Repulsion

The night was deep and quiet. After a busy day, the people of the Bear Hug Tribe welcomed the most peaceful moment between heaven and earth.

Lin Suqing dragged her tired body back to her tent, her head drooping. She rarely slept after achieving the ability to forgo grain, but tonight, she suddenly felt like collapsing and sleeping.

This Young Master was truly…

So exhausting.

All night, he had pulled her aside, asking endless questions. He even made her hold a small wooden stick and stand before a stone slab, painstakingly drawing a map of the Human Domain's territories!

Meanwhile, that guy was lounging on a soft couch covered in precious fierce beast hides, eating fruit, then roasted meat, then soup!

What was most infuriating was when the infuriating Young Master asked if she wanted to eat. She politely replied that she had already forgone grain, and he actually sent someone to collect a bowl of dew for her!

"Sigh—"

Lin Suqing sighed, her head bowed, and listlessly collapsed onto the bed. For a moment, she didn't even want to turn over.

Would she really be cultivating in the Northern Wilds from now on?

Six years wasn't that long. For truly powerful cultivators, it was merely the time for one or two closed-door sessions.

She took out a jade tablet from the jade bracelet on her wrist, her fingers gently sliding across it, engraving words onto the jade.

The faint, crystalline glow of the jade tablet reflected on her flawless face. A thoughtful expression occasionally flickered across her small face. After writing for a while, her thin sleeve slipped slightly from her wrist, and she propped her cheek with her jade arm, lost in thought.

As her cultivation progressed and breakthroughs became difficult, she couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy. Over time, she had developed the habit of writing her thoughts into a jade message token.

As she wrote, images flickered before Lin Suqing's eyes.

Under a vast blue sky with rolling white clouds, she sat on the back of a giant wolf, galloping with the wind.

During a twilight banquet, enthusiastic Bear Hug Tribe girls pulled her into dances and celebrations.

Tsk, there were also a few handsome guards around the Young Master who hadn't been knocked unconscious.

The scene shifted, and she saw her junior brother and junior sister in the familiar bamboo forest of their sect, leaning against each other…

'In this desolate Northern Wilds, it's actually not bad.'

The dew on the grassland was quite sweet.

A faint smile appeared on Lin Suqing's lips. Looking at the hundreds of new characters written in the jade token, she contentedly put it back into her jade bracelet, her eyes growing hazy as she was about to drift off to sleep.

Using meditation instead of sleep was a basic professional ethic for cultivators.

But today, Lin Suqing suddenly wanted to take a small detour.

Floating and ethereal, like a profound dream, free and unrestrained, a rare moment of hazy bliss.

Suddenly…

"Fairy Lin, Fairy Lin?"

Lin Suqing was awakened by someone calling her name. The moment she opened her eyes, the faces of three burly men wearing helmets filled her vision, startling her.

She clutched her collar, rolled over, and gripped her sword. The movements were fluid, though her long hair was slightly messy.

"What do you want!"

The three guards quickly took half a step back, indicating they meant no harm.

"Fairy Lin, the Young Master requests your presence immediately. There is an urgent matter to discuss."

Lin Suqing immediately snapped back to attention, sheathed her sword, and agreed. She followed the three men to the adjacent tent, cursing herself for being so careless. How could she have fallen asleep in this situation?

When she arrived at Wu Wang's large tent, she was led to a corner and was astonished to discover a hidden door that connected to a smaller tent.

This was, naturally, Wu Wang's sleeping quarters.

The room was decorated quite lavishly, but Lin Suqing wasn't in the mood to admire it. Seeing Wu Wang lying on the large bed, looking somewhat weak, she quickly asked:

"Young Master, what's wrong?"

Ugh, why am I already starting to care about this guy?

"Come here quickly."

Wu Wang raised his right hand, as if asking for her support.

Lin Suqing quickly rushed to the bedside. Just as she was about to take his hand, she paused.

The Young Master's illness.

Seeing the tired look on his face, she wondered if he was researching how to overcome his condition.

Sigh, to be afflicted with this illness at such a young age, to be almost entirely cut off from romantic relationships for his entire life. Although I, Lin Suqing, am a cultivator and should be detached from desires, I still feel that this young man before me is quite pitiable.

What was the point of having power and influence?

What was the use of possessing formidable strength?

He would always have regrets. His life could never be perfect.

"Young Master, what should I do?"

Lin Suqing asked softly. A mischievous ray of moonlight shone on the tips of her hair, giving her an indescribable aura.

"Touch me, why are you even asking?"

Wu Wang turned his head to glance at Lin Suqing, grumbling with a hint of dejection, "I'm a bit sleepless, so I'll borrow you for a bit. Remember to wake me up tomorrow at noon. I'm still growing and need plenty of sleep."

Lin Suqing: ...

Hmph!

Would you like me to strangle you?

"What are you spacing out for?"

"Ah, coming right up. Young Master, please rest well. See you tomorrow."

Lin Suqing put on a sweet, fake smile and poked Wu Wang's arm hard. He instantly tilted his head and fell into a deep sleep.

Several guards then stepped forward, blocking Lin Suqing out.

They remained vigilant.

Another day passed.

In the large tent that afternoon, only two figures remained: a man and a woman.

"Suqing, is it okay?"

"If the Young Master needs it, I have no problem on my end."

"Is this really okay?"

"Why are you more indecisive than I am, a woman? I don't mind."

"Then, let's begin."

Wu Wang gazed intently at Lin Suqing. "Don't make it difficult. I only need a basic cultivation method to see if I can cultivate."

Lin Suqing responded with a hint of helplessness and explained:

"The Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method that we at the Clear Wind Gazing Moon Sect use for our disciples isn't unique to our sect. It's one of several basic cultivation methods circulating in the Human Domain.

Only the major sects have their own Foundation Establishment Cultivation Methods, allowing their disciples to directly switch to more advanced techniques once their cultivation is profound.

So, Young Master, you don't need to worry. As long as I don't reveal the Gazing Moon Pure Heart Art, I won't be violating sect rules."

"So that's how it is," Wu Wang mused, stroking his chin for a few moments. "Then let's begin. I'm ready."

"Okay."

Lin Suqing nodded solemnly. She took out a meditation cushion from her bracelet and placed it beneath her. Her skirt fluttered as she settled into a proper cross-legged position.

To tell the truth, the meditation posture of female cultivators in the Human Domain was indeed very graceful.

Wu Wang, following her example, had someone bring over a simple jade cushion made from a combination of Thousand Year Warm Jade and Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Core. He sat directly opposite Lin Suqing.

Lin Suqing's eyes widened in astonishment. She asked in a low voice:

"Young Master, does our clan produce so many precious jades?"

"Ah," Wu Wang replied casually, "All the mineral resources within a three-thousand-mile radius of that Great Snow Mountain belong to our clan. This area is considered our clan's territory.

My old mother lives on that Great Snow Mountain. I'll take you to meet her sometime. Maybe she'll even give you a little something."

Lin Suqing couldn't help but tilt her head. "Is the Bear Hug Tribe's territory this vast?"

"Do you think this small area could be the second-largest clan in the Northern Wilds?

This place is the Royal Court, where my father handles clan affairs and holds various sacrificial ceremonies.

My father is the Clan Leader and the clan's chieftain. He has to lead his personal guards on patrols, and he only comes to the Royal Court once every two or three years."

Wu Wang rubbed his temples with a touch of melancholy and sighed.

"Now you should understand the pressure this oddity of mine puts on me.

One wrong step could cause instability in the clan. If this oddity can't be cured, I'll have to find a way for my parents to have another son or daughter."

Lin Suqing asked softly, "Can a daughter also inherit the position of Clan Leader?"

"It's the same," Wu Wang chuckled. "Often, women here have a slightly higher status than men.

On the surface, the Clan Leader makes the decisions;

In reality, the Clan Leader must fully consider the opinions of the various Priests. And the Priests who can truly influence the Clan Leader's decisions are mostly women.

My grandmother is the Priest with the highest status in the clan, and my mother is the Priest with the strongest power in the clan. They are both famous throughout the Northern Wilds.

The wives of newly elected Clan Leaders are mostly Female Priests trained from childhood, proficient in Star Invocation Technique, with exceptionally beautiful appearances, and possessing extensive knowledge..."

Wu Wang paused, glancing towards the direction of the snow mountain from the edge of the tent. He curled his lips slightly.

He hadn't seen his mother in a long time.

Lin Suqing didn't notice Wu Wang's subtle expression. Her eyes lit up as she asked, "Does the Young Master also have such a future Dao companion? Is she cute? Have you met her yet?"

Why is this old aunt... so gossipy?

Wu Wang replied calmly, "There should be, but because of this oddity of mine, my mother and grandmother haven't mentioned it to me. Are you going to teach me or not?"

"Ah, yes, listen carefully. First, I'll tell you what cultivation is. The Sect Leader told us this when we first joined."

Lin Suqing cleared her throat, straightened her posture, and looked at Wu Wang, speaking slowly and earnestly:

"Before cultivating, one must know the past of the Human Domain.

Since ancient times, the Great Wilderness has been filled with countless powerful beings and strong tribes. Yet, our human race is inherently weak. How can we survive?

The innate deities were born to wield the laws of heaven and earth, and various fierce beasts were born with powerful physiques. If our human race is to exist in this world, how can we depend on the strong gods?

Are gods and fierce beasts truly superior in kind!

Fire Emperor Suiren mastered the great path of fire, fought fierce beasts, and opened up the Human Domain!

Heavenly Emperor Fuxi deduced all sorts of cultivation methods from the Eight Trigrams, protecting our Human Domain for a hundred thousand years of peace!

The methods we cultivate today are all the fruits of our ancestors' hard work, for the prosperity of our human race and the flourishing of the Human Domain!

To be born human is to know self-reliance.

The art of cultivation is the inextinguishable path of humanity!"

Wu Wang nodded with a solemn expression, a faint spark igniting in his eyes.

Lin Suqing tried to recall her own experience when she first joined the sect. After a long pause, she finally said:

"Before we officially begin cultivating, let's first understand what 'qi' is, what 'essence' is, and what 'spirit' is..."

As her clear and melodious voice filled the air, Wu Wang quickly entered the zone.

Wu Wang had previously studied the cultivation methods of the Human Domain. Although his understanding was not deep, he had some basic knowledge.

Before long, guided by Lin Suqing, he closed his eyes, focused his mind, and began to breathe in and out, gathering the spiritual energy drifting in the air to condense his first wisp of 'qi'.

He's so young, but he looks quite attractive when he's serious.

Lin Suqing propped her chin on her hand, observing the young man before her. His face was still somewhat childish and overly delicate, yet there was an indescribable aura about his brows.

A pity, he has a mouth.

And he's destined to be the supreme leader of this great grassland, with only six years of interaction with a small cultivator like me.

Why did I change my mind about him so quickly?

Lin Suqing felt a little surprised, then she thought about it carefully.

His strange illness probably accounts for some of it, making me feel quite at ease here.

Hmm?

Lin Suqing was slightly startled and stared at the young man before her.

Wisps of gentle breeze appeared around him. These breezes, mixed with faint blue and green flowing light, converged towards Wu Wang's mouth, nose, palms, and soles.

Absorbing... absorbing spiritual energy?

Absorbing spiritual energy on his first attempt at meditation?

This!

What followed next was a series of shocks for Lin Suqing. Her lips parted slightly, and she couldn't close them for a long time.

Faint starlight appeared around Wu Wang. These starlights converged into streams, winding around Wu Wang in circles, making his face appear almost divine.

Lin Suqing cautiously released her spiritual sense and immediately detected that qi was flowing within Wu Wang.

And the path the qi was flowing through... was the minor heavenly cycle path of the fourth basic cultivation method of the Human Domain, the "Thousand Inhalation Art," which she had just taught Wu Wang!

Lin Suqing couldn't help but lower her head and sigh.

Is this really Wu Wang's first time meditating? His first time encountering the Thousand Inhalation Art?

Heh, hehe.

There truly are people with extraordinary talent in this world. Compared to them, ordinary cultivators like me, who took half a year to complete the first minor heavenly cycle, are simply pathetic.

No wonder my junior disciple chose my junior sister and ran off with her on a boat...

"Huh?"

Wu Wang's brows suddenly furrowed, and the starlight around him flickered. The mass of qi that was close to forming within him suddenly exploded and scattered.

He let out a muffled groan, his face suddenly turning extremely pale, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Lin Suqing was also startled. She leaped up, intending to help Wu Wang stabilize his qi, but her outstretched palm stopped just behind Wu Wang. She then remembered Wu Wang's strange illness.

"Someone!"

Lin Suqing turned her head and shouted, "Quick, someone!"

"I'm fine, cough, cough, cough," Wu Wang wiped the blood from his lips. "My qi just went awry... Are you sure this cultivation method is the genuine one?"

"Hmm?" Lin Suqing couldn't help but tilt her head.

"Circulate your qi as I just said," Wu Wang stood up. "Sit here, the spiritual energy will be more abundant."

Lin Suqing agreed and, with some hesitation, did as he said.

Wu Wang, however, frowned deeply. While observing Lin Suqing's passable graceful figure, he continuously analyzed in his mind where the problem lay.

It seems to be the Star Invocation Technique and the Human Domain cultivation methods...

Repelling each other.