Who I want to become…? I don’t think I know. Not in words at least.

Felix took one last look at the figure of Elder Shen disappearing up the mountain before getting to his feet. His head swiveled as he realized the pavilion was mostly empty. However, Xue and three inpatient disciples were waiting for him.

Well, it appears zoning out has once more caused people to wait on me. I should probably try to control my mental wanderings.

“Senior Felix, when can you give us the manuals? We really don’t want to delay cultivating anymore.” Said Chu. “We are starting to get weird looks.

“Senior, please give us a break.” Said one of the trio. “We really just want to start progressing. I know the elders have mentioned that patience is important, but it feels like we are wasting time.”

What was that kid’s name again? Bal? Well, Bal has a point. Got to remember, the world isn’t all about me. Imagine being a kid and resisting developing superpowers… Not sure I could do that if I had a mentality of a ten-year-old. Well, if my mind was 100% that of a ten year old. A lot is going on up in there.

“I think we have decided on what manuals you three should use.” Said Felix, catching Xue’s eye. “What do you say, Senior Sister?”

Xue’s face remained impassive as she slowly looked the three over. Then her eyes fell on Felix.

“Felix, don’t mess with them.” Said Xue. “Come on, let's get you three started. You will have to give Felix and me a few hours to go over the manuals first of course but we should be able to do that this night.”

The three shared grins and Bal even pumped a fist into the air. The sound of pounding feet cut off the celebrations as the figure of Yang Mei ran toward them.

“Felix, I’ve finally found you.” Said Yang Mei. “I completely forgot that there are double classes today. I’ve been up and down the mountain looking for you.”

“Sorry about that.” Said Felix.

Even though her breathing rate is normal, she is soaked in sweat. How long has she been looking for me? Though I have to admit I don’t mind how it makes the robe cling.

“No problem.” Said Yang Mei, returning a giant grin. “You’ve already promised to help me, and this is the least I can do.”

“Excuse me,” Said Felix, averting his eyes.

“What?” Said Yang Mei. “Did I do something wrong?

“Sister Yang Mei, it is just that the sweat is causing your outfit to look a little exposing.”

Yang Mei's mouth opened and then glanced down at her outfit.

“Brother Felix, you don’t have to keep joking around. I know no one cares.”

…What are you talking about?

Felix could clearly see the recruits glancing at her with the interested look of the newly initiated.

The looks are not that subtle girl. I mean, is this a learned obliviousness because of low self-esteem or is she just not able to pick up on social cues?

“Yang Mei, you are a beautiful young lady and you need to be self-aware of what that entails,” said Felix. He held up a hand as she tried to protest. “Look, we can argue over the truth of it later. Now, why were you looking for me?”

“Um,” said Yang Mei. She took a moment to master the blush that had taken over her face. “Right, so Elder Jackie sent me to fetch you. We were about to begin my body cultivation training again and he said you wanted to watch.”

“That’s right…” Said Felix. “Xue, can you take the kids and look at the manuals we wanted to give them. I won’t be able to… do anything with the manuals till after this but I should still be able to get to it today. In fact, we can set Yang Mei up with a manual at the same time.”

Xue looked at him consideringly for a few moments and then shook her head. She grabbed the trio but the scuffs of their necks and disappeared in a gust of cold air.

I wanted to also say I was going to stop by Everglades before meeting up with them…

“I really admire how close you are with Fairy Xue.” Said Yang Mei.

“Uh, Why?” Said Felix.

“She is the Sect's first Core cultivator. The. First. Core. Disciple.” Said Yang Mei. “Even though many can’t approach her because of her attitude, that just makes people look up to her more. She is strong, talented, and beautiful. Yet you are talking to her like you are equal.” Said Yang Mei.

“Is that really weird?” Said Felix.

Wait… I think I can remember something like that. Don’t people normally get looked down upon for associating with those above them? Especially if the person above is a woman? Wasn’t that just in stories?

“Well, yes. You are just so weak by comparison. People almost always find fault when a weaker person has a relationship with someone not much stronger. Maybe this will put it into perspective. People who reach Core cultivation often take disciples. Your cultivation is what one would expect of the student of someone like Xue. That is not even considering how she is a Core cultivator at such a young age.”

Of course. I don’t want to deal with this shit. Thought Felix as he brushed a hand through his hair.

“Well, we aren’t in any kind of relationship.” Said Felix. “I suppose people might not believe that, but the elders just asked her to look after me. Can I expect someone to make an issue of it?”

Yang Mei’s grin got wider, and she shook her head.

“Oh, no.” Said Yang Mei. “I don’t think you will have an issue at all. I trust you that she is just a friend but others won’t. The truth of the matter is that Xue is too distant from the rest of the disciples. The strongest disciples don’t care and the rest are too scared of Xue to do anything anyway. It would be different if it was someone like Senior Sister Everglade. She is liked by nearly everyone and people would be way more jealous. Since you are close to Xue though, there is no way that would be an issue.”

… Oh that’s not good.

“Now come on Felix,” Said Yang Mei, grabbing his hand. “Elder Jackie does not like to be kept waiting and it took me so long to find you.”

He found himself being dragged down the mountain. Her strength was irresistible but after a bit of stumbling, he was able to employ [Shifting Sands] to keep up. Yang Mei nodded in approval and let go of his hand. The two shared a grin of understanding and raced down the mountain.

Taking the lead, she led them to an open space in the fall section of the sect formation.

This clearing is even bigger than the one I cultivated in. I wonder why this one isn’t tiled like all the others. Now that I look at it, there actually appears to be a weird pattern on the floor, like swirling waves. A formation? Can a formation be made using only dirt?

“I apologize Brother Felix.” Said Yang Mei, her head falling down. “I must have taken too long. Elder Jackie must have left.”

“Don’t worry about it, I don’t mind at all.” Said Felix. Then he snapped his fingers. “That’s right, I’ve decided which cultivation technique to let you use.”

Yang Mei perked up.

“Really, which one?

“I am not sure we should be discussing it here with the guests.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Said Yang Mei. “Elder Jackie mentioned earlier that the guests wouldn’t dare spy on any of the places the elders train.”

“I could see that. So, would you be interested in using my technique?”

“Brother Felix you can’t share your manual like that. It isn’t wise.”

“I talked to Xue about it and we both agree on your character. Can you promise to validate my trust?”

Yang nodded, sharing another grin with him. Then a snort cut through the air.

“I am a little late and this is what I find.” Said Elder Jackie. The shirtless elder slowly walked into the clearing, his eyes seeming to take in every detail. “I expected to see you getting ready and yet I find you flirting with Felix

Yang Mei blushed and Felix resisted rolling his eyes. He couldn’t help but notice that the Elder seemed well on his way to recovery with most of the red cracks reduced to scars.

“Elder, please don’t tease Brother Felix.” Said Yang Mei. “He had actually just offered to share his cultivation technique with me.”

“Then let me see it.” Said Elder Jackie.

Felix shared a look with Yang Mei before pulling out his current version of the technique. Elder Jackie closed the distance in an instance and Felix’s careful notes were suddenly suspended in the air with only two vibrating fingers. Minutes later, Elder Jackie twisted his wrist, bringing all the notes together in a neat stack and handing them back to Felix.

“I see Elder Shen wasn’t lying. Well boy, you have done good work. You have my blessing and my thanks for sharing this with Young Yang Mei. Now, let’s get this training session started. I can only put off going back to that ridiculous meeting for so long.” Elder Jackie glared back up the mountain. “I despise meetings.”

Before Felix could respond, he felt a callused hand pressed against the back of his head and the small of his back. Then the world blurred and he found himself standing several feet away between two tiny troughs on the ground that was part of the swirling pattern.

“Stay there,” said elder Jackie. “Unless you want to die of course.”

Yang Mei gave Felix a concerned look as he wobbled in place. Elder Jackie snapped his fingers in her face, catching her attention.

“Yang Mei, prepare yourself.”

With a nod, Yang Mei ran to the middle of the clearing where all the lines in the ground met. Then she stripped down to her undergarments. She looked at Elder Jackie expectantly until she caught Felix’s expression. Her face went red like a tomato and she averted her eyes

What the fuck! Um, okay. Well, this is normal, of course, it is… Now I know she isn’t all muscle… What is wrong with this elder!

Felix tore his gaze away and focused on Elder Jackie. The man only spared him a dismissive look and a snort before walking slowly around the blushing Yang Mei. His eyes remained indifferent as he inspected every inch of her. Occasionally he would poke and prod here and there. At one point he even stopped to stare at her ankle as if it had offended him.

Well, he isn’t staring at her like a pervert but as if she isn’t even a person. It is like she is a horse or something. Treat her like a human Elder!

After circling her three times, Elder Jackie stopped in front of her with his arms behind his back.

“I see you have not done any additional practicing since I told you not to.” Said Elder Jackie. “I know you are unhappy to stop progressing, but this has had the unexpected fortune of making a few issues in your training more apparent. I can begin correcting those today. Now begin your part of the technique.”

Yang Mei nodded and closed her eyes. Taking a deep bready she shifted into a horse stance. Her breathing took on a distinct pattern and the flush slowly drained from her face. Felix found he could not so easily control his own emotions.

I did not think this through. I can’t look at her and focus, damnit.

Felix tore his eyes away from what her breathing was doing to her chest to look at Elder Jackie’s face. He was annoyed to find the elder had no such issue, his expression still showing the same clinical detachment. The elder’s body was completely relaxed except for his hands, which began bending and stretching in inhuman configurations.

Wow, that is disturbing. Ya, just focus on the fingers to forget the show. Oh god, can the pinky finger and thumb even do that?

“Stop squirming boy.” Said Elder Jackie, not even bothering to look away from his examination of Yang Mei’s left forearm. “And try to repress your baser instincts and actually learn something from this experience.”

This time both Yang Mei and Felix blushed.

Don’t sell me out, old man! Ugh, damn hormones. I need to be better than this.

Felix closed his eyes and felt that familiar mismatch of emotions. Some were confused, some excited, and many more he couldn’t quite describe at the moment. Almost all of them though were tainted with lust.

Both my body and my mind are betraying me. Come on some part of me needs to be able to deal with this.

Trying to look at them each, he found one that might work. Felix opened his eyes to look at almost naked Yang Mei again.

This is… interesting. Whoever this perspective came from is still attracted but it doesn't have that nervous energy. Experienced even? No matter what it is, I can finally watch and pay attention to something else.

“It finally appears you have gained some control over yourself boy, good. Good, I didn’t have all day.” Said Elder Jackie. Despite not facing him, Elder Jackie laughed as Felix stared daggers at his back. “Boy, it is easy for me to know what goes on in your little head. I can hear your heart pumping and the blood rush through your veins. There are many indications of your current mental state even if I don’t employ more mystical means. Now focus. This is ultimately about Yang Mei, not you.”

I would be madder if I wasn’t the weird horny teenager in this situation. Ugh, why can’t I have the moral high ground?

Elder Jackie seemed to grow taller and a tension built in the air. Then he was suddenly standing behind Yang Mei with a hand held high in a fist. The fist blurred, coming down in a hammer strike on Yang Mei’s exposed back. Felix's face changed to horror as Elder Jackie’s hands became a hurricane of blows and the air booming with the power of the blows.

How is she still standing!? I can feel the force from here. I don’t think I would survive even one of those.

“You appear to not be able to keep up, boy,” whispered Elder Jackie’s voice into his ear. “Forgive me, I am not used to slowing down the training for low-level cultivators. The error is mine.” Then the elders' voices filled the entire clearing. “Yang Mei, prepare. I am going to slow down the training for our audience.”

The hurricane slowed until Felix could finally begin to make out Elder Jackie as he moved from one spot to another around the still standing Yang Mei. The blows slowly became distinct as well and Felix hid a wince as each spot the Elder struck shook with the force.

“I see your confusion Felix,” Said Elder Jackie as he struck Yang Mei’s calf, working his way up and down her leg. “Despite the power of these blows, a large portion of the power is wasted. I am using pure physical power to break down portions of her body. Only my absolute control is allowing me to control exactly where this is occurring with each strike. This is all preparing the body to be ready to use qi in the next step.”

The elder went silent, slamming away at Yang Mei for an hour. Felix could only watch on as the Elder spared not one inch of the young girl.

“Now, I am going to begin the second step. The goal of this portion in the broadest sense is to bring qi to every part of her body to feed the recovery.”

The Elder’s arms began to take wide sweeping motions, his hands in claw-like shapes. It almost appeared as if he was grasping at the air before slamming them into Yang Mei’s body. With each strike, Yang Mei’s Skin began to take on a healthy glow.

“Now boy, prepare. This is the most dangerous portion of the technique. Body cultivating in this way makes it so that the body doesn’t expel impurities on its own, so I have to knock them out myself. I would never try this if I wasn’t an expert and had a deep understanding of her body.”

Elder Jackie’s hand flattened and then came down in knife strikes. The first blow hit Yang Mei’s upper arm and Felix’s eyes widened as a blade of force burst out the other side along with a black mist. Unfazed, Elder Jackie continued, sending wave after wave of impurity out. Felix absently noted how the waves of force matched the swirling patterns on the force.

Finally, Elder Jackie stopped and Yang Mei collapsed to the floor.

“That should do that. Any questions? Before I leave.

“That was amazing. Is that the entire training method?” Said Felix.

“No,” said Elder Jackie. “In fact, there are many more steps for dealing with particular scenarios or when breaking through from one body cultivation level to another. However, those three steps are the foundation of the entire technique.

Felix looked down at the exhausted Yang Mei.

“What are the advantages of doing this way?

“The biggest benefit is that it will ensure her entire body is strengthened while reducing the risk of an imperfection going unnoticed. I made the technique extremely well rounded so she will not be limited as much in her choices later. It is all about building for long term benefits. Now I hope you gained something. I need to get back to that meeting.”

Felix nodded as Elder Jackie left. He walked over and helped Yang Mei to her feet.

I definitely gained something…