บท 8: Tea and choice
"The tea is wonderful Grandpa," Xiao Su said with a sincere smile after taking a satisfying sip. She was currently sitting in a beautifully cared for courtyard with a table full of snacks and tea. Seated across from her was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his late forties and had a pleasant demeanor to him.
"It always delights me to hear you say that," he said with a pleased chuckle. The middle-aged man was Xiao Tai, Xiao Su's great grandpa and one of the elders of the clan. "It's not only refreshing, it has strong benefits for the body too. You can drink as much as you like with no worries," He said dotingly. He was a busy man, and usually left housework, such as this, to his servants, it was only when his great-granddaughter visited that he'd indulge in his old passion of tea making.
"Ahhh," Xiao Su exclaimed bright eyed. "Now that you mention it I do feel wisps of energy spreading from my stomach to the rest of my body. They're extremely gentle and subtle, but I can feel my body growing more and more comfortable as time goes on. How'd you make it?" She asked, fascinated.
Xiao Tai broke into a big grin and began explaining the intricacies of the herbs and leaves, the special water, the importance of the ratio between them, and how to mix them properly, he even branched out and talked about other possible mixes with the ingredients as well as what shouldn't go with them, lest disastrous side effects occur, with fervor and passion.
Xiao Su listened to all of it with sincere interest, oohing and awing, and occasionally asking a question here and there. Xiao Tai appreciated his adorable granddaughters' enthusiasm and explained even more thoroughly, to appear well learned. By the end, both were satisfied with the conversation and Xiao Su had gone through four cups.
Xiao Tai looked over to his happily drinking granddaughter and smiled wistfully. "That said, this tea elevates the body in a subtle way, I'm surprised you were able to clearly feel the effects, I'm always amazed by your body awareness," He said proudly.
Xiao Su's face cramped up a little as she agreed with his statement tersely.
"I'm serious, your body awareness is a wonderful talent to have." Xiao Tai continued, despite noticing her change in mood. "There are many battle skills that have simple qi structures that are hard to master because the required body coordination is too difficult for most people. You can even keep track of your internals so clearly, they'd definitely be no problem for you." He endorsed earnestly.
"Thanks grandpa, I shall consider your words," Xiao Su said quickly with a forced smile, cutting him off before he could start listing examples.
Xiao Tai quieted down for a little and the two drank tea in silence. He looked over and Xiao Su and hesitated one more time before saying, "The annual competition is coming up soon." In a subdued but slightly hopeful tone, causing further unease in Xiao Su. "I know you haven't entered in the past, and that you aren't interested in cultivating, but with the rule changes It might be good for you to enter this year," he said, almost pleadingly. "It'd be good, a new experience for you, a chance to interact with more people your age. Plus, if you place well and enter the cultivator library you'd get to read much better books than now, despite the name there's a lot in there that isn't about cultivation." He listed points quickly, as if scared he wouldn't have enough time. He looked like there was still more he wanted to say, but he stayed silent and looked at Xiao Su, nervously, for an answer.
"Apologies Elder, but I won't be attending this year." Xiao Su said respectfully and firmly. She actually very much wanted to enter, but she'd though it over in the last two days, it'd be very difficult to seal her qi before the tournament started and she wouldn't have much time to train even if she did, so she decided against it.
Xiao Tai flinched slightly before becoming silent, looking slightly hurt. Xiao Su would only call him "Elder," when she was uncomfortable and wanted to put distance between them. 'He Lan's method really are effective,' Xiao Su thought to herself while finishing her cup. She'd naturally stolen this technique from He Lan. She'd merely meant to try it at first, but the might was so overbearing as to make her grandpa give up any case immediately, killed four directions simply, couldn't bear to use in difficult situations.
Xiao Tai watched Xiao Su finish the tea while looking like he wanted to speak but kept hesitating to. Finally, he sighed and looked down in sorrow.
Xiao Su's heart trembled in anguish. She hated seeing that sorrowful look on his face. Their branch giving birth to the successor of the 'Limitless' ancient ability should have been a great honor, instead she'd let them all down, appearing as if she had no interest in cultivation, turning what should've been an honor into a joke. The other branches wasted no time hitting them while they were down, and their fourth branch quickly fell from grace within the clan, an object of ridicule, but her grandpa never blamed. He never got angry with her choices and he didn't try to force her to train, he never treated her as an outsider, she was always his granddaughter. But every time they met, he'd try to convince her to give cultivating a chance, that she had talent in it and would be great at it, and every time he failed, he'd make this look of disappointment and deep sorrow.
She hated it. That look, she couldn't stand it, it hurt worse than simple ridicule, anger or exclusion. she wanted to leave here immediately, yet, she couldn't bear to leave him alone with that sorrowful look on his face. 'Soon, grandpa, I'll soon let you know your granddaughter isn't a disappointment,' she vowed silently, a fire alit in her eyes.
Xiao Tai soon got a hold of himself and made a peaceful expression. "Forgive me for pushing you." Apologetically, "You don't have to do anything you don't like, you should live as you choose, your mother and I will provide for you," he finished in an affectionate tone.
Xiao Su smiled pleasantly and said, "Thank you grandpa!"
The two continued to talk about a variety of things for a long time after that. The conversation was pleasant, fun and comforting, but at the same time, Xiao Su felt uneasy. 'His attitude… it's so free,' she thought. Xiao Tai always backed off in the end, but he'd still show traces of sadness afterwards, but there were no mixed emotions now. 'It's like he let it all go. Impossible!' she theorized and denied. He couldn't have let it go so easily, he wouldn't give up from a simple refusal no matter how many times it was, she was sure of it. Yet, he was so genuine in their conversation, he showed no sour feelings and even talked about other career paths and people he could introduce her to. She didn't want to turn the conversation back to cultivation, so said nothing, but she couldn't shake the foreboding feeling she had…
…
"I have a message for you lady Xiao Su!!!" A maid declared loudly while performing a spectacular sliding bow
Xiao Su, who'd just returned home, stared at the kneeling maid in stunned silence. She looked older than Xiao Su and was cute, with blond hair curled into a bun and she had a bubbly feeling to her; Xiao Su could vaguely remember seeing her recently. "Eh, ah, sure what is it?" She asked nervously while thinking about how that slide must have hurt.
Sure enough, the maid had a few tears in her eyes, and her expression was four parts pain and six parts relieved, as she answered, "Yes my lady!" with a trembling voice.
Xiao Su's face twitched as she resisted the urge to smile. "Young lady, I received a message from the clan concerning the new rules for the annual competition," The maid said dutifully while fighting back the tears. Xiao Su immediately lost interest in the message upon hearing the topic, but with the maid going so far, she'd feel bad if she didn't hear her out. And, just a little, she found the maid's attempts to dutifully convey the message while holding back tears to be a bit cute and amusing.
Xiao Su listened to the message half-heartedly while paying most of her attention to the maid's adorable teary face. That changed near the end of the message and Xiao Su's restrained amused expression became a grim one.
"Why-!" Xiao Su started, wanting to yell, 'why didn't you tell me sooner,' but, looking at the kneeling maid, who was clearly in discomfort and pain, her conscience couldn't get the words out. "Why didn't you tell He Lan," she changed the question.
Though Xiao Su had moderated her tone, the maid trembled and the held backed tears began to fall. "To-to answer my lad-dy." The maid stuttered, causing Xiao Su to feel a twinge of guilt. "It was class-sifed, so I couldn't."
Xiao Su rubbed her forehead and sighed. The Xiao family servants all signed contracts with the Xiao family and were, essentially, owned by the family. They didn't serve any one master and could be reassigned at anytime, regardless of their own, or their current master's will. In exchange however, they were allowed to use the Xiao family name and were technically members of the family, on top of that, they got protection from the tyranny of a single master, meaning they couldn't be tortured for no reason, nor could their chastity be infringed without consent.
He Lan was different. Obviously, Xiao Su couldn't entrust her secret to a servant that could be swapped at any time and who might tell their new master everything. Which is why she'd purchased her own personal servant, He Lan. Xiao Su had all legal rights over her and could do anything she pleased with her, well, in theory, since she'd destroyed the contract after purchasing her. Whatever the actual case, as far as the public is concerned He Lan was Xiao Su's, the Xiao family held no authority over her. Conversely, He Lan wasn't treated as part of the Xiao family and naturally wasn't privy to certain information. Hence why the maid couldn't pass the news to the more easily accessible He Lan.
Xiao Su was reeling from the news she'd just received, but she realized that it was in no way the maid's fault. "Wait here," Xiao Su ordered before rushing off and leaving the frightened maid. Though she shouldn't be in peril, the cultivators of the Xiao family where like gods to regular people like her and she was genuinely terrified. Xiao Su quickly returned and realized her mistake when she saw the still kneeling sobbing girl.
She sighed before helping the girl up and telling her, "Your fine, you didn't do anything, you're not in trouble," in a soothing tone. She led the girl over to a chair and sat her down before taking out a paste and rubbing it on the girl's scraped knees.
The girl felt a different kind of terror and sat stunned while Xiao Su cleaned the wounds. The medicine Xiao Su used was the leftovers from her injuries during the sealing process, medicine meant for cultivators. For her, it could only speed up the healing process, but for the maid, it was akin to a miracle cure and the cuts on her legs closed after just a few seconds of application.
"Seems to have healed up nicely, no need for any wrappings," Xiao Su said with a happy smile that once again caused the maid to feel stunned. "What's your name?" she asked curiously.
The maid's mind went blank and she didn't answer for a while, when she did she yelled, "Gu Qiu!" rapidly as if worried she'd taken too long.
Xiao Su laughed cheerfully and Gu Qiu blushed lightly. "Gu Qiu, that was a truly spectacular bow, but I don't suggest doing something that damages your legs like that again," She said, clearly amused yet trying to sound stern. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you before, from now on, if there's anything the clan sends me you bring it to me, I'll listen. If I'm really indisposed then tell He Lan you have something for me and I'll come meet you, ok?" she said while patting her head.
Gu Qiu nodded thoughtlessly in wonder. Though she was being treated like a child by someone smaller and younger than herself, Xiao Su was like a deity to her, she didn't have any emotions apart from awe.
"Good girl," Xiao Su said while standing up. "I have to go now, I'll see you another time Gu Qiu, later!" Xiao Su said before leaving and dashing to her room. She had a complex look on her face as she thought over the rules that Gu Qiu had just explained. She'd heard some of them from He Lan, but Gu Qiu had a lot of fresh content. Most of them didn't matter to Xiao Su but there was one change that she couldn't ignore. One of the new rules stipulates that only those in the top sixteen would continue to receive special privileges from the clan, the rest would only receive privileges equivalent to their cultivation rank, this included core disciples.
Xiao Su received a monthly supply of cultivation materials and money that she and He Lan had grown accustomed to using. Losing that would be difficult, but she could afford it, what she couldn't endure was the loss of He Lan. As a personal servant, He Lan was only able to enter the Xiao Clan compound due to Xiao Su's special privileges, without them she wouldn't be able to come near it.
Xiao Su smiled bitterly as she realized this was what her grandpa's behavior was about. He'd given up, he'd truly given up, because if even the loss of her privileges kept her uninterested then nothing would interest her in cultivation. She sighed as she thought of many things. She couldn't lose He Lan, she was her best friend, advisor and primary caretaker, she was more a reliable big sister than a servant. So, she started doing calculations.
There were thirty-five days before the competition started. She was a core disciple and was seeded in the top fifty, meaning she wouldn't have to fight for the first five days, giving her forty days to work with. Even with the improvements she'd made over the past two days, it wasn't enough time to seal the necessary amount of qi. However, that was under the assumption that the sealing method stayed in its current form. It still had a lot of room for improvements, if she could upgrade it while she sealed them, she might be able to make it.
She had to at least try it. The seal was stable and so was everything else in her dantian, no abnormalities over the last two days were found. 'I can do it' She told herself as her heart began to pump from excitement, her eyes alight with an ambitious light that washed away her sour mood. It wasn't the best situation, but it was one she'd been aspiring for a long time, she'd finally enter the competition! She'd do it, she'd seal her qi and enter. For He Lan, her mother, Grandpa and herself, she'd place n the top sixteen.
Early next morning, Xiao Su announced that she was closing up.
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