Tian Hao and Lin Mei sat there in the garden, eating the buns and talking about cultivation, life in the sect, and their frustrations.
Their conversation flowed easily, punctuated with laughter and the occasional snide remark. Tian Hao shared stories of his own fragmented memories of his mishaps in the sect—how he'd once attempted a formation technique and ended up blowing up a whole row of training dummies, or how Elder Hua constantly seemed to have it out for him, always assigning him tasks like sweeping the dusty halls. Lin Mei couldn't help but snicker at the absurdity, shaking her head as Tian Hao mimicked Elder Hua's stern expressions.
"I swear, she just waits for me to make a mistake," Tian Hao said, his eyes wide in mock terror as he spoke in a stern voice, "Tian Hao, this is not the behavior of a proper disciple!"
Lin Mei laughed, covering her mouth. "She does sound like that. I think she's just frustrated that she can't get you to fall in line like everyone else."
"Oh, trust me," Tian Hao said, waving a half-eaten bun, "I've tried, but it just doesn't fit me. I mean, why suffer if you can cultivate through... well, comfort?"
Lin Mei shook her head, a smile still lingering on her lips. "You're really something. Most people here think power comes through hardship, discipline, and sacrifice."
Tian Hao grinned, leaning back as he gave her a conspiratorial look. "You know, sometimes I wonder if I'm really a cultivator who drinks too much, or a drunk who occasionally cultivates... it's all very Zhuangzi if you ask me." He gave a small chuckle, his tone laced with self-deprecation, and Lin Mei couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head.
"They're not wrong though," Tian Hao said with a shrug. "But that's one way of doing it. Who says there's only one way?" He looked at her, his eyes sincere. "Maybe you can find your own way, too. It doesn't have to be exactly like mine, but it doesn't have to be all suffering either."
Lin Mei considered his words, her gaze growing distant for a moment. "It's hard to break away from what everyone expects," she admitted. She paused, then gave him a sidelong glance, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "I like studying formations, you know? The intricacy, the way everything has a purpose and fits together. Maybe that's why I'm so reluctant to step outside the rules—formations only work when everything is in its proper place. Sometimes, though, it feels like the rules are set in stone."
Tian Hao nodded. "Tell me about it. But think about this, Mei Mei—stones can break, and when they do, sometimes you find something more valuable hidden inside." He gave her a grin, raising his bun in a mock toast. "To breaking stones, huh?"
Lin Mei clinked her bun against his, her expression softening as she smiled. "To breaking stones," she echoed, a small spark of determination glimmering in her eyes.
"Alright, Mei Mei," Tian Hao said, giving her a confident smile. "I'm going to teach you the Restful Lotus Bloom technique. It's pretty simple, but it's different from what you're used to. Instead of forcing energy, you let it flow naturally by focusing on something pleasant—something that makes you feel at peace."
Lin Mei raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "You're saying this technique works just like that?"
Tian Hao nodded, the grin never leaving his face. "Trust me, it works. You just have to let go of all the rigid rules for a bit. Think of it like... enjoying a good cup of tea. You don't chug it down, right? You savor it, you enjoy it, and that's how the energy flows better."
She stared at him for a moment, clearly unconvinced. "You realize this is cultivation we're talking about, not some leisure activity, right? It's not supposed to be about... comfort."
Tian Hao chuckled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Yet, here I am. Living proof that comfort can work wonders." He gestured for her to close her eyes. "Come on, just try it. Humor me. Think of something that makes you feel relaxed. Maybe a memory, a place, or even a favorite taste. Just breathe in slowly, and picture a lotus bloom opening with every breath."
Lin Mei let out a long-suffering sigh but did as he said. She closed her eyes, her brows furrowed in concentration. Tian Hao watched her, his grin softening as he noted the way her face relaxed slightly, her shoulders losing some of their tension.
She struggled at first, her breaths coming in short, uneven gasps as she tried to follow his instructions. Her attempts at visualization were hazy, the image of the blooming lotus constantly slipping away, leaving her frustrated. Each time she faltered, she shot Tian Hao a sharp look, her eyes filled with irritation and skepticism.
His explanations were annoyingly abstract, often filled with metaphors that did little to help her focus. "Like pouring tea into an overflowing cup? Really?" she muttered under her breath, her patience wearing thin.
Tian Hao, meanwhile, simply smiled in that infuriatingly relaxed way, offering little more than vague reassurances, which only added to her annoyance. She could feel her face flush as she fought to calm herself, her irritation rising each time he told her to "just relax and let it flow." It was anything but relaxing.
Eventually, Lin Mei's breathing slowed, her expression shifting to one of genuine relaxation. The skepticism in her face faded as she seemed to find a rhythm. Tian Hao couldn't help but feel a small swell of pride at seeing her respond to his guidance, however unorthodox it was.
"Good," Tian Hao said softly. "Now, just keep focusing on that feeling. Imagine the lotus bloom opening and energy flowing like water through a stream. No forcing it, just letting it move naturally."
Minutes passed in quiet peace, the soft rustle of the garden surrounding them. The air felt almost thick with potential, a kind of energy that seemed to build, fueled by the tranquility they had settled into. Tian Hao shifted his own focus, matching his breath with hers, feeling his own cultivation hum faintly in response.
After a while, Lin Mei slowly opened her eyes, her expression one of cautious wonder. "I... I actually felt something," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at Tian Hao, her gaze a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "How did you come across this?"
Tian Hao leaned back, a satisfied smile on his lips. "Like I said, Mei Mei, I found it floating around in the sect repository. Cultivation is about finding what works for you. Maybe, just maybe, that's not always what the elders say it should be."
Lin Mei shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. "You're such a strange person, Tian Hao. You act like a complete fool, yet sometimes... you make sense. I don't know whether to thank you or be even more suspicious."
Tian Hao laughed, the sound bright and genuine. "How about both? Just thank me, but keep being suspicious. It'll keep me on my toes." He winked at her again, and she couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her.
"You really do have a way of making everything a joke," she said, shaking her head.
"It's part of my charm," Tian Hao replied, lying back in the grass and looking up at the sky through the canopy of willow branches above. "Life's too serious around here. Everyone's so focused on advancement that they forget to actually live. I plan on doing both—advancing and living."
Lin Mei looked at him for a long moment, her eyes searching his expression. There was still skepticism in her gaze, but there was also something else—a glimmer of interest, a willingness to at least consider that maybe, just maybe, he was onto something.
"Alright," she said finally, her voice soft. "Show me again. Let's see if this... comfortable cultivation really works."
Tian Hao's smile widened, his eyes filled with excitement. "Now you're talking, Mei Mei." He closed his eyes, his breathing evening out as he settled into the technique once more, the hum of energy within him resonating with the gentle breeze that rustled the leaves.
Lin Mei followed his lead, her posture relaxing as she closed her eyes again, her expression softening. They sat together in the overgrown garden, surrounded by nature's quiet embrace, the scent of lotus blossoms drifting in the air. The tension that had lingered between them seemed to dissipate, replaced by a tentative sense of connection—not just to the energy they cultivated but to each other, as if this shared experience had built a bridge between them.
Tian Hao cracked one eye open, glancing at Lin Mei with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Mei Mei," he whispered, keeping his tone light. "Do you think the elders would lose their minds if they saw us doing this?"
Lin Mei opened her eyes just enough to meet his gaze, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "Oh, absolutely. They'd probably have you sweeping the cultivation hall for a month."
Tian Hao chuckled, shifting slightly on the grass. "Guess it's a good thing we're keeping it a secret then, huh?"
Lin Mei shook her head, but there was no hiding the amusement on her face. "You're impossible, Tian Hao. But... thank you. For this." Her voice was sincere, and for the first time, the guarded edge had disappeared entirely from her tone.
Tian Hao felt a warmth spread through his chest, a feeling that had nothing to do with cultivation and everything to do with the genuine smile she gave him. "Anytime, Mei Mei," he said softly. "Besides, I kind of enjoy proving people wrong."
The two of them continued their meditative practice, the garden around them alive with the soft rustling of leaves, the occasional chirp of a bird, and the gentle sigh of the wind. For Tian Hao, this moment—shared in the quiet company of someone willing to take a leap of faith with him—felt like a small victory, a glimmer of something more profound than the path he had expected. He found himself genuinely wanting Lin Mei to succeed, not just because it validated his own approach but because he saw the strength in her that she couldn't yet see in herself.
They continued in comfortable silence, cultivating energy in their own way—together, yet individually—discovering the unique paths that resonated within them, one peaceful breath at a time.