Chapter 32: The Mountain (1)

Chapter 32: The Mountain (1)

Sen was only allowed to nap for a couple of hours before Uncle Kho came to retrieve him. Sen was relieved to discover it was primarily to make sure he got something to eat. On the bright side, Sen finally understood why Uncle Kho had said that his wife was the real cook in the family. There were great piles of deliciousness on the table. There were baozi, dumplings, fried rice, pancakes, moon cakes, and so much more. Sen ran out of appetite long before the food was even close to gone. Yet, as much as Sen enjoyed the food, he was very aware that Master Feng was not present. It wasn’t something he did that often inside, but Sen spread his qi out into the house, sensing for the presence of others. Even that minor exertion of his qi made his channels ache. Still, he learned what he meant to learn. Master Feng wasn’t just absent from the meal. He wasn’t even in the house.N0v3lTr0ve served as the original host for this chapter's release on N0v3l--B1n.

“Uncle Kho, where is Master Feng?” Sen asked.

Uncle Kho and Ma Caihong exchanged a look before the man answered. “Ming needed some time to collect himself. He’s cultivating up at the peak of the mountain. He’ll be back tomorrow.”

Sen wanted to press the issue, but he’d learned to read Uncle Kho a bit over the last few years. He wasn’t going to get anything more from the old man. If Master Feng wasn’t back the next day, Sen would worry about it then. With a full stomach and a bit of lingering pain plaguing him, Sen decided more sleep was in order. That was when the bad news struck. Ma Caihong held up a hand to stop him. He watched with mounting horror as she poured some concoction into a cup and handed it to him. He stared down into the cup for a while, wincing at the medicinal smell that wafted up from the thick liquid.

“What is it?” He finally asked.

“It’s to help with the effects of the backlash and a few other things,” said Ma Caihong.

Sen’s eyes snapped up to the woman. “What other things?”

Ma Caihong gave her husband a questioning look.

Uncle Kho sighed. “Sen has had, let’s call it mixed experiences with cultivation resources. His first body-cleansing pill was apparently excruciating. It’s made him a little leery.”

“That’s understandable, I suppose,” said Ma Caihong. “This is nothing like that. It should help repair any damage to your channels. It might push your cultivation along a little. That’s it.”

Sen stared at her for a while before he worked up his nerve and downed the mystery liquid in the cup. He let out a little relieved breath.

“At least it didn’t taste terrible,” he said.

“Did I miss something?” Feng asked.

Sen shook his head. “No. It was just remembering that, when we first came up here, I thought you were going to sit in a cave for years. I should have known that there would be a cave involved somewhere along the line.”

Master Feng let out a little chuckle and a Sen saw a tiny spark of his old master kindle in the back of the man’s eyes. “Yes, I supposed you should have known. Caves aren’t all bad, you know.”

Sen smiled. “Well then, I look forward to seeing this cave of yours, when I get there.”

Feng nodded and rose. “Good luck, Sen.”

Sen listened as his master left the house.

***

Sen spent the next few hours being loaded down with various useful items. A tent, a bedroll, food, and some medicines that he suspected Ma Caihong had made either the night before or early this morning. He dutifully placed them all inside his storage ring. When neither Uncle Kho nor his wife could think of anything else to send with him, they all went out to the courtyard. He gave the two a bow.

“I will see you when I return,” he offered.

“We’ll see you then,” said Uncle Kho.

Ma Caihong just nodded at him. Sen was relieved that she didn’t offer him any sage advice or well wishes. He could still feel his anger at her bubbling away deep inside him. He didn’t want that anger erupting now. He sincerely hoped that his time on the mountain would help him purge that anger. He didn’t enjoy being angry, at anyone, or about anything. He’d just as soon leave this anger behind if he could figure out how.

With that brief goodbye out of the way, Sen turned, strode out of the gate, and stepped onto the mountain.