìchèn or so for the next beast to land following a return flight.  Thus she discreetly picked up the pace as well.

Seeing that the gap between them had not increased, Carmen's strides became less 'ladylike' and far longer, gradually the distance grew to her satisfaction.  And then it shrank once more.  This continued until both girls were pretty much running ungainly with Maimai and Sun just dragged along for the show.  Both girls approached the Griffin handler intent on leaving the other behind.

"We can't fly at the moment," the handler mentioned, indicating the overcast sky with his finger.  The rumbling thunder in the dense and darkening sky was increasing, becoming particularly strong in one area off to the north east.  An odd hunch caused Sun to frown, but it was another that put words to his feelings.

"Someone is breaching a cultivation level!" 

Sun didn't recognise the speaker, but suspected from the age and temperament, and the fact he also wished to ride back to the Institute, that they were one of his seniors.  He was with a friend who happened to blurt out;

"But are there any Teachers in closed cultivation at the moment?"  He was not wrong to ask this question.  His assumption was that the cloud formations above were not due to some ominous winter storm, but were actually due to a Cultivator ascending.  Lightning tribulations were a common occurrence for any Cultivator breaching levels above the quinary stage; completing Body Tempering brought with it the first trial of the Heavens and every stage after that also. Most students would leave the Institute prior to forming their core, leaving no more than a handful of the most talented each generation to manage to form their core before graduation.

"I think Teacher Compari was," the other mentioned.

"Who is that?"

"Oh, you've not met him," the other realised.  "He went into closed cultivation after I started attending the Institute.  He must have been cultivating inside the mountain for ten years now..."

Sun also had no knowledge of this mysterious Teacher, but for some reason, his intuition felt as if that their words did not quite fit the current scenario...

"Jin Li, he's in closed cultivation in that mountain as well," Maimai murmured aloud.  Sun glanced at her and the uncertain feeling in his gut began to solidify. 

The Heavens had no care for the speculation of mortals nor Cultivators on their first steps towards attempting to breach their gates.  The sky filled with a blinding white light before streaking towards its destination in an angry manner.  It clashed with the barrier around the mountain which wobbled like a soap bubble pressed by a finger before springing back into shape and vanishing before the naked eye.  As if furious at being thwarted, the Heavens sent down two further strikes, but the could not penetrate the barrier, just explode against it, sending out booming cries causing immense pressure to the ears of normal people.  A few fell to their knees in the wake of the loud thunder.  This seemed enough to satisfy the Heavens, for the clouds above began to disperse, once more revealing the cold, pale blue sky beneath.

"All aboard!" The Handler said some ten minutes later after the ringing in his ears had abated and he'd calmed the Griffin enough for it to fly.  Carmen indicated that Sun should help her rise; she had been one of those who'd crumbled beneath the pressure.

Merylin looked down at her as she climbed carefully aboard the Griffin; "So weak," she said with exaggerated pity before adjusting her skirt as she sat with a straight back in her seat.  Maimai sat down beside her, offering Sun a quick apologetic glance.

Carmen grumbled beneath her breath.  So what if she was 'weak'.  A true lady did not need to be physically strong, such would make her no more than a boorish woman.  But then, wasn't that what this girl truly was beneath her airs and graces?  Feeling that she'd cursed the odious girl satisfactorily in her heart, she felt more at peace and proved that she could climb and take a seat upon the flying beast just as, if not more, elegantly than the other!

Following Sun aboard was those two seniors and a few others who either learned or worked in the school as perhaps caretakers or cooks. The two seniors sat behind Sun and continued their discussion from earlier.

"Those lightning strikes certainly seemed to be in the direction of the mountain for closed cultivation. Do you think that Teacher was successful?"

"How can it be?!" the other refuted. "To complete Body formation one will receive Heaven's wrath with one times nine strikes and for every stage above that they will receive that they received before plus another nine strikes. Teacher Compari was reputed to be attempting to breakthrough to the high level of octonary stage, must then receive three times nine strikes, not just three strikes!"

"What do you think caused those strikes then?"

"Maybe someone managed to create some legendary Pill or artefact? Don't know anyone foolish enough to do so inside the boundaries of the Institute though..."

A certain Teacher that happened to be a certain youth's direct Master sneezed, before scratching his nose. Was someone speaking ill of him? Not possible, he was way too awesome... unless it was his brother, Corne... Corvus grumbled somewhat under his breath.

Back on the Griffin, others were listening into the conversation and drawing their own conclusions. "Brother Sun," Carmen's eye's twinkled with interest as she drew his attention to her. "Didn't you mention that my... I mean... Jin Li went into closed cultivation. Could it be he that caused the lightning strikes?"

"I... shouldn't think so?" Sun denied, weakly. "It's doubtful, I mean, he is just trying to form his core..."

"But its not impossible, right?" Her imagination drew an image of his silhouette standing tall upon a mountain peak with lightning flashing behind him and his long, midnight hair flowing in the wind. She clasped her hands together. "He's just so majestic...!"

Merylin, who happened to be across from them, sat up even more rigidly in her seat, glaring beneath the shadow of her long lashes at her sister, though her voice remained like a warm summer breeze not the cold winter winds her eyes might have otherwise suggested. "Sister, you did not mention that Jin Li entered Closed Cultivation..."

"Hmmm?" Maimai wasn't sure how to respond the the question nor undertone that she had long since learned to identify. "Well, um... it happened just as winter break ended. I haven't really had much chance to talk to you... and I didn't think it was that important."

"Of course it is," Merylin reprimanded her, softly. "I could have assisted brother Jin Li with some pills... cloudy spiritual pills maybe or tranquil mind pills for once he's succeeded in breaking through..."

Maimai attempted not to roll her eyes. Could her darling sister even make tranquil mind pills? More than likely, she'd ask the Head of Sunset Peak of the Sect for them. "I'm sorry, sister," she apologised, insincerely. "I didn't think..." it was necessary!

"I'm certain that Jin Li would not need to accept pills from outsiders," Carmen clicked her tongue, openly expressing an opinion as if it was not directed towards her adversary at all.

"That is true," Merylin nodded in agreement. "He certainly need not accept pills from outsiders... He only need inquire of me when he is in need, I'm willing to provide whatever he needs. Just as last time..."

Carmen glared, her face reddening with emotion that was barely restrained. Sun and Maimai prayed inwardly that the flight back to the Institute would be over soon!


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Ebonsolaris Ebonsolaris

laoniang is the feminine version of laozi, basically meaning something like ‘this superior’ or ‘this teacher’. It works like Jin Li’s ‘this Lord’ or ‘I, your father’ in more modern period books x (at least this is my interpretation of it!)

Chapter 265: Chapter Sixty Five - He returns to find me

In the wake of the lightning strikes, after the remnant energy dissipated along the length and breadth of the barrier before disappearing completely, the stone covering of one sealed mountain cave began to move.  Rock against rock, the doorway rumbled low and loud, debris scattering as it uncovered the entrance allowing its occupant to leave the small space.  A tall figure with a bamboo like figure, both straight and strong, flexible and slender, stepped out of the cave, his gem black eyes blinking in the bright light, so different from the dim illumination within the cavern walls.  His eyes narrowed and his chin lifted adding arrogance to his already cold features, his body seemed to tense briefly before it moved so swiftly that it would seem to a casual observer to have simply vanished.

Only a few minutes later, that figure reappeared before a wall surrounding a lone property found upon the slight slope of one forested mountain side.  The man stepped through the gate in the wall at a seemingly sedate pace, but to one who understood this man better, they would notice a slightly agitated haste to his movement, as if he were actually in a hurry to reach his destination.

The courtyard within the wall was barren and silent and though in this season it was not wholly unexpected, it gave the man pause.  He lifted the line of his vision to where two metal pipes could be seen exiting two of the three linked buildings before him, before hurrying forward, this time without hiding his intent.  The door to the main building ahead was locked, but that was no barrier to the man; he revealed a key in hand in the next breath.  Unlocking the door, he entered the building, only to find that the silence he'd received in the courtyard continued within.  Those jet eyes narrowed once more and darted about to observe the little details; the fine layer of undisturbed dust, the cold stove to one side and neatly placed jars upon shelves, not one out of place.  An anger caused by unhappiness rose within the man's stomach as he continued his examination of the large and seemingly abandoned room.

Of course, it was not long before he noticed the note upon the low table at the centre of the room.

Taking part in the Interschool Exchange. Don't worry about me, I'll be back soon. The coeurl are in the main stables being cared for, please bring them back if I cannot do so first. Always yours, Leon.

The words were neat, cautious and timid, especially so with those in the last sentence. The man didn't take much note of this however, crumbling the note in his fist, his discontent evident. After a moment, his expressions became coldly calm again and he placed the note back on the table, unfurled and pressed out a few of the creases before leaving the house. He did not forget to lock the door.

Jin Li stood in the courtyard for a few moments, slightly lost in thought. He hadn't looked into this 'Interschool Exchange' thing before entering closed cultivation, there had been no need. First years could not involve themselves in it and he'd no interest regardless. In general, he brushed aside the fact that Leon was actually older than him and his senior in the Institute, especially when said senior was writhing underneath his body, trapped in his embrace upon their bed. His lips and eyes curled at the corners, forming a slight smile that could easily be mistaken as a smirk. That aside, due to his lack of knowledge regarding school matters, he had no idea where to find his errant lover. But he knew who might know that man's location.

She called herself 'Leon's best friend,' though Jin Li saw her partially as a nuisance. Still, she never interfered in the relationship between the lovers and she'd revealed that she could be useful at times, thus Jin Li never bothered to weaken the friendship between his man and that woman. He knew her small abode within the outer alchemist school was amongst the other domiciles of the school and that the wall surrounding her place had several patched holes, so he had no qualms about finding her. As it happened, she was easier to find than he thought.

She was not at her home, a neighbour suggested he try the stables as she was often found there these cold, winter days spoiling her Baku mount. As it happened, he noticed her as she was approaching the stables from the other side and she was not alone.

"Jin Li!" His name was called out in several tones, from question to exclamation, with simple recognition and greeting to ardent affection. Not that he recognised the loving note or rather he ignored it. After all, it didn't come from the one person he wanted to hear it from. His eyes scanned over the two vaguely familiar faces whose eyes gazed at him in the manner a virtuous predator might. He inwardly sneered in disgust, before acknowledging his room-mate in the martial arts school, Sun, lastly turning to Maimai, whom he wished to question.

"Where is he?"

Neither Maimai nor Sun actually needed to ask to who Jin Li was referring to, but before she could answer him, an enthusiastically warm voice called to him; "Jin Li, its been so long. This little sister rejoices to see you well."

His eyes narrowed, hiding the flicker of irritation within them, but Merylin fancied that she noticed it and gently voiced; "It's not surprising that Jin Li appears well. That fellow student has left closed cultivation, I presume it was successful as is natural."

The words were like a whisper in the dark while one is attempting to sleep peacefully, no more than a buzzing in the ear to ignore, so Jin Li did just this and proceeded to press Maimai for her answer. "Well?"

"Leon is in the Empyrean Shattered Isle Realm with Pike and a few others," she finally told him, inwardly giggling to herself as she noticed his expression darken. Ah, the gong is unhappy that his little shou is away! She so wanted to be a fly upon their wall when they reunited! "The schools have set up areas in which to view the teams participating in the challenge. I can take you to see, you'll find images of Leon amongst Pike's team there."

"Best go to the one set up in the arena of the Inner school," Sun mentioned, sagely. He'd already learned that the mirrors set up in the Outer alchemist school were not so good from Maimai's description of them. "We're heading back there anyway, my Grandfather is waiting for us there!"

Carmen offered Merylin a sly grin when Jin Li agreed to Sun's suggestion, however Merylin would not allow such a girl to gain the upper hand without any obstacles. "I hope you will allow us to accompany you," Merylin said, softly. "It is right for us to offer the Seniors our support."

As Jin Li did not deny her as he turned to head towards the Martial Arts schools, but did not make half a step forward before the girl with brown hair coquettishly enquired; "Will gongzi Jin Li not accompany us into the stables?" Her martial arts and endurance were not good enough to race back to the martial arts school on foot, but then she doubted the abilities of the other two girls as well.

Jin Li was about to form the rejection 'no,' when he recalled the note left behind by his lover. There was a slight softening around his dark eyes which led to another misinterpretation due to hopefulness and want. Well, seeing as he'd signed the note so satisfactorily, he'd bide by the request and pick up the two beasts from the stables. With this in mind, he joined the group of four without argument.


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