In this case, Wu Ying had had no choice. Done right, the cleansing process would drive the infection out in his sweat and, yes, his puke, snot, and potentially blood. Holding on to that truth, Wu Ying focused his mind through the pain, through the constant and ever-increasing surges of chi the pill provided him. He channeled all he could through his dantian, sending the chi into a spiraling ball of energy. Finally, when Wu Ying could hold on no longer, he guided the energy to the first of his uncleansed meridians.
On the outside, Wu Ying was trembling uncontrollably, his body flinching and twitching as the energy from the pill coursed through his meridians unceasingly. Eyelids twitched, his hair shook, and even his toes clenched and released uncontrollably. Black blood slowly escaped Wu Ying’s skin, only to run down his body as it mixed with foul-smelling sweat. But through all that, Wu Ying’s breathing stayed consistent as he worked to regulate his chi. In a corner of the medicine tent, unseen by others, Fa Yuan watched.
Finally, Wu Ying could no longer hold on to the ball of chi within his stomach. Like every other Body Cleanser in the Yellow Emperor’s Style, he had cleansed his lung and then heart meridians. Now, he reached inward and pushed the energy along the next meridian, the pericardium[7] meridian. The flood of power that coursed through his body wrapped around the muscle and tissue that protected his heart. The flood of faint yin energy as well as the fire element hosted within the pericardium helped to cleanse him further. But as his chi passed through his meridian toward his hand, he felt the pain of blockages being blown away by the sheer power of it.
Each exhalation led to a groan, each inhalation a second of release from the encompassing pain. Again and again, energy flooded his body, cleansing it of the infection, of the built-up impurities of life. The borrowed energy pushed his cultivation at an astounding rate, but his formerly strong body’s stored energy was used as well, thinning out the once-muscular peasant. In time, Wu Ying felt the difference, the ease that the chi flowed. But the energy from the pill had yet to subside. Without a choice, Wu Ying moved on to the next meridian, the kidney meridian. Even as his body flagged and his will ached, he pushed on. To give up now would be the end of it all.
Hours passed before Wu Ying came to. When he did, he found himself drenched in a sticky black substance, his clothing and hair so foul he struggled not to retch. In fact, around him, Wu Ying realized, was a gap, as even the gravely injured had been moved away from his bed. Yet for the first time in days, Wu Ying felt clear-headed, though extremely weak.
“Ah! You are done,” the doctor said, smiling. “Good. Get washed. Outside please.”
Wu Ying complied with the doctor’s orders, helped along by an unhappy attendant. As he washed himself in the provided barrel of water, as the gunk from his cultivation slowly peeled off his body through repeated scrubbing, Wu Ying could not help but marvel at his body. Even though he felt weaker and hungrier than ever before, his senses were sharper, his proprioception—his sense of his own body and balance—better than ever. And as weak as he felt, Wu Ying could not help but note that he was able to stand and clean himself without the help of the attendant. Even if it did require a significant number of rests on the convenient footstool.
When he finally returned, Wu Ying was grateful to note that his bedding had been exchanged for something cleaner. Thankfully, someone had dropped off the clothing he had brought with him, so Wu Ying had a set of clothes to wear. Even his frugal nature could not stand to wash and wear the thoroughly soiled clothing he had cultivated in. It was much better off as fuel for the watch fire.
“Eat!” the doctor ordered Wu Ying, pointing at the piles of food set on his bed.
When Wu Ying moved to speak, the doctor shook his head and pointed at the food. As his stomach growled, Wu Ying could not help but agree to the doctor’s suggestion, digging into the food.
“Is good!” Wu Ying commented around a mouthful.
The doctor, having come back to check on Wu Ying, smiled slightly. In truth, Wu Ying knew the taste had as much to do with his hunger and his expanded senses as the cooking skill of the chef. But still, it tasted like heaven itself after days of bland broth and porridge.
“When you are done, pack your things. As you are no longer sick, we need your bed back,” the doctor ordered.
“Thank you for your care,” Wu Ying said, bowing to the doctor around a mouthful.
The doctor waved the words away and gave Wu Ying directions to not only his squad but his benefactor. Wu Ying left quickly, debating what to do as he hurried into the camp. In the end, Wu Ying decided to see Zhao Wan first. Better to speak with the Elder and not let him wait. From the way the general had acted, Wu Ying knew that the Elder was significantly more important than anyone in his squad.
It did not take him long to find the tent. Unlike the tents of the army, this one was colorful and bright. After announcing himself and being invited in, Wu Ying stepped into the opulent tent. The duo from the Verdant Green Waters Sect were seated in chairs around a tea table. Both turned to stare at Wu Ying as he entered, their gaze raking over his form.
“Fourth level?” Yang Fa Yuan said.
“Fifth,” Zhao Wan corrected.
“Not bad,” Fa Yuan said.
“You saw through my cultivation already?” Wu Ying said with a blink. At the Body Cleansing stage, each growth in cultivation was small, its external effects minor. To see through his cultivation in so short a time, their eye of discernment must have been significantly higher than anyone Wu Ying had ever met.
“Of course,” Elder Cheng said. “It seems you have taken full advantage of the opportunity presented. In that case, I shall present you another opportunity. Join the Verdant Green Waters Sect as an outer sect member.”
For a moment, Wu Ying could not believe what he had heard. In a large sect like the Verdant Green Waters, disciples were split into numerous levels. Someone joining the sect would either be a direct, core, inner, or outer disciple, with varying benefits given to disciples at each level. As the largest sect in the kingdom, even an outer disciple of the Verdant Green Waters held a higher status than a regular inner disciple in any other sect in the kingdom. It was rumored that the benefits offered to outer sect members put other sects to shame. If he worked hard, Wu Ying might even become an inner disciple and be given a chance to learn the core teachings of the sect.
But…
“I thank you for the offer, Elder Cheng,” Wu Ying said, bowing with gratitude. The truth was, the offer was better than anything a simple farmer’s son could ever expect to receive, no matter their past lineage. The offer was so much more that Wu Ying did not even know how to react.
“Are you not going to accept Tai Kor Cheng’s offer?” Yang Fa Yuan said angrily.
Wu Ying could not help but wince at her tone. Not accepting immediately was certainly an insult to Elder Cheng. But…
“I have never considered being a true cultivator,” Wu Ying said, bowing slightly. “It is not something that was ever an option. And I have a mother and father, a farmland…”
When Fa Yuan opened her mouth, Zhao Wan raised his hand, stilling further words of condemnation. “It is good that he is considering it slowly. Once you enter the martial arts world, the world of cultivation, there is no turning back. Our lives are filled with both opportunity and danger, as you well know, Little Yang.”
Fa Yuan sniffed but quieted down.
“Thank you, Elder,” Wu Ying said.