Mysteries

{That's weird... I've never heard of a system giving something it didn't have information on,} Bestie said, a thoughtful look on her face.

[Do you think it would be better if we pass on this one?] Mini C asked. Bestie rubbed her chin, looking over Mini C's data on the item, as well.

{It *should* be safe. Based on the name, it's similar to the Manual on Sword Intent, and should only give Ryker the knowledge related to its contents.}

"So, what's the big deal with 'fate and karma', anyway? Is it gonna make me a fortune teller, or something?" Ryker asked, taking out the booklet and looking it over.

{Fate and karma are mysterious forces,} Bestie answered, {Fate is related to the future, or perhaps events destined to happen. Karma is like your fate with specific people, places, or objects. I'm not too sure about the specifics, though.}

She started pacing back and forth on the compad screen, tapping a finger to her chin as she thought.

{And I've never heard of any techniques that would let you control or perceive fate and karma. Is it really just giving an explanation on what they are?}

"Well, I could always read it and find out," Ryker said, opening up the pages. He sat there, staring, for quite a while, before closing the book with a snap.

"...Doesn't seem like I can read it."

Mini C took the booklet back into the dimensional storage where he could peruse its contents, knitting his brows in confusion as he scanned it.

[Indeed... If the system didn't state its title, you wouldn't even be able to read that,] he observed, meticulously copying each page of the booklet for future study.

{Huh? Even the system's language bank can't translate it?}

Bestie also took a look, confused when she saw the strange language it was written in.

{This book really is mysterious...} she said, crossing her arms in frustration.

While Mini C and Bestie fussed over the treatise, however, Ryker just yawned and lay back on the bed, eyes fluttering as he drifted off to sleep.

"Well, I'm pretty beat, so I'll... Just leave that to..."

His soft snoring soon filled the room, and Mini C dimmed the lanterns so as not to disturb his rest.

--

The next morning...

Cheng Hui sat meditating in Meiling's courtyard, working on his own cultivation as he waited for Ryker and Meiling to awaken.

Wang Yuhan sat beside him, as well as a number of other members of Long Meiling's personal guard, all of them engrossed in their cultivation. It had been like this since early morning, as Cheng Hui had been choosing to rise early recently to make time for his own personal cultivation.

Of course, he hadn't ordered his subordinates to follow in his example, but ever since they started practicing Ryker's body refinement technique and seeing their strength rise by leaps and bounds, their motivation had soared.

Eventually, the door to Ryker's door swung open, revealing a still sleepy Ryker walking out, stretching and yawning wide.

"Yo, Cap," he called out with a wave of his hand, seeing Cheng Hui and company cultivating in the courtyard.

Captain Cheng cracked open his eyes, feeling a stark change in the spiritual energy Ryker was exuding, this morning. Could it be...?

"Good morning, Ryker... Did you really break through to the Foundation Establishment realm, last night?" he said, a wry smile on his face. Ryker just grinned, resting his hands behind his head.

"Hehe, you noticed?"

Cheng Hui shook his head ruefully, still stunned no matter how many times Ryker managed to surprise him. If word were to get out that he'd reached the Foundation Establishment realm in less than a month...

"You really are too much, sometimes," he remarked, getting up from the smooth brick of the courtyard. The rest of his squad also quickly rose to their feet, saluting to the captain before leaving to take care of their daily duties, with the exception of Wang Yuhan.

"You guys sure get up early," Ryker said, "You gotta do this every single day?"

"Of course not," Captain Cheng answered, laughing.

"We're still mortal, so of course we can't push ourselves to cultivate every waking moment. The crew's just had a lot more motivation, ever since you showed up."

"Hm? Why's that?"

Wang Yuhan took that moment to speak up, putting her hands on her hips with an indignant look.

"Because you're already in the Foundation Establishment realm after only two weeks!" she huffed, "Do you know how many years it took me to reach that level?!"

"Haha, sorry..."

As the three of them engaged in a bit of friendly banter, Long Meiling walked out the door of her own room, looking over to them gathered in the courtyard and making her way over.

"Good morning, Young Miss."

"Morning."

Cheng Hui and Wang Yuhan bowed and saluted, while Ryker opted for a simple greeting.

"Good morning, everyone," Meiling said, before her eyes widened in shock as she sensed the change in Ryker's aura.

"Ryker... You broke through?" she asked incredulously.

"Uh, yeah... What, you guys can just tell right away, or something?"

The other three sighed, shrugging their shoulders.

"I don't know whether to feel motivated or depressed, when it comes to him," Cheng Hui said, shaking his head.

"Well, we all know he's abnormal," Long Meiling said, "All we can do is keep moving forward."

"Speaking of, how long before you can break through, Meiling?" Ryker asked, taking the compad out of his bag and handing it to her.

"Certainly not overnight. It should still be at least a year before I can break through..."

She paused, seemingly lost in thought, before shaking her head and looking up with a determined look.

"We'll see. Perhaps I'll be able to make a breakthrough even sooner than that."

--

"Hah!"

"Hup!"

Ryker and Cheng Hui were once again sparring, Ryker using his staff against Cheng Hui's saber. Cheng Hui panted as he struggled to keep up with Ryker's movements, and he finally let a hit connect through his defenses, bringing him to his knees.

"Hah... Hah... That new movement technique, it's really quite something!" he said, grinning through labored breaths.

"Hehe... You're getting pretty strong, too!" Ryker said, equally out of breath. With his recent jump to the Foundation Establishment realm, plus the Profound Wind Walking Technique, he was able to fight on more even footing with the captain, now, even inching ahead of him slightly.

The two of them wiped their sweat with some towels they had on hand, walking over to Long Meiling and Wang Yuhan, who were both going through some mana manipulation exercises.

Yuhan had actually discovered quite the talent for using mana, becoming even more proficient in controlling it than Long Meiling during this time. They sat in a meditative pose, mana swirling around them.

"Young Miss, Vice-Captain Yuhan and I shall take our leave, for now," Cheng Hui said with a salute. Long Meiling nodded without breaking her concentration, as Wang Yuhan rose to accompany Captain Cheng.

"Work hard, Young Miss!"

With a final salute, the two guardsmen left to coordinate the squad's daily training, leaving Ryker and Meiling alone in the courtyard.

Ryker just plopped down beside her, drinking some water as he flexed a hand in front of him. He was a bit unused to the new power of his Foundation Establishment realm, but having sparred with Cheng Hui, he was slowly getting acclimated to how much faster his qi flow was.

The two of them sat in silence for a while, Ryker leaning back and relaxing while Meiling continued with her endurance exercise.

In her case, she was now able to continuously maintain control over mana for the better part of a day. Now, she was able to cultivate at the same time as she was practicing mana control, greatly increasing her efficiency.

She cracked open an eye as she meditated to get a glance at Ryker, who was currently loafing around.

"You're rather relaxed. Not nervous about facing the Great Void Sect elder?" she asked him.

"...You don't have to do it if you don't want to, you know."

That last part was added quietly, as if she was still on the fence about letting him do it, or not.

Ryker just looked up from where he was laying on the ground, sitting back up in a cross-legged position.

"Nah, I'm pretty much set. Bestie said I should solidify my cultivation base some more, or something, so I'm just chilling while that 'solidifying' is going on."

He leaned back on his hands and looked towards Meiling, who was still meditating diligently.

"How 'bout you? You ready to fight your sis?" he asked.

Long Meiling exhaled softly, opening her eyes slightly as she contemplated her answer.

"...Yes," she eventually said, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, I suppose. With all of our preparation..."

She tightly clenched her fists, steadily drumming up her determination.

"...I'll win!"

--

Audience hall, Great Void Sect...

A small group of disciples kneeled on the luxurious carpet, sweating nervously as an elderly figure sat upon the throne looked down on them in contempt.

"So, you mean to tell me that the lot of you lived, while Elder Chen was slain?" the figure asked, venom dropping from her voice.