"No! This can't be!" Xin sobbed in tears as he collected his thoughts and closed his meridians, trying to prevent major damage.
"Emergency? Can I scan the room?" Master Ting asked, rushing in.
"Yes..." Xin knew that it was over. It was better to accept her help than to spend the next week in the hospital.
She entered his room and gasped.
"Is this truly a Foundation breakthrough? So much energy around!" She quickly ran up to him and pressed his head on her shoulder, scanning his spine with her techniques.
"You hate me, too." Xin cried as she laid his head on her chest. He remembered how annoyed she was by him during their lessons. It's his lowest moment, and he is sharing it with someone so alien.
"Calm down, dear. I know how you feel." She patted his hair. "Your meridians will be fine. At least you got an inspiration out of it, am I right?"
"Yes!" Tears wouldn't stop. Xin knew he wouldn't cry so much if not for the human qi overflowing (or not at all, it was hard to say), but it was still humiliating. At least he got to enjoy the softness of master Ting's bosom on his cheek. "I helped two of my friends break through, yet I failed myself! Why can I give others what I can't have myself? This is cruel!" He kept sobbing.
"Oh dear, dear." She shook him up and gently, calming him down like a child throwing a tantrum. "You're a strong, strong boy. It's just that your strength was used against you, and you weren't ready. You'll do better next time."
Xin knew someone else was about to enter, as he heard them from afar, so he gently pushed master Ting away. He then wiped his tears with his sleeve.
Master Fang Zhi entered.
"Oh, I see. Is he stabilized? Master Ting, report his status."
"Heavenly qi, exceptional. Earth qi, passable. Human qi collapsed, but he seems stable now. Physically, he can try again in three days. Mentally, I recommend a month of rest."
"A month, huh? I disagree, lady Ting. You may leave for now." He pointed to the door. She bowed and quickly left.
Fang Zhi then approached Xin and sat down near him.
"Quite a predicament, child. Look, even the moss on your stone died. That could go very wrong. Never seen such an overflow in a Foundation breakthrough."
"I know. If this was a rank two breakthrough, I might have gone insane. Just like that." Xin snapped his fingers. This realization hit hard.
"The road to immortality is a dangerous and fleeting dream. Still, let me tell you something. It's a secret."
"A secret, master?" Xin forgot about his situation for a moment.
"I failed my first Foundation breakthrough, too. Born and raised in the sect, to rank two parents, failed everyone's expectations. The masters hid this from everyone, and gave me a break. My next three breakthroughs all succeeded. Don't tell anyone, though."
"I won't, master! Still, I don't know how this helps me. Well, maybe I do. I get it." Xin nodded. His face was still a bit bloated, but he looked stoic and concentrated again.
Fang Zhi lied. He never failed a single breakthrough.
"Thus, as I understand your situation better than anyone, I am hereby forbidding the Elemental hall from assisting your breakthroughs again. You should lower your head and restore yourself in a non-stressful environment. I'm assigning you to a teaching job."
What? Xin felt like there was indeed a sharp metal spire in his chest. Suddenly, he heard another set of footsteps approach. Someone was running.
"Master Zhi! Emergency!" A young rank one master shouted from afar. "Are you available?"
"Please come in." He answered coldly, but his eyes betrayed slight worry.
"Master Lingbo is... Oh." He noticed Xin, obscured by master Zhi's robes. Maybe he shouldn't speak in front of this disciple?
"Speak." Master Zhi insisted.
"Master Lingbo is dead. Ambushed. The Border Guard reported a sighting of two masters on flying swords. Black armor."
Divine sword sect... Xin quickly understood the implications.