Chapter 105: A Few Thousand Years Ago

Their little campfire fell into a contemplative silence. Father was absorbed in his own considerations while Paike waited for him to gather his thoughts.

However, instead of continuing their conversation about the qi particles, Father broke himself out of his musing and looked Paike in the eyes.

"I'm sorry. I got lost in my own world there, and you had just told me all these cool things. I just don't have many things that fall so completely outside of my expectations anymore. Anyways, it sounds like you have had an eventful couple of months since you left home." Father said, an apology from anyone else in his station would have been noteworthy, but not from Father. His philosophy was to apologize whenever he regretted his actions, but never when he was demanded to. According to Mother, it had gotten them into a lot of trouble when they were younger and less powerful.

"You could say that," Paike said. "At the time it just felt like I was doing what made the most sense, but looking back at it... It's hard to believe it all happened."

"For what it's worth, though your mother might not agree, I think you did the right thing. From what you told me, the risks you took were calculated and understandable."

Paike laughed. "Are you going to tell Mother?"

"God no," Father said. "I'll make sure to redact anything that would get either of us in trouble. But I have to say I wasn't sure why you were having so much trouble awakening. I think I can talk about it now, but there were lots of discussions about it among the elders. If you weren't a twin, I think some would have questioned your parentage."

Father might have been smiling as he said that last bit, but Paike felt a cold breeze blow over the back of his neck. He didn't think those elders would have fared well if they had dared.

"I'm proud that not only did you figure it out, but you turned it to your advantage. It's the mark of a true cultivator. I don't think I have too much to add to your spiritual cultivation. You already know more than anyone else at your level. Just keep thinking of ways to compress your qi and add energy. The method isn't too important, but what works in one realm won't work in the next."

That contradicted a lot of what was considered common knowledge, but with everything else that Paike had found out, that didn't surprise him. Besides, he would believe Father over pretty much anyone when it came to cultivation.

"As for your physical cultivation..." Father started pointing to parts on Paike's body one after another and quizzing him on the purpose and the quality of each structure. This was always how he taught. Asking questions and letting his students try. By the time they were done, Paike had a dozen new improvements and ways to rethink how he had put together his physical cultivation.

None of them were revolutionary, but it would have taken him an untold amount of time to find each on their own. He might also have arrived at different solutions that would likely have been less optimal. What was really frustrating was that Father seemed to know the ones he would benefit from thinking of different solutions on his own later and didn't help him think of fixes for those.

Eventually they were done, and Paike got to ask the question that had been on his mind this whole time.

"So what are we doing here?" He wanted a straight answer about why Father was here and what he was being dragged into. They could talk about his arts and other tricks later.

"Well, I was asked to take a look into some of the barbarian activity in the area, and I thought you might like to come along. Talking with the tribes is always interesting." Father said, watching the flames flicker.

"I thought there was a punitive expedition being planned for what happened to Elder Ji?" Paike asked.

"There was. But luckily someone had enough brains to consider why that boy got himself in so much trouble."

It took Paike a second to realize that Father was referring to Elder Ji. Not that it wasn't obvious; it just was odd to think of him as a child.

"So they asked you?" Paike was surprised they would go so far. Father's help wasn't cheap.

"Not quite. They asked the family for assistance. I think they wanted to hire a couple of fifth- or sixth-realm fighters for some firepower. Uncle Rou noticed something wrong and asked me." Father explained. "The contamination that was seen was new, and I think it's more than the sect could handle as it is. I've had dealings with the ancestors of the tribes in the area before, so I thought I would stop by for a chat."

"You've dealt with the barbarians?" Paike hadn't heard of that.

"No, their ancestors. And not the tribe that the sect clashed with." Father said. "They were some separatists a few thousand years ago. Their territory is farther from the empire's borders, and I helped negotiate their exile rather than their execution. They are neighbors to the tribe with the odd mental weapon that set Ji off. If anyone knows about them, they would."

This dropped several revelations on Paike. He hadn't even known exile was a punishment the empire practiced. But he was not surprised that Father had been involved.

"So you just need to go talk with them and see if they know anything about their rival's new power?"

"Essentially yes," Father said.

"Why did you say we don't have much time, then? It seems like we have been here a while already." Paike asked.

"Good point; we are going to be late. I just needed to know what you have been up to in case anything was relevant. Are you ready to head out?" Father asked.

Paike shrugged. "I think so."

There was nothing to leave behind. The fire wasn't even real, so they didn't need to put it out or let it cool to prevent a fire from spreading or anything.

"No more questions?" Father checked. Paike honestly considered. It was an open offer, but that didn't mean he would actually get an answer. Still, did he want help with his arts or with his plan for his meridians? Not really. He was hoping to get that done himself. Maybe it was arrogant, but he thought he might actually be able to come up with something truly new if he didn't have too much help from Father. Even if it wasn't the best, it would be his path, and that was somehow more important to him.

"When you said there were some things truly new that Guan Li and I found, did you mean you learned something too?" Paike asked.

Father tapped the side of his nose. "You should always be learning something new if you are paying attention.

Paike rolled his eyes. Father laughed and stood up.

"All aboard!" He called in warning, grabbing Paike's shoulder. Paike still had never gotten a clear answer on what that meant, but now wasn't the time to ask, as they were zipping through the air again before he could react.

A jolting halt as his feet landed on the ground was the first thing that told him they had stopped, but it took a second for the rest of Paike's senses to catch up. Before him stood a towering pagoda of dark wood with beautiful inlay.

He didn't recognize it, but from the surrounding view it appeared that they were at the heart of the core sect.

"Come on kiddo," Father said, clapping Paike on the back and pulling him along. "I'm sure someone very important is waiting for us. We are only a little late."

Father threw the doors open and strode in with Paike trailing on his heels. A core disciple shot to her feet from a desk near the entrance. At first there was a flash of indignation in her face, but Paike saw that quickly be overwhelmed with fear before she got herself under control.

She must have been a new core disciple, as Paike could feel that she was somewhere in the latter half of Emerald. That actually spoke well of her potential, as most core disciples weren't recruited until they were past that point. Beyond her power, it said she was very certain she wanted to stay with the sect for a significant period of time.

For how long, he couldn't really guess. She could be from a family that had been destroyed, or from mortal birth. Maybe she was trying to escape an unwanted marriage. There were many reasons to join the sect long term. Just not for someone like Paike.

"Lord Kong?" She asked in a deep bow. Clearly, she didn't recognize Father by face or reputation, as she would never have said that. It raised the odds that she was of mortal birth, Paike guessed. Most cultivators raised by established families would know not to call Father 'Lord'.

"Not a lord," Father said, much of his good mood gone as he strode past her. "I assume the deputy sect leader is waiting for me."

"Uh- yes!" She said as she ran next to him. "He is in his office in the--"

"I know," Father cut her off as he was already heading in a direction. "You may return to your duties; I can see the way."

It was a bit colder than Paike was used to seeing Father, but for some reason he really didn't like being called a Lord. It was one of the reasons the Kong Family still refused any title, even if they operated with much of the prestige of a high family.

Father stopped in front of a well-decorated door and threw it open without knocking. Sitting at the far end of the room, behind a writing table, was an older man who looked not at all surprised to see Father entering. Paike recognized him as the deputy sect leader, a high-ranking sixth-realm cultivator; by reports and rumors, he had reached the end of his cultivation journey several centuries ago and had retired here to help raise the next generations of cultivators.

"Ah, Mister Kong, I'm glad you could make it. Would you take a seat?" The old man's gaze flicked to Paike before dismissing him. "We have much to talk about."