Felix pulled Yang Mei to her feet, adjusting his stance slightly to keep from falling on top of her.

Damn, she is heavier than she looks. She’s big but not that big. Is increased body density a side effect of body cultivation.

Felix stepped back and watched as she brushed the stray dirt off. He couldn’t help but compare it to the black impurities that now filled the grooves below.

I thought the dirt just had a dark color but is that really all from impurities? That’s a little disgusting. Maybe that’s another reason she removed her clothes to avoid stains, though I doubt they would have survived the force of Elder Jackie’s blows. Her undergarments certainly aren’t doing so hot. They went from beige to brown and are now barely holding together…

“Um, Brother Felix,” said Yang Mei, bringing his focus up to her brown eyes. “Could you turn around, I need a moment to clean off and change.”

“Of course,” said Felix with a blush.

Where did that sense of experience go?

“Soo,” said Felix. “Is there anything else to training [Sculpting Flesh in Stone]?” Said Felix.

“Not really,” Said Yang Mei. “He breaks down the body, helps guide qi for the rebuilding, and then removes the impurities. That is the essence of the technique. Well, I suppose there is normally a lot more medicine involved.”

“That seems pretty important,” Said Felix. “Why wasn’t that done here? Is it a secret?”

“No. I believe a list of medicines is in the back of the book. Though you will have to go read the books referenced to get the recipes. I normally have to take all sorts of medical baths and pills.”

“That still doesn’t explain why he didn’t have you take some today.”

“It’s because we don’t normally do such a short session. Sometimes we would even train all day. He would always have more medicine on hand. Okay, I'm ready.”

Felix turned and found her sporting a fresh set of sect robes, a confident grin on her face.

“Let’s meet with Xue and the others. I can’t wait to try normal cultivation.” Said Yang Mei. She grabbed his hand and he found himself being dragged again.

“Wait,” said Felix.

“What?” Said Yang Mei. She slowed and gave him a confused look.

“I need to go see Everglade first.” Said Felix.

“How are you interacting with these two? Didn’t I just explain to you how big of a deal this is?” Said Yang Mei. She let go of his hand and backed up. “Wait, are you seeing Senior Sister Everglade? Felix, you shouldn’t get between those two. Everyone in the sect knows they have a history.”

“I feel like you are making a bigger deal out of this than it is. Also, no to your third question, I am not seeing Sister Everglade. You know about my memories.”

“The other day at the Hall of Knowledge.” Said Yang Mei, not appearing to have heard him. “I should have realized then.”

“Yang Mei.”

“I mean, your hands were all over her. That’s not something a casual acquaintance would do.”

“Yang Mei.”

“I should hav-

“Yang Mei!”

Yang Mei froze and then looked at him. She seemed to realize where she was, and her face turned crimson. Felix rubbed his brow and sighed.

“Let’s get going and please don’t let your imagination get away from you again." Said Felix.

Yang Mei left the topic of Felix’s relationship status behind as they made their way to Everglades. She began asking about his cultivation technique as they walked. He told her what he could but said the details had to wait until they reached the Hall of Knowledge. Finally, they came upon Everglade's house.

Huh, this is kind of cool.

On one of the mountain’s gentler slopes was laid out before them, covered in neat rows of cultivated plants. Some of the steeper portions had even been terraced to better contain the soil. Felix could actually feel the spiritual energy density increase as they made their way through the plants until they reached a small house right in the middle.

Huh, there is a feeling to the qi that reminds me of Everglade. Is that because she lives here or is that because of the plants?

As they neared, they were finally able to see over the small fence surrounding the house to see Everglade kneeling and removing weeds. Her hands moved in confident motions as she tended to the garden and her face was set in an expression of near meditative focus.

That’s a different look. Normally she is so put together and always has that friendly smile. Well, except when she sees Xue. Is that all a lie or another facet of her- Oh she’s noticed us.

Everglade’s eyes met his own and she blinked in surprise. Then that familiar smile full of warmth spread across her face and she rose to meet them.

“Felix, and junior sister Yang Mei, what a pleasant surprise.” Said Everglade. She walked and let them through a small gate. An errant strand of hair was brushed back into place leaving another streak of grim on her face. “and what brings you two to my humble abode?”

“I thought I would take you up on that offer to teach me about botany.” Said Felix.

“Splendid, I am about to plant some Earth Root so I can give you a more hands-on lesson.” Said Everglade. “You will have to excuse my appearance; I am not at the level where I can delve into the secrets of botany and remain clean. What about you Junior Sister? My invitation was too young Felix here, but I would be more than happy to include you in on the lesson.”

“Um…” Said Yang Mei as her stance shrunk. She looked between the two of them and slowly backed up. “No, I was just helping Felix get here. I will, just, um, go ahead to the Hall of knowledge Brother Felix.” She continued to back up and then bowed to Everglade. “Thank you so much for the offer Senior Everglade.”

Then Yang Mei fled. Everglade’s full lips contorted in a frown as she watched.

“Well, that's a shame. I was hoping I could talk to her. It has been so hard to get her to open up. She always makes an excuse to leave. Well, come on Felix, we have gardening to do.”

“Sorry about Yang Mei. She was so boisterous a moment ago.”

“I figured.” Said Everglade with a sigh. “That poor girl has some self-confidence issues. Even though I solved the external cause, it hasn’t helped. Now I fear she has become her own worst enemy.”

Everglade led him to a row of freshly made holes near where she had been weeding. She knelt and indicated for him to do the same.

“Well,” said Felix, kneeling as directed. “She told me that she has been teased mercilessly.”

“It was never that bad and I stopped the disciples who were doing so.” Said Everglade. She pulled out a small bag of seeds. “The bigger problem is that the wound did not heal as it should.” She rummaged inside the bad, pulling out a seed as black as coal. “Yang Mei is like this seed of the Fire Bird Bush. Despite its name, the seed won’t sprout in the soil if it senses any ash. However, ash does not harm the plant's growth at all. So, what we need to do is convince it to germinate and surrounding it with a thumb length of clay is all that’s needed.”

Felix watched her do just that, picking up a clump of wet clay from a jar nearby and encasing the tiny seed. Then she dropped into the hole, covering it with different types of dirt from several other jars.

“Was the gardening metaphor necessary?” Said Felix.

“No, but it's what I am familiar with.” Said Everglades with a laugh. “It colors my views. Also, as the only wood cultivator in the sect, it does kind of fits my image.”

She pulled out even more jars and bags, revealing different seeds and dirt.

“Since we have this opportunity we will focus on this early stage of cultivating plants.” Said Everglade. “I believe I told you that all the little choices can make a difference in the properties of the plant. It is the early steps that set up the foundation for later. Now, just like in cultivation, you can often fix things later but at the same time, it becomes harder and harder the further you go. It can even reach a point where you have to start all over again.”

“What if you need to

“Well, then you will want to know enough to be able to do so with the smallest lost.” Said Everglade. “However, a firm foundation now will save you much time in the future. Now focus.”

Everglade began describing every choice she made as she planted. He desperately listened as the torrent of information flowed forth.

There really is so much to learn. Though at the same time, she has made it clear that the seeds can be grown more haphazardly and still results in decent products. It is just the difference between making something acceptable and great. I suppose in a world where success builds on success, even unexpected success can have surprising results.

Felix listened to her as she planted the 100th seed but then the fading light caught his eye.

“Everglade,” Said Felix gently. “This has been enlightening but I need to go study after this. I promised Xue that I would meet her and the others at the Hall of Knowledge.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” Said Everglade, trying to hide the frown she made when he said the name Xue. “Help me put away the tools and then you can be on your way.”

Several different jars, bags, and gardening tools had been scattered around as they worked. They put most of it in a little shed and a few special jars went into her house.

“So,” Said Felix, placing the final jar on a table right beside her front door. “Do you care for this field by yourself? What do you use it for?”

“Yes, I do,” Said Everglade. “It is not actually mine, but I get contribution points in exchange for taking care of it. It only accounts for a tenth of the sect’s herb production. Most of that is down in the Sect’s Four-Season Formation. Though I believe we import almost half of the ingredients that end up in our pills.”

“Then the small garden is for?”

“My own personal experimentation and cultivation.”

Felix watched as she put the last few things away. She had somehow gotten cleaned during the cleanup while he still had dirt on his robes.

So much for not becoming mystically clean? Did she run into a room and change clothes when I went out to grab the last pouch?

“Everglade, I actually had something I also wanted to talk about.”

“Which is?” Said Everglade.

I need to approach this right. Ugh, I let my thoughts wander a second ago and now I am letting teenageness get in the way. I wish I could grab that mindset I found when observing Yang Mei’s training.

Felix found himself staring at her eyes as he tried to focus.

I just need to find it amongst all these emotions. Now that I look at her, her eyes truly are a nice shade of green. Actually, doesn’t that conflict with having Asian features? I guess people only kind of have Asian features now that I think of it. Did I just assume that? Can’t believe I never thought about that more.

“Felix,” Said Everglade

“What?” Said Felix, “Sorry, I was distracted.

“Are you okay?” Said Everglade, stepping closer. “It might be normal if a young boy your age got lost staring somewhere else, but you do seem to zone out a lot. Is everything okay?”

“Sorry.”

“Stop apologizing.”

She reached out and her small hands gently held his face. She seemed to study him for a moment.

“Mmmm, I have an idea.” Said Everglade

She turned and got out a small black jar hidden in one of her cupboards. She ran around the room grabbing various spices before boiling a pot of water. Felix took a seat and sat quietly until she finally brought him a steaming cup of tea. She gave him an encouraging gesture and he took a sip. His eyes opened wide.

Oh, wow, it is so much easier to focus. I was kind of expecting a placebo since its tea. The perspectives are so much more subdued. My head is so quiet.

Felix realized he had withdrawn in on himself again and his eyes focused on Everglade. She must have seen something in his expression because her smile returned.

“I am glad that seemed to have done the trick. Do you know why you lost focus?”

“I am not sure; it is something that seems to occur every now and then. I think it’s just a personality trait?”

“Mmmm, perhaps. As long as it isn’t an issue it is fine I suppose. We wouldn’t want an ignored issue to become a bigger one latter on.”

“Perhaps… By the way, what is this tea? Is it some kind of soul medicine?” Said Felix.

“Pfft, I wish.” Said Everglade. “I have no idea how to begin to make something like that. My skills in true alchemy are rudimentary at best. No, what you have there is a common tea that is used by cultivators after they have done something extremely stressful. It is known to calm the mind and center a person. It is only rare because of its high demand.”

“Well, thanks. I really appreciate it. Would you help me figure out if it really is an issue?” Said Felix

Everglade’s smile faltered as she slowly began putting the tea supplies away.

“If that really is a serious issue then I would advise against it. You are already involved with that bitch Xue from what I can see. Talk to her about it. She may be a cultivating idiot but she won’t betray your trust.”

What twistedness is this? Thought Felix as he watched her averted eyes. She knows her so well but there's so much vitriol. Is this what they mean when they say love and hate are but a step away?

“Everglade, I will take your words under advisement.” Said Felix slowly. “That actually ties into the other reason that I am here. I want to discuss you and Xue.”

“…Get out.” Said Everglade.

“Of course, I know that sister Everglade is the bigger woman and will of course hear me out.”

She stared but then devolved into giggles.

“Wow, you are shameless. Are you sure you don’t remember your lessons?” Said Everglade. She stopped laughing leaving nothing but sadness on her face. “Okay Felix, what did you want to ask about?

Don’t look at me like that. I feel like the bad guy.

“Everglade, I want you and Xue to be friends again.”

Everglade let out a full laugh to the point her small frame shuddered.

“I thought you were trying to help her get one over me.” Said Everglade, wiping a tear away. “Now I see you are making a joke.”

“Xue wants to make up. We discussed it and she is open to trying to be friends again.” Said Felix.

“I don’t believe you.” Said Everglade, all warmth gone from her voice. “And even if I did, do you think it is that easy? Maybe she was just humoring you since you don’t seem to know when to leave well enough alone.”

“That doesn’t seem like the Xue I’ve seen,” said Felix. “I think she would just tell me. Lying about something like that seems out of character.”

“…Okay,” said Everglade, deflating, “That sounds more like her. She is so perceptive about people in some ways but so blind in others. If anything, I may have been the one lying to myself.”

Not really sure how to respond to that.

They sat in silence and Everglade poured herself a cup of tea. He watched her as she stared at the floating tea leaves.

Is she just going to leave me hanging like that? This is just so much drama that feels unnecessary. At least from the outside.

“Everglade… how did you not notice? I honestly am not surprised this happened to Xue but you?”

“I was young.” Said Everglade. “Are we expected to be wise even when we are children?”

“Fair enough.” Said Felix, brush a hand through his hair. “I just see you now and it seems ridiculous.“

“No, no that’s not it.” Said Everglade.

“Okay,” said Felix slowly. “Then what happened?”

“Felix,” said Xue. She paused for a moment, biting her bottom lip. “I am not sure if your recent amnesia has affected your perception of how things work but do you realize the effect of strength on relationships?”

“Well,” said Felix. “I know it can make it strained. Yang Mei conveyed… that idea quite emphatically earlier today.”

“What did she- never mind. I think I can guess.” Said Everglade. “I am not sure all that she said but there are other reasons that true friendship and relationships don’t survive difference in cultivation. Do you know what those are? Life expectancy for one. That people you know will live much longer than you, staying young while you rot in the ground. Do you know what it is like to watch people you care about soar ahead, knowing that no matter what you do, you’ll never catch up? In fact, you will likely never see them again?”

Before Felix could respond, Everglade downed her cup of still boiling hot tea.

“Felix, Xue and I were part of the first generation of disciples. I was much less sure of myself at the time and found myself rooming with a quiet girl. She was different from what I had known. In my village I was a shy girl. There, only the males of my family were expected to truly achieve something in cultivation. Oh, women did but the men were the focus. Always observant, I knew what was expected of me. Yet in this quiet girl I saw a determination I had never expected to see. She inspired me. We began to push one another and became friends. I was happy. I was proud.”

“I was able to keep up at first. The elders gave us their full attention as the first disciples of the sect and we were to take the beginning of Essence Gathering slow. I believe they wanted to ensure there wasn’t an issue with their teaching.”

Everglade stopped talking, staring at her now empty cup. Felix waited.

“Then they let us go at our own pace.” Said Everglade. “I was left behind. At first, I thought it was a temporary thing. However, it only took her getting three levels in essence gathering higher for me to realize that wasn’t the case. I decided to ignore body cultivation in order to keep up. With greater focus, I was barely able to match her. That is until we reached Essence Condensing. Then things got harder.”

“So you became jealous?” said Felix.

Everglade let out a contorted laugh and her eyes turned moist.

“No, I was never jealous of Xue.” Said Everglade. “That is the normal reaction and I was always happy for her. No, the problem came when I realized what was going to happen. Do you know I am at 7th essence condensing with a body cultivation that isn’t worth speaking of?”

“Everglade,” said Felix. “It's alright to be behind someone you care about. You don’t always have what someone else has.”

“That’s not the problem, weren’t you listening? No, the issue is that she is so talented that I have no doubt she will ascend to a higher world. I have even tried rushing my cultivation and have since paid for it. Better for both of us if I stay away and don’t hold her back. So, when I realized what was happening, I encouraged it. Better a friend forgotten than a heart devil.”

“Everglade… I don’t know if that’s how heart devils wo-

“I know that now!” snapped Everglade. “The problem is that it is too late now. It is only in retrospect that I realized that this could be just as much of an issue for Xue. Worse even. However, let what’s done be done. To reopen such old wounds would only hurt her more and possibly create a true heart devil. What kind of friend could I be to do that to her? A worse one than I already am at the very least.”

Everglade had averted her eyes again while Felix sat back.

That… is not the reason I expected. Why are these things always more complicated than they seem?

A tear slid down Everglade’s cheek and Felix flinched when it landed in her cup with an audible ‘plop’. He shook himself and then stood. She watched in confusion as he walked around the table to kneel next to her. Then he gave her a hug.

Don’t attack me, don’t attack me. Why can’t she be weaker!

She tensed before returning the hug. Then he let go and looked her in the eyes.

“Everglade, you shouldn’t let it fall apart so easily. Don’t give up so easily.” Said Felix.

“It is a bit late for that Felix.” Said Everglade. “I have messed things up a little too much. Now I am letting myself be comforted by a junior disciple even younger than me.” She gave him a playful shove. Her warm smile returned with a tint of bitterness. “You really think you are all smooth, don’t you? That whole thing at the Hall of Knowledge and now this? A real charmer I must say.”

“Everglade, listen.” Said Felix as a blush crept up his cheeks. “There is still a chance that you will be able to follow her eventually.”

“No Felix, I wasn’t going to give up but that doesn’t mean I am not blind to reality. I don’t have the fortune to make up the difference nor am I martially inclined enough to find it. I have considered going on a journey to do that but… No. It may be better to just let our relationship remain how it is. I won’t be her anchor.”

“Look, is part of your problem your cultivation manual?” Said Felix.

“Well, part of it. My spiritual root is wood and most of the manuals have to do with the four main elements of the sect. I suppose if I had a really good one, I wouldn’t have to be a genius to progress. Though I would still be far behind Xue.”

“Then I may have part of a solution for you. Trust me. Let me talk to some people.”

She stared at him and gave an impish smile.

“Is it a secret that Xue knows?”

“Well, yes.” Said Felix.

“Ahh… Then that explains why she is hanging out with you. In fact… that explains a lot of weird things about you. Now that I think about it, you pro-

Felix’s hand snapped out and covered her lips.

“Look, please don’t say anymore.” Said Felix, removing his hand. “Just let me talk to Elder Shen, and yes, Xue.”

“Don’t tell her about what we just talked about,” said Everglade quickly.

“How am I supposed to explain the request to help then? Look, I will be careful what I say but I think the truth may help your relationship. We can fix the entire issue in a two-prong attack. So, you just have to trust me, okay?”

Her still red rimmed eyes searched his eye but nodded.

“I really don’t want her to know. I can’t stand the thought.” Said Everglade. “Still, I understand it might come that. Do what you have to do.” She gave him another hug. “and thank you.”