Chương 64: Chapter 61 - Worlds Apart

Song stood beneath the gentle pitter patter of the early monsoon rain, his outstretched arms slowly rotating through the first form of the Stellar Crane. One arm stretched out like a crane's wing over the gentle river, while his other arm swept up in a salute to the heavens. He was the only soul about, the other denizens of the small waystation preferring to stay inside next to the roaring fire. That served Song just fine.

He liked some level of solitude when practicing; it helped him clear his mind and focus on the here and now. He slowly, smoothly, shifted into the first two forms of the basic staff arts of Changpo, followed by a series of strikes that he'd picked up from Cyrus. The Canadian had called it a kata, and it melded nicely with his own martial arts. Speaking of the Canadian. ["Listen. I said I was sorry, Song. How was I supposed to know you were so weak to spice? What kind of big, bad, cultivator gets brought down by the lowly chilli pepper?"] Cyrus's voice in his mindscape was not quite nearly a whine, but it certainly came across as one. ["I'm not weak to spice, I'm weak to massive amounts of Sichuan food when I've not eaten for two days,"] Song vibrated back. He shifted from his staff arts to a dance across the wet grass with the Fox's Footwork. It was difficult work – the slick ground threatened to send him careening face-first into the mud.

But long practice served him well, and he simply rode the momentum as required. He used the butt of his sling-staff to come to a controlled stop, then snapped his left foot up and around in a wicked hook kick that came in at neck height on the average man. He twisted into a heel-kick behind him, following the neck strike with a reverse body blow – the second form of the Fox's Footwork. There was some clapping from the nearby stoop of the Inn.

An old soldier with a scar on his cheek and a thin chinstrap beard stood on the stairs beneath the eaves, keeping out of the dribbling rain. His armour was neat and tidy, but had the weathered look of one who'd served for a long time without advancing very far in the ranks. ["That's Kiho,"] Cyrus whispered. ["Good guy. He was the one who invited us to eat yesterday."] Song gave the old man a smile, desperately asking, ["Last name!"] ["Uhhh, Chim? No, Kim!"]"Kim Kiho," Song said, a beat slow.

"Forgot did you?" The man gave him an arch brow.

"Not that I blame you, you've had a busy few days. Though I doubt any of us will forget your name any time soon, Haksaekki!" Song blushed furiously, then felt furious at blushing. He gave a stiff bow.

"Thank you for honouring me with your remembrance." Kiho belly-laughed.

"Har! Not quite as loose without a belly full of airag, are you? Where did all your fire from yesterday go? Did it burn out with the spice?" Song's smile thinned. ["What exactly did you do with my body yesterday, Cyrus!?"] he sent at his dantian. ["Just hung out. Ate. Drank. Told some stories. Y'know."]'Hung Out'? Song wasn't quite sure what that meant, but he really hoped his honour was still intact.

"I apologize if I was rude," he said, giving another short bow.

"I was tired and not myself." And wasn't that true! This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Kiho shook his head, still chuckling darkly.

"Nothing to apologize for, honourable cultivator. You blessed us with wondrous tales, and bought us delicious food! Even now the soldiers are praising your name in the inn. You've made quite a splash for your first time in the Gangho, even if it was at such a place as our humble waystation."

"Thank you," Song replied, still a little stiff. ["See?"] Cyrus snipped. ["I didn't do anything bad. You need to loosen up a little Song."] [" Loosening up is how one loses face,"] Song shot back. ["You may've enjoyed playing around with soldiers, but you have no way of knowing who's watching, or who those soldiers are. If they turn out to be local bullies or layabouts, it can reflect poorly on you."] ["Ugh. You sound like my grandma. I think… Anyways, you sound like a grandma. They may be roughnecks, but those are my kinda people! The ones who cheered the hardest at the game, and always know the best bars."] Great. A shameless Spirit Guide. Just what he needed. Song took a deep breath to calm himself. Breathe in, Breathe out. Head of stone, Heart of Steel.

"Were those your martial arts?" Kiho asked, nodding at the smeared ground.

"I've been posted here long enough to recognize the Fox's Footwork, and the staff arts of Changpo, but there were some others in there I didn't recognize." Song gave the man a cold stare. Kiho took a small step back and bowed deeply, stammering, "though if I overstep by asking, Lord Cultivator, this Kim Kiho apologizes for giving offence." ["Oh come on. You won't make friends acting like that Song,"] Cyrus cajoled.

["He bought you a drink and got everyone to respect the name Haksaekki instead of mocking it yesterday. The innkeeper seems to like him too. Plus, he's your elder."] ["It's rude to ask a cultivator about their martial arts,"] Song shot back. But his heart softened a bit. He had put up strong barriers, but waking up to discover that his body had made friends and experienced a full day without his knowledge was more than just a little disconcerting.

"It's the Style of the Stellar Crane," he finally said, his tone conciliatory. Kiho looked up with surprise and something Song didn't quite recognize flashed across the man's eyes.

"I see… Haksaekki, Crane Child. Is it your Master's style, then? Truly a heavenly name for one who follows the dao of the heavens. The soldiers on watch who saw your ride say it was though a falling star was crossing the plains," Kiho's tone was appropriately reverential, and Song couldn't help but square his shoulders in pride.

"Yes. Master Crane is a Core level cultivator. I was truly blessed by the heavens to have met him," Song pulled himself up proudly. Kiho smiled widely. He had gaps in his teeth.

"Truly! A Core level cultivator! Scant few of those in these parts. Perhaps we were blessed to see the imoogi take its first dip in the river then!" Song blushed once more. To compare him to the Imoogi – the serpent that would one day become a dragon after climbing the dragon's gate. It was the kind of thing he'd dreamed of, but never dared hope! ["You're a sucker for flattery, Song. That's gonna get you in trouble."] Cyrus remarked. ["Is that a cultivator thing?"] ["Yes. No. Maybe. Quiet."] Song's bashful grin devolved back into a stoic blank stare.

"Was there anything else, Soldier Kim?" Kiho shrugged.

"Nah. I'm just heading out for my turn on watch. Good luck with your practice, and good on you for doing so rain or shine. Too many young cultivators these days are afraid of hardship. It's all that easy living while young, I tell you. They should be starving 'em instead of fattening them up like sheep for Demons to feast on." Kiho shook his head sadly, bemoaning the laziness of the modern youth. A tale as old as time. Song had a sudden thought, and asked, "Please keep an eye on the East.

I suspect my family will be sending someone to collect me soon."

"That so?" Kiho rubbed the back of his neck, then sauntered off, giving a lazy wave over his head as he did so.

"Will do, Haksaekki."

"Thank you," Song gave the soldier a quick bow, then returned to his training. He hoped that they'd be here soon. He wanted to hurry home and check on Mae. As it turned out, he didn't need to wait long. At roughly mid-morning, a figure on horseback coming from the direction of Changpo was announced from the tower. Juwon had arrived to pick up his youngest brother.