BAB3 -Chapter 14

# Chapter 14: No

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Shifu Wu led the way back from the viewing platform.

She guided everyone across a gently swaying wooden bridge worn smooth by the passage of many bare feet.

Xay had noticed that none of the monks or nuns wore shoes.

It was probably part of their training, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to give up his sneakers to fit in.

As they gradually approached the central plateau, the air grew stiller—filled with a calm unlike anything Xay had ever experienced before.

“Welcome to the Main Hall,” Shifu Wu announced with reverence.

The complex was a vast walled compound of stone and hardened clay.

Along the low perimeter wall stood statues of the mana beasts for which their martial styles were named.

The Lesser Dragon, the Lesser Phoenix, and the Lesser Tortoise were the largest, each positioned to face its respective hall.

All the other mana beasts lined the spaces around them, carved with exquisite detail. They were each pointed outward, as if standing guard over the temple from every side.

Xay didn’t miss the lack of any Qilin imagery. But to his knowledge there was no Lesser Qilin, so he guessed it made sense.

Past the large open gates was a majestic, sprawling sanctum of interlocking courtyards and chambers. The tiered eaves and ornate corners of the structures rose skyward like stylized flames.

The first courtyard was broad and open, paved with flat stone and etched with massive symbols in dark slate.

Several monks trained there, moving through their forms with balance and precision. Some moved so slowly they could have been statues; others flowed like water, their breath perfectly timed with each stance.

One young monk, blindfolded and with his hands behind his back, dodged every blow from three others attacking in unison.

To the left stood a covered pavilion, its ceiling painted in brilliant reds and golds.

More intricate depictions of the legendary mana beasts adorned the panels—Lesser Dragons coiling through thunderclouds, Lesser Phoenixes erupting into flame and ash, Lesser Tortoises bearing entire islands on their backs.

And again, no Qilin.

A low humming filled the air. It wasn’t sound exactly, but a subtle thrum of energy. It radiated from a nearby shrine encircled by white pebbles and tall grass.

There, a single monk sat perfectly still before a towering statue of a seated figure, its many arms arranged in an intricate mudra.

“That’s the Garden of a Thousand Thoughts,” Shifu Wu explained quietly. “It’s a place for deep stillness. Once inside the stone circle, no one is meant to speak.”

Amy, already two steps in, froze mid-step and sheepishly backpedaled. “I see.”

Past the shrine, the path forked, leading deeper into three distinct areas.

“To the west,” Shifu Wu said, gesturing right, “are the Meditation Pools.”

A winding trail of smooth, flat stones led through a manicured landscape of willow trees and gently burbling streams.

Steam curled up from scattered hot springs—some enclosed in wooden pavilions for privacy, others were open to the sky, ringed with black polished stone.

Monks and nuns meditated with their feet in the warm water or floated effortlessly atop it, their eyes closed and their arms folded across their chests.

“Ahead,” Shifu Wu continued, “is an Awakening Stone.”

They couldn’t see the glowing stone from where they stood.

It was well protected, hidden behind tall boulders that jutted from the ground and sheltered beneath a wooden awning.

The entire area was beautiful, encircled by trees and colorfully blooming flowers.

Shifu Wu turned east and began to walk again. Xay stayed close as she passed beneath an open archway framed with flowering wisteria.

At the threshold, she stopped and bowed deeply. “This is where we honor our ancestors,” she said softly.

Beyond lay a series of open fields, scattered with stone structures rising ten to fifteen feet high, each one marking a different shrine.

Shifu Wu stepped onto a stone path and continued forward, but Xay’s attention drifted to the back of a nearby pagoda, where a lone figure sat quietly in the shadows.

It was Grandmaster Wu.

He wasn’t meditating or anything. He lounged sideways against one of the stone pillars, idly twirling the end of his long beard as he gazed out at the mountains beyond.

He honestly looked like a child who’d been grounded.

Xay silently stepped off the path and made his way toward him. He slowed as he approached, unsure how to begin the conversation.

The Grandmaster didn’t even glance his way.

“You’re not getting another apology out of me, brat,” he said dryly, still watching the sky.

“I’m not here for that,” Xay replied, drawing a steady breath. “I want you to train me.”

“No,” he said immediately, still not looking Xay’s way.

Xay flinched as if he’d been struck. “What? Why not?”

“Do you think I take students just because they ask nicely, brat?” Grandmaster Wu finally glanced at him, sideways. “And you didn’t even do that, by the way.”

“Will you—“ Xay began again, but was cut off.

“No,” Grandmaster Wu said flatly. “Just because you’re my granddaughter’s tudi doesn’t mean you deserve training from me. There are more than enough teachers here to show you a thing or two for however long you’re visiting.”

“I’m not asking for special treatment,” Xay said quietly. “I’m asking because I want what you showed me—that power, that control. That feeling like.. nothing could ever hurt the people I care about, as long as I stand in front of them.”

Xay hadn’t said it out loud, but he hated the feeling of watching his ladies get knocked down, one after another, during their individual coaching.

It was one of the main reasons he’d trained so hard. He needed to be strong enough to keep them safe when they couldn’t do it alone.

But standing in front of Grandmaster Wu earlier, even that didn’t feel like enough.

Xay had always wanted to be the best. But what did the best even mean if he was alone?

Beyond all the drama that followed the explosion, one truth had stayed with Xay: the fragility of life itself.

There were several people he hadn’t been able to save that day. He’d been coping with the fact that he and Dragon had done all they could.

But.. if any of them had been his friends.. he wasn’t sure he’d be able to live with himself.

The old man’s expression didn’t change, but he sat up, smoothly rising to his feet. “Those girls with you—are they the ones you want to protect?”

Xay nodded. “More than anything.”

For a long moment, Grandmaster Wu said nothing, his gaze fixed intently on Xay’s expression.

Then finally he spoke. “Show me.”

He bent down and picked up a pebble from the ground.

“Take this pebble from my palm, and I will train you.”

Slightly confused, Xay reached quickly for the pebble—only for Grandmaster Wu’s other hand to smack his away with a sharp slap.

Xay narrowed his eyes, his hand stinging. He tried again, this time throwing his left arm up to block the Grandmaster’s strike.

But the old man simply lifted his leg and snapped it forward, striking Xay’s wrist with his knee and knocking it off course.

Xay locked in, kicking up his own leg and stepping forward. Grandmaster Wu leaned back, moving in perfect opposition to Xay’s momentum.

Xay shifted his footing, circling Grandmaster Wu as he slipped into his martial forms.

He reached over and under, grabbing, feinting, even trying to knock the pebble free from the old man’s hand.

Grandmaster Wu matched his every move with ease, barely engaged—he actually looked like he might yawn at any moment.

Growing frustrated, Xay picked up speed, weaving in even more strikes and misdirection.

With a burst of motion, he launched into a flying kick and activated *Psychic Blink*, attempting to teleport the pebble directly into his grasp.

But Grandmaster Wu was faster. The pebble locked in place as mystical light clamped down around it.

He extended his arm and flicked Xay’s forehead.

“No cheating.”

The flick landed without pain—but still sent Xay flying up through the air.

Xay wasn’t sure what Grandmaster Wu had done, but the sensation reminded him of his own *Tranquil Palm*.

Steadying himself in midair, Xay got serious.

He channeled mana into his Jetnir Orbs, multiplying them until twelve flickered around him in formation.

Grandmaster Wu rose effortlessly into the air, the unmoved pebble still resting in his open hand.

Xay hit the kill switch on his gravity bands and launched himself forward with a burst of *Psychokinesis*.

The air split around him, whistling past as he rocketed toward Grandmaster Wu like a living battering ram.

He collided with the old man and triggered *Burst Flurry*.

Xay’s fists, elbows, knees, feet, and Jetnir Orbs swarmed in tandem, unleashing a relentless storm of strikes.

But Grandmaster Wu moved with effortless precision, slipping through the barrage and seamlessly countering as if he had his own version of *Flow State*.

Gritting his teeth, Xay pushed harder.

*Psychokinesis* hurled each Jetnir Orb with greater and greater force, detonating bursts of kinetic energy peak-strike.

The moment one of Xay’s attacks came close to striking the old man’s hand, a red stone bead floated out from under his sleeve and intercepted it with a sharp crack.

Grandmaster Wu drifted back, his expression unreadable. “Your mastery of Southern Dragon Style is decent, brat. My Li-Li has trained you well.”

More red stone beads poured from beneath his robe like water. They spiraled behind him in a grand, multi-circle array.

Xay counted a total of twenty-seven.

Each was a talisman, varying in size—the smallest no bigger than half an inch, and the largest as big as Xay’s head.

“However,” Grandmaster Wu continued, “that is merely one style among many. You lack versatility, aerial forms, patience, and fortitude.”

The two concentric circles of bead talismans began to spin behind Grandmaster Wu—one clockwise, the other counterclockwise.

Sensing danger, Xay activated *Force Ward*. A split second later, one of the beads shot forward faster than his eyes could follow.

He could only track it with his *Extrasensory Perception*. One of his Jetnir Orbs reacted instinctively, darting into its path to block.

The impact boomed like thunder cracking across the mountain range. It created enough air pressure to slightly push Xay back.

If they hadn’t already drawn the attention of everyone below, they certainly had now.

The Hall Master Grandmas watched with keen interest, while Shifu Wu looked thoroughly exasperated.

She’d only taken her eyes off Xay for a moment—and of course, he went and challenged her ridiculous grandpa.

Shaking her head, she turned and led the group back to Grandma Xiu’s to prepare some bandages.

In the sky, more stone beads launched at Xay at near supersonic speeds.

The tide of the clash had completely shifted—now he was the one ducking, weaving, and scrambling.

He needed to close the distance, but it was taking everything he had just to avoid being impaled.

Xay flung himself in erratic arcs around Grandmaster Wu, his Jetnir Orbs barely managing to deflect the incoming projectiles.

The smaller beads would tear straight through him, and Xay had no doubt that the larger ones could crush his skull like a melon.

Not to mention, Grandmaster Wu had more than twice the number of talismans compared to Xay’s orbs.

The only things keeping Xay in the fight were the unique properties of the metal his orbs were made from, and the fact that *Orbital Array* allowed them to move mostly autonomously.

He couldn’t afford to summon more either. Not yet, at least. It took too much focus and effort.

Xay knew that summoning any of his Arsenal Weapons would be considered cheating—and the old man would no doubt do something insane to punish him for it.

*Flow State* wasn’t an option either. Sure, it would let him dodge—but it would also kill his intent.

He wouldn’t care enough about actually taking the pebble.

Xay had an idea—but he knew it wouldn’t be easy.

Clenching his fists, he turned and took off running across the air at full speed, circling the old man in a flat loop.

The beads kept coming relentlessly, but Xay redirected the psychic force he’d been using to propel himself around.

He channeled it instead into amplifying the movements of his Jetnir Orbs.

*Serene Gait* kept him aloft as he drew in a deep breath. His aura rippled outward, shaping itself into the open jaws of a dragon.

Xay opened his mouth and unleashed *Roar of the Dragon God*. The sound tore through the mountain range, sending animals of all kinds fleeing in a panic.

But Xay had focused the full force of the technique directly on the old man.

The bead barrage was blown backward by the concussive wave—but Grandmaster Wu didn’t move.

For the first time in their clash, he actually seemed to be smirking—if only slightly.

But Xay wasn’t done.

He activated *Psychic Blink* and *Tranquil Palm* simultaneously, channeling an explosive surge of mana and aura into his palm.

In a flash, he reappeared at Grandmaster Wu’s side—his palm thrusting forward, aimed straight at the hand holding the pebble.

Grandmaster Wu caught the strike with a single finger.

Xay had expected that.

What mattered was the internal attack that followed.

He knew the old monster could withstand it—but he was counting on it being surprising enough to snatch the pebble in the aftermath.

Instead, Grandmaster Wu merely tilted his head.

“What a dangerous technique,” he said calmly. “If it were wielded properly—with even a basic understanding of vital energy—you might actually be able to do something like this.”

To Xay’s senses, it seemed like Grandmaster Wu merely wiggled the finger blocking his palm.

But what followed was a wave of visceral, indescribable pain as if every bone in his hand shattered all at once.

Then came a sweeping, destructive force tearing through him.

His bones cracked in rapid succession, his muscles tore, and his crystallized channels burned as if scorched from the inside out.

Xay only had time for one more second of screaming before everything went black.

***

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Xay jolted awake, blinking rapidly.

He was submerged in a tub filled with a thick green substance that smelled of mint and ginseng. It was similar to melted wax, but more viscous.

Strangest of all, nothing hurt. His body was fine.

“You’re up,” came Grandmaster Wu’s voice from the corner of the room. They were alone in a dimly lit basement.

“What.. happened?” Xay croaked. His mouth was dry and tasted awful.

Grandmaster Wu cleared his throat and stepped closer. “I may have.. gone a bit too far.”

As he approached, Xay squinted and finally noticed the massive, rolling pin-shaped lump on the old man’s forehead.

Trying not to laugh, Xay took a deep breath. “So.. will you train me?”

“No,” Grandmaster Wu said matter-of-factly. “You failed my test, brat.”

Xay leaned back and stared at the ceiling.

The Grandmaster raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to ask again tomorrow, aren’t you?”

“Probably,” Xay said dryly.

“Brat,” the old man snorted. “You’ve got talent, but you’re jumping too far ahead of yourself. There are three Hall Masters and a House Master you need to learn from before you can come to me.”

Xay’s eyes narrowed. “Wait.. you would’ve trained me this whole time if I’d just gone to them first?”

Grandmaster Wu just smirked.

Xay groaned. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“You didn’t ask,” the old man said, already turning to leave. “Shower’s over there. You missed dinner, but Xiu left something for you in your room. Welcome to the mountains.”

Xay lay motionless in the tub as Grandmaster Wu left. He felt a little dumb—but honestly, that fight had been incredible.

He’d been pushed to his physical limits, and in the end, the old man had turned his own attack back against him.

With a single finger, he’d somehow redirected the force of *Tranquil Palm* back into Xay’s body.

Just thinking about it made him shiver. It was the worst pain he’d ever felt.

Then there was the mention of the basics of vital energy. Something he knew absolutely nothing about.

Xay still planned to enjoy himself over the break, but there was a whole lot to learn on this mountain in the next seven weeks.

Grinning, Xay pulled himself from the tub and turned on the shower, washing off the thick waxy substance.

He was looking forward to what came next.

All he had to do now was survive the gaggle of angry women he could sense waiting for him upstairs.