Nezha had left the meeting with Boss Jin a few coins lighter and with more information that he had started out with. Though he couldn’t say that he left feeling particularly better. The thought of whether he would have aptitude for internal energy gnawed at him. It should be a question he knew how to answer, he had been using it this entire time hadn’t he?

  A rueful smile found his lips as he thought of that conundrum. The reality was, he hadn’t. He remembered the small ding and that screen that popped up in front of his eyes. How the words like gold fire lit up right in front of his eyes. ‘SUCCESS: By completing this quest you have unlocked the ability to use internal energy. With this power will have the power to defy the world around you!”

  Then just like that, the energy was there, he felt it like a golden fire in his stomach that he just instantly understood how to use. He remembered all the gasps and looks he got from martial masters, elders and his peers at his energy. Oh yes, the divine golden fire that allowed him to begin his rapid ascent at that point. Nobody could stand against him really at that point.

  A small shake of his head snapped him out of those thoughts; it all led back down to a dark road. He had learned the hard way, that if it seems too good to be true then it is. This time, if he was going to do this, it had to be at the right pace. He needed to build a foundation and learn. The world of martial arts was vast, and he hadn’t even skimmed it, just given all the best things to skip the mountain.

  Before he left the village he spent most of what was left of his coins on a good amount of food that would last the month. It wouldn’t be the most filling and tasty, but it would be enough. If it wasn’t, there was always the possibility of an odd job or two in the village to earn a little bit more money.

  He had considered even selling the old sword on his hip, but he reasoned he would need some protection on his journey to Valecroft. Still, he was sure he wouldn’t use a sword as his primary weapon this time around. It just didn’t feel like it was for him, and that feeling wouldn’t go away. He reasoned it was because that’s what the system had told him to take up. Just one more thing, in a line of them that he needed to separate himself from to find his own path.

  The path back home was just as uneventful and by the time he reached home, the sun was already beginning its slow descent, plunging the world back into night. The shopkeeper had taken some pity on him and his rags had given him a few candles when he saw Nezha look at his nearly gone coins and the candles.

  So, he lit them up to cast a glow around the dilapidated house and took the time for the rest of the night to begin cleaning up the home and least make it barely livable for the next month. Not that there was much he could do for the wood rot but at least he could give it some kind of order.

  While he cleaned, he began to form his plan for the next month in his mind. He concluded quickly that one month wasn’t a long time. So best to focus on working on his body’s endurance and some strength training during that time. He had no clue what the Sect tests would be like outside of the internal energy test, but figured if he was getting exhausted easily, he would be in trouble no matter what the tests were.

  Also, there was no sword instructor out here so it wasn’t like he could teach himself to be some amazing sword fighter within a month here and a month on the road. He had to be practical in this.

  “Not all the tests would be combat oriented right? I mean, if I fail, I could try joining one of the kingdom's armies.” That thought made him wince as he knew that was a dead-end road for most people. Unless you had connections or were some truly unparalleled genius. He had been offered a high position once in his past life. He had almost wanted to laugh at the time, but now he felt like a fool.

  Blowing out the candles and laying down for the night, this time he didn’t slip into an immediate sleep. Thoughts crept up again and again of the past and the future. Refusing to be quiet and so there he lay staring up at the small hole in the roof for a few long hours until finally even his mind couldn’t keep sleep from taking him. But even in his dreams he found no solace that night.

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  Though with the rising of the sun of the next day, thoughts dissipated and he woke up with a renewed purpose in beginning his training. What else was there to do?

  The next month would begin sliding by almost the same way every day as he started his training. It was simple, but he didn’t need it to be complicated. In the morning, he would get up, clean himself up and begin running.

  Well, the first week wasn’t much of a run. It started as one and he would tire out rather quickly and then find a slower pace that he could maintain for longer and then eventually just settle on a walk when he couldn’t even maintain that. Then for more physical training he filled two buckets of water from the creek and would carry them back and forth from the house to the creek.

  It was all rather slow going the first week, filled with needed rests during and after each activity he tried to complete. It also made him curse the system even more, as he knew he hadn’t been this weak before the system. Which just made him push harder, to at least get back to some sort of physical baseline.

  During the second and third weeks, things had improved somewhat and didn’t feel as dead with each exercise. He even found time to get to town once more and Brother Jin graciously let him load some bags of grains and whatever else into his tavern for a few extra coins and some food. The one drunk farmer was still there but said nothing to him, perhaps even looking at him with pity. Nezha could only figure it was because he thought he was going to fail.

  By the time the final week rolled around, he was feeling a lot better physically than he had been when he first got here. It wasn’t an extreme difference, that was impossible in such a small-time frame. It was something though, and he felt at least the month walk towards Valecroft wouldn’t be so bad. Though it had its own dangers, bandits would become a possibility and there were dangerous animals in the wild.

  Yet, he would need to brave the long road, and he couldn’t let fear rule him, he had made up his mind and the only path to take was forward. So soon he began to find himself packing himself up what food and stuff he had. One more day and he would be heading out but he had told Brother Jin that he would come by today as the man had insisted.

  So he made his wave back to the town, and to the Tavern, by the time he got up to it, Boss Jin was still as round as ever while wearing this time some type of bright blue outfit was waiting for him all smiles.

  “Young Wanderer Yin, please come and sit. I have a gift before you begin your travels.”

  That earned a look of surprise from Nezha who made his way to the table to take a seat. “Boss Jin, you didn’t have to get me a gift. You have already helped me plenty by letting me do some work for you. Without that extra money I would have ran out of food a week ago.”

  The portly tavern owner waved away the compliment with a smile. Then he produced a bundle of clothes and a new pair of shoes, setting them down in front of Nezha.

  “Young Yin, you have a long road ahead of you and I can see that you will go far. Seeing a young man with such determination I must do what I can to help him. So you just make sure to prove me right and become someone I can tell everyone else that I helped you once on your journey.”

  Nezha was taken aback by the kindness; it nearly made him misty eyed as he cupped his hands and bowed to Boss Jin. “I promise Boss Jin I’ll do so. Thank you, truly.”

  A hand came to his shoulder and he looked up to the smiling face of Boss Jin who was looking at him with an affectionate smile. “I believe you. Now one more thing and then I’ll let you go so you can finish getting ready. Come here first thing tomorrow before the sun rises.”

  Nezha lifted a brow at that. Before he could ask any questions, Boss Jin was already answering the question. “There is a Caravan coming in tonight dropping off supplies. Then they will head towards Valecroft. I had already spoken with the head of the Caravan and he is willing to let you go with them.”

  “Boss Jin, truly you do too much for me.” Once again, Nezha felt a large sense of gratitude and the desire to one day pay back this debt.

  “Don’t thank me too much. You’ll still have to work while you’re with them and earn your keep. But it will be better to go in a group with guards and other people than brave the wilds and roads by yourself. So, be here first thing tomorrow right before dawn or they will leave you behind, understood?

  “Understood!” He said with a firm nod, before Boss Jin smiled and turned away with a cough. “Now get out of here. There is a pack of food and tea leaves in that bundle. Make sure to tell everyone about the Whispering Winds Tavern here in Myra.” He said as he walked off trying to play off some of the sentimentality.

  Nezha couldn’t help but smile and grabbed the bundle giving a bow to Boss Jin as he walked off. Then he quickly turned and headed off down the road back home. A spring in his step as not only was his journey about to begin again, but he was also much better off than he had been even a month ago.

  Tonight, on his last night in the still dilapidated house he knew that he really wouldn’t be coming back to live here. This time this journey started with his own first steps and when he comes back to the Whispering Winds Tavern it would be in triumph, he promised. Nezha’s journey had ended and now Yin’s journey was just beginning