Chapter 6: Learning

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In the end, Liu Jin was told to wait outside once more. Whatever was discussed that night between his father, Old Jiang, and Xiao Zheng ended up being a secret to him.

It is annoying.

As much as Liu Jin respects all his father’s decisions, he must admit that much. The conversation did not even have the decency to be short. Instead, Liu Jin waited outside the clinic for over an hour before Xiao Zheng left with a pleased smile on his face. The patriarch of the Xiao Sect laughed upon seeing him and ruffled his hair.

“I knew I made the right choice,” the giant of a man said before walking away.

That was over two weeks ago, and Liu Jin is still wondering just what was discussed that night. What secrets were shared? His father promised to tell him once he is older, and Liu Jin knows he can trust those words because they are his father’s words. However…

How can he continue his normal days with so many questions inside his head?

As far as he can remember, Liu Jin has borne the whispers against his father while deep down cursing their luck. After all, his father is the greatest person to ever live. In knowledge and virtue, he is superior to all others. Liu Jin believes that from the bottom of his heart. That is why for his father to lack that which people value the most, Qi, is nothing but a cruel joke of fate. That thought has crossed his mind countless times.

Now, Liu Jin knows that is not true.

It was not a whim fate that robbed his father of the ability to use Qi. Instead, it is something his father inflicted upon himself. The reason for so many of their problems… is something his father caused.

Why? What could make a person do such a thing?

What type of past does his father have that someone in the Emperor Realm was his master? It does not make sense. It is as if Heaven and Earth have switched places. Liu Jin does not understand how can he be expected to continue his daily life when his world has changed so drastically in so little time.

Yet that’s what he has to do

Yet that’s what happens.

His father keeps working at the clinic as usual. Liu Jin keeps splitting his time between being a disciple of the Xiao Sect and helping at the clinic as usual. As for Old Jiang…

“You are doing it wrong.”

Liu Jin does not open his eyes when the now familiar voice of Old Jiang rings throughout the room. Ever since that day, Old Jiang has become a guest in their home. According to his father, the old man’s condition is not yet cured. More treatments are needed, and his father is the only one who can provide them. It is only natural for his father’s old master to stay with them.

Even so, Liu Jin finds his patience tested.

“Honored elder,” Liu Jin says, because he knows staying silent would be rude, “I apologize for my rudeness, but I require focus right now.”

It is not a lie. It is not often Liu Jin finds free time at the clinic. Right now, his father is out delivering medicine. There are no more patients scheduled for the rest of the day. It is a rare opportunity that Liu Jin is using to do some basic exercises. The young child sits cross-legged in his room. A light sheen of sweat covers his body as he moves Qi throughout his meridians.

“You require correction, child,” Old Jiang replies, and Liu Jin knows that if he were to open his eyes, he would find Old Jiang’s amused face. “All the focus in the world will not help you if you are doing things wrong from the start. You will err with a clearer mind than most–but err all the same.”

This time Liu Jin does open his eyes and regards the old man carefully. As expected, Old Jiang’s eyes shine with a light Liu Jin does not particularly care for. Those eyes make him feel there is a joke being had at his expense. However, regardless of how foolish Old Jiang can make him feel, there is no denying the old master is someone in the Emperor Realm. Logically, Liu Jin knows taking his advice can only be a good thing.

Despite knowing that, Liu Jin has not yet accepted his offer of apprenticeship.

Old Jiang had offered to make him his pupil in the art of medicine. He mentioned the possibility the first day they met and made a formal offer the day after. Liu Jin had not known how to answer for the only person he wishes to be taught by is his father. It is a childish wish, and Liu Jin realizes that. He knows there is much he can learn from someone who taught his father.

Yet he cannot help his feelings.

Perhaps sensing that, Old Jiang had told him to think it over carefully before making a choice.

When Liu Jin told Xiao Nan about it, the teen had nearly fainted. He had then taken Liu Jin aside and explained to him very carefully that one does not say no to an Emperor. Liu Jin now understands that Old Jiang is being incredibly kind by giving him time to think about his offer. Other Emperors could have seen his hesitation as a sign of disrespect, and disrespecting an Emperor is courting death.

“Is it alright for Honored Elder to give advice to someone whose mind is still not made up?” Liu Jin asks at last. Accepting Old Jiang’s guidance before making a choice would feel too much like lying for Liu Jin’s tastes.

“Ah, yes,” Old Jiang says, stroking his beard. “You are somehow hesitating to accept something most people would kill for. However, that was medicine, and this is cultivation. One does not need to involve the other.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Liu Jin considers those words for a moment.

“What am I doing wrong, Honored Elder?”

“It would be far easier for this Old Jiang to list the things you are doing right, few as they are,” Old Jiang muses. Liu Jin fights the urge to frown.

“Inside your body, there are three dantian or energy centers.” Old Jiang says as he moves directly in front of Liu Jin. He taps a spot three finger-widths below his navel, then at the level of his heart, and finally between his eyebrows. “Different regions have different names for them, but that’s not important. What matters is that they are there. I trust you know at least that much.”

Liu Jin nods.

“Essence into Vitality. Vitality into Spirit. Spirit into Emptiness,” Liu Jin says, repeating one of the first things his father taught him about Qi.

“Good.” Old Jiang nods. “Now, forget about that.”

“I beg your pardon, Honored Elder?”

“Is there any point in teaching trigonometry to someone who does not know how to count?” Old Jiang asks. “Complete knowledge is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can become an obstacle under certain circumstances. Narrow your focus, child. When you move your Qi through your body, you are focusing your efforts on all three dantian when you should only be focusing on one.”