Chapter 2: Crossroad
-'The path of cultivation? I am sorry but with my back, it is not reasonable for me to work in the fields.'
-'You misunderstand. I am talking about self-cultivation. The act of achieving a higher state of existence.'
-'Forgive my ignorance, master Wei, but I don't know what you are talking about.'
-'Then let us take an example. The divine fish that you got to see earlier is a cultivator in its way. At first, it was a regular animal, although born from a special kind. Its environment, its inherent behaviour and a streak of events made it evolve in what it is today. You can think of it as an awakening. Cultivators can wield great strength and use what you would consider magic powers to achieve every sort of thing with unparalleled results. Like, say, healing.'
That did not answer the only question that occupied Moss's mind. He could not help but ask.
-'But why me? You can see me. Am I not the worst candidate in any case ?'
-'No. Earlier, me saying that the true heart soul water fish is rare might have been an understatement. It is observed once every ten millennia by aware minds and believed to appear only once by a millennium. I believe it came for you. I also believe that as you stand right now, your potential is tremendous.'
-'If this creature is so hard to find, how could you be there right when it appeared ?'
-'I have my skills to thank for that. However, I may well miss the next occurrence. Believe me, this situation does not take place every day. I must warn you though. The path of cultivation has some dangers. At least more than this peaceful place. Do not make this choice lightly.'
-'If you say so...'
Moss could not deny what he had seen. But he was old enough to know that something said was not always true. Yet he could not imagine what this young master could get by tricking him, as he looked rich enough to buy a hundred of his like in a matter of seconds. Furthermore, he had a gut feeling that his guest was being true.
Even so, he felt divided between curiosity and fear. He had expected to end his days in this place for so long... The thought of embarking on a new journey was a great quake in his mind. But somehow, a refreshing one.
The scholar looked serene. He placed back his cup on the small table, having consumed half of its content, and rested his hands on his knees.
-'I don't know... I really don't.' The peasant said.
-'There is no rush. It is getting late and I must leave. Sleep well over it. Come tomorrow, a wagon will come for you. If you feel like it, just get in.'
-'Please wait.'
The scholar stopped as he was getting up.
-'What is it ?'
-'Could you please tell me what your motives are? As of now, I don't understand them.'
-'There is goodness inside you. Helping you will not benefit me much, but may a lot of others. More importantly, the approval of the divine fish makes you deserving. Think of it as something you have earned.'
He got out of the small house and stared at the sunset for a brief instant.
-'A nice view you have here, friend Moss. Farewell if we do not meet again.'
Moss bowed.
-'You too, scholar Wei.'
A light breeze blew the young man off as if he had been made of mist. The old man could hardly believe he had not dreamed of their encounter. To make good measure he went near the rock to try and spy the shining underwater creature. After some time scrutinizing the lake, he spotted it approximatively thirty meters from the shore, slowly heading towards the deep.
'This is not a dream' He thought. 'This is real.'
He hardly managed to sleep that night. Thoughts of what everyone he knew and had known would think of his situation made him dizzy. And was he good for anything any more?
-'Calm down.' He finally said to himself. 'No good will come from panic. What have I done in this kind of situation, and how has it unrolled ?'
He remembered his encounter with the true heart soul water fish. Then he knew.
He got up at first light and packed what small valuable and useful items he had, put some fresh clothes on and waited for something to happen. Not long did he had to wait. An unexpectedly large mass emerged from the lake's morning haze. It looked like a big box. As it got closer, it appeared to be some kind of wooden structure with four sculpted pillars connecting the floor to the roof on each side. The gaps between them were obstructed by pale pink curtains as slim as sheets. It was flying, suspended between sky and earth. The litter stopped smoothly over the beach and got down a bit while keeping from any contact with the ground.
All of that had happened in complete silence. Moss had an awkward gulp but moved anyway. The curtain was soft, he pushed it aside without encountering resistance. He took the step and got in. The inside was very luxurious and furnished like a small living room. Scholar Wei was inside, smiling as ever. He gave him a friendly look.
-'Welcome friend Moss. Please make yourself comfortable, we have quite a long road to take.'
-'Thank you.'
Moss did as he was bid, but could not refrain from spreading the nearest curtain to look outside. He had not felt any shaking, yet they were already amazingly high, overflying the lake and its shore. The surroundings of his shack looked small and flat. He took several times to look inside and outside in wonder. Then another matter came to his attention.
-'Scholar Wei, may I ask what our destination is ?'
-'The one hundred sects mountain range.'
-' ... Are sects not places for warriors ?'
-'Lots of them are but it does not stand as a rule.'
Moss had nothing to reply.
Then the wait began. The scholar was not awkward but not talkative either, so the peasant's best way to pass time was to look outside. They soon got above the cloud line. The sight of the cloud sea filled him with awe. Under it, the earth was beautiful, shining with green, blue, brown and grey. After a few hours, however, they encountered a huge cloud and were engulfed in it. Their surroundings turned black. Thunder flashed everywhere behind the curtains but its sound reached them greatly reduced.
-'Can't we go higher, master Wei? Above the cloud, like with the others.'
-'We can. The wagon uses the energy of lightning to replenish its reserve.'
Now that was truly beyond Moss's imagination. He realized how ignorant and short-sighted he was. And had always been. But now that a chance had come by, he knew he would not let go.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone