A Thousand Li Books 1-3: An Omnibus Collection for a Xianxia Cultivation Series (A Thousand Li Omnibus)

by Tao Wong

  The splash of water made Wu Ying open his eyes. He blinked, jaw dropping as Elder Hsu climbed into the bathtub himself.

  When he noticed Wu Ying looking at him, the Elder offered Wu Ying a big grin. “I see you decided to enjoy my hot bath.”

  “Yes, Elder.” Wu Ying decided not to ask forgiveness since it seemed the Elder did not think there was anything to forgive. Better not to bring attention to a potential faux pas.

  “You did well for your first session,” Elder Hsu said. “The Northern Shen style is not very appropriate though.”

  “It did not seem like it,” Wu Ying admitted.

  “That is because it was developed for use while in armor on a battlefield,” Elder Hsu explained. “The Sucking Snail is a dueling style, meant for use against a single opponent.”

  “Really?” Wu Ying said, curious. “But…”

  “Why learn something so lacking in practical application?” Elder Hsu said.

  “I would not say that, Elder.”

  “Many more have,” Elder Hsu said. “It matters not. I study the style because it is part of my dao, not theirs.”

  “And you gain from practicing with, well, me?” Wu Ying said, deciding to test the waters as Elder Hsu continued to act so open.

  “I do.”

  Wu Ying opened his mouth to ask how then shut it. Open or not, if Elder Hsu wanted to clarify, he would have. In the end, it was not the place for an inner sect member to question an Elder. A childhood memory of being called up to his father and berated after his teacher had left came back to Wu Ying. It had all come about because his teacher had seemed so nice, playing with the children and answering all their questions. So much so that Wu Ying had dared to question her about her past and what a pretty young lady was doing in their small village. The caning Wu Ying received afterward had reinforced the lesson of respect.

  “Elder, if the Northern Shen cannot handle your style, what would do better?” Wu Ying asked after a while, when the silence between the pair grew too scorching, much like the heat from the tub.

  “The best solution to a wrestling style is another wrestling style,” Elder Hsu said, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. “As an inner sect member with your body proportions, you have numerous options to choose from. You’re a swordsman, right?”

  “Yes, Elder.”

  “So you won’t want to stay off your feet forever. You’ll want to get back up as soon as possible. The Northern Shen is good for that if you can dodge the attack, but it teaches nothing about getting up or extracting yourself from a grapple. You could look into the Rolling Pig of Kunlun or the Striking Bamboo. Both feature methods to throw off opponents faster and are more appropriate for swordsmen. But you’re quite strong. You’d be better building those muscles now so that when you get your Core, there’s more place to fit the chi in. In that case, the Grandiose Elephant’s Tusk or Jade Sea Serpent on the Morning Dew would suit you better.”

  Wu Ying nodded, memorizing the names of the styles mentioned. He would have to find the time to look them up later.

  “But you’ve yet to achieve an intermediate understanding of the Northern Shen Kicking Style, yes?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Then you’re better off waiting until you do so,” Elder Hsu said, flopping backward and putting his arms on the edge of the tub. When he did so, Wu Ying realized that there was a faint scar right above where Elder Hsu’s heart would be.

  “Yes, Elder.”

  “The first thing to learn is to relax when appropriate.”

  “Relax?” Wu Ying’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “Yes, relax,” Elder Hsu said. “Wrestling is learning to be relaxed when appropriate and strong when you’re not.”

  “Thank you for the advice, Elder,” Wu Ying said. It made sense, and the advice about achieving at least an intermediate level had been repeated by everyone else. Wu Ying had a feeling he was close to achieving that state.

  “For now, come back in a week.”

  “A week?” Wu Ying frowned. That would significantly impact the number of sect points he could earn.

  “A week. Your understanding of the Shen Style and your cultivation is too low for there to be significant progress in both your defense against my style and your own development if you return sooner,” Elder Hsu said.

  “Yes, Elder.”

  The rest of the bath was quiet, allowing Wu Ying to mull over the fight, the little blurred pieces he remembered, while trying to prise apart what he could learn. In the end, Wu Ying had to admit this was not as bad an assignment as he feared. Now all he needed to do was get over the minor claustrophobia he had gained.

  Chapter 7

  As his inner sect assignment was finally dealt with, Wu Ying now had a fully settled schedule. Every day he rotated between his various classes for blacksmithing and pill refining while continuing his martial and cultivation practice, interrupted by his weekly visits to Elder Hsu’s training grounds.

  Under that grueling regime, late winter arrived, blanketing the mountain with a cold layer of frost at night that melted in the warmer rays of sunshine in the day. The last of the autumn leaves were swept away while in the lower valley, the second crop of rice was planted. Throughout this time, the occasional heavy rainfall would chill cultivators to the bone.

  During these heavy rainfall periods, Wu Ying saw the difference between the true cultivators and those still struggling to ascend the entrance steps of immortality. As water ran down the stone-paved roads, soaking Wu Ying’s cloth-topped shoes, he watched jealously as Core-bearing Elders and those in the higher stages of Energy Storage flew across the running water. The ability to lighten their body via qinggong skills and their chi dispersal allowed them to traverse the paths with dry feet.

  Wu Ying sighed as another of his inner sect colleagues flitted past him as he trudged up the mountain, watching their feet barely touch the rain-slicked floors before they kicked off again. Deep envy tugged at his heart as he watched them fly. As tempting as it was to try to study a qinggong skill, he had his hands full with both the Northern Shen and Long family styles for now. And without an Energy Storage meridian, he could not use the skills to their full extent.

  As Wu Ying walked farther up, he spotted a cultivator standing with his hand outstretched, his gaze fixed on the raindrops landing on his raised palm. Each raindrop struck and bounced off the still form, soaking the cultivator completely as his umbrella lay discarded by his side. Around the cultivator, environmental chi flowed in such volume that the water- and air-aspected chi swirled and formed rings of water around the cultivator, reacting to the man’s moment of enlightenment. Enlightenment might be rare, but with so many cultivators searching for their dao, the sight of a cultivator touching the Dao was not uncommon in the sect.

  “Wu Ying!” Tou He’s happy voice called to the cultivator as Wu Ying finally managed to make his way to the training grounds.

  As always, martial specialists continued to fight without pause, paying scant attention to the falling water. A few of the more gifted in the Energy Storage stages even had a light cover of chi coating their aura, keeping them and their clothing dry. Unlike Elder Hsu’s training courtyard, the training ground was properly constructed with sufficient drainage paths. Elder Hsu seemed to relish fighting in the cold, chilling rain, grappling and pushing Wu Ying’s face into the inch or so of water that collected on the floor. Wu Ying had almost drowned in that inch of rainwater the last time they grappled, increasing his ever-growing claustrophobia. If not for regular meditation sessions, Wu Ying was certain he would have quit long ago.

  “Wu Ying?” Tou He repeated.

  “Sorry. Bad memory.” Wu Ying shuddered and shook the thought aside.

  “Elder Hsu again?” Chao Kun said.

  Wu Ying offered a wan smile while offering his greetings to the senior cultivator.

  “Har. I never knew someone who was willing to subject himself to so much pain,” Chao Kun said. “At least, not one who wasn’t angling
to be a disciple.” Chao Kun trailed off, leaving the question unasked.

  “I am not,” Wu Ying said firmly. He could understand the attraction, but it was not for him.

  Elder Hsu was supposed to be one of the main contenders for the post of Sect Protector when the next slot opened up. Of course, that might be in a few hundred years. Sect Protectors were all at least late Core Stage cultivators and had the extended lifespans of said individuals. Still, to be a disciple of someone that respected would offer Wu Ying significant benefits.

  “Wu Ying likes his vinegar sour,” Tou He said, eyes twinkling.

  “Har. And you, bitter[43],” Wu Ying replied.

  “Enough. Both of you,” Chao Kun said, rolling his eyes. “We are here to train.”

  “Sweet!” the pair chorused with a laugh before they took off running for the nearest dueling circle, Chao Kun following closely with a raised fist.

  “I’ll show you how sweet my fists are!”

  ***

  Trap, pull close, shift weight lower down to increase connection to opponent. Angle forward and move with opponent when they shift, crumpling their stability. Wu Ying shifted, watching as Chao Kun struggled to keep his balance, then Wu Ying finished the attack by dropping even lower as he kicked forward and sideways at Chao Kun’s foot. Stability already compromised, the new force threw Chao Kun completely off balance and sent him crashing to the ground. At the last moment, Wu Ying released Chao Kun’s arm rather than keep hold of it, knowing that if he did so, he would tear tendons and ligaments as his opponent’s arm hyperextended.

  Tou He laughed, clapping. He stretched, his fast-flowing fists having created the opening in Chao Kun’s defenses that allowed Wu Ying to close in.

  “And that’s five falls,” Tou He crowed. “That’s dinner.”

  “Fine,” Chao Kun grumbled lightly as he rolled to his feet. “Facing you two is not possible anymore.”

  “That’s because we’ve gotten much better,” Tou He said.

  “At working together,” Wu Ying clarified as he stood, flashing his friend a grin.

  They really had. Ever since they had started sparring with Energy Storage cultivators, the pair’s coordination had grown significantly stronger. Whether with weapons or fists, they understood and “felt” the openings that the other would go for, ensuring they rarely hampered each other.

  “Not just that,” Chao Kun said. “You have integrated the Northern Shen form into your martial form, have you not?”

  Wu Ying nodded, trying and failing to hide his smile. It had happened last night, while practicing the form for the umpteenth time, when everything seemed to slide into place. Oh, Wu Ying had touched the threshold before and even, for a few moments, managed to achieve that rarified air of competence, but only last night did he finally manage to sustain it.

  “Good. Then you are done for today,” Chao Kun said.

  “Done?”

  “Of course!” Chao Kun pointed at the exit. “Go. Get a better style. It’s hurting my eyes watching you struggle.”

  “What?” Wu Ying said.

  “Quickly now, go.”

  “But… why?”

  Tou He and Chao Kun traded glances before Chao Kun sighed and placed a hand on Wu Ying’s shoulder. “Wu Ying, you picked up the kicking style while an outer sect member, correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you know we stock the most basic styles at that level, yes?’

  “Yes.”

  “Then why are you still using it? Don’t you want a better, more efficient style?”

  “Of course I do. But you told me not to get one!” Wu Ying protested.

  “Until you achieved an intermediate level.”

  “Yes…”

  “When you achieve that level, you integrate the style into your own. You understand it, grasp the basics of it, and it stops feeling like you need to think about each movement, each action, correct?”

  “Yes,” Wu Ying said. With his jian, it had been when he stopped feeling the hilt in his hand, stopped worrying if he had the sword at the right angle, if the edge was lined correctly. When the sword started being part of him. With the Northern Shen style, an intermediate understanding meant that the stretches and motions, the locks and throws were no longer something he had to consciously consider before he used them. They were but another tool in his fighting style.

  “If you had started learning a new style, do you think you would accidentally misremember each motion? Mix them up? Especially if they were both kicking or grappling styles?” Chao Kun said.

  “Oh…” Wu Ying scratched his head. Well, that made sense. Too much sense. Wu Ying ducked his head in embarrassment as his pair of friends chuckled.

  “Do not worry about it. It’s because you’ve only studied a few styles, correct?” Tou He said. When Wu Ying grunted in acknowledgement, Tou He continued. “That’s why they never talked to you about it before. Only in sects and monasteries, where we are taught multiple styles, is it a concern. That’s why we know it, and it’s our job to teach our juniors.”

  “Of course… wait. When did I become your junior?” Wu Ying said, glaring at Tou He.

  The monk smiled serenely.

  “Well, are you going?” Chao Kun said, bringing the conversation back to the topic on hand.

  “Fine, fine. We’ll finish that talk later,” Wu Ying said.

  “Of course. Junior.”

  Wu Ying threw his hands in the air and stalked off, though a slight smile still graced his lips. Tou He might be annoying, but Wu Ying could not help but think of the many styles he could study. What could he study next? A grappling skill to not suck down as much water? Perhaps a qinggong skill? What cultivator did not want to fly across the snow or water?

  ***

  “Forget it,” Elder Ko said. The deep-voiced head of the library was present at the inner sect library today, allowing Wu Ying to trade his cultivation points for another session with the knowledgeable Elder.

  “Elder?”

  “Qinggong is both a physical skill and a chi skill. While there are many skills you can learn to mimic some of the aspects of qinggong—and those, I would only barely recommend looking into—you are not even at Energy Storage stage. Why would you be willing to waste much-needed chi on a frivolous skill?” Elder Ko said, his voice filled with disapproval. “Just to show off and avoid walking the cleared paths?”

  Wu Ying winced as the Elder honed in on his ego-driven desires. “Yes, Elder Ko. What would you suggest then?”

  “Well, tell me what you want to learn,” Elder Ko said. “Or have you forgotten how this works?”

  “No, Elder. My apologies.” Wu Ying took a moment to consider his needs. What did he want to learn?

  The Long family jian style was sufficient for Wu Ying in terms of weapon styles. While there were arguments for learning something with more reach, like a polearm or even a bow, Wu Ying felt that focusing on his jian would bring more benefit in the long term than the short-term benefits of learning a new weapon. Gaining mastery, the Heart of the jian, would increase his combat prowess well above learning a new weapon. In time, perhaps. But not now.

  In close combat, the Northern Shen Kicking Style gave him throws and locks when an attacker passed through the extended long range of his sword. Of course there was a gap there between the upsets, grapples, and throws the kicking style emphasized and the end of his sword. It was a gap that that could benefit from a style that focused purely on kicking or punching.

  And of course, from his experience with Elder Hsu, Wu Ying knew he lacked any significant knowledge about ground grappling. The grappling style emphasized by the Northern Shen Kicking Style was one meant for the battlefield and keeping on one’s feet, not slowly suffocating a single opponent to death. On top of all that, Wu Ying could not help but consider Elder Hsu’s comments on increasing his strength as a Body Cleanser. Skill was important, but at a certain point, raw strength and power beat skill.

  Another thing that his fights w
ith Elder Hsu brought to mind, and that had been underlined during the tournament, was Wu Ying’s lack of defense. No matter how good he got, Wu Ying would eventually be struck. Perhaps instead of a purely offensive martial style, he should be looking at improving his defense. Either that or something to help him heal faster after the battle.

  When Wu Ying explained all the above to Elder Ko, the Elder smiled peacefully. “No cultivating styles?”

  “No, Elder,” Wu Ying said, shaking his head. “I will ascend using the Yellow Emperor’s method and continue with it till at least Core Cultivation.”

  “Interesting,” Elder Ko said, tilting his head as he assessed Wu Ying. “I had not thought you were that hesitant over making decisions.”

  Wu Ying offered a wan smile. He had no excuse other than a feeling that making a choice to lock himself into a specific element would be a mistake. When Wu Ying stayed silent, Elder Ko reached forward. His hand stopped a few inches from Wu Ying’s body and twitched, stroking the cultivator’s aura and making Wu Ying shudder at the unpleasant and unique touch.

  After a moment, Elder Ko retracted his hand with a light hmmm. “Well. It seems you have continued to practice the Aura Strengthening technique at least. Be careful in adding further aura strengthening cultivation exercises to your repertoire. In fact, additional cultivation exercises should wait till you achieve at least Greater Achievement with your current technique.”

  Wu Ying found his lips parting in a smile. He was happy to hear he had at least achieved the Minor Achievement realm. In the case of the aura strengthening technique, due to how subtle the effects were in reinforcing the barrier between his own aura and the world, it was hard for Wu Ying to judge his progress.

  “In that case, it seems we only have the matter of your martial techniques.” Elder Ko tapped his lips for a second before turning away from Wu Ying abruptly and walking the shelves.