"First I want you to circulate ki in the way your father taught you."
My father had taught me the top knight cultivation technique. First, you have to sense the ki around you and the ki within you. The purpose of this technique is to harmonize yourself with your surroundings. Once you've found balance, you slowly absorb ki from the atmosphere.
The technique my father and I use is special. The key factor in it is the ability to contain all the ki that you absorb. Although all knight ki techniques absorb ki, they produce "dead ki". Dead ki is the ki that cannot be absorbed and must be released before absorbing more. It causes slower and weaker cultivation and even impurities in the body. I'm pretty confident in my abilities because of my dad's unique technique that no one else knows of.
"Good. You're a natural with knight cultivation. Hmm… Do you even want to learn mine?"
"An assassin cultivation technique? I thought people could only use one or the other?"
"Usually that's the case, however, your grandfather made a way to utilize both techniques. I was unable to use both because I wasn't able to get in tune with the knight way. Your father was the opposite. It's all determined by your personality and beliefs. Do you want to try?"
"If I can become stronger, then of course I wanna try."
"Good. First, you'll need to move your knight's ki to one side of your dantian."
That was a lot easier said than done. It took hours for me to shift all of the ki over. The pain that came with the process felt like I was continuously ripping flesh off and then sewing it back in. Even after I finished the pain carried on. However, all I'd done was set the stage.
"Now, it's time for phase two. The energy around you is known as ki. Ki is not a friend. Ki is not meant to be harmonized with. Ki is an object, a tool of your strength, as are you. Become a tool and use ki as a tool to become an even stronger tool yourself."
"I- I don't understand."
"I've watched you. You've used the prince this entire time. He thinks he's venting his anger by humiliating you and you used that as a shield from entering the king's eyes. The key to a knight's ki training is your pride, humility, and honor. The key to an assassin's ki training is casting those things aside in order to accomplish a goal. Think deeply about how you've survived and how you can continue to survive."
He's right. I think I'm starting to get it. I feel it. Woah! Unlike the knight's ki, the assassin's ki is fast and constantly in turmoil. It feels like my dantian is constantly on the verge of breaking. After an hour I was finally able to fully comprehend this technique.
"You're a fast learner. I know you're in pain and tired but this is the crucial point. You must combine the two techniques. One must dominate the other. You have to make the choice."
A choice?... What do I choose? My dad put his honor over all else. That's the path that he always wanted me to take. But look where that got him. He knew the king was trash but he followed him because of his honor. Uncle T forsook everything in order to achieve the goal he was given. Neither path is right.
"LOGAN YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE NOW!! OTHERWISE, YOU'LL BE SWALLOWED BY YOUR OWN KI!!"
NOW?! How could I possibly- woah… What is this? It's like everything has slowed. There's this big universe surrounding me.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
That voice…
"Grandpa??"
"Hohoho you can still recognize this old man's voice huh?"
"I mean yeah, who else laughs like Santa and smells like whiskey?"
OWWW! It was just a joke. He didn't have to hit me so hard.
"How are you here grandpa… and where is here?"
"We're inside your dantian. I am simply a sliver of ki that I left inside all of my descendants. See those two?"
I looked to where he was pointing and saw two pools of energy. One seemed like a vast ocean-sized lake. I know it's a lake because of how calm it is. The word "Tranquility" appeared in my mind. The other seemed like a ball of pure burning plasma. It whipped around at speeds that seemed impossible. Wildly, it flew in all different directions. The word "Chaos" formed in my mind.
"It must be hard for you to decide between the two. Your father was an amazing man and he chose his honor. However, your uncle is just as outstanding and he chose relentlessness."
"So what do I choose?"
"...Why?"
"W-what?"
"Why choose?"
"Uncle T said I had to."
"...You call him uncle T? Nevermind. What's important is for you to understand that you can make a decision without choosing."
"What does that mean?��
"What is your goal?"
"I want to kill the king."
"Why?"
"To avenge my parents, to protect my loved ones, and to prevent him from harming other people like he did my parents."
"So you're fighting for peace?"
"...I guess… What does all this mean?"
"What is fighting?"
"Chaos?"
"What is peace?"
"Tranq-"
"Exactly."
I get it! Don't need to choose between the two. My decision is to lead with both. I will do anything for my goal and my goal will be to protect the lives, dignity, and honor of the people. I will be the people's knight of the night.
"PUHHHAHAHAHAHA!! THAT'S SO LAME!!!"
I forgot he can probably read my mind since he's inside it.
"What now?"
"Now is the hard part. You need to make them devour each other. The process will destroy your dantian and repair it repeatedly. Not only that but it will occur repeatedly for six months. Can you handle it?"
"...No… but I will."
"That's the spirit. Stay positive cause this sh*t is really gonna hurt. I'll be back after this is all done, until then, take care of yourself."
Before I started the process, I needed to talk to my uncle. After leaving my dantian, I saw that almost no time had passed at all.
"YOU NEED TO CHOOSE NOW!"
"It's okay, grandpa and I chose both."
"Uhh… Huh?"
"It's not important. What's important is that I need you to take me back to the palace."
"You know what that means right?"
"Yes. Just tell the king that you'll make another venture in six months and ask him to completely hand me over to you then. I'll survive until then."
"Okay. Come on."
Uncle T picked me up and carried me over his shoulder. It had taken me an hour to get to that point and yet we were out in less than three minutes. What type of monster is this guy?
"I slowed down as much as possible to make sure you didn't get whiplash but we made good time right?"
"SLOWED DOW- you know what? I'm not even gonna keep being surprised."
"Listen Logan as long as you stay in a meditative state, hunger, thirst, and even sleep deprivation shouldn't bother you too much. Just safeguard yourself well okay?"
"Okay, Unc. I'll take care of myself."
"I love you kid."
"I love you too."
Suddenly, he picked me up by my collar and threw me through the doors to the palace.
"I have returned this scum to your palace. I've broken his mind so he shouldn't be much of an issue anymore. I will need him again in six months and I hope his majesty will let him fully belong to me at that time."
Broke my mi- ah, I see. That way if I don't talk for long periods of time due to my meditation, I won't be suspected. Uncle T is actually a genius.
"Oh? His mind needed to be broken?"
Hearing the king's disgusting voice still made my skin crawl.
"Well, he was more useful when he wasn't so curious about my every move. Most people are."
The tone in his voice made it clear that he was threatening the king, and yet the king still couldn't step to him. Damn Unc is a badass!
"Hmm.. well as you wish. You may have him again after six months."
Uncle T gave me a hidden smile as he was walking out.
"Stay safe kid. Someone will always be watching over you to make sure no one ever goes too far. Remember, there's beauty in your struggle so never stop fighting."
I could hear his voice deep inside my head. I had grandpa with me and Uncle T would always be on my side. Dad, if you're watching over me just know… Although I will go through a lot of pain, your son will forever be safe and loved. Now… Let the battle begin