The sun dipped low, painting the western horizon in fiery oranges and deep reds. Long shadows stretched across the forest floor as twilight deepened. The air, thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, grew cooler. Riu Xian leaned against a giant tree, the silence of the forest pressing in on him. He was trying to find his footing in this new world where the impossible was apparently possible after his encounter in the valley, the strange rebirth, and now this new, impossible ability.
A sudden whoosh, like the swift passage of a bird of prey, sliced through the quiet. Riu Xian's eyes snapped open, his body tensing on instinct. He scrambled to his feet, his gaze darting around, searching for the source of the disturbance.
Then, he saw her.
Descending from the darkening sky with the grace of a falling leaf, was a young woman. Her robes, the color of a twilight sky, billowed around her, and her long black hair, unbound, danced in the gentle breeze. She landed softly before him, her movements so fluid and controlled they seemed to defy gravity. An air of quiet power radiated from her, a subtle pressure that made the very air around her seem to hum.
Riu Xian's heart pounded against his ribs. He instinctively clasped his hands before her and bowed deeply, his mind racing. Who was she? Friend or foe? He was utterly at her mercy, a fledgling in a world of soaring eagles. "Senior, I am—" he began, his voice a little shaky.
The woman raised a slender hand, her gesture silencing him. Her eyes, dark and intelligent, studied him with an intensity that made him feel like an insect under a microscope. "I am Xiao Ming," she said, her voice clear and resonant, like the chime of a distant bell, "a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect." She paused, her gaze unwavering. "You were injured, and I observed you meditating to recover. You seemed unable to circulate your Qi properly, and then, abruptly, you switched techniques. A most unusual method. What was it? Some secret family art?"
Riu Xian hesitated, his mind a whirlwind of caution. He couldn't reveal the truth, not fully. Not yet. He chose his words with care, keeping his gaze lowered in a show of respect. "Senior," he began slowly, "I am but a lowly cultivator, still in the initial Qi Gathering stage. The technique... it was a desperate improvisation, you could say. I stumbled upon it by chance, and today was the first time I attempted it. A moment of inspiration, perhaps, born out of necessity."
Xiao Ming's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were peering into his very soul, searching for any hint of deception. "You unblocked ten percent of your meridians today," she stated, her tone neutral, yet carrying an undercurrent of something akin to curiosity. "For someone at your supposed level, such a feat should be impossible. Years of dedicated cultivation would be required. It is unheard of for one to achieve this so quickly, particularly in a single session."
Riu Xian kept his gaze fixed on the ground, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down his temple. "Senior, I am but a novice in the ways of cultivation," he mumbled, trying to sound as ordinary as possible. "How could someone like me, insignificant as I am, possibly warrant the attention of a distinguished cultivator such as yourself?"
A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on Xiao Ming's lips. "Humility is a virtue," she acknowledged, "but do not mistake it for ignorance. I believe you possess a special constitution, a unique physical makeup. It's the only explanation that makes sense. It would explain the severity of your blocked meridians. Ordinary Qi-gathering methods, the ones taught to every beginner, would be utterly useless to you."
She extended a hand, a silent invitation. "Come, sit. Assume the meditative position once more and regulate your energy flow. Allow me to examine you further."
Riu Xian's heart leaped into his throat. His mouth was dry, his palms slick with sweat. To refuse a cultivator of her stature, especially after she had witnessed his extraordinary feat, was unthinkable. It would be a blatant insult, an act of defiance that could very well cost him his life. He was trapped. He had no choice but to comply.
With a deep breath to steady his nerves, he obeyed, sinking to the ground and settling into a cross-legged position. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on his breathing, to calm the storm raging within him. His mind raced, filled with a chaotic mix of fear and uncertainty. What did she intend to do? Would she expose him?
The silence of the forest seemed to amplify his anxiety. Time stretched and distorted, each second an eternity. He focused on the faint, almost imperceptible flow of Qi within him, the tiny spark of hope he had ignited, a fragile flame in the vast darkness of his blocked meridians.
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, Xiao Ming withdrew her hands. He slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the soft moonlight that now bathed the forest.
Xiao Ming stood before him, her expression unreadable. "Your constitution is a mystery, even to me," she admitted, her voice softer now. "It is unlike anything I have ever encountered. But one thing is clear: this unorthodox technique of yours, while effective to a degree, will not be enough to fully unblock your meridians. You will need specific resources, rare and potent, to truly unlock your potential."
Riu Xian's head swam. "Senior," he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, "how... how will I know what kind of constitution I have? How will I find these resources?"
"You will come to understand the nature of your body as your cultivation progresses," she said, a hint of something akin to sympathy in her voice. "But I must warn you, this path will not be easy. You must tread with extreme caution. If word of your unique constitution were to spread, there are those who would covet it, who would seek to exploit you for their own selfish gains."
She paused, her gaze hardening. "To protect you, I will place restrictions on your body, a seal of sorts. No one below the Nascent Soul Fifth Stage will be able to sense the true nature of your constitution."
Riu Xian's eyes widened in astonishment. "Senior," he stammered, "you are a Nascent Soul cultivator?"
Xiao Ming chuckled lightly. "Perhaps I am. Perhaps I am not," she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"However," she continued, her tone shifting back to seriousness, "the meridians you have already unblocked will inevitably attract attention. You must be vigilant, especially within your sect. Avoid unnecessary conflicts, and be wary of those who show undue interest in you."
Before Riu Xian could even begin to process this new information, a loud, embarrassing growl ripped through the quiet of the forest. It was his stomach. Heat flooded his cheeks, and he instinctively ducked his head, mortified.
To his surprise, Xiao Ming burst into laughter. "Even the most dedicated cultivator cannot escape the pangs of hunger," she teased. From within the folds of her robe, she produced a small pouch. With a flick of her wrist, she opened it, revealing several fruits, unlike any he had ever seen. They glistened in the moonlight, radiating a faint, warm energy.
"These are spirit fruits," she explained, offering them to him. "They will replenish your strength."
Riu Xian accepted them with a grateful bow. "Thank you, Senior," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the extraordinary fruits in his hands. He couldn't help but wonder about this enigmatic woman who had appeared out of nowhere, offering him aid and cryptic advice. Who was she, really? And why was she helping him? He took a bite. The fruit was unlike anything he had ever tasted. It was sweet and savory at the same time. He felt a warm sensation spread through his body. It was a strange, but pleasant feeling.