Cultivation is Creation

The window slid shut behind us with barely a whisper, just as there was a knock on the bedroom door. It couldn't have been timed better if we'd planned it.

"Young Master?" a servant called out. "Your father requests your presence for breakfast."

"Just a moment!" I called back, already moving to take off the rain-soaked outer robes.

"The robes are in the chest by the window," Han Renyi supplied helpfully as I searched. "Father had them made when I first started cultivation training."

The robes he was referring to were simple but well-made, dark green with subtle patterns that somehow managed to look expensive without being showy.

I changed quickly, making sure to properly adjust all the layers. The last thing we needed was for someone to notice something off about how "Han Renyi" dressed himself.

Despite being awake all night, this body felt surprisingly good. The boost to Qi Condensation Stage 6 was already showing its benefits – enhanced stamina, faster recovery, and a general sense of vitality that made sleepless nights more of an inconvenience than a real problem.

"Young Master?" The servant knocked again, a hint of worry creeping into her voice.

"Almost ready!"I called back, then paused. "Actually, Han Renyi, you should probably take over here. You know how to interact with the family better than I do."

"You'll be fine," I assured him, already releasing control back to him. "Just act normal.”

The transition was smooth now, almost natural. One moment I was in control of his body, the next I was watching through his eyes as he opened the door to reveal a servant whose expression was stuck somewhere between relief and lingering concern.

"Young Master, are you... well?" The servant asked carefully.

"Never better," Han Renyi replied with a smile that seemed to put her at ease. "Just needed to change after morning practice."

The servant’s shoulders relaxed slightly. "Your father and sister are waiting in the main hall," she said, then added with just a hint of motherly concern, "Though perhaps you might want to wash up first?"

Han Renyi reached up to touch his face, and I felt his mild embarrassment as his fingers came away with traces of dirt and what might have been tree sap. A quick stop at the washbasin took care of the worst of it, and soon we were standing before the servant.

"Young Master," she said as she led us through the hallway. "Your father and sister are waiting in the east pavilion."

The east pavilion. Interesting choice. It was smaller than the main dining hall but had better views of the morning sun. More importantly, its position made it easier to spot anyone approaching. Han Zhongwei was clearly still being cautious, despite our assurances about Zhou Shentong.

Han Zhongwei and Qingyi were already seated when we arrived. Father and daughter made quite the contrast – he looked tired but composed, while she practically vibrated with barely contained energy. The moment she saw her brother, her face lit up with a smile that could have powered a minor formation.

"Brother! You're late!" Qingyi's voice rang out as we approached the pavilion, her tone managed to sound both accusatory and delighted.

"Qingyi," their father said mildly, "let your brother sit down before you start scolding him."

Han Renyi took his seat, and servants immediately began bringing out breakfast. The food was simple but well-prepared – rice congee, pickled vegetables, and what looked like yesterday's leftover fish repurposed into a surprisingly appetizing dish.

"Did you sleep well?" Han Zhongwei asked casually, though I caught the undertone of concern in his voice.

"Very well, Father," Han Renyi replied even though he hadn't slept at all, but at least the night had gone well.

"No... strange dreams?" His father pressed, clearly fishing for information about the mysterious master.

I had to admire the man's technique. It was subtle – just concerned enough to seem natural, but not so direct that Han Renyi would feel pressured to lie.

"Actually," Han Renyi said, picking up his chopsticks, "my master did contact me last night."

The reaction was immediate. Qingyi's eyes went wide, and her father's hand paused halfway to his bowl. Even the servants trying to look busy in the corners seemed to lean in slightly.

"Oh?" Han Zhongwei set his chopsticks down carefully. "And what did your... esteemed master have to say?"

"He visited the Three-Leaf Clover Sect," Han Renyi said casually, as though his master dropping by to chat with one of the region's most powerful sects was perfectly normal. "Sorted out any... misunderstandings."

“Misunderstandings?” His father's eyebrows rose slightly. "And the sect was willing to just... let go of this ‘misunderstanding’?”

"Yes," Han Renyi nodded. "In fact..." He paused, glancing at his father. "I've been accepted as a disciple of the sect."

The silence that followed was absolute. Even the servants stopped pretending to work and just stared. I couldn't blame them – it was like announcing that the tiger who'd been threatening to eat you had suddenly offered to teach you how to hunt.

Han Zhongwei recovered first. "They want to accept the person who killed one of their elders as a disciple?"

Han Renyi shrugged. "I think killing an elder while at Tier 1 is probably a big reason why they want me."

"Brother is amazing!" Qingyi declared, beaming with pride. Then her face fell slightly. "But... are you sure it's safe? What if they're planning something?"

"That's a fair concern," their father agreed. "Are you certain about this? Would your master approve?"

"Actually, it was his idea," Han Renyi replied, and I felt his relief at being able to tell a complete truth for once. "He's a busy man, and this way I'll have proper guidance even when he's not around."

I noticed how Han Zhongwei's shoulders relaxed slightly at that explanation. If this mysterious master had arranged it, then surely it must be safe. Amazing how people would accept almost anything if it came with the right authority attached.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Still," his father said slowly, "be careful. If they try anything..." He trailed off, probably realizing how absurd it was to warn about sect politics after everything that had happened.

"I will," Han Renyi assured him. "And if there's any trouble, I can always contact my master."

His father nodded, apparently satisfied. "Good. Now that this business is sorted out, we can finally leave the compound again. The silk merchant from Red Stone City is arriving today, and we need to prepare for negotiations."

"I could help," Han Renyi offered. "I haven't really contributed since my breakthrough to Tier 1..."

"That would be wonderful," his father smiled. "Though I hope you won't find merchant work beneath you now that you're a proper cultivator."

Han Renyi shook his head firmly. "Never. This is our family's foundation – I wouldn't be where I am without it."

I felt a surge of approval from Han Zhongwei. Clearly, this was the right answer.

The rest of breakfast passed in comfortable conversation. Qingyi chatted about her studies, their father discussed business prospects, and Han Renyi managed to deflect most questions about his mysterious master. By the time we finished, the sun was fully up, and the compound was coming alive with the day's activities.

"Young Master," the servant from before approached as we left the dining hall, "shall I prepare your formal robes for the meeting with the silk merchant?"

Han Renyi shook his head. "No need. We'll be doing physical work today – something practical would be better."

The servant's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her surprise with a bow. "Of course. I'll lay out appropriate attire immediately."

As we headed back to Han Renyi's room to change, I could feel his satisfaction. "Happy to help out again?" I asked.

"You have no idea," he replied. "After my breakthrough, Father insisted I focus entirely on cultivation. He meant well, but..."

"But you missed being part of the family business," I finished for him. "I understand. There's something satisfying about simple physical work, isn't there?"

He agreed silently as he changed into more practical clothing – sturdy pants, a plain shirt, and boots that had clearly seen better days but were still serviceable.

“Brother!" Qingyi's voice called from the courtyard below. "Are you ready? Father says we need to leave soon if we want to reach the marketplace before the morning rush!"

"Coming!" He called back, then paused at the door. "Um, Ling Zhuo? Will you be... helping today?"

I considered the question. On one hand, I was curious about how this world's commerce worked. On the other hand... "No, I think I'll just observe. This is your element – you know how to handle merchants and negotiations far better than I do."

His relief was palpable. "Thank you. It's just... I've been doing this since I could walk, and..."

"And you don't need old me messing it up," I finished for him. "Don't worry, I get it. I'll just sit back and learn."

He grinned as we headed down to join his family.

Time to see how merchant clans did business in the Starhaven Realm.

***

The Blue Horizon City lived up to its name, at least from a distance.

The sun caught the blue-tinted stone of its walls, making them shimmer like precious azure pearls. Up close, though, the wear was obvious – subtle cracks in the defensive formations, patches where the special coating had worn away, guard posts that were clearly undermanned.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Han Renyi thought, noticing my attention to the details. "The outer defenses are mostly for show these days anyway. The real protection comes from the sect territories surrounding the city."

That made sense, in a depressing sort of way. Why waste resources maintaining expensive formations when you could rely on cultivation sects for protection? Though I had to wonder what price that protection came with.

The streets were already busy despite the early hour. Merchants set up stalls, workers hauled goods, and the air filled with the sounds of a city coming to life. The scents of breakfast stalls mixed with the less pleasant odors of too many people living in close proximity, creating that unique atmosphere that seemed universal to trading cities across any world.

"Young Master Han!" A fruit seller called out cheerfully as we passed. "No cultivation training today?"

"Taking a break to help with the family business," Han Renyi replied with a smile. I noticed how he adjusted his pace and posture automatically – not quite as formal as a young master, but not too casual either. The perfect balance to maintain good relations without seeming arrogant.

However, I noticed something interesting about the crowd – while most people moved aside respectfully for Han Zhongwei's group, it wasn't just because of his merchant status. There was a subtle wariness in their reactions, especially from those who could sense cultivation levels.

"It looks like our actions caused quite a stir," I commented to Han Renyi as another group of pedestrians hurriedly made way for us.

"I don’t think the Three-Leaf Clover Sect would announce the events of last night, so they're probably talking about what happened with Zhou Shentong."

He was right. I could catch snippets of whispered conversations as we passed:

"That's the young master who..."

"...defeated a Tier 2 cultivator..."

"...Three-Leaf Clover Sect's elder..."

We eventually arrived at the Merchant District.

The Han family's shop was... well, "modest" would be the polite term. The front was well-kept, with a simple sign declaring "Han Family Textiles" in elegant calligraphy. But I could see where expensive materials had been replaced with cheaper alternatives, where maintenance had been delayed to save costs.

"It's not much," Han Renyi thought apologetically, "but it's home."

"It has character," I replied, which was true. There was something admirable about a family maintaining their dignity while fighting against decline.

The interior was surprisingly spacious, though much of the display space was empty. What remained was arranged with obvious skill – each piece positioned to catch the light just right, to draw the eye and suggest abundance even where there was scarcity.

"Ah, it looks like we have good timing!" Han Zhongwei said as we entered. "The silk should be arriving soon. Renyi, would you mind helping clear space in the back room? Qingyi, please check our records for the last three transactions with Merchant Liu."

I watched through Han Renyi's eyes as the family fell into what was clearly a well-practiced routine. He moved crates with his enhanced strength, while his sister retrieved documents. Their father supervised everything while simultaneously reviewing what looked like account books.

The work was simple but satisfying. Han Renyi knew exactly where everything should go, how to stack crates for maximum stability while maintaining easy access. His new strength made the task easier, but it was his experience that really showed – years of practical knowledge that no amount of cultivation could replace.

Wei Lin would be proud.

"Young Master?" A small voice interrupted our work. We turned to find a boy, probably no more than ten, standing in the doorway. His clothes were plain but clean, and he clutched something wrapped in cloth to his chest.

"Yes?" Han Renyi set down the crate he was holding. "Can I help you?"

"I... I was hoping you could help me..." The boy's voice trembled slightly.

"What's wrong?" Han Renyi asked, his voice gentle. I could feel his instinctive desire to help warring with caution.

The boy's eyes welled up with tears. "My family is dying," he whispered. "No one can save them. I’ve tried everything, but..."

I felt Han Renyi's heart clench. This wasn't the first time he'd heard such a story – with the world's energy declining, more and more people were simply... fading away. Cultivation could slow it down, but even that was becoming harder as the available rouqi grew scarcer.

"I... I can try my best, but I don't know if that will be enough."

"No," the boy agreed. "You can't. But he can."

His eyes fixed directly on me. Not on Han Renyi's physical form, but somehow through it, seeing where I nestled in his consciousness. That was impossible. That was absolutely, fundamentally impossible.

“Get back!” I tried to seize control from Han Renyi, but reality had gone soft around us, it felt like trying to swim through honey.

The cloth fell away from the boy's bundle, revealing what lay within. It was a heart – but not any heart I'd ever seen. This was larger than a human heart, its surface crystalline and translucent, pulsing with a dying light that seemed to draw in the very essence of reality around it.

The space around us began to twist and distort, reality itself seeming to fold inward.

“Outsider," the boy said in a voice that echoed from nowhere, "I finally found you.”

And then we were gone.

In the suddenly ordinary storage room of his family's shop, Han Zhongwei looked up from his account books and blinked, confused. Hadn't his son been here just a moment ago, moving crates?

"Renyi?" he called out, setting down his brush.

No answer.

"Qingyi!”

“Yes, Father?” His daughter's voice drifted back from the front of the shop.

“Did you see where your brother went?"

"Isn't he with you?"

Han Zhongwei frowned, looking at the half-stacked crates his son had been organizing. One still hung in the air, balanced perfectly on the edge of the stack, as if its placer had vanished mid-motion.

"Young Master Han was just here..." a servant offered hesitantly. "He was speaking to... wasn't there a boy?"

"What boy?" Han Zhongwei asked sharply.

The servant frowned, brow furrowing in confusion. "I... I can't quite remember. There was a boy, but..." He trailed off, looking troubled. "Why can't I remember what he looked like?"