It took about a half hour to find it. Although once he did there was no mistaking it. The stump was massive. At least 15 feet across. Upon walking into the small clearing, Will quickly sat upon the stump and began to breathe in through his nose and out through his mouth.
Knowing what to look for this time Will easily senses the sensation of a sharp, non-painful static electricity across his skin. Only this time the feeling is more intense. Much more. He switches his breathing to the one Amos showed him to start absorbing the Qi and immediately Will can feel it surging into and through him. It permeates his skin and then flows through veins he wasn’t aware of like a rapids before a water fall. Rushing through him and not stopping.
Will almost loses his concentration but is able to hold on and maintain his breathing.
Once he feels this raw energy hit his center he attempts to rotate and move it in the way Amos’s diagram explained. It is definitely tougher at first than he thought it would be. Both grasping the concept of trying to control the Qi and also moving it in the way Amos wants. It feels almost like going against the grain. He can manage it, but the Qi is fighting it the entire time.
For a second he thinks that maybe he’s doing something wrong, but after double checking his memory, he can’t find any mistakes. Not knowing what else to do he simply continues to rotate, move and cycle his Qi the way he was shown. Always adding more from the ambient Qi in the atmosphere.
How had he missed feeling all this Qi before? It is so potent, so thick around him. It would be like walking underwater and not noticing that he was wet.
Hours go by. At least he thinks it does. His focus is so intense it’s difficult to gauge the passing of time.
…
Amos continues to watch the boy as he cultivates.
He has been here since Will started. Going along on a hunch and staying hidden. His curiosity haven gotten the best of him.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
He sits on a tree branch, well above Will, observing him.
Never before has he seen someone so new to this sense Qi like that so quickly, and never in such fine detail. And rarely has he seen so much Qi able to be absorbed at once.
This boy will be a monster.
…
A hand lands on Will’s shoulder. Shaking him out of his concentration and abruptly ending his cultivation.
“That’s enough for now Will.”
Will looks around himself. What time is it? How long had he been there?
All of a sudden a loud sound emanates from Will’s stomach.
“I’m starving! Sir do you think it would be ok if I ate some food?” He pauses for a second. “And maybe drink a couple canteens of water. I can’t believe how thirsty I am.”
“Well that would make sense. You’ve been sitting here for 24 hours.”
A shocked look comes across Will’s face. “A whole day?! That’s not possible! There was no way I was there for more than 3 to 5 hours.”
“Qi helps sustain you. It’s why the stronger you get the longer you live. For someone brand new to cultivating, it helped allow you to ignore your physical needs and continue cultivating.”
“Wow…that’s awesome!”
Amos snorts. A smirk threatening to break onto his serious face. “Yea, I guess it is.” The innocence of youth. It’s been a while since Amos has saw it. Especially in one so old. “By the way, how old are you? 12? 13?”
Will’s eyebrow twitches. “15.” He says through gritted teeth. “I just…look young for my age.” He mumbles.
“You haven’t hit your growth yet have you?”
“Growth?” Will eyebrows scrunch up in confusion for a second. “Oh! You mean my growth spurt! Yea I guess puberty is taking its time on me.”
Amos chooses to ignore the teenagers struggles with life’s timing and changes the subject. “Let’s head back.”
They walk back to the cabin where a whole meal of mugs of water, and multiple of some sort of bird, still steaming, is left on the table.
Will’s eyes get big. He looks up at Amos. Before he even has a chance to ask Amos just grunts a laugh. “Dig in kid.”
“Thank you!”
Will rushes to the table and digs in. Amos sits there and eats a small meal, leaving the bulk to Will. He doesn’t really need to eat anyway.
“I’m going into the forest for a while to see if I can gather a few things. After you’re done, clean up and get some sleep. Your room is the one on the right. We’ll go from there after you wake up.”
“Ok!”
Will can’t believe it but he eats everything that was left of the food. And downs all the water. He doesn’t see a bathroom or an outhouse so he just goes behind back of the cabin and relieves his bladder back there.
After he’s done he heads to the bedroom Amos signified was now his. Exhaustion hits Will like a hammer. Like his body knew the chance for sleep was close and makes its move to pounce.
