"The outer disciple who had ventured to the southern regions has yet to return. I haven't even heard a single message from them since their departure." Youshan spoke as he mulled over the morning reports.

  Standing on the other side of his desk within his quarters was Qin Jie, standing at attention. He had been called to his Master's audience at sunrise- taking time away from training the junior disciple who still rested within the forests of the mountain.

  "So I'm thinking of sending you and Xai to the south to check up on them." Youshan continued.

  The senior raised a brow. "I understand myself, but why bring the junior along? I'm sure I will be more then enough to handle whatever issues the outer disciples have acquired."

  Youshan waved the words away with a hand. "I am well aware, Senior Jie. But you've said yourself the young man is progressing rather quickly, has he not?"

  Qin nodded.

  "Then take him towards the south. Call it... on field training." The master stated with a slight smirk. "It will do him well to see what he is expected to handle within the higher ranks. Of course, I still expect you to do much of the heavy lifting. But regardless my point still stands."

  Qin pursed his lips, but ultimately put his hands together and bowed to his master. "As you wish Master Wu." The senior began to turn away, but a scroll floated before him, being held aloft by a thick cloud of mist.

  "You may need this. Don't want to go to the wrong place like last time after all." Youshan smirked.

  Qin scowled as he felt his cheeks grow warm. "I am well aware of the issues that arose during my first mission." He stated before snatching the scroll out of the air and heading towards the door, attempting fruitlessly to tune out the laughing of the sect master.

  ***

  Xai sat cross legged in the forest clearing. He kept careful control of his breathing, in taking as much of the ambient Ki around him as he could to pull it into his dantian. Over the passed few hours after Qin's departure to the sect hall Xai had did little else but increase his Ki reserves. However, over such little time, and with so little Ki in the air, it had hardly done much.

  The tome holding the Silver Mist Sect's technique lay before him. He'd trained to perform the technique restlessly the passed two days within the forest, but it was far more complicated then he expected. After being able to perform the weightless technique so easily, he expected the sect's technique to be similar. According to Senior Jie, the basic method of expanding one's Ki beyond their physical body was used for both techniques.

  Fortunately, Xai had progressed through his skill with the weightless technique rather well. He was now able to reach the 50 foot high branch with around three-quarters as much Ki as he had needed initially. In fact, if he tried hard enough, he could nearly leap over the entire 60 foot tall tree. But he hadn't quite crested it yet.

  The junior's eyes snapped open when he heard footsteps behind him. He quickly stood and spun around, expecting to see some curious or ferocious beast stalking towards him. Instead he saw a tall, handsome man with flowing black hair.

  "Oh, Senior Jie." Xai bowed to his superior. "I didn't sense you."

  "As you shouldn't. But I do have something to speak with you about." The senior stated, pulling a scroll from his robe. "There will be a change of plans. We will be heading south."

  Xai's brows knit together. "Why's that?"

  Qin simply unfurled the scroll and turned it towards Xai. It was a map of southern Azuma. From the mountain ranges that separated the southern region from the central one where Dantang, as well as the Silver Mist Sect, resided. On the northern side of the southern region, at the base of the mountains a town was marked and labeled: Xuefeng.

  "An outer disciple was sent there many weeks ago to sort out a an issue with the distribution of illegal goods. However since he arrived at the town he has gone completely dark. Master Wu has asked me to go there and see if the disciple is even still alive, and complete the mission they could not. And to bring you along with me."

  Xai scanned over the map one more time before looking to the senior. "Do you think I'm ready? I haven't even performed the sect's basic technique yet. Not only that; I'm still at F-rank."

  "With your Ki, you're at least nearing E-rank. But even so I will be able to handle anything you cannot. For the most part this will simply act as a glimpse into what you're expected to accomplish on your own as you advance through the sect hierarchy."

  Xai nodded. "Well... when do we head out?"

  "Now, well, after you gather your things I suppose. You won't need much. Just grab a bag with some simple bedding and a bit of food. I can get us to the mountains in the south within a day. And into the town by the next morning."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Xai's eyes widened. "How? It's several dozen miles of land from here to there."

  "Don't underestimate the strength of a senior disciple." Was Qin's only response. "Now get back to your quarters and gather your things. I expect to see you by the exit of the sect by noon."

  ***

  Xai had quickly gathered his things for departure. He was halfway through packing some bedding when a knock at his door startled him.

  "Xai, you're in there right?" A familiar voice came through.

  Xai quickly walked to the door and slid it open. Before him was a young white haired woman. Her eyes were a deep scarlet. Her face was contorted into an annoyed scowl.

  "Oh... Toya. I was just-"

  "Where have you been? I haven't seen you at all since I got out of the infirmary." She asked, cutting Xai off.

  "I've just been training with a senior disciple." Xai stated, tempted to take a step back from the angry woman.

  "Well I know that. Liang told me. But where have you been? I haven't seen you in the training yard. Nor the library. Not even the fucking dining area. Have you even eaten the passed week?" Toya asked, taking a step forward.

  Xai could practically see the dull crimson glow of anger in his friend's eyes as he took half a step back. "I've eaten I assure you." He quickly stated, letting out a half-nervous laugh. "I've just been within the cultivation rooms for most of my time, except for the passed day or two. Then I've been within the mountain practicing techniques. Well... I've only managed to actually use one of them." Xai laughed nervously.

  Toya glared into Xai's eyes for a for more seconds before sighing. "By the emperor... it's so frustrating you managed to awaken Ki before me or Liang. Getting special treatment from the sect." She grumbled. "Any more of that and I'm going to have a serious talk with Master Youshan."

  "Um... about that." Xai said. He couldn't stop himself from smiling before he spoke next. "I am actually packing for a mission with the senior disciple to venture down south and check on some stuff."

  Toya stomped her foot a shot a look to Xai again. "Are you serious?!"

  The white haired woman took a breath before looking past Xai, into his room. "What have you packed so far?"

  Xai stepped aside to let his friend into the room. "Mainly just bedding and some healing ointments. And a change of clothes."

  Toya stepped into the room, looking immediately to a sack on the bed filled with a bedroll, a small box- presumably the medical supplies, and a jumbled up set of clothes.

  "What about things to clean yourself with?" She asked, turning around on her heels to face the man.

  "Do I really need them? I'll only be away for a few days."

  "Of course you need them. Do you know how dirty you can get in a few days?"

  Xai just shrugged before walking over to a door on the side of the room and tossing it open. A second later, he walked back to his bed carrying a few small boxes and a pouch before haphazardly tossing them into his travel bag.

  "How are you and Liang doing with training?" He asked, turning back to Toya. "In fact, what have you two been doing for training? I know it's nothing I've been doing."

  "Ki manipulation? No. All training has been for us is just sparing matches with the others who got up the mountain; getting used to our new enhanced stats." Toya's had went to the back of her should as if remembering something unpleasant. "Liang nearly threw me through a wall a few days ago during a spar. Though he at least apologized after."

  Xai chuckled. "He hardly knew his own strength before acquiring the system, I can only imagine the hurdles he'll need to jump through in the future." Xai turned back to the bag on his bed, thinking for a moment on what more he needed to pack- if anything.

  Toya's chuckle turned to a smile as she looked at Xai, he eyes drifted from his general form, to the level above his head. Then something else caught her eye. A faint scare crept at the bottom of his neck, peaking just above the top of the collar of his gi. Toya's smile faded as she spoke. "How's the mark on your back?"

  Xai was snapped from his thoughts as the question. Suddenly, something on his back- between his shoulder blades- began to burn. His hand drifted to the mark. Beneath his gi he fealt the faint indention the scar made on his skin as he traced his finger along it, forming a circle.

  "I'm just asking... cause I know it hurts sometimes when you push yourself. Like at the mountain." Toya assured.

  "It's been fine." Xai stated taking his hand from his back. He then grabbed his bag and tied it. "I should probably get going." He stated flatly.

  "Xai... I didn't mean to-"

  "It's fine Toya." He said. He grabbed his blade from the side of his bed and slung the pack over his shoulder. "But I need to go." Without another word he walked right passed Toya and down the hall, not stopping to even look her in the eyes.

  ***

  Xai was sure he heard Toya call his name as he briskly walked down the hallway. He'd nearly left the building entirely when he suddenly noticed he hadn't taken a breath. His lungs suddenly sucked in as much air as they could as Xai leaned against the wall to steady himself. His head felt light for a moment. The mark his back burned. So much so he had instinctively drawn Ki around it to heal it, but it quickly dispersed back into his dantian when the obvious occurred; there was nothing to heal.

  Xai's jaw clenched as he knelt to the ground. He tried to draw Ki to it again, nothing. Why did it burn? More Ki, nothing. It felt like something was burning through his flesh.

  Xai clutched the scabbard of his sword so hard his knuckles went white. His free hand drifted to his hair, he picked several strands before a hand was rested on his back.

  "Xai."

  The voice sounded so far away. The only thing in his mind was the burning sensation between his shoulder blades.

  "Xai!"

  The voice was closer, he felt an arm grasp his jaw and turn his head.

  "Xai!" Finally, the voice broke his thoughts again. He saw a white haired woman kneeling down next to him. Her worried crimson eyes staring into his.

  It was then that the pain finally subsided and many things became clear. He felt the numbness in his chest as it heaved up and down; he'd been hyperventilating. Next was the beating of his heart as if it tried to escape his chest; as if he had just been fighting for his life against some beast. He felt a pair of cold wet streams fall down his cheeks. He had been crying.

  "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-" Toya began.

  "It's alright." Xai said. His voice was slightly shaken; his nerves quickly died down as he got to his feet.

  "I shouldn't have brought that up. I'm sorry." Toya repeated.

  "It's alright." Xai said again. He rubbed at his back, still feeling the warmth of the phantom pain across the mark. "But I do have to go, Qin needs me by the exit at noon."

  Xai started towards the exit door before him but stopped halfway and turned to Toya. "And thank you." With that, he continued onward; a sack over his shoulder and a blade in his hand.