“Mmm… you’re one of the new inner sect recruits, aren’t you?” the woman said.
“Yes Elder. I am Long Wu Ying,” Wu Ying said after he straightened up from his bow.
“No need for those formalities. I dislike them,” the Elder said.
“Of course. May I know how to address the Elder?”
“I am Elder Li Qiu Xia,” Elder Li said. “You are one of Wei’s new students?”
“I am but a listening-in student[13] for the beginning lectures,” Wu Ying said. In such a circumstance, Wu Ying could not really be considered a student to Elder Wei. But neither could he not be said to owe Elder Wei some of the respect a teacher was due. As such, Elder Wei was a half-teacher to Wu Ying.
“Of course. Wei never takes anyone till they have achieved at least their first level as a refiner,” Elder Li said. “Study well then.”
“Yes, Elder.”
Elder Li nodded curtly to the pair and left, her cane tapping against the ground.
“So. Half a tael. You taking it?” Bu said.
“But the Elder—”
“Asked if I was fleecing you. Did she say I should stop?” Bu pointed out.
Wu Ying blinked, turning to where the disappearing form of Elder Li could be seen. Wu Ying opened his mouth then shut it, realizing that he did not dare question the Elder. Irritating Elders was something that Wu Ying had grown a deep and abiding fear of.
“Are you taking it?”
“I…” Wu Ying sighed in defeat. “I’m going to need more paper too. And I don’t expect to be cheated on that!”
“Of course, of course,” Bu said, grinning at Wu Ying.
A short while later, Wu Ying walked out of the bookstore with his new Principles, a large and empty handbound book, and a free book. That Ah Bu had winked suggestively at Wu Ying when he stuffed the book into the brown paper package told Wu Ying exactly what was within.
Really, Wu Ying was entirely uncertain how he felt about the entire experience. There were two distinct thoughts on the entire area of pleasuring oneself, both of which were well-documented with styles that benefited from either. The first recommended total abstinence. The belief was that any extraction of innate chi was detrimental to the final achievement of immortality. This was because each individual had an innate amount of vital chi that they were born with, a kind of chi that was different and more intrinsic to humanity. Expelling this chi via self-pleasure or male orgasms was detrimental to the entire cultivation process.
The second belief paradigm recommended a more ecological viewpoint toward self-pleasure and orgasms. It believed that the process was natural and that, undertook in moderation as the Dao dictated, it was not detrimental. As such, it was no worse than breathing, bathing, or defecating. Within that belief paradigm, others took the viewpoint that the finding of a dao companion was required—even necessary—to the final step to achieving immortality.
Like most things with the Dao, there were successful immortal examples of both beliefs. Unsurprisingly, the arguments between the two camps could become quite heated, even leading to blows. That the abstinence-only paradigm had fewer adherents often led to the second group of believers crowing victory. If not for the fact that there were a higher number of successful immortals who were abstinent during their ascension, the gloating would not have been as contained.
Wu Ying mused about this strange dichotomy to help him ignore his growling stomach. Unfortunately, the higher-than-expected cost of the Principles had scuppered Wu Ying’s plans of eating in town. While he could still afford it, the cost-conscious farmer in him refused to stop pointing out that he had free food awaiting him. Even if it was up the mountain.
Running, Wu Ying waved and greeted the various coolies he saw on the way. There were even a few outer sect members he knew, working their way up the mountain with bags on their backs to feed the voracious crowd that were the cultivators. Cultivating—at least at the Body Cleansing and Energy Storage phase—was a hungry, hungry occupation. It was probably also why few farmers pushed further than the bottom levels of cultivation. Having to feed themselves three to four times the “usual” rate was likely to cause more significant problems, especially during the hungry months.
“Brother Long!” one of the coolies called to Wu Ying as the cultivator almost rushed past him.
“Yes, uhhh, Liu Chin, right?” Wu Ying said.
“Liu Chan,” the coolie corrected. “I am bringing up the letters and I saw one was for you. Did you want to get it now?”
“Of course,” Wu Ying said, smiling.
A few seconds of scrambling later, Wu Ying was holding the letter with his mother’s impeccable calligraphy on it. When it was stuffed into his shirt, Wu Ying thanked and tipped his acquaintance before taking off at a faster speed, eager to read the letter.
Plans were easily spoiled by reality. Wu Ying had barely taken off his shoes in his house before Ah Yee appeared.
“Senior Liu is waiting for you in the tea room,” Ah Yee informed Wu Ying.
“Oh! Thank you. Can you put this in my room?” Wu Ying handed over his bag, keeping only his parents’ letter with him.
Wu Ying quickly made his way to the tea room and spotted Liu Tsong seated elegantly in a chair, a scroll spread across the table in front of her.
“Senior Liu,” Wu Ying greeted her upon entering. “I am sorry for the wait.”
“No need.” Liu Tsong rolled up the scroll and made it disappear, placing it within the storage ring that shone on her finger. “I did not inform you I was coming.”
“Still, thank you for waiting. How can I help you?” Wu Ying said as he walked in.
“How did I do?” Liu Tsong said abruptly, looking shy.
“Do?’
“At the lecture, you idiot!”
“Very good.” When Liu Tsong looked increasingly unhappy, Wu Ying added, “I’m not being polite. You were very good. You spoke clearly and knowledgably. I can’t say I remember it all, but that is not your fault.”
“Oh, good.” Liu Tsong smiled and relaxed before she made a small stone appear in her hand. She pitched it directly at Wu Ying’s head. The action so surprised Wu Ying that he did not dodge the stone, catching it only when it fell into his hand.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“You didn’t buy the Principles.”
“Oh. My apologies. I was busy.”
“Fighting.”
“Yes, Senior,” Wu Ying admitted.
“Bah! Be careful about those idiots. They like to talk about growing strong because all cultivators must protect the sect, but in reality, they’re battle maniacs. All of them,” Liu Tsong said. “Hang out with them too long and they’ll start inviting you on expeditions to get demon stones. Then you’ll end up getting eaten.”
“Thank you, Senior, for your advice,” Wu Ying said.
Liu Tsong bestowed a smile on Wu Ying. It was not as if Wu Ying had not realized this fact already, so his words were not mocking. “Good. Now, did you have questions about what I taught?”
“Questions?” Wu Ying blinked then scratched his head. Well… “Actually, I did. The jingo leaf you mentioned, it’s not like the one I’m used to seeing…”
Hours later, Wu Ying found himself alone in his bedroom, mentally exhausted. He sat on his chair with a thump as the conversation with Liu Tsong played through his mind. After a few moments of laziness, Wu Ying sorted his purchases before he turned to the letter and parted the wax seal. Wu Ying blinked as the memory of the simple, exquisitely crafted jade seal that sat in his father’s bedside table drawer came back to him. The times he had sneaked in to run his fingers over the seal, and the one time he had been caned when his father had found him playing with it, sealing mud on the ground. It was one of the few relatively expensive items that the family owned after their fall from semi-respectability to farm life.