"So today's the day you leave huh?"
Lao Jiu remarked as he swung around lazily on his hammock
Ming, sitting nearby, cross legged on a torn carpet cultivating, breathing in with Qi Gathering Breath, now at mastered proficiency, pulling in Qi and letting it swirls around chaotically in his Dantian, the damage which would have spread around his meridians a few days ago was now safely contained within his stomach, courtesy of the Iron Stomach Refinement technique he won from the Beggar Sect's tournament
"Indeed, I have to leave for the Martial Arts Expo held at the Shaolin Temple in a month, I'll show my might to the world and join a Sect" Ming replied as he looked down at his right hand, closing and opening it, feeling the strength in his hands, strength he wouldn't have had if he never decided to break free from the fate of a servant
"I don't plan to be a rogue cultivator for the rest of my life" Ming replied in a grave manner, determined to join the Righteous Faction and rise as a great martial artist
"Ahh, youth, how nice it is to have dreams, heh" Lao Jiu laughed, reminiscing the days where he fought desperately in those brutal Gu battles just to survive, if only he had times for dreams, then maybe things would've turned out differently for him
The two spoke no more, sharing the space, each doing their own things yet acknowledging each other's presence all the same
Ming had been training under Lao Jiu's guidance in this dilapidated house here for a full week now, Ming had grown attached to Lao Jiu and even his rugged abode, how ever dirty is it, there's a certain minimalist charm about it that helps him focus
As Ming continued to cultivate, he suddenly felt Qi rising within him, a large amount being produced and leaking from his Dantian, chaotically tackling the walls of his stomach, threatening to escape and ravage Ming's body once more
"Lao Jiu, my Qi is abruptly rising, what do I do-" Ming spoke through laboured breath, trying his best to contain his Qi
"Hmm? Already?" Lao Jiu raised an eyebrow in astonishment and jumped down from his hammock and hurriedly ran over
"Close your eyes kiddo, don't try to contain the flow, control it and compress it into your dantian" Lao Jiu explained slowly, walking circles around Ming
Ming felt his stomach boiling in pain as his Qi ran rampant, beads of sweat ran down his forehead as Ming clenched his teeth
'Control it'
Slowly and willfully, Ming collected his Qi, moving it into his dantian, strangling it with his will so that they don't mess up his meridians
'Compress'
'Compress'
'Compress'
The Qi fought back against Ming's orders, defying him as if they had a will of their own, an angry and rebellious, his Qi was roaring out at him
'Compress'
'Compress'
But Ming didn't give in, his promise to Lian in the hallway of the Crimson Cloud Manor still fresh in his mind. He swore he'd change, breaking through this bottle neck would bring him one step closer to becoming strong enough to protect Lian, he had to succeed
Remnants of the chaotic Qi started slipping out of Ming's control, seeping out through his stomach and into his meridians. Ming's pores started to bleed as he pressed harder to control his unruly Qi
'YOU WILL OBEY ME!!'
'Compress'
'Compress'
The air around Ming suddenly sizzled as a wave of Mid Third Rate Realm exploded from him, pushing Lao Jiu who was watching over him, back three steps
The dust settled, Ming's teeth unclenched as his body began to relax
Ming had succeeded in taming the inner beast that is his Qi, the breakthrough was a success!
Ming opened his eyes, stood up and took a deep breath, feeling his all senses sharpening in real time, it was like stepping into a completely new world, the dust falling on his skin, the lights slipping through Lao Jiu's cracked walls and the blood lightly soaking his clothes
It's all so vivid…
Meanwhile, Lao Jiu was speechless
He had seen countless breakthroughs at his age, many of those guided by him like he did with Ming, and yet, he had never seen a breakthrough into Mid Third rate this intense and laborious
"Kiddo, you're not exactly normal are you?" Lao Jiu remarked, stroking his beard as he looked at Ming's rugged condition from his breakthrough
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you but, my Qi-"
"Stop, you're a martial artist damnit, act like one" Lao Jiu frowned at Ming's naivety and continued
"Don't just reveal your information willy nilly like that. Kiddo, even if you trust me, that sort of thing, you only tell your masters, understood?"
"You're right" Ming answered as he narrowed his gaze at Lao Jiu, deep in thought
Without further hesitation, Ming kneeled down before Lao Jiu and proclaimed
"You've guided me through fatal battles, helped me break through and even taught me your personal martial arts, I regard you as my first master in this cruel martial world" Ming spoke earnestly, every word carrying gratitude and respect for the man before him
"Hahahaha" Lao Jiu bursted out laughing
"Just as I thought I've seen everything, life always seems to find ways to surprise these old bones"
"A martial artist, calling someone a minor realm beneath him master"
"The matter of realm isn't important, what's important is that you've helped me greatly, allow me to pay my respects" Ming's eyes gleamed with determination as he spoke
"You're a good kid, Ming, once you're on the roads? be sure to think of this "first master" of yours once in a while" Lao Jiu joked as he walked back to his hammock
"About my Qi-"
"Save it, Kid, I couldn't care less" Lao Jiu waved his hand dismissively
"Get out there and show the world what you've learnt from these old bones, that alone is enough for me"
Ming tried to speak up again but decided not to, he'll respect Lao Jiu's boundaries, perhaps suddenly declaring he's his master was a bit too rude
"I'll go now, fair well"
Ming said and he turned to the door that is just hanging rags
"Catch"
Lao Jiu called out as he threw a bottle of pills at Ming
"They're Qi recovery pills, take them when you're low on Qi in battle, stay safe, Kid" Lao Jiu said with his back turned at Ming, lazily waving him goodbye
"Thanks, I'll use them wisely, master"