Chapter 8. Progress

Once home, Shawn took a bath behind the cottage. The space was enclosed with three walls and the cottage being in front of the last open area. The tub wasn't that big; it was a sturdy wooden bucket. Next to it was a large and tall container, it held fresh water, connected to the two was a makeshift pipe. Connected on the other end of the tub was another makeshift pipe that led to a small drainage system that went to the sewers.

The old man had rigged a lot of the stuff himself when he arrived here. The sewer outlet was small and very well covered. He sat in the luke warm water thinking and scrubbing. It was midday and he was thinking about what the next step was. Examining himself, he was on the path to cultivation, and he could read and write, that was about it. The old man and Tabitha both made sure he could do those two things. His grandpa would die in a year and that is being generous. He often listened to all the conversations of people while begging.

He knew that there were unseen lands, foods nobody had ever tasted, monsters to be slayed, and treasure to be found. Shawn wanted more from this life and being a cultivator seemed the way to do it. After bathing himself he got out, dried himself off on an old but clean cloth. He put on some "new" clothes that his grandfather was able to get him by scavenging the couple of trash piles in the town. He got dressed and proceeded back to the cottage.

Inside the old man was lying on the bed resting, he opened his eyes and spoke. "Today son, you will start doing physical training. A warrior's most important trait is his body, second only to the mind." His grandfather slowly got up and motioned for the boy to follow him out back. They moved not too far from the tub and the old man started to show him what he was to practice. He started by throwing basic punches and then kicks. Followed by that were push-ups and squats. After he was done the old man was sweating and breathing raggedly, but his face betrayed not an ounce of pain. However, blood started to slowly seep through his shirt, clearly his wound was aggravated.

He paused then had the boy repeat what he had done. After an hour of constant correction and even bursts of laughter from the old man when he would fall, he walked away and said, "Continue for one more hour and then come inside to eat." Shawn followed the old man's directions as sweat appeared all over the boy. Night was falling, he walked inside with heavy breaths and sore muscles. Inside the old man was stirring a pot of vegetables with meat.

Shawn was confused, he had only eaten meat on occasions, plus how did the old man get this food in the first place? "I made a deal with that woman Tabitha in exchange for more food and work for you." Shawn had many more questions, what could the deal have been about, why he was eating so much, and why did…. The boy's eyes betrayed that he had many questions for the old man, but the old man just laughed and spoke. "Come eat boy. It is a basic principle that in order for a warrior to build a strong body, they need much food." Shawn was grateful that at least one question was answered. The old man took about a third of the soup and the rest was his. He could not eat that much food. "Eat what you can and come back later to finish the rest of this pot. If by morning you still haven't finished it, then I will beat you myself."

Shawn ate about half of the delicious soup before he was so full it looked like he had a beer gut. When he was about to sleep the old man said, "Go and meditate, after you finish you can sleep." Shawn was annoyed but still followed the old man's decision. Walking outside it was dark, he sat down and remembered the breathing technique. He focused and as he closed his eyes his felt energy that was directed from the stars filling his body. He continued for two hours till' he could not pursue any longer.

Standing up, he felt energetic and the food in his stomach had digested completely. He then ran to the nearby bathroom before coming back and going to sleep. The old man woke him up early the next morning and they followed the same routine. Except this time, he had to meditate before they started to work out as well, attracting the sun's energy.

By the end of the day, he had tiredly finished meditation and gone inside. Once inside the old man told him that after the week was finished, he would help clean Tabitha's tavern throughout the winter. The boy was exasperated, he meditated and although he felt full of energy it still made him weary mentally. He tried to say something, but the old man gave him the classic stern look. The week proceeded following the same routine until it came time for him to work at Tabitha's tavern. The results of working out, eating well, and cultivating were evident. He had a healthy glow on his skin, he looked a little less scrawny and bit leaner, additionally he moved with more power in his steps.