Resisting the urge to flee, Felix reluctantly agreed to meet Daiyu and spar again. With a final goodbye, Felix hurriedly retraced his steps. He let out a breath of relief when a turn in the path blocked the Onooka Clansmen’s view.

Well, that was certainly an adventure. I think I am not going to choose ‘hippity hoppity’. Well, probably.

Deciding to just walk, Felix slowly retraced his steps until he found the missed path. Sinking into his thoughts, he found himself shortly back in Elder Rong’s guest room.

It really has been a long day. I’ve definitely been putting my foot in it. Confiding so easily in an elder. Getting into Xue’s and Everglade’s business. Saying I would help Yang Mei and those disciples and now I basically signed up to be beaten up by a masked girl.

He gingerly touched his neck, reliving the sensation of Daiyu’s blade on his neck. A bitter smile adorned his face.

I just had to go and ask for help once again. I suppose I don’t really know what her age is but she seemed so small under all that cloth. Though I suppose misjudging someone by their appearance is the hallmark of an idiot in this world. All the visual indications of strength that you would use in the mortal world just aren’t appropriate anymore.

Sighing, he brought himself next to his bed. Resting a hand on his pillow, the weight of the day crashing down all at once.

I really just want to sleep. Yet, how can I rest after being utterly crushed like that? How can I hope to achieve all I want to with so little discipline.

Groaning, Felix forcefully turned away. He stretched and moved, in a vain attempt to rouse himself.

Come one, don’t be a wuss. It is these little moments that lead to big changes Felix. I said I would get revenge, right? I’ve made many promises to myself. If I want to begin moving those mountains, every little stone moved becomes important.

He walked to the opposite side of the room, sitting with legs crossed and back to the wall.

No better way to do that than to keep improving my cultivation. I mean, I can’t afford to not improve with how sloppy I’ve been handling this life. While I’m glad things worked out so well with Elder Shen and Xue, but… that’s honestly been luck.

He closed his eyes, clenching his jaw as he ran a hand through his hair. Negative emotions nibbling at his mind like dogs at a bone.

Seriously, how stupid could I be for writing out everything from the system in the Hall of Knowledge? Of COURSE, someone was watching. It all worked out but how lucky is that. From what I remember from cultivation stories in my world, that could have been my last mistake.

He tensed up and stopped his hand halfway through his hair. He began to clench his hand, pulling harder and harder.

Like, come on! I’ve got to be better than this. I literally have memories that should keep me from such pitfalls. I mean, I can only remember some of it… And a lot of those stories conflict… But come on, I could have surely learned something from them.

Sighing, Felix released his hair, his scalp aching. He rested his elbows on his knees, letting his head fall into his waiting hands.

Focus, Focus. What can I remember? Well, different stories seem to have different rules so I am not sure what I can piece together from that. I mean, I am more worried now that I will assume something that is true and then fuck up because of it. Maybe just focus on what seems to be universal in these stories. Um, never run out of trump cards and make sure you can use them quickly. Okay, that makes sense. Nepotism is rampant in such stories since supernatural powers only make it worse. Always assume someone is watching and that people will betray you over the smallest gain if it is worth the risks. Finally, once personal power reaches a certain level, it solves all things... That doesn’t seem like much?

He replayed the memories, failing to see other obvious truths.

Well, it was worth addressing this. A few of those lessons are worth taking to heart. Still, a lot of conflicting information depending on the story. I mean, some of it is just ridiculous.

Felix then tried to compare the few nuggets possible truth with his recent actions. Felix started to laugh.

“Ha…hahahaha”

Ya, I’ve been pretty foolish. According to those stories, I should be dead by now… dead by now…. Holy shit, I bet an elder is watching me even now? I am laughing like a lunatic and they are seeing all of it.

After a few minutes, he finally stopped laughing. Taking a deep breath, he reigned in his thoughts and emotions. Once he felt he had a grip, he dove inward to observe his cultivation.

Well, let's do this. Power is everything, right?

He went over the earth qi in his dantian.

Huh, looks like I actually gained a decent amount from passive cultivation. I might even be able to break through to the sixth level of essence gathering.

Changing focus, he began transitioning from the simpler passive cultivation to the more complex practice as outlined in the Heavenly Earth Manual. The passive version was very simplistic to enable even low level cultivators to both recover qi faster and even cultivate at all the time. However, Felix felt a smile grace his face as he could feel the drastic difference in incoming qi with the more complex patterns.

So, I spin it through here, and then bring that stream through the meridian here, here and here…

As Felix lost himself deeper and deeper in the practice of cultivation, Elder Shen retracted most of his divine sense. Only a cursory strand was left to ensure nothing unexpected occurred. Reflecting on Felix’s behavior, Shen relaxed into the chair only a few rooms away from the cultivating Felix. He gave a happy hum as he took a sip of his host’s favorite tea.

“Well,” Came a disgusted voice from across the table. “It seems young Felix is doing great, just great. We can clearly see that your more hands-off approach was the right thing to do, now can’t we?”

Elder Shen’s heterochromatic eyes flicked up to his host's glare.

“Brother Rong,” said Shen in exasperation. “I am not going to let him do everything by himself and you know that, you old coot. Even if I was, it's not like he would suffer under Xue’s care. Knowledge of cultivation is not one of her weaknesses”

Elder Rong snorted, taking a sip from his own cup.

“Then what would you call what we just witnessed, mmm? Something is obviously ailing the boy. You don’t see someone handle themselves in public and then have such emotional outbursts in private unless there is a deeper issue. For Dao’s sake, I thought you were all about the emotional health of our disciples? Then there was that fight with the Onooka girl. I would have thought we would want to keep the boy away from all outsiders. I mean, isn’t that what we chose to do with young Edward?”

“Brother,” Said elder Shen with a shake of his head. “You are too influenced by your scholarly background. I am not abandoning the boy. It is important for him to begin habits of pursuing the Dao himself and with people of similar cultivation. We are not just trying to bring the boy to Nascent soul, but set him up so he will continue past that. Force feeding him knowledge will only get him from point A to B. He needs to become someone who will continue on even if we are not there.”

“Oh, come on Brother,” Said Elder Rong, clearly not satisfied. “the boy has the drive. As we all know, the will to keep going is what will bring you the farthest. We are all examples of this. And I see you didn’t answer the problem of his emotional state.”

“And I said we will teach him.” Said Elder Shen with a roll of his eyes. “As for the second thing… Well, I am sure there is more to it as he didn’t tell me. We all know how unusual the young Edward story was. Unless we want to squeeze it out of him, we will simply have to use time and patience. Why do you think I am so supportive of him building bonds with people he can actually consider his peers? As for the fight with the Onooka girl, well, I wasn’t expecting that either. I mean, how did I know Felix was one of the idiots who challenge people to spars. He gives off a scholarly vibe. As for keeping it a secret, well, what better situation to test his secret-keeping abilities than where we can literally keep an eye on him. Though it would be very unfortunate if he let it slip and we had made the Onooka our enemies.”

“Perhaps you are right…” said Elder Rong with a sigh. “There is a perverse logic to it. I have a hard time not doing things as I did as a mortal scholar. Though I still think the teaching methods of cultivators are silly at times.” Elder Shen flicked his sleeve in dismissal. “Enough of this, I will trust your judgment on this brother.”

The two stopped talking, sipping their tea in companionable silence. Elder Shen’s eyes flickered in the direction of Felix’s room.

Oh, ho ho, he broke through to another level. He will be back where he was soon, and then he can begin real cultivation once more. It is strange to see what cultivation would be like without bottlenecks.

Elder Shen was snapped out of his thoughts as Elder Rong cleared his throat. Elder Rong was idly staring at his tea as he casually swirled it. Then he met Elder Shen’s eyes.

“Brother… what do you think of our enemy’s movements? The sects to the easts have already begun fighting the kingdom’s advance forces. Representatives from the other sects haven’t even made it here yet. “

“Oh come now Brother Rong, You worry too much. It isn’t like either the kingdom or the empire would risk bringing their full might to bear. We are also the force to be least hurt from such a conflict as well considering how many nascent souls we have.”

Elder Rong fixed him with a glare.

“Even immortals can make mistakes brother. Let’s not be the dragons that fall to carp because of our arrogance. Still… I am more worried about the empire movement or the lack thereof. I expected them to hit hard and fast after the last engagement.”

“I don’t know,” said Elder Shen, “you know such things aren’t my expertise. More importantly, why haven’t you gone into seclusion? Delaying advancement now is the worst thing you could do..”

Elder Rong grimaced.

“I’ve had too much to do. You know how hopeless you all are at running the sect. Not to mention that I do nearly half the lectures and nearly all of the morality lessons.”

“You need to stop being an idiot. Go into seclusion at once. How do you think we will feel if you get yourself killed in the coming war, mmm? Our other brothers and sisters will step up, don’t you worry. I will even do the morality lectures myself.”

Elder Rong gave him a look.

“Really brother?” Said Elder Rong. “Should you really be the one discussing morality? In fact, shouldn’t you also have left the sect by now to practice the ‘other’ half of your cultivation method?”

Elder Shen gave an aghast look, putting a hand on his chest as if struck.

“Brother Rong, your words wound the heart of this humble monk. Who better to discuss morality than he who knows both virtue and sin?” Elder Shen’s hand fell, his face becoming serious. “In all honesty, I can put that off as needed. I won’t advance much but I am not near such a major advancement as you. Also, how could I leave with a war coming and three of our number injured?”

“You are right. I will go into seclusion tonight then. Make sure to keep an eye on Felix while I am gone.

“Of course.” Said Elder Shen with a smile.

Shen got up to go but then Elder Rong spoke once more.

“You know, Elder Ja held some affection for you once upon a time. Perhaps you could rekindle the flame?”

Elder Shen coughed into his hand, avoiding Rong’s eyes.

“And leave all those poor fairies out there unattended? Have you no heart Brother Rong?”