Qi Like Tar

The next morning, Paike made his way out of the grounds of the outer sect. It was early, but a few people were still out training, though not a large mass of people. Just enough that his movement didn’t draw attention.

He had his lesson with the inner sect disciple this morning. Depending on how long the instruction went, he may or may not have time to make it to physical cultivation class. He hadn't shown up since he had become indisposed, but he was pretty sure that if anything could get him an excuse, it was something like this.

They were proper lessons for something that he was required to fix to maintain his position in the Sect, after all. And it was best to get this taken care of now so he can get back to his regular training. Elder Ji wouldn't think that he was lacking motivation, hopefully.

The inner sect compound was on a different peak entirely, a higher one, closer to the highest peak in these mountain ranges. It still didn’t compare to the elevation of his family’s mountain home, but respectable, nonetheless.

Despite being more than capable of enduring the elevation, he wasn't allowed there. No one was, except for the inner sect and their servants. Instead, he made his way down the mountain, only descending a few thousand paces in elevation to where one of the supporting villages was located.

The sleepy little town was made up almost entirely of mortals who farmed the land to provide food for the cultivators. In return, the Sect kept them safe from beasts and dealt with any spirits in a much more timely and complete manner than the Imperial forces would be able to.

They also made sure everything was provided for. The weather was consistent, and anyone who showed talent was properly trained, even if they wouldn't have woken naturally. All in all, it seemed like a fair trade to Paike, but none of the members of the village were willing to talk to him. Not that he made too much of an effort to engage.

Occasionally, Sect missions would bring a cultivator down here to take care of ome issue or another. Other than that, they were also rather popular places for meetings in a more casual atmosphere. There were strict regulations and rules about how the locals could be treated, though he had heard stories about how those were bent more often than not. Still, he could tell that there were only three cultivators in town.

One was an Early Ruby, chasing some minor spirit out of a chicken coop at the edge of town. The other two were above him in cultivation. One he suspected was Emerald, another he couldn't tell. He could just be a powerful Emerald, an adept at hiding their cultivation level, or something even higher.

He made for the first one, an obvious Emerald cultivator sitting next to the central tree on a bench. A shaded bench on a small grassy knoll. Paike walked around the square to approach the young man from the front. The man had his head down, reading a book. The only thing Paike could see was the top of his head and his muscular build.

Once he made a step closer to the walkway around the small park-like area, the cultivator's head snapped up, and their eyes met. Paike froze, the same expression of shock flashing across his face as the one in front of him. Looking at a mirror of himself.

Paike stopped and stood stock still for a full second. The Emerald cultivator was equally as shocked. Without saying anything, Paike spun on his heel and took two strides from the way he came. This was not what he had signed up for. No way. He didn't care if it was rude or if it would get him punished by the Sect or expelled. He was not going to...

His thoughts were cut off as a rustling of wind sent his robes and hair fluttering in the breeze. His mirror image, if slightly more slender, appeared four paces in front of him, standing in a mirrored posture. The mirror of him raised his hand, palm outstretched in a conciliatory or calming gesture, but Paike felt no calm at all.

There was none. Rationality had long left, his emotions getting the better of him, and for the first time in anger, he activated one of his newest techniques, Unstoppable In His Goals which sent him rocketing forward, right at the Emerald cultivator, with a speed that surprised him and the Emerald mirror of himself.

Likely, the Emerald cultivator could have simply stood still, catching him on his palm and holding him in his tracks until Paike's qi ran out and he passed out from exhaustion. Maybe, perhaps, or perhaps not. Either way, the cultivator stepped aside, letting him barrel past. Paike kept the momentum, his legs pumping, fueled by qi as he ran at speeds he had never run at before, continuing the momentum from his technique.

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Within a few blinks of a mortal's eye, he was outside the village and striding back up the outer sect.

"Paike. Brother," the Emerald cultivator said from his side. "I didn't know. I didn't know it was going to be... didn't know you were here.” He paused for a second, before speaking in a slightly higher pitch. “When did you reach Topaz?"

Paike did his best to ignore him, but Taka was not so easily dissuaded.

"Does Mother know? Shit. We weren't even sure you would awaken at all. You can't imagine how happy I am for you, brother."

Paike balled his fists, resisting the urge to attack the much more powerful cultivator striding alongside him, even as he pushed himself to his max. He held his tension and his anger inside for a count of ten before giving in and stopping. They were halfway back up to the outer sect, and he had already depleted a large chunk of his qi. He could only sprint for so long. Being at least a full stage beneath Taka, he wasn’t going to be able to get away.

He had no real hope of escape because Taka wasn't a newly ascended Emerald like Paike was to Topaz. Rather, he had likely been Emerald for a year or two at most, or already deep into the minor stages.

"Why can't you leave me alone?" Paike said, the first words he'd spoken to his twin in almost five years.

Taka didn't react to the proverbial slap to the face.

"Look, I understand that you would be upset. I'm sorry."

Those words surprised Paike. He had never heard his twin apologize for anything, ever.

"Honestly, I was a spoiled brat, and I can't imagine what it was like being you. But honestly, could you have said you would have acted differently?"

Paike growled at that.

"Yes," he said after a second. "I never would have done that. And you did. There's a reason even Liming won't talk to you."

Taka, for the first time in the entire tense moment since they had seen each other, actually looked genuinely hurt. He didn't say anything for a full five seconds.

"Look," he said, clearly trying to change the subject, "clearly, I don't know what's been going on, but it's been a long time. We were kids. Heavens, some would still call us kids. Many of those mortals back there," he said, throwing his head back toward the village, "would still be living with their parents at our age, not even eligible for marriage yet.

"But ignoring all that, if we can put that past us for a little bit... You needed help. And I do have to give you your lesson. Can we start there?"

There was a hint of vulnerability in his twin's voice, one that Paike wouldn't trust in the slightest. As much as they looked similar and thought similarly in many ways, he and his twin couldn't possibly be more different. Where Paike was straightforward and determined, his twin was cunning and manipulative. Where Paike was as untalented as they could come, Taka was hailed as their father's legacy, inheritor of the Kong family's great talent.

He hadn't yet lived up to that, but he was fairly close. Even Paike could not deny his brother's talent. Still, the last year of Taka's stay at home before he shipped off to the Great Sect had done irreparable damage to their bond. Paike started walking again, hoping to find some way of getting out of the way.

"I would rather not," he said.

"Come on. You're just being stubborn. Look, I tried to apologize."

But Paike rounded on his brother.

"You tried to apologize? When? In the last ten seconds? Kind of. You gave up before you even did."

Taka raised a finger.

"But I..." he continued, unfazed, "as I realize you probably won't accept it at face value, I understand. I won't make an insincere apology. You will have one. But allow me to try to make up for my misdeeds with actions. At least start."

Paike hesitated. On one level, he realized he was being extremely childish. Rejecting free help—well, not free help, he had already paid for it—because of a childhood betrayal and squabble was just petty. On the other hand, he had his own pride and principles. His snake of a brother was not someone he wanted to spend any more time with than he already could.

He would rather leave the Sect. At least, that's what he wanted to think. But he knew the fire burning in his heart was irrational. Leaving the Sect would mean disgracing the family, abandoning his sister, and giving up on achieving much as a cultivator.

This Sect gave resources and protection. He had already reached Topaz, far beyond where he had ever expected to. If he left, he honestly would not progress even beyond early Topaz for decades. Maybe he could, but he'd be a wandering cultivator, not taken in by his family, not sanctioned by the Imperial Throne. Left to scrape and fight for everything he had. It was a path some chose, but only the crazy or the insanely talented would even bother.

It made for a great stories, but rarely happy ones.

Paike sighed. "Do you actually know anything about combat trances, or did you just trap me here?"

Taka shook his head in a gesture that Paike honestly believed. "I was just as surprised as you were, brother. And yes, I have developed some small skills with combat stances."

There was a pause, “Does this mean you're willing to accept my help?"

Paike sighed heavily again and paused for as long as he could before eventually giving in.

"I will hear you out," he conceded.

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