Chapter 11: Quiet Meeting (3)

"First, since there are two of us, and I will be guiding you, I would like you to put your hands out like this..." Ao Jīn began to explain, putting his arms out straight with his palms up toward the sky. Tao Cai nodded, putting his arms out in the same way. "Very good, now just close your eyes and begin circulating your Qi as normal, and I'll guide you through the rest."

Tao Cai began to circulate his Qi, feeling a gentle warmth grow in his body. As Tao Cai began, Ao Jīn shifted himself closer, taking Tao Cai's much smaller hands in his own as he did so. With a breath, Ao Jīn began to circulate his own Qi, his Qi meeting with Tao Cai's at their hands. "Just breath and relax as best you can; purifying Qi requires an eased body and calm mind." Ao Jīn spoke with quiet, gentle whisper just loud enough for Tao Cai to hear.

Tao Cai nodded in response as he began to take deep breaths, attempting to relax his body and mind. The two continued in the same fashion for many incense sticks worth of time, but Tao Cai had yet to feel a difference. It was suddenly, however, that he began to feel as if not only just Qi, but his whole body began to change.

He felt his body grow hotter and heavier, as if his whole body was being battered by the energy within his body. While it was uncomfortable, Tao Cai knew that stopping wouldn't help him grow stronger. This feeling continued for what felt like a lifetime, but it soon soothed. While his body still felt hot, he no longer felt heavy or battered. He felt an entirely new feeling, however.

As his Qi circulated through his body, he could clearly feel it pass through his unblocked meridians, the meridians being filled with Qi before a purer form of Qi dispersed from it to flow through his body. Feeling this purified Qi flow alongside his normal Qi was a surreal feeling. It was as if the two energies were both touching and not at the same, as if they were flowing through one another as they circulated through his body.

As this purified Qi circulated through his body, he could tell that its flow was completely different from his normal. It was like night and day, the difference between a person running forward, and a person running backward. It was also clear to Tao Cai that his purified Qi was gathering around the two meridians which had yet to be unblocked within his body. His purified Qi was nourishing these blocked meridians, noticeably wearing down the impurities that blocked much faster than normal Qi.

The two continued meditating for many hours in the same way. The longer he cultivated in this way, meditating, the lighter and stronger Tao Cai felt his body grow. He could feel his purified Qi nourish and fill his blocked meridians as it chipped away at the impurities that blocked them. However, it was with a familiar lurch in his body that Tao Cai recognized that one of his meridians about to be unblocked. However, he didn't feel pain or any terrible energies.

In an instant, it was as if the meridian had popped open, purified Qi rapidly flowing into it as it was fully opened and made viable. Ao Jīn immediately felt the change in the flow of his Qi, stopping his own Qi circulation as Tao Cai did so. Feeling a disgusting growth in the back of his throat, Tao Cai pulled his hands away from Ao Jīn as he jumped to his feet, coughing up a mass of black sludge onto the ground.

"Congratulations, young lord." Ao Jīn climbed to his feet with a smile, bowing his head. "You've unblocked another meridian."

"Is it always so... disgusting?" Tao Cai whimpered in disgust as he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief that he kept on his person.

"When unblocking meridians, unfortunately so." Ao Jīn chuckled while speaking. "It either comes up the front, or... out the back for some." Ao Jīn nodded toward Tao Cai with a knowing look as the young boy shuddered slightly with disgust. "However, things do get easier when you move onto more cultivation as you move through the realms and layers. Most of the time, impurities are excreted through the skin. While its messier it is less... well, disgusting." Ao Jīn smiled.

"I suppose that's a slight consolation." Tao Cai laughed with a smile.

"I suppose so, young lord." Ao Jīn nodded. "At least you've only got one more meridian left to unblock." Ao Jīn smiled proudly.

Tao Cai couldn't help but smile at the prospect. "Then I'll be like you and the others?" Tao Cai questioned with an excited look on his face.

"Yes, you will, young lord." Ao Jīn responded with a nod. "You'll join us in the Qi Genesis Realm, a great feat for a cultivator as young as yourself, and as new as you are to cultivation." Ao Jīn spoke happily. "However, you should know that the last meridian is always the hardest to unblock, so don't be discouraged if it takes longer than the other two."

"I understand." Tao Cai nodded happily.

As the two stood there, Ao Jīn couldn't help but be relieved that the meditation seemed to take Tao Cai's mind off of the darker things weighing upon him. Though his thoughts of relief didn't last long.

"Thank you for helping me clear my mind, I'm not as scared now." Tao Cai spoke gently, and with a reserved smile. "I need to know why I can't remember things."

Ao Jīn shuddered as he closed his eyes for a moment, quietly taking in several breaths. "I'm not sure why there are things you don't remember. Perhaps Agent Piao will know?" Ao Jīn attempted to give Tao Cai an explanation that would satisfy not only Tao Cai, but himself. He could only hope that the Imperial Agent knew something to help his young lord.

"While there some things I don't remember, I do remember that I wanted to ask you what you were going to say on the field." Tao Cai spoke with a questioning voice. Ao Jīn paused for a moment, quietly nodding to himself.

"Very well, let us speak before we head inside..."