by Ryan DeBruyn
“Please suggest some books on qi circulation, Crash,” I whisper. After a moment of consideration, I add, “Wait—from now on, you will tell me all the risks when they exist, understand?”
“Yes, Master. You should be aware of forty-two risks that you are currently taking. First, sitting on cold concrete could give you a chill—”
“Aargh,” I growl, cutting off my jackass assistant, then immediately begin rubbing my ears. My slight volume increase brings back some of the pain. Perhaps a little liquid? No, I shouldn’t. Softly, I add, “Okay, let’s try this. Do you have a ranking system for risk?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Where would passing out from pain rank on it?”
“Moderate to High, Master,” Crash responds neutrally.
“Okay, inform me of any Moderate risks or above. Good?” I whisper the words, praying that this will force Crash to warn me about extreme agony in the future.
“Yes, Master. In that case, there is still a fork on the floor.” My eyes widen and I begin breathing deeply again as the AI continues. “As for my suggestions on circulation basics . . .” Crash makes a one-eighty in the conversation, and because it started with the small dig, it takes a moment for me to recall my earlier request. “Try A Circulation Primer for the Slow Practitioners. Follow the author’s step-by-step guide for how to use constant circulation to wear down blockages over time.” I narrow my eyes. Am I starting to see a trend? If I am, I’m not sure I like it. First, it was a book for dummies and now for the slow?
“I’m sure you mean slow as in the speed of cultivation . . . right, Crash?” I force out from clenched teeth. I really should meditate. It will be good for my headache and hopefully mood.
“Absolutely, Master.”
I hurriedly sit down and close my eyes, feeling that anger flare again. Crash’s last response somehow aggravates it, even though it’s an affirmation.
I begin breaking down what Crash could possibly be trying to tell me. Thanks to my mood, the number of times I circle back to him actually just attempting to sell the book is far too many to count. Finally, I land on trying to just run my liquid through the River vessel and Subcutavian channel. Somehow, I must circulate it. How’s that going to work? I’m not terribly sure, but it’s probably easier to learn through trying.
Breathing through my nose, I enter meditation and pull in the three drops of liquid to begin circulating it through the River of my Dantian. As it passes the entrance to the Subcutavian, I feel a twinge and notice some swelling and irritation. This must be the injury Crash mentioned.
Focusing, I once again see that the River is an artery and that the Subcutavian is just a smaller version of it. What was it Crash said in his other sales pitch? Arteries to the veins? So, if the Church calls arteries vessels and veins returns, what comes in between?
“Crash, what is between arteries and veins in the human body?” I ask distractedly.
“Sire, the terms for the blood vessels are arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.”
I know he said blood vessels, but the spiritual liquid is flowing right along the same path currently, so I forgo the names Alrick taught me and shift to the terms Crash uses. I allow the flow to divert into the new Subcutavian arteriole and feel it flow down the bumpy, necrotic tube. Once it reaches the capillaries or what the Church calls dispersion, it rebounds from a new blockage. Since I’m not forcing extra pressure into the space, the rebound is soft, more like the snap of a bug running into your body.
The small amount of liquid seems to begin to pool before I think to create an undercurrent and return it to the River. This surprises me as I would usually create a pressure buildup during a breakthrough, ensuring that all liquid—wait, qi—stays where it is needed to assault the next blockage. I figure if I use Crash’s new names, I will try my best to remain consistent.
Well, using the term normally to describe my cultivation is a bit excessive, considering I have only broken through twice, but that is Alrick’s explanation of the Church’s method for breakthroughs. The three drops that were infused into my body thanks to breakfast flow freely on the pathways available to them, but I can feel the amount diminishing slowly.
“Wait, doesn’t this prevent the liquid—or qi—from dissolving?” I ask, nervous about the slight level decrease I already feel.
“Sire, we suggest Spiritual Abscess Removal, a book about why qi dissolves to cleanse your circulatory system of abscesses and why you should keep going despite this.” I blink open my eyes at the new term but then double down as I feel some of the qi pooling again. So Crash is suggesting to keep going? This better not hurt me or I really will find a way to delete it.
The next arteriole in Alrick’s half-remembered lessons is called the Cumulae—I think. I mentally direct a bit of the flow into the inlet and feel it collide with the blockage there before pooling again. I create the undercurrent, and the pool vanishes. I try to do the same down the Meriplass arteriole next. Strangely, the liquid splashes away before the inlet.
“I can’t seem to get the liquid to flow into the Meriplass arteriole, Crash.”
“Sire, you could read Circulation: A Lifelong Endeavor. The author claims to cover the ebb and flow of qi within a system and how the introduction of new qi and its pressure is necessary for a healthy lifestyle. Buy now to perfect your meditation!”
Huh? Oh—now I see. The first challenge is to get more qi, I think. After that, I need to keep it circulating even as I go about my other tasks . . . I’ve never heard of anyone trying to meditate as they move. Why would they? Meditation is a useful tool when you are attempting a breakthrough, but otherwise, it is pretty much useless. Or that’s what the mercenaries seemed to imply with their casual disdain.
“Can you tell if my circulation stops, Crash?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Okay, then please inform me if it happens. I will attempt to keep it up throughout the day.” I stand up and get myself a glass. Since I have access to fresh water now, I fill it from the tap.
“Crash, is this water going to run out?” I let it run for a long while yesterday already, but I want to be sure. As sad as it might be, if the water is limited, I will be forced to forgo showers. I sit down at the table and take some large mouthfuls to try to fully relieve my lingering headache as I wait for Crash’s response.
“No, Master, the Training Room will never run dry of water. There is an issue forming in your circulation, by the way.”
The water was refreshingly cool and clean—right up until Crash ruined it. I swallow some down the wrong pipe and enter another coughing fit as I try to stop my qi pooling. It’s down to two drops already, and so I know I won’t have to keep it going for long, at least not right now. Once I get it to fitfully move the way I want again, I finish my water and move to the holo-puck in the home gym to study today’s quest.
*Home Gym App [Green]*
Strengthening your Body (Daily)
Complete the following menu to receive your reward.
Main lifts – 4 sets in 15 minutes
Exercise – Reps
Squats – 12, 12, 10, 10
Chin ups – 8-12
Paloff Press with Chop – 8 per side
Small Stability Lifts – 3-4 sets in 15 minutes
Floor lying dumbbell press – 8-12
Rear foot elevated split squat iso-hold – 15 per leg
Elevated plank rows – 8-12
Total body Resistance Exercise (TRX) Pistol squats – 8 per leg
Core Finisher – 2-3 sets in 10 minutes
Plank to push-up – 10 (hold 2 seconds at bottom)
Russian Twists – 15 each direction
V sits – 30 seconds
Reward(s): Choose one
1)10 Bitcoins
2) 2 Free Physical Points
3)1 small random box
Do you accept this quest?
Yes | No
“Crash, please demonstrate every exercise for me,” I say a
nd watch the holo-projector version of Crash perform each exercise.
Staring at the screen, I start thinking about Alrick. He was the only other person in my life that ever answered my questions or directed me on how to best accomplish something. What Crash is doing with the book suggestions and his demonstrations on screen could almost be the same, right? I tilt my head, considering that thought. Crash is really a complicated piece of technology, and I have seen mercs and Leah use some of that stuff in the past. Perhaps, learning how to properly utilize the program would help? It’s a really frustrating AI, to be sure. But I stand a little straighter. I will get the most out of it!
About ten minutes later, I have a good idea of what each exercise requires and am confident I can do them.
Thinking about my new resolve, I turn to Crash. “Please demonstrate the next exercise I must complete as I near the end of the one before it, just to ensure I move on correctly. Are there any tips or helpful information you might be able to share?”
“Yes, Master. As for time-saving tips, the old owner used to get everything set up before he began. In this way, he could minimize setup during the timed portion of the quest. As we mentioned before, adding weight to exercises is not essential, but we should clarify that adding weights to exercises will increase the rewards.”
While increased rewards from the quest would be helpful, I choose to focus on completing the quest first. I doubt I will ever get ambitious enough to try for more. Wait—I’m suddenly planning on staying here long term? I guess I made that decision a while ago, but this is my first time examining it consciously. This is a pretty fantastic place, I admit with a shrug.
“What do the small box and two free physical points do?” I’m curious about those rewards and am unsure if they could turn out better for me than the ten bitcoins.
“Master, the random small box is a gift box which has a prize inside. Anything could be inside, even something of the S-rank. Higher-rated random boxes have higher chances for better loot. The physical points can help increase the rate of your Qi Combining for physical statistics.”
“Physical what now?” I sputter, turning back toward the holo-puck in surprise. Then I remember that Crash uses very different terms than the ones I have heard in the past. So, this could be something I am aware of.
“Sire, since you have the Locker Room application, we are permitted to share with you a basic overview of Qi Combining. There are two ways to increase your physical abilities, Master. You can use your qi to temporarily increase your strength or speed. The rate is approximately one minor rank per drop infused with a limit of a full major rank increase. The second option is to Qi Combine, permanently infusing qi into your muscles and nerves to increase your strength and speed. This permanent increase requires a great investment of qi.”
My mouth falls open, and I stare at the talking head. At first, I thought Qi Combining would be something I knew already, just with a different name. No, Crash was talking about something I’ve never heard of before. There is a way for me to infuse qi into my muscles and gain lasting benefits?
“So, for example, I used to be able to sprint for a kilometer or so if I supplemented my muscles with qi,” I exclaim, then pause, trying to make that statement into a question. “What you are saying is I can permanently improve the muscles to be able to do this without infusing more qi?”
“Yes, Master, that is correct. Currently, you are ranked F-1 in all physical categories. What you are describing would take somewhere between F-3 and F-4 in Strength, Speed, and Endurance.”
Without realizing it, I am hyperventilating. Every story I’ve been told by the mercenaries or Alrick implies that larger Dantians are the primary way to stay in combat longer. Or one of the only ways to boost your physical abilities higher. In the end, the higher your Dantian ranking, the higher your chance for victory. Of course, being in better physical shape or smarter with your liquid use is considered a huge factor. Still, how come no one told me about combining qi directly with the muscles? “Hold on—you keep saying physical statistics, does that imply that there are mental statistics?”
“Yes, Master. Mental statistics are Capacity, Synapse, and Recovery.”
“Can you explain what each physical and mental statistic does?”
“We can give a brief description of the primary benefits. Secondary benefits require purchases from the shop to fully understand.
“For physical statistics, Strength will increase the individual’s ability to lift heavy objects or put more power into a blow. Speed will increase the nerve endings’ signal rate, allowing the person to move faster. It will also increase the precision of the signals to a degree. Endurance will increase the oxygenated blood levels and help muscles recover more quickly during extreme situations and when at rest.
“For mental statistics, Capacity will allow your brain to retain more information while simultaneously allowing you access to more of the organ. Synapse will increase the cortices’ signal rate to help you make decisions faster while also sending signals to your body in a more efficient manner. Finally, Recovery will decrease the amount of fatigue placed on the organ during high-stress situations while also reducing the amount of sleep needed.”
“Okay, and how do I start combining my qi?”
“Master, you can use the mirror in the Locker Room App, or you must learn a circulation technique,” Crash responds dryly.
I feel all my well-disguised excitement wither and die. I narrow my eyes at the dummy. Sandbagger! So, I can use the broken mirror, or I need a circulation technique?! But I can only acquire a circulation technique by buying one. But I don’t have a shop or bitcoins. I’m starting to feel like Crash is withholding things intentionally to see how far he can push me.
Sucking on my teeth, I sigh before beginning to sullenly set up the workout. I slowly rebuild my urge to finish the workout using the prospect of bitcoins and food.
Chapter 8
August 23rd, 151 AR
Jeff Smith
I am once again lying in a pool of my own sweat. There is one vast difference, however. With Crash’s tips and my early setup of exercises, I managed to succeed. Even without adding weights, everything in my body burns, and I was even forced to pull on my liquid—sorry, qi—to complete the grueling tasks. I used six drops of qi, and it was a calculated choice. If a single bitcoin can add three drops, then ten bitcoins could give as much as thirty; even if not that many, it will definitely be six.
I begin stretching and unlock the side quest for cooling down. After following that quest’s directions as well, I have the option to gain eleven bitcoins and greedily take it. I will admit a certain curiosity about the small box and an urge to hoard the physical points, but with eleven bitcoins, I’m hoping I can complete the daily cooking quest and perhaps receive further rewards. That being said, I don’t even know what sort of rewards that quest offers.
To avoid using any more qi until I am sure that the daily quest will return more than I consume, I crawl my way to the bathroom to clean up. As I head through the green-tiled door, I mark the height of the white grout on my forearm. It’s nearly to my elbow now. That means I am that much closer to having an exit.
I manage to open the lit-up locker from all fours on the floor. No way! I find a towel and a fresh skin-tight black suit. I bite my lip to hide my happiness at new clothes every day and continue crawling, dragging the soap on my toboggan towel behind me. I am a little upset I wasn’t aware of this fresh set of clothing yesterday since I slept in the dirty, sweat-soaked version. But from now on, I don’t have to wear dirty clothes ever again. Hah! Even the bar of soap is entirely regenerated.
Standing up, or attempting to, causes my legs to violently shake. Unfortunately, that pairs with my shaking hands, which promptly slip off the water knob, and I overbalance onto my toes, which slows me down a bit but fails to stop me. I cringe and attempt to tuck into a ball, but I’m too late. My face connects with the green floor tiles.
“Sire, falling on
hard surfaces is a moderate risk if done on one’s head. Would you like us to constantly warn you about it?” Crash calls from another room. I feel my anger attempt to rise at the AI’s comment, but the exhaustion in my body slaps it back down.
“No. . .” I mumble as I collapse over onto my side and pull myself back to the shower head nearer the soap. “I think I’ll just shower sitting down.”
I reach up and manage to twist the knobs with weak hands. The water starts cold but quickly changes to hot. I toggle with the temperature as I let the water rinse away some of my muscle fatigue. I open my mouth from time to time to take giant gulps of the warm liquid, too tired to have gotten a cup from the kitchen. When I feel up to it, I begin lathering myself up but stay on the floor, enjoying the security it adds. Using the soap, I scrub everywhere I can reach to ensure I clean away the salty sweat.
By the end of the shower, my legs aren’t shaking when I stand, but I am forced to move gingerly back to the locker. I apply the lotion to my skin, enjoying the relief from the itch that was starting to form again. My only guess regarding its presence is that my skin isn’t yet used to regular showers, and since the moisturizer claims to ‘soothe dry skin,’ that must have been common.
The first place I go once I am finished with my extravagant and luxurious shower is the Small Kitchen. I am just starting to feel my stomach growling from hunger, which is odd because a single meal a day would usually be sufficient for me. Does the increased activity of working out burn the fuel portion of the food faster? Regardless, I also want to know what daily quest I can complete with eleven bitcoins.
