Qi Like Tar

For the first time ever, Paike showed up to spiritual cultivation class early. Usually, he was running through the sect compound and barely slipping in before the door was locked. But now, with a few moments to spare, he could walk with a bit of dignity. Not that he had much use for that notion—his family would probably appreciate it more if he did. Before he even had the chance to enter the building, though, he ran into an angry little girl, Liming.

"Brother!" Liming's icy voice cut through the crowd of passersby.

"Liming," Paike greeted, rubbing the back of his head in a sheepish gesture as she stormed up to him. There was more worry than frustration in her eyes. Still, it was impossible to assume she was pleased by her approach. Guan Li trailed several steps behind him, doing his best to not be noticed. Paike cursed the traitor in his head.

"I see you're finally back in the land of the living." She said with venom.

Paike smiled, slightly embarrassed. "Come now, sister. We are cultivators, surely. Focusing on cultivation for a short amount of time isn't that unexpected."

She had to know he was right. Going into closed-door cultivation was not unusual at all. What was remarkable, though, was Paike leaving cultivation for several hours twice a day to attend classes. Typically, people would just tell everyone they would seclude themselves for a long time, and that would be the end of it. But doing it during the first week of classes? Well, to be fair, he'd been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, at least for him.

"You should have just skipped classes. I would have passed along everything we learned," Liming said.

Paike blinked. Was that what she was upset about?

"Did you not trust me to take notes for you?" Liming snapped, her voice slightly louder. She smacked a leather-bound book into his chest, holding it there with one finger as she tried to drive him back a step. But the difference in their mass was too great. She retracted her finger, and Paike barely caught the book before it fell. Flipping it open, he looked down and found neat characters describing every detail he had missed.

"I was in the classes too. You didn't have to do this," he protested weakly, mostly floored by her thoughtfulness.

"Yeah, you didn't look like you were in a sort of condition where you were capable of paying attention. Make sure you read it," Liming declared before turning to leave.

Reaching out, Paike caught her sleeve. She stopped, looking over her shoulder but not turning back to face him.

"Thank you, sister," Paike said, putting as much sincerity in his voice as he could. He swallowed, trying to get the lump out of his throat before continuing. "You don't know how much this means to me."

She snorted but gave him a slight smile before pulling away and entering the classroom. Paike stared at her form as she passed through the door.

"Is all your family like that?" Guan Li asked, catching up.

Paike shook his head. "Not even close. I'm not sure I should be happy or sad that they're all different. I guess it's just a little sister thing."

Guan Li grinned. "A little sister thing?"

Paike shot him a murderous look. Guan Li quickly put up his hands, smiling slightly. "Okay. Not funny, I get it."

With a deep breath, Paike sighed before explaining. "I wasn't really expected to make anything of myself. The fact that I came here so late should make that obvious."

Guan Li frowned. "I had been wondering about that, yeah. I guess I didn't understand the implications."

Paike nodded. "Yes. Well, usually, the earlier someone awakens, the more talented they are. It's also connected to the movement of qi. There are times, like you, when someone might not awaken right away because of a lack of training or knowledge. But usually, those with potential are sought out by the ministries or other families and recruited to join local sects before they awaken. A high-enough realm cultivator can sense the talents in others, and I've always had next to none."

Guan Li didn't say anything, simply watching Paike with a calculating look.

"But I made it here. Perhaps because Liming was young or because we were so close in age, she didn't really subscribe to the idea that I was untalented," Paike continued. "And, well…"

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"The rest of your family back home did?" Guan Li asked.

Paike shrugged. "It's a mixed bag. My family is large," he said after some hesitation. "Some were full of pity, others of scorn. Some ignored me. Some did their best to help. It was all very mixed."

"But," Guan Li said, "you're the highest ranked of everyone here now."

Paike shrugged again. "Luck, really. For now, at least. But you're right. This will get me some recognition and help sway some of my family. I'll make sure to write them letters later today informing everyone. I'm sure Liming has already done that, though—at least about my fortune, maybe not my advancement. It should increase my stipend once they can actually send something."

"I thought your family was all about proving themselves?" Guan Li said.

"Yeah. And once you prove yourself, they'll throw some more resources at you. But in the early days of the sect, no one got resources—at least, not if they didn't bring them with them," Paike explained.

He had brought some resources, but they were very minor. Most of what he had accumulated over the years while living in the local sect had been spent on his awakening as this year might have been his last chance.

"Come on, we still have to go to class," Paike said, and the two of them walked in, took seats, and waited for Elder Chu to arrive.

The elder showed up in her usual manner, giving the class a couple of seconds to quiet down as she materialized. When she did, however, she didn't immediately launch into a lesson. Instead, she held up three pill vials. This caught everyone's attention, and the classroom fell not only deathly silent but perfectly still.

"This last week has been, hopefully, quite useful to all of you. And as with all things related to the sect, we reward those who take advantage of the opportunities given to them. Not everyone decided to attend these classes, but for those who did, we are pleased with your progress. That isn't to say you are all equal. Some of you took advantage of these lessons much more than others, and those who did deserve an extra reward."

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"I want to commend three individuals for making the most progress in the short time we've had together. If you continue what you're doing, I'm sure we'll see great things from you. This will be the culmination of my lessons. That isn't to say there won't be further opportunities for the rest of you to earn similar rewards or receive more instruction."

Paike couldn't help but admire her ability to use the moments where she had their full attention to impart the information she thought was important.

The elder gestured towards the center of the square. "For those of you who aren't aware, there are postings for sect jobs. Take these with caution, as many are dangerous. On a mission, there will be much less oversight than during everyday sect operations. But finish them and be useful to the sect, and you will receive rewards. There are many things these points can buy—private lessons being one of them, though they are expensive."

Paike listened carefully as Elder Chu laid out the other things one could get from sect points. Then, she held up the three pill bottles again.

"These," she said, "will go to the three individuals I deem worthy."

Paike held his breath. He hadn't noticed anyone else in the class who had reached Middle Ruby yet, so surely he would get one. He wasn't sure what the pills were, but they had to be valuable.

“First, Lady Kong Liming.”

Paike felt a confusing swirl of emotions within him. His sister. On one hand, he was elated—she had been very successful. But on the other hand, he was almost crushed. He thought he would be the first one called, as he had clearly made the most progress. Maybe because it wasn't actually related to the lessons of the class, it didn't count.

"Kong Liming has spent the first week extremely productively. She has learned an art with three different techniques and opened four meridians, two of which are attuned. I have never seen anyone progress so much in such a short time. Truly a genius beyond compare."

The class clapped politely as Liming scurried down the stairs. As she turned to face the class, holding one vial of pills tightly in her arms, Paike could make out a faint blush covering her cheeks.

Paike looked around. Who else would get it? Of the top ten, there were only a few who had actually shown up to this class. Maybe Guan Li? He had made remarkable strides, but without a library pass, he hadn't been able to learn a technique. He clearly hadn't advanced to Ruby yet, though Paike wouldn't be surprised if he was close.

"Next, Lord Han Saiyan," Elder Chu called out, and Paike froze. He hadn't even noticed the Han scion showing up to classes. But Han Saiyan walked down from the rear of the class with his head held high and his shoulders squared as if he were stretching for every mote of height.

"Han Saiyan has done something no less impressive. He has taken a family technique, passed down for ages, and adapted it to himself, fitting his own style and cultivation better than the techniques taught to him by his elders."

Paike studied the boy, who looked just as arrogant as ever. But this time, his pride seemed backed up by actual accomplishments.

"Last but not least, Lord Kong Paike."

Paike exhaled, relief flooding through him as he stood and made his way down the aisle.

"Kong Paike's advancement was not necessarily related to the lessons I taught," Elder Chu said, "but as the first among this class to reach Middle Ruby, his efforts cannot be ignored."

There was a slight inhale from the class. Someone reaching Middle Ruby in a week wasn't unheard of, but for Paike—known to be lacking in talent—to reach Middle Ruby within the first year was incredible. Within a week? It was as if a miracle had happened.

"He may not be the first in this year of disciples to make Middle Ruby," Elder Chu added, "but those individuals did not attend my class and did so through other means or with other instruction. Congratulations."

She handed him the pill bottle, and Paike joined the line of three standing at the front. His sister had let her earlier pique go and shot him a triumphant smile. Han Saiyan ignored him totally. They hadn't been dismissed back to their seats yet, so they stood waiting as Elder Chu continued. "Now, before I tell you what these pills do, I want to go over the changes your experiences at the sect will go through now that orientation week is over."

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