"Say Sister Hua, how would you feel about helping me start cultivating?" I bluntly ask her as I marvel at the power she holds in her hands.
"Truly?" She questions, somewhat baffled at my request. "You do know that the path of cultivation is riddled with dangers that far surpassed the minds of mortals, you may well die while cultivating"
"So you say Sister Hua, but isn't that what this world is? Riddled with dangers and sleeping dragons at every corner! What difference does it make if I start cultivating when danger is apparent wherever we go in this world?" Oh dear, she falls silent as if contemplating before sighing.
"If Sister Yu insist then who am I to decline your request. Come, let's go to a more secluded area"
"Thank you Sister Hua" I nod and follow her deeper into the garden where even more rows of exotic plants start showing, some beautiful beyond comprehension, others ugly that seems one step away from death while some have a mysterious air about them.
Yea I'll freely admit, I've got no idea what the hell is in here. Looking behind me I see my servants chatting with Hua servants before they disappear from view.
Granted I'm startled as space twist and I find myself in a new location, almost as if I entered a new world.
"Surprised? The entire garden is a massive array that massively expands the space in the area making it seem like a new world" she gently explains, hints of amusement at my state. "Come, we're almost there" she continues walking towards the mystical scenery.
"Where are we going Sister Hua?" I ask as I find myself captivated by what's around me. "And what is this place?" Sounds of running river along with a waterfall enter my ear as wildlife starts showing up.
"This place was build by the first Emperor, an entire Garden full of life as a gift for his Empress who he loved, romantic is it not?" I nod as she glances at me. "As for the place we're going? It's a place where I cultivate in peace"
"Although, I must say, are you familiar about cultivation techniques?"
"Techniques that cultivators developed to help them cultivate? Yes, I do know some bits and pieces but not much" granted the knowledge completely comes from the fact of the amount of cultivation novels I've read.
"As you must know, a cultivator not only cultivates to become the strongest and leave a mark in history but to hone and potentially create a technique unique to themselves, something that could never be replicated for they know the ins and outs of their technique"
"I'm sure you heard the infamous saying that to be a cultivator is to walk with death" why does that sound familiar? "Anyhow, we're finally here" she stops and shows me the place.
And for some strange reason I'm disappointed. Running rivers with some vegetation here and there but that's about it…if I were to put it in words it'll be stale.
"Sister Hua?" I ask as she finds a spot to sit down in the ground.
"Come sister Yu, take a seat" I follow her instructions and sit in front of her, crossing my legs as I look at my surroundings. "Now then, I want you to close your eyes and take a deep breath"
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "Good, continue meditating until you feel something form within you" I nod and take another deep breath.
For what feels like an eternity do I sit there in silence, slowly closing the outside world and peering into the darkness. I'm sure their exist the saying that when you peek into the abyss, the abyss looks back.
My breath hitches as I'm stared at by what feels like millions of eyes, eyes that glow from crimson to blue to black, silver and more. A Kaleidoscope of colors show before they stop at gold and form eyes that are eerily similar to my own.
Something clicks within me as I stare at those eyes that seem natural yet alien, as if the world became much more simpler, seconds later I feel something form, and then I open my eyes and see the energy of the world.
"Good, it seems you were successful" she sounds oddly happy.
Looking at her I watch her gather some herbs.
"Now then, strip"
"What?" I ask as I stare into her blue eyes.
" I said strip, those clothes aren't gonna clean themselves" with that awareness returns to my body and for the first time I feel how sticky and uncomfortable my clothes feel.
"This is, sweat?" I ask out loud before turning to Sister Hua for answers.
"Yes, as you must know that when you cultivate not only are you absorbing Qi, the energy of the world, your also tempering your body, reforging it to become stronger than it was before" I merely nod as I stand up and feel refreshed, as if I achieved something that spurs me to achieve more. "Now then, when are you gonna strip?" Right…
"Do I have to?" I ask as I feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.
"What's there to be embarrassed about? We're both sisters as well as woman" as I stare into her blue eyes I contemplate some more before giving up.
This is a different world, customs are different from my past life, so I might as well suck it up and accept them.
Disrobing myself I hand oher my clothes as I fidget in embarrassment. It doesn't help that she too striped herself of clothing letting me see her naked body.
"Now come, theirs a nearby river" she says, making me wonder why we didn't strip at said river.
Unless…"Sister, do you enjoy the feeling of liberation?" I ask as a theory as to why she did this forms in the back of my head.
"What type of liberation?" She asks back.
"Well…you know…not waring any clothes…" she stops and smiles towards me.
"Of course I do, it's a wonderful feeling!"
Ahhh..,I see.