"You want to kill a man named Mo Tian," he said, "but you're too weak to do it."
He found me crying on the streets and led me to this nearby inn. I didn't ask who he was. I was too lonely to turn down his kindness. I told him everything over drinks. He didn't touch a single drop, just listened.
"Old man, I can't kill Mo Tian for you, but I can do two things that might help. I'll need something in return, though."
"Really?!" I asked, shocked. Who was this guy?
"First, I can find him and set up a duel. Second, I can help you fix your broken skills to some extent."
"But who are you? And can I really get strong again?"
"I'm just a wanderer, helping people here and there. Looking for a place to settle." He paused. "As for your skills... you're not even a proper refiner. You're over forty and haven't trained in decades. You'll have to start from the basics again."
Could he really be strong enough to back up those claims?
"What's your name? And how strong are you, really? Can I trust you?"
"It's rare to find someone stronger than me. So yeah, you can trust me. Name's Long Haotian."
"I see." I wasn't sure I believed him, but I didn't have many options.
"So how strong can I get? And how long will it take?"
"I can get you to the adept level. It'll take years of focused training. Not sure someone your age can handle that."
"I will. Even if my back breaks, I'll do it!"
He laughed. "Now that's the spirit, old man. Let's talk about the price."
I braced myself. I didn't have much saved up, and no one to borrow from.
"I want to start a sect. I need someone to train the kids in the basics and take care of them. I'll make you strong enough for that job. Will you do it?"
"A sect?"
"Yeah, you heard me."
"But do you have the money for that?"
"If I didn't, I'd be asking you for money, wouldn't I?"
"And are you strong enough to lead a sect?"
"I told you. There aren't many who can beat me."
"Don't lie to me. You look barely twenty."
He chuckled at my remark. "When the time comes, I'll prove it. For now, just trust me."
He was right. I had no other path. Trusting him was all I could do.
"Fine, I'll do it."
"It's getting too dark and loud in here," he said, glancing around at the drunk guests shouting over each other like fools. They were too far gone to notice anything.
"Let's get some rest. We'll start tomorrow. I'll cover the rooms."
"Thank you... for everything."
"It's too early to thank me, old man."
The next morning, we left the inn early and found an open space amidst the vast farmlands surrounding the town.
It was quiet.
Nothing but green stretching into the distance.
"Old man, we'll start from the basics. Qi cultivation."
"But I've already learned that—"
"Sit down. I'll channel my Qi into you and show you my method. It's more efficient. You'll gather Qi faster and purify it better."
"I see..."
I did as he said. He sat behind me and placed his palms on my back. I felt his Qi enter my body, spreading through meridians I hadn't used in years. His energy flushed out the old, murky Qi and expanded the size of my meridians. My dantian emptied fast, which scared me, but the warmth that flowed through me was too comforting to resist.
When I opened my eyes, hours had passed. I'd been completely absorbed in the process.
"Remember the technique. Practice it every day."
"But... you emptied my dantian. I lost all my Qi."
"Exactly. You need to rebuild it from scratch. With the method I gave you, you'll recover it quickly. And it'll be stronger than before."
I didn't know what to say. My Qi was gone, but the technique he gave me clearly surpassed what I learned from the Shen Sect. Maybe he was right. Maybe not. I'd find out soon enough.
"I'm leaving for about a month," he said. "I paid for your stay at the inn. Don't leave your room. Focus on regaining your Qi. Your meridians and dantian are empty. Refill them. That'll take about a week. Use the next three weeks to purify what you've gathered."
Most beginners spend a year just filling their bodies with Qi.
I'd already done this once. And now I had a better method. I could fill my body in a week. After that, it was all about purifying it and training to fight again.
Refilling your body with Qi gets easier each time. The first time is the hardest, but once your meridians are used to the flow, they adapt. After every battle, every moment you burn through Qi, your body remembers.
Eventually, recovery becomes second nature. What once took months can take days or hours.
"I need to learn more about this Mo Tian guy," he said. "And I'm also looking for land to build a sect."
"Where do you get your money from, young sir?"
"I helped some rich folks on my way here. They paid me well."
"I see..."
He was still a mystery. I knew almost nothing about his past. A part of me wanted to ask more, but maybe it was too soon for that.
We went our separate ways. I returned to the inn and stepped into my room. It was small and simple.
Just a bed, a table, and my luggage.
"Fine. Let's do this," I muttered.
There was still time before lunch, and I had nothing better to do. I sat on the bed, closed my eyes, and began circulating Qi through my meridians.
I had tons of motivation to grow stronger right now.
And I will become stronger, at least strong enough to not be called weak!