Cultivation is Creation

After our conversation, Jiaxin was pulled away to play another piece, with a shy wave she said goodbye, leaving me to look around and see what my fellow cultivators were getting up to.

Nearby, Yan Li conversed with the village elders, his imperial bearing somehow managing to be both impressive and approachable. He nodded politely as Elder Wu enthusiastically explained something, occasionally offering comments that made the old men nod in appreciation.

What caught my attention most, however, was the sight of Zhang Wei and Shen Xuanyu standing awkwardly at the edge of a circle of villagers who appeared to be playing some sort of game. Both cultivators wore expressions of complete bewilderment, trying and failing to look as though they understood what was happening.

I made my way over, curious about what had confounded two Stage 9 cultivators so thoroughly.

"Senior Brother Shen, Senior Brother Zhang," I greeted them with a respectful nod. "Enjoying the festivities?"

Shen Xuanyu's normally confident expression faltered. "Ah, Junior Brother Ke. These village... activities are quite... interesting."

Zhang Wei nodded too enthusiastically. "Yes. Very... traditional. We were just observing the... cultural significance."

I glanced at the game being played.

It was a simple village pastime called "Catching the Golden Carp," where players used paper nets to scoop small wooden fish from a tub of water. The challenge came from the fragility of the paper nets, which would tear if used too forcefully. It required a delicate touch rather than strength—something these combat-focused cultivators apparently found baffling.

Both cultivators nodded, their expressions clearing with understanding.

"Ah, just as I thought," Shen Xuanyu said, as though he'd known all along. "A test of control rather than power. Similar to how one must regulate qi flow when performing delicate techniques."

"Precisely," Zhang Wei agreed. "It teaches children the value of restraint—an important lesson for future cultivators."

I bit back a smile at their attempt to relate everything to cultivation. "Would you like to try? I'm sure the children would be impressed to see such distinguished cultivators participate."

Both men suddenly found reasons to look elsewhere.

"Perhaps later," Shen Xuanyu said, adjusting his sleeves. "I wouldn't want to... intimidate the children with my skill."

"Yes, and we wouldn't want to disrupt their enjoyment," Zhang Wei added quickly. "It's their festival, after all."

I nodded, deciding to spare them further discomfort. "Of course. There are many other activities to enjoy. The food stalls, for instance, offer some local specialties you might find interesting."

The mention of food seemed to relieve them. "An excellent suggestion, Junior Brother Ke," Shen Xuanyu said, already backing away from the game. "We should sample the local cuisine. For... cultural appreciation."

As they made their hasty retreat toward the food stalls, I couldn't help but smile. It was oddly humanizing to see these powerful cultivators, who could face down hordes of spirit beasts without flinching, become completely flustered by a children's game.

I spotted my parents near a game stall where participants threw cloth balls at stacked pottery. Father was taking aim with surprising concentration, while Mother cheered him on.

"Almost had it that time!" she encouraged as his ball bounced off the top pot without toppling it.

"The wind shifted," Father muttered, though there was hardly any breeze in the lantern-lit square.

"One more try?" the stall keeper offered. "Special discount for the father of our village hero!"

Father sighed, reaching for another coin. "Very well, but this is the last one."

"Let me," I said, stepping forward and placing a coin on the counter. "For luck."

The stall keeper handed me three cloth balls, each one weighted with dried beans. The objective was simple—knock down the pyramid of clay pots to win a prize. Without using cultivation techniques, it was primarily a test of aim and power.

I hefted the first ball, getting a feel for its weight. These village games were designed to be challenging but not impossible. Like I explained to Yan Ziheng, there was always a trick to them. In this case, I suspected the bottom center pot was the key.

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With a casual throw that used nothing but ordinary human strength, I sent the ball sailing through the air to strike precisely at the junction between the bottom center pot and the one beside it. The impact reverberated through the structure, causing it to wobble but not fall.

"Close!" the stall keeper grinned, clearly thinking I'd missed the weak point.

For my second throw, I adjusted slightly, aiming a fraction to the left of my previous target. This time, the ball struck true, and the entire pyramid collapsed with a satisfying clatter of pottery.

"We have a winner!" the stall keeper announced, gesturing to the prizes. "Take your pick, young immortal!"

The prizes were simple—carved wooden animals, woven grass dolls, and simple jewelry made from polished stones. I selected a wooden dragon, intricately carved with scales and whiskers.

"For my future brother or sister," I said, handing it to Mother. "Their first toy."

Mother's eyes filled with tears as she accepted the small dragon, cradling it as tenderly as if it were the child itself. "Oh, Yin..."

"It's beautiful craftsmanship," Father noted, examining the carving. "Old Huang's work, if I'm not mistaken. He always did have a way with wood."

"I thought you might like to give it to the baby yourself when the time comes," I told Mother, "but if you'd prefer something else—"

"No!" she interrupted, clutching the dragon protectively. "It's perfect. The first gift from their big brother." She blinked back tears, her pregnancy emotions clearly getting the better of her. "I just wish you could be here when the little one arrives."

I would likely be at the sect or away on a mission when my sibling was born.

"I'll try to visit as soon as I can after the birth," I promised. "But you know, if you lived closer to Azure Peak..."

"There's a village near Three Rivers about two days' journey from the sect," Father said, his expression thoughtful. "I have a cousin there who owns a tailor shop. He's been looking to retire."

"That would be perfect! Three Rivers is known for its strong spiritual energy flows—the rivers create natural qi channels that would be beneficial for both Mother and the baby. And I could visit regularly without needing special permission from the sect."

"It's certainly worth considering," Father nodded. "Though moving a business is no small undertaking. We'd need to inform our regular customers, arrange transport for all our equipment and inventory..."

"I could help with that," I offered quickly. "The sect often hires merchant caravans for supply runs. I could speak with the logistics cultivators about adding your belongings to a scheduled transport. I’ll handle the costs."

Mother squeezed my hand. "We'll think on it carefully. For now, let's enjoy the festival. I believe the Elder is looking for you—it must be nearly time for your speech."

"And now," Elder Wu announced right then, "we'd like to invite our very own Immortal Ke Yin to say a few words to his home village."

I froze.

Despite Mother's warning earlier, I hadn't actually prepared anything. Public speaking had never been my forte in either life.

"Just speak from the heart," Liu Chang murmured encouragingly before stepping back to join the crowd.

I found myself standing alone before the gathered villagers, their faces turned expectantly toward me, lit by lantern light and full of pride and hope. My parents stood front and center, Mother dabbing at her eyes with her sleeve while Father's expression held such complete confidence in me that it was almost painful to see.

For a moment, I panicked. What could I possibly say that would meet their expectations?

"Go on, Master," Azure prompted in my mind. "You can do this."

Taking a deep breath, I began.

"People of Floating Reed Village," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "My home."

The simple acknowledgment brought smiles to many faces.

"When I left to join Azure Peak Sect, I carried this place with me—not just in memory, but in essence. Everything I've learned, everything I've become, has its roots here."

This wasn't entirely true for me personally, but it was true for the original Ke Yin, whose body I now inhabited. And in a strange way, it had become true for me as well. This village, these people, had become more than just background characters in my current life. They'd become real, important, worth protecting.

"Cultivation provides many paths to power," I continued. "Some seek it through combat, others through alchemy or formations. But the truest power comes from knowing what you're fighting for." I gestured to encompass the village square, the celebration, the families gathered together. "This is what matters. Not spiritual stones or rare treasures or sect rankings, but people living peaceful lives, children growing up without fear, communities supporting each other through good times and hardships alike."

I caught Yan Li's approving nod from the crowd, and Su Yue's small smile of agreement.

"As cultivators, our duty is to stand between ordinary people and the dangers they can't face themselves. Beast waves, natural disasters, and..." I hesitated, not wanting to frighten anyone, "other threats that exist in this world. We seek strength not for ourselves, but for those who depend on us."

While I wasn’t delusional to think that I could change the way this world works, I had hope that I could change the lives of these people, my people.

My gaze found Jiaxin in the crowd, standing with her fellow musicians, her expression thoughtful rather than simply admiring.

"Not everyone is meant to walk the cultivation path—and that's as it should be. The world needs farmers and craftspeople, teachers and merchants, musicians and artists. Each path has its own form of cultivation, its own way of contributing to the greater whole."

I could see some of the village elders nodding in agreement, appreciating that I wasn't dismissing their life's work as insignificant compared to spiritual cultivation.

"So tonight, as we celebrate together, know that when I return to Azure Peak, I carry Floating Reed Village with me. In my heart, in my determination, in my reason for pursuing cultivation at all." I bowed deeply to the assembled villagers. "Thank you for being my foundation. I will strive to be worthy of your pride."

For a moment there was silence, and I feared I'd somehow said the wrong thing.

Then applause broke out, starting with my father and quickly spreading through the entire gathering. Even the cultivators joined in—Liu Chang's deep-chested approval, Su Yue's clapping, Yan Li's dignified acknowledgment, and surprisingly, even Shen Xuanyu and Zhang Wei offering respectful recognition.

As I stepped down from the platform, Mother engulfed me in a fierce hug. "That was perfect," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Father simply squeezed my shoulder, his eyes saying what words couldn't.