We did exactly as Master Juechen instructed us and made our way to the Eastern training grounds. The healers had done a damn good job at healing me, by the way. I shouldn't have even been able to stand up properly after the shit I went through. On the way there, my friends kept complimenting me on how great my achievement was and that it was an insane task to pull off, while I was silently wondering what secret Master Juechen wanted to reveal to us.
Surely if it was something to try to console me, he wouldn't have specifically called us to the training grounds. It was most probably some new task or technique to try and activate my qi. But honestly, I was tired as hell at that point. I'd made up my mind to refuse to do anything of the sort and just accept my suspension from the academy. It's not like smaller academies didn't exist in Longyao, and I could always keep visiting my friends regularly.
We kept walking and walking and finally, we saw Master Juechen waiting for us under a large tree. He saw us from a distance and gave us a warm smile. We approached him, bowed respectfully, and he gestured for us to sit down on the grass.
—
Feichen was standing alone on the battlefield as the lone victor, panting heavily and exhausted, trying to collect whatever energy he had left to finish us off.
Just as things went silent, I could see Mei peeking nervously from behind a pillar to see if it was safe to come out. My eyes widened as I said in a loud whisper to Qinyue, "What the hell is she doing here?! She wasn't supposed to show up until the very end!"
"And this isn't the very end?" Qinyue shot back. "You fucks are literally half-paralyzed!"
I could feel the oppressive qi pressure from Feichen slowly increasing again, and so did Mei. She immediately rushed over and began healing the three of us with glowing white light emitting from her palms. Within moments, all of us were completely healed like nothing had happened.
We got up and gave each other a determined nod. Mei seemed to be confused and kept glancing at all of us since she obviously didn't know what we were about to pull off.
We walked away from the tree roots we were hiding behind as Feichen slowly turned back towards us, looking at us with the confirmed intention to tear us into pieces. Blood was splattered all around his body and face, and he looked like he was about to only leave the place after killing us all.
—
"I'd like to take my leave from the academy," I said to Master Juechen without skipping a beat.
Master Juechen simply smiled and said, "You don't have to do anything of the sort, Ziyang. You're still a part of Tianlan Academy." He stood up and started pacing around us slowly.
I was confused. Was Master Juechen going to vouch for me to stay while discussing with the Headmaster or something? Or was he going to give me some kind of special training program? I couldn't really tell.
"Young Ziyang," he looked directly at me as he spoke. "I think I may have found a solution to your little qi problem."
That single line all of a sudden gave me a tiny speck of hope. Did he sense some qi in me? Was I simply a late bloomer after all? I got excited.
"You see," he continued. "After admitting you into the healing ward, I went around and did some thorough investigation. The feat you pulled off wasn't something easy. Matter of fact, it's not even something difficult either! It's plainly impossible for a child like you."
He gave a pause. "The way you keep performing better than your seniors in physical training... I've always had my doubts, but I've finally gotten a clear picture. I searched through your physical records ever since your admission into the academy. Not only have you performed better than your seniors, but no other kid your age had ever performed as good as you did at their age in the entire history of Tianlan!"
We all gasped. I honestly couldn't believe what he was saying. Tianlan has been there for centuries! Even mathematically speaking, it would mean I was literally a one in a million child!
Master Juechen paused and looked up to the sky, "It would seem, young Ziyang, that the universe has compensated you with immense physical prowess in exchange for your lack of qi."
"But Master Juechen," I said, confused. "I look just like everybody else. I don't even have a huge build or anything. I'm pretty lean and average to be honest."
"Well, that is the mystery I can't seem to quite crack yet. Maybe that's just the way your body is, maybe not. I don't really know." He gave a pause and smiled. "Consider it a gift to be powerful yet agile and fast."
"So... I can just manage with my physical strength then?"
Master Juechen let out a breath and looked at me, "No. You would still need some qi to regulate that strength properly. But that is exactly what I believe I have solved for you." He took out a scroll from his coat and said, "Your body works as an empty vessel, Ziyang. One devoid of any meaningful qi and a darn good one at that too."
Me and my friends looked at each other with confusion. Master Juechen gestured for us to all stand up.
"What we will now check," he continued. "Is to see if Ziyang can absorb qi from outside sources and use it to his own will."
He opened the scroll and began teaching us the chants and stances to try it out.
Tong Mai Jue, a technique of sharing qi which wasn't just rare but also forbidden in most kingdoms due to the sheer number of deaths it causes from qi overcharge.
—
I stood in the middle as my friends positioned themselves behind me. They all chanted the words in unison to begin charging their qi. Mei kept watching with wide eyes.
Feichen looked at us with patience, wanting us to go ahead with whatever it is that we were doing. He knew that we were doing something to gain strength and he could've tried to interrupt us immediately, but he was also pissed off and wanted to beat us up while we were fully prepared to stroke his own ego.
He began charging whatever qi he was left with too.
Liangyu, Qinyue and Jian extended their right arms towards me and channeled their qi directly into my body.
I took in every atom of energy and felt my body getting exponentially stronger. My senses got sharper, my body got lighter, and I could feel the energy coursing through my veins. My eyes glowed bright white as I looked to the sky and then towards Feichen.
He gave me a knowing smile, and I returned it right back to him.