They were two days spent studying ancient texts that proved useless, taking notes on principles that actually worked, and designing an initial draft of Liling’s technique. The draft was almost ready; it only needed a few final adjustments.
But today was not Liling’s day. Today was Xiao Yue’s turn.
We were back in the library, at the same secluded table. Xiao Yue had brought several scrolls on fire techniques. I had brought my notebook, now filled with diagrams and annotations.
"So," she began as she organized the texts, "what is your plan for my technique?"
"Honestly, I am not sure yet."
That surprised her.
"No?"
"I have basic notions thanks to the cultivation manual I made for you. However, Liling has a direct style of frontal combat with explosive force. You are more nuanced."
"Is that good or bad?"
"Neither. Just different. It means I need to study a bit more before I can design something appropriate."
Xiao Yue leaned back in her chair. Her golden eyes studied me with intensity.
"What kind of information do you need?"
Here came the difficult part.
"I need to understand how your body moves when you fight. How your Qi flows through your muscles and meridians. Where the energy accumulates and where it disperses."
"I can describe it."
"Descriptions are not enough. I need to see it directly." She waited for me to continue. "I need to observe your back while you practice combat forms."
Silence followed.
"My back."
"Yes."
"Why my back specifically?"
"Because that is where the main muscles that control your arm and torso movements are concentrated. Muscle groups like the trapezius and the latissimus dorsi coordinate your fire techniques. I can see how they tense and relax without obstructing your range of motion."
Xiao Yue processed the information.
"And what exactly do you need to see?"
"Everything. The muscle patterns, how they change when you circulate Qi, where the energy gathers before you release it. If your dorsal muscle tenses right before you throw a flame, that tells me something about your circulation pattern. If your trapezius relaxes while your Qi flows toward your arms, it indicates a specific route I can map."
"That would require me to wear clothes that expose my back."
"Yes."
Another silence. I prepared myself for her to say no. It was a strange and potentially inappropriate request. In her position, any reasonable person would reject it. But Xiao Yue was not just any person.
"When?" she asked.
I blinked, taken alphabetical.
"What?"
"When do you need to do this?"
"Are you saying yes?"
"Kenji, if you say you need to observe my back to create something effective, I trust you."
Something warm expanded in my chest.
"Thank you."
"Do not thank me yet. If this turns out to be an elaborate excuse for something inappropriate, Liling has permission to give you a beating."
"Noted."
Xiao Yue stood up.
"The library has private study rooms on the third floor. We can use one of those. It is more appropriate than doing it here."
I stood up as well and gathered my things. We went up to the third floor, where the atmosphere was even quieter. The disciples studying on this level were deeply concentrated on advanced texts. No one paid us any attention as we passed.
Xiao Yue opened the door to a small room at the end of the hall. It was simple: a table, two chairs, and good natural lighting coming from a high window. It was perfect for what I needed.
"Wait here," she said. "I am going to change."
She left and closed the door. I stayed alone, organizing my notebook and preparing the sections where I would take notes. I needed to keep this strictly professional. I could not allow my mind to wander. This was a medical observation, nothing more.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Even if Xiao Yue was beautiful. That was a fact my brain registered regardless of my intentions. Still, the focus had to be technical.
The door opened. Xiao Yue entered wearing a modified training robe. The upper part was designed to leave her entire back exposed, from the base of her neck to her waist. Her skin was pale and perfect.
"Does this work?" she asked, turning around.
I swallowed hard.
Professional. Stay professional.
"Yes. It is perfect."
She moved to the center of the room.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Execute your basic combat forms. The ones you use to warm up."
Xiao Yue nodded. She adopted her initial stance and, after a deep breath, she began.
Her movements were fluid. Each transition chained naturally into the next. But what captured my full attention was what was happening on her back. The muscles tensed and relaxed in specific patterns. I could see exactly which groups were activating. The trapezius contracted when she raised her arms, the dorsals flexed when she rotated her torso, and the rhomboids activated when she pulled her shoulders back.
And when she circulated Qi with intent...
Small flashes of golden light appeared under her skin. They traveled along specific lines that matched the texts about meridians I had read.
"Stop," I said.
Xiao Yue froze in the middle of a movement.
"What is it?"
"Repeat that last movement. The turn to the left."
She did it slower this time and I saw the pattern again. The Qi accumulated in her right shoulder and then traveled down her arm in a spiral that ended in her palm.
"Again. But this time circulate the Qi as much as you can without releasing it."
She executed the movement again. This time the golden flashes were brighter. And then I saw it. There was a point right between her shoulder blades where the Qi accumulated momentarily before being distributed. It was like a central node, an intentional distribution point where energy concentrated before continuing its path.
"Interesting," I murmured while taking notes.
"What is interesting?"
"There is an accumulation point on your back. Right here." I pointed to the spot without touching it. "The Qi passes through there before going to your arms."
"Is that bad?"
"Not necessarily. It could be exploited to increase your effectiveness."
I continued observing while she executed different forms. Each one revealed more information about how her body processed energy.
"Now execute one of your fire techniques. The most basic one."
Xiao Yue extended her hand and a small flame appeared over her palm. The Qi pattern changed. The energy accumulated in that central point and then divided into two currents toward both arms. However, one current was notably stronger.
"Do you always use your right hand for fire techniques?"
"Yes. It feels more natural."
"Because your Qi flow favors that side. Look." I turned my notebook to show her a quick diagram. "The Qi divides here, but seventy percent goes to your right side and only thirty to the left."
"Is that a problem?"
"Only if you try to use techniques that require bilateral balance. But if we design something that uses your natural dominance..."
"It would be more effective."
"Exactly."
Xiao Yue dispersed the flame.
"What else do you need to see?"
"Your most powerful technique. The one that requires the most Qi."
She hesitated.
"That could damage the room."
"Then execute it without releasing the energy. I want to see the accumulation pattern."
Xiao Yue adopted a different stance. Her arms moved in a complex pattern and the Qi began to accumulate. This time it was dramatic. Her entire torso lit up with golden light. The flashes were intense, almost blinding. The energy circulated in spirals that converged at that central point between her shoulder blades and then exploded outward in bursts that seemed to have a life of their own.
"Enough," I said.
Xiao Yue dispersed the energy. She was breathing heavily.
"Did you see anything useful?"
"I saw that your body has a unique accumulation pattern. That central point is not a defect. It is a feature we can use to your advantage."
After an hour, I had pages of notes: flow diagrams, muscle tension maps, and specific energy routes.
"You can stop," I said finally.
Xiao Yue relaxed. She was sweating slightly. She turned to look at me while putting a normal robe over her training one.
"Did you find what you needed?"
"More than I expected. Your body has an impressive natural efficiency. The coordination between your muscles and your energy is at a very high level. Your Qi flow is exceptionally clean."
"But?"
"But there are areas for improvement. Points where the Qi disperses unnecessarily or where muscle tension works against the flow. Look at this." I pointed to my notes. "When you do this form, your dorsal muscles tense too much. That creates resistance in the arm meridian. It is a minimal loss, perhaps three percent, but it adds up."
Xiao Yue studied the diagrams.
"I never noticed."
"You had no way of knowing. You need an external perspective to see these patterns. It is like trying to see your own back without a mirror. Also, when you accumulate Qi in your center before releasing it, there is a small dispersion here. In a long fight, that could mean the difference between winning and losing."
"Can you fix it?"
"I can design a technique that works with that. One that uses those characteristics as advantages. Most techniques assume everyone has the same energy flow, but every cultivator has a unique pattern based on their physiology and mind. Your Qi naturally accumulates in that central point. Most instructors would tell you to eliminate that accumulation so the flow is more direct, to optimize speed."
"And what do you propose?"
"That you take advantage of it. Use that point as a concentrator, like a capacitor that stores energy before releasing it all at once."
Xiao Yue’s eyes lit up.
"That would have more impact than a constant flow."
"Exactly. It aligns with your preference for precise control. You can accumulate energy gradually and then release it all at once. That would give you a devastating blow."
I leaned back in the chair, meditating.
"I have been considering something related to energy absorption. Your fire could take the opponent’s energy and convert it into something that benefits you. Feeding your own fire with your enemy’s Qi."
"That sounds complex."
"It is. That is why I need a few more days to design it from scratch. Ancient texts mention something called Devouring Fire. Unlike normal fire, which reduces everything to ashes, Devouring Fire absorbs the energy of its target to strengthen itself."
"That would fit with what you are saying about my accumulation point."
"Exactly. It would create a unique technique, something no one else could use because it is designed specifically for your body. But it must be well balanced. Otherwise, you could absorb corrupt Qi or end up draining yourself."
Xiao Yue nodded seriously.
"Then take as much time as you need. I prefer something safe."
I put away my notes and we prepared to leave. The third floor was almost empty. Most of the students had gone to dinner.
"Are you going to the dining hall?" she asked.
"No. I am going to start my research now. I want to take advantage of the quiet in the library."
"Do not kill yourself working."
"I tell you the same. Do not practice until exhaustion just because you now have a manual that works."
Xiao Yue laughed and said goodbye as she headed toward the stairs. I went to the advanced techniques section. I found what I was looking for in a dusty area: scrolls about energy drainage and fire variations. They were written in a technical and direct language that, finally, did not abuse unnecessary lyricism.
I smiled as I took the first notes of the night. This was going to work. I just needed time to refine it.
*******
Author’s Note: My goal is to make Xiao Yue a vampiric cultivator who can steal his enemies' energy, haha. Has anyone ever seen Avatar: The Last Airbender? It’s kind of like when Aang takes away someone's powers!
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