A sudden jolt wakes me up with the feeling of something or someone on top of me, and when I open my eyes, the first thing I see is Ling Xia's smiling face. Seeing that I'm awake, she excitedly says “Wen, Lianhua told me it's your birthday. Happy birthday!"

  I blink in surprise. Ling Xia's boundless energy leaves me stunned, and her radiant smile seems to light up the whole room. As I watch her, I can't help but compare this cheerful girl with the fragile, broken version I met when she first arrived here. Children's ability to recover from certain things is frightening, and before I know it, I find myself smiling in response to her exclamation.

  "Thank you, Ling Xia”, I say calmly as I settle myself a little on the bed and she climbs off me to sit on the edge of it near the headboard. I look at her again and am once more surprised to notice how fond I've grown of her over these months despite my initial reluctance, because after what happened with the rune book and the promise I asked of her, Ling Xia has taken it very seriously and has since become my shadow.

  At first, I had two fears regarding Ling Xia's behavior. The first was that she would develop an excessive dependence on me, but her interaction with the maids' children has partly alleviated that concern. The second fear was that, when she accompanied us outside the palace when I went out with Lianhua to shop or attend some shows, the other families would try something. However, after several outings in which absolutely nothing happened, I realized that my mother was right and that a little girl was not interesting enough to them to cause trouble.

  The best part was noticing how Lianhua, although she tried to hide it, was slightly annoyed at first, especially when little Ling Xia called me Wen without adding my title.

  However, when I pointed out that Ling Xia helping me with small tasks allowed me to be more independent from her and thus gave her more time to focus on her own cultivation and improve as a bodyguard, her attitude changed.

  To my surprise, not only did she accept that explanation, but it seemed to spark a resolution in her, as she disappeared every afternoon for half an hour, and just a month ago she thanked me for the time I had given her, telling me that she had opened her fourth gate, whatever that is, as I have decided not to ask until I finish my Body Tempering.

  Before my thoughts can go any deeper, I feel Ling Xia shake my body as she says with a childish pout “Wen! You're lost in your thoughts again! You're not listening to me!"

  I let out a small laugh and apologize, saying “Sorry, Ling Xia. I was distracted."

  She stares at me as if waiting for something more, so I gently stroke her head as I add “As compensation, and because today is my birthday, you don't have to study. We can spend the morning playing."

  Her eyes instantly light up, and before I can react, she jumps up excitedly, exclaiming “Really?! Seriously?!"

  "Really”, I reply, amused by her exaggerated reaction.

  "Thank you, Wen! Thank you, thank you!" she says and begins to celebrate by jumping up and down on the bed while I watch her with a mixture of tenderness and resignation.

  "Ling Xia”, I say softly, hoping she will calm down a little. "Go find Lianhua to help me get dressed. Then we can go have breakfast together."

  "Yes!" she shouts, and before I can stop her, she jumps out of bed, landing with surprising agility for her age, then runs to the door, flings it open, and disappears down the hallway in search of Lianhua.

  As I wait for them to return, I close my eyes and soon begin to visualize the Qi floating in the room, after which I begin to grab several specks and soon have six of them firmly grasped as I feel the familiar pressure they exert on my mind.

  I hesitate for a moment, and the temptation to form a seventh mental hand is strong, but I still remember the last time I tried it. I was bedridden all day with an unbearable headache, plus the next day I had to listen to my mother's lecture about the dangers of overexerting myself when it's not necessary, so with a resigned sigh, I decide not to push myself any further today and release the specks of Qi, letting them return to the stream.

  I sense the presence of Lianhua and Ling Xia before opening my eyes, and when I do, I see Lianhua calmly taking out today's clothes while Ling Xia watches me with obvious curiosity in her bright eyes.

  I clear my throat a little uncomfortably under the little girl's steady gaze and say to Lianhua “I'm ready to get dressed."

  Lianhua nods silently and soon helps me get ready. The routine of getting dressed is familiar, and I appreciate the precision and gentleness with which Lianhua performs each step, making sure everything is in place. Once ready, I sit down in the chair, and the two of us, along with a still-excited Ling Xia, leave to go to breakfast.

  We arrive at the dining room where my mother and Lingxi are already waiting for us. As always, the atmosphere is calm, although today there is a touch of anticipation in the room. My mother, impeccably dressed, looks at me with a slight smile that softens her usual serene expression, and Lingxi, at her side, is as discreet and serious as ever.

  "Happy birthday, Wen”, my mother says in that soft but authoritative voice that characterizes her so well.

  "Thank you, Mother”, I reply with a slight nod as Lianhua pulls my chair up to the table, making sure I'm comfortable before sitting down next to me, and Ling Xia sits to my right, unable to hide her excitement.

  Breakfast begins in a relaxed atmosphere, and I see that the table is adorned with small porcelain plates containing a selection of fresh fruit, stuffed steamed buns, and cups of steaming tea. Ling Xia, as always, seems to have difficulty sitting still, but her enthusiasm is contagious.

  "How do you plan to spend the day, Wen?" my mother asks, breaking the silence as she takes a sip of tea.

  I look at my mother as I assess the seriousness in her tone "I didn't have any specific plans, I was just thinking of enjoying a quiet day."

  My mother nods, but I know she's thinking about something else, and she clears up my doubts after a brief pause as she finishes her tea.

  "I've decided that today we'll just have a small celebration”, she begins thoughtfully. "So far, all my interactions with the city's most important members have been out of courtesy or for work, and I'd prefer to keep it that way."

  "A small celebration?" I ask, not quite understanding what she means, since until now I doubted there would even be one.

  "Yes”, she continues. "It will just be us and some of the maids and their children, since you were the one who convinced me to let them come every day. So it will be a simple event, without unnecessary luxuries."

  I smile when I hear that, feeling relieved that I won't have to deal with formalities, so I reply “I have no problem with that, Mother. It will be much better that way."

  Lianhua nods beside me, probably relieved too that the party won't be a big event. Ling Xia, for her part, seems more interested in finishing her bun than in what we're discussing, although she seems to perk up a little at the mention that the children she has befriended will be there.

  Suddenly, with the topic of my birthday, something comes to mind, and looking at Ling Xia, I ask “By the way, when is your birthday? I don't think you've ever told us."

  I see Ling Xia's hand freeze as she is bringing what is left of her bun to her mouth, and she seems to shrink as she puts the bun back on the plate and stares at me, answering in a low voice “It's because I've never said."

  "Well, what are you waiting for?" I say. "When is your birthday?"

  Ling Xia seems to shrink at my question, and the sight of four people staring at her seems to make her shrink a little more, but she finally answers “My birthday was on the seventeenth of the thirteenth month."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "But that was four months ago!" I exclaim, and I notice how Ling Xia seems to want to make herself a little smaller so she can go unnoticed, so I lower my voice and ask her more softly “Why didn't you tell us?"

  "Because I didn't want to bother anyone”, she replies, still staring at the table.

  "How could you bother anyone with something so important?" I say in a reassuring tone. "And tell me, how old did you turn?"

  Ling Xia hesitates for a moment, but finally answers “I turned seven."

  Hearing her answer, I look at my mother, who had been listening to my conversation despite not saying anything, and I see her smiling at me encouragingly, so I ask her “Mom, is there still time for us to celebrate Ling Xia's birthday at the party, even if it's late?"

  I notice Ling Xia stops looking at her plate and looks at us with a mixture of expectation and fear in her eyes, which does not seem to go unnoticed by my mother, as she looks at her warmly and says “If Ling Xia doesn't mind, of course we can do that."

  Ling Xia seems to shrink back under my mother's gaze and replies “But I don't want to cause trouble on Wen's birthday."

  "That's nonsense, the more the merrier!" I exclaim as I alternate my gaze between my mother and Ling Xia. "Mom, tell everyone to organize it so that it's Ling Xia's birthday party too."

  "Okay, Wen”, my mother replies. "But I think we'd better finish breakfast before it gets cold."

  We continue eating breakfast in silence when my mother surprises me by taking a sip of tea, looking directly at me with a more serious expression, and saying “Wen, there's something I want to ask you. Are you going to start cultivating today?"

  I'm surprised by the question, even though I had already made the decision long ago, so I reply “No, I wasn't planning to. I just wanted to relax and enjoy the day."

  To my surprise, my mother smiles mischievously and says “I figured as much. But since you're going to be doing Muscle Tempering, there's something you should know. You can even consider it a birthday present."

  I stare at her as curiosity begins to get the better of me, so I play along and ask “What is it?"

  "When you finish doing the Muscle Tempering, you won't have to keep doing the leg exercises you do with Lianhua every week”, she says without losing her smile.

  Surprise hits me immediately and my eyes widen before I ask in astonishment “What do you mean? Why is that?"

  My mother leans forward slightly, her face more relaxed than usual and still smiling as she says “I don't know exactly. For that, you would have to ask someone with more knowledge. But what is known is that once the Muscle Tempering is completed, although you can exercise to increase strength, the Qi somehow prevents the muscles from degrading and losing that strength if you stop doing so."

  That revelation leaves me stunned, so I ask him, somewhere between annoyed and surprised “Then why didn't anyone tell me this before?"

  She looks at me with an understanding but firm smile before answering “Because I wanted to prevent you from falling into a temptation that could have made us all regret it."

  Her words make me think, and although I don't like to admit it, she's right. I shut my mouth and remain silent, understanding that my mother had made that decision with my well-being in mind. Meanwhile, breakfast continues and soon the plates are empty.

  I look at the remains of breakfast, but my mind continues to revolve around what my mother just said. The temptation to advance my cultivation grows within me, and soon, despite my efforts, I know I will give in.

  I sigh and look at Lianhua to say “Lianhua, take me to the bathroom, please."

  My mother, who has been watching me with a slight smile on her lips, looks at me with an amused expression and asks, clearly enjoying the situation “Why are you in such a hurry to take a bath?"

  I feel the heat rising to my cheeks, knowing full well what is coming, and without looking her in the face, I reply while trying to maintain my composure “I don't want to stain anything with the disgusting liquid that comes out when I cultivate."

  After saying those words, I have Lianhua take me out of the dining room as quickly as possible to escape my mother's light laughter.

  After leaving the room, I notice that Ling Xia has also come out with us, so I say “Lianhua, wait a moment."

  Lianhua stops, and I turn my head to look at Ling Xia, who has also stopped and has an expression that is a mixture of fear and hope, I guess because of the previous conversation about the birthday.

  "Xia”, I say, and she seems surprised that I address her by her first name, as it's the first time I've ever done so. "I have something to do, and I want you to do something for me."

  Xia recovers from her surprise and replies in a slightly more cheerful voice “What do you want me to do?"

  "I want you to go back to the room and tell my mother that I've asked you to help set up the birthday party”, I say, looking at her as seriously as I can. "You have to make sure, since the birthday party is for both of us, that it's as perfect as possible. Do you think you can do that for me?"

  Xia thinks about it for a moment and finally nods seriously as she replies “I'll make sure of that, Wen."

  After those words, she turns around and goes back into the dining room.

  I signal to Lianhua to continue pushing the chair, which she does while asking me “Do you think it's a good idea?"

  "I have no idea, but staying with me while I cultivate alone would only bore her and lead to a lot of questions that I'm sure my mother wouldn't want me to answer”, I tell Lianhua. "And with this excuse, she'll be close to my mother, who I'm sure will make sure she's okay and doesn't do anything strange."

  And with those words, we continue silently on our way to the bathroom.

  When we arrive at the bathroom, we notice that the tub is completely empty and stare at it for a moment as we realize our mistake, after which Lianhua says to me with a slight smile “Don't worry, I'll make sure they fill it while you cultivate. Also, I'll ask a couple of Nei Wei to stay outside to make sure no one disturbs you."

  "Thank you, Lianhua. But before you go, can you bring me something to sit on? Something soft that I can throw away afterwards so I'm not uncomfortable”, I ask, realizing that I will be cultivating for several hours and there is nothing to sit on in the bathroom.

  Lianhua nods, thinking for a moment, and says “Sure, I'll be right back."

  Without wasting any more time, Lianhua leaves the bathroom and I am left alone for a few minutes. Shortly after, Lianhua returns carrying some soft cushions, which she places near the wall while saying “This will do, Zhāohuán Wen ."

  After placing them, she helps me undress with her usual care and then settles me onto the cushions, making sure my back is well supported against the wall.

  "Is that okay?" she asks me as she makes sure everything is in order.

  I nod, feeling ready to begin, and say “Perfect, Lianhua. Let me know half a period before the party starts so I have time to clean up and get ready."

  Lianhua nods again "Don't worry, I'll also make sure the tub is full of water for when you're done."

  "Thank you very much”, I say sincerely.

  After nodding in agreement, Lianhua leaves and I am left alone in the tranquility of the bathroom. I close my eyes and begin to visualize the Qi as I focus on the specks floating around me. By focusing on them, I soon manage to catch six specks of neutral Qi, as I have called them to differentiate them from those that give me strange sensations.

  Without wasting any time, I bring them close to my body, where they are absorbed like drops of water being swallowed by a sponge. The sensation is gentle, almost relaxing, and I feel my body responding to the act. However, I can't help but notice a difference. The last time, when I cultivated for the first time, I was inside my father's Qi gathering formation, which increased the amount of specks there. Now, without that formation, the amount of Qi specks is much smaller.

  Not only that, but after a few minutes I see that I have completely emptied all the Qi within my sphere of influence and there is nothing left for me to absorb. I concentrate on observing the blurred area outside my vision and notice how the river of Qi, as I have called it, is slowly bringing more specs closer to my sphere of influence.

  I sigh and prepare to wait patiently for the river of Qi to bring more specks within my reach, and as soon as it does, I immediately grab the new specks and absorb them, but the pace is agonizingly slow, perhaps two or three specks per minute. Compared to my first session inside the formation, where the Qi gathered as fast as I was able to use it, this feels tedious and endless.

  I start to get bored. Between specks, my mind begins to wander. I notice the other specks, the ones I've never known exactly what they are and that give me different sensations. Just to pass the time, I try again to catch them as I have done so many times before, but as always, they pass through my mental hand, impossible to grasp, and I become frustrated by that fact once again.

  With each passing minute, my mind slips further into tedium, and now I understand why some cultivators would pay fortunes for a Qi gathering formation. Without them, progress is desperately slow, and it's no wonder that people take years to advance in their cultivation without these formations.

  And since I can't stop thinking about the formations, inevitably, my mind can't help but wander to the book on Runes, and with nothing better to do, I start thinking about the runes and examining them, remembering that in the strange state I entered and which I have again been unable to replicate, I had noticed that the explanation accompanying each rune was not entirely correct.

  So I spend my time between specks, absorbed as I remember the runes, when suddenly I notice something. As I imagine the Water rune, some of those strange specks that I have never been able to grasp begin to resonate, as if the rune were calling them in some way. I am surprised, and the Water rune dissolves from my mind in surprise, causing the specks to stop resonating.

  Intrigued, I imagine the Water rune again, this time paying more attention. Once again, the strange specks begin to resonate. Just for the sake of trying, I attempt to grab one, but as before, I cannot catch it. I become a little frustrated, but upon closer inspection, I notice something else, not all the specks are resonating, only some.

  I decide to try other runes and quickly imagine them in my mind one by one. My efforts are rewarded when I reach the Yin rune and the few specks that had not resonated before now begin to do so.

  Seeing this, I decide to call the specks that resonate with the Water rune Water specks and the other specks Yin specks. Although I still can't grab them, at least I know they respond to the runes in some way, and that makes me wonder about the specks that resonate with the other elements.

  The rest of the time I spend testing while absorbing the specks of what I have now decided to officially call neutral Qi, but my attention is more on the elemental specks, as I have decided to call them collectively. I try different runes, and apart from seeing that the Qi rune resonates with all the specks equally, I can't do much more than observe and speculate.

  As my mind continues to wander among these conjectures, I feel a gentle shake on my shoulder and hear Lianhua's voice telling me that it's time.