Hardcore: Qi Worlds Chapter 56: Dawnharbour 9

The morning's air was crisp as a cool breeze flew through the immaculate stone walkways while Benzhi made his way to the Academy's outer grounds. He stopped, something was different, Benzhi took in a deep breath and turned to Huineng, "Old man, I think they changed the time dilation," Benzhi speculated.

"Why do you say that, oh Enlightened one," Huineng replied in a slightly sarcastic manner.

"The replenishment of qi, it feels different," Benzhi smiled, "six times better if I were to hazard a guess." With that, he picked up into a jog to the academy.

 

''Tomorrow will be your test old man,' Benzhi sent 'What are you planning?' Huineng sent back 'We leave this place. You must decide whose side you are on' Benzhi sent 'I have been on yours for a while, but you must understand appearances needed to be kept. If we leave this place it puts our bodies in jeopardy. I only just got healed, a new lease on life, I do not wish to lose it within a week!' Huineng sent back 'Tonight, you will show me how you planned to release from your body, you are right they are at risk and you will have a choice. You can follow me to the Alpine Forest or go back to Earth. I will not force you either way, but if you follow me, you are following me. Understood?' Benzhi sent 'You put me in a difficult position. If you are going to attempt this separation it is not guarenteed of success,' Huineng sent 'I have a plan for that. As I said, this will put you to the test old man, tomorrow I will know for sure if you are with me or merely using me,' Benzhi sent

 

Huineng sighed and shrugged.

Benzhi did not entirely trust the old man, up until now, there was no way to tell for sure. A test of his actions was the only way, if there were preventions to stop Benzhi he would know. Benzhi was not worried that these preventions would stop him and he needed to know for sure which side the old man was on.

It was certain he could not hide his plans entirely from the old man in any case. He was far too cunning to be fooled by the likes of Benzhi. If Benzhi was to place a bet, he would bet the old man was on neither side, but his own. Benzhi could be cunning too, the old man would now have to choose a side and if he chose QWP he would be out of Benzhi's hair.

The pair arrived at the assigned training ground. It was outside the arena in the park north of the sparring corrals that surrounded the venue. It was a large grassed area, perfect for this sized group to all complete forms without tripping over one another.

The class were diligently completing the Crane form. Benzhi sighed inwardly to himself, he had planned on at least getting this group a foundation on which they could continue themselves. What had happened? The statement from the Seneschal, Dawnharbour was on a plane of Hel, between that and the fact that the elves were people, Benzhi would not stay here any longer. For the third day in a row, his plans were thrown out the window.

Benzhi clapped his hands. Although most of the attention was already on him when he arrived.

"This is what we are going to do," Benzhi announced, no hello, no how are you doing, no-nonsense he launched straight into the lesson plan, the last lesson plan.

"Each of you will perform the Crane, in turn, I will watch and offer instruction. For the others, you may watch and listen, or continue to practice yourself until it is your turn or both. We will start with Anastasia," Benzhi instructed. Anastasia had been the only student to push qi out of her palm or fist yesterday. Either she was a prodigy or, as someone had insinuated when he completed the tower, she was not what she seemed.

Anastasia began the form, she was very good, much better than Benzhi had been after a day in his early developed lump. Benzhi studied her qi circulation, it was good, she could open more pathways and increase the speed and concentration of qi, but it was still very good for an early stage.

"Anastasia, do you sense your qi?" Benzhi asked when she was done, there was no need to interrupt her form, but he planned to on other students.

"I can feel it moving out of my fist in a rush, I do not sense it in my body, I only imagine it running through my body," she said.

"Good, keep imagining it until you can sense it. You have good qi circulation, I can see it, what you are doing is working. You must persevere until you can move your qi when and where you want to," Benzhi instructed. The key difference between Benzhi and all the students of the Academy was that he could manipulate his qi himself. He could direct its flow, shape, concentration and pattern. Where they merely used abilities or aids as they called them, which forced their qi into a predetermined path.

This system was great, Benzhi could probably have assisted in creating hundreds of aids for them, the only issue was, it did not teach the you to actually manipulate qi. They would never be able to make a discovery or learn from a Wood-elf or Gael as he had. In a way, it was similar to the Gaels and Fae, who could not learn abilities that were not part of their DNA, for want of a better term, Gisael had been able to learn qi blade. But that was because it was an ability her race could use. Reyas could never learn tree-run, not unless she went back to this foundation and break away from using abilities as Benzhi had.

Benzhi was going to use the dwarves to shortcut this, they would allow Reyas to use multiple types of qi blade from their crafting. But perhaps he should take them back to basics and give them the ability to learn or discover with qi as he had. If that were possible. Benzhi had not felt a need for this until he had met Ghehena and Scydhel, they made him look like an amateur and the Fae look weak in comparison to their darker cousins.

Benzhi called one student after another when he did not know their name he was embarrassed, but it had only been a day. With each student, he gave them pointers and described what their flow looked like. Hopefully, this would assist with their development.

When the twenty-four students had all completed the Crane with instruction and feedback four hours had passed. They all had taken a break during this time on their own cognisance.

"I would like you to split into two groups, as something has happened today which will affect one group more than the other and I would like to know who belongs where" Benzhi stated cryptically.

"Group to my left, all who are QWP sponsored qi talents and to my right all guests," Benzhi said.

It was not surprising the groups were almost equal with Anastasia being a QWP sponsored where Keiko, Deng and Takeo were guests.

"I imagine there will be an announcement somewhere, at some time, but the time dilation has been reversed," Benzhi was sure of it now, he had been able to charge his shield and regain qi as a reasonable speed. Still much slower than Basal, or QW6, but much better than before. "The new setting will be close to, if not, the same as Earth," Benzhi stated.

Groans emitted from the guests, with mumbles about their play time being cut severely just when things were getting good. Benzhi actually did not care about the announcement, he wanted to see who was a QWP sponsored student.

"Now that you know that, make plans accordingly. It should not affect the QWP sponsored students. We will now begin the Tiger form, I would like you all to watch closely as it may be different to what you have been shown before," Benzhi instructed if he was going to give them a second form he wanted it to be something they were familiar with.

Benzhi danced the Tiger form as Mother had shown him, it took him back to his early days in the glade, where it was just him, Gisael and Mother. Things were simpler back then. Most of the students were well acquainted with the Tiger form, a version of it, so Benzhi ensured he lept high by qi pushing out his feet, that he enhanced his speed with body qi technique, he wanted to show them how it could look.

''Do not be alarmed, I am using our link to manipulate qi in your body' Benzhi sent to Anastasia 'You can do that? And you can talk to me using telepathy all this time?' Anastasia sent back 'Yes,' he sent simply 'Watch and we will talk later,' Benzhi sent

Benzhi also did something he had never done before. Through his connection with Anastasia, he layered qi over her eyes so she could sense the qi movements with qi sight. He had known this was possible, it was the same technique he used when qi healing someone. He manipulated qi in their body. Benzhi preferred not to turn people into qi sock puppets, but it was important to his plans, it was a trick he had planned to use to shortcut everyone's training.

Benzhi finished the form. He should not let it go to his head that the class were standing with their mouths open. Quite a few mumbling about how the fuck were they supposed to do that.

"You can do this. You need to manipulate qi on your own command. This is why we ditched the aids, they limit you. And to do that you must practice, meditate and practice some more. Until you can sense your qi, until you can move it with a thought," Benzhi instructed, "Now practice this form, the full Tiger form."

''Now you can see what I see' Benzhi sent to Anastasia She was quiet a long time. 'I had no idea this was possible' Anastasia sent back 'I have a test for you,' Benzhi sent 'What sort of test,' Anastasia sent 'It is a test to determine your path. I suspect there is more to you than you have shared, just as there is more to me than I have shared, so I am not angry. As you can feel through the connection,' Benzhi sent 'I will follow you,' She sent simply, 'you are my future.' 'You do not even know what my plans are?' Benzhi stated. 'It does not matter. All that matters to me is I learn, that I gain skill so I too answer to no one,' Anastasia sent 'It will be dangerous,' Benzhi sent

Anastasia nodded and started to complete the Tiger form along with the other students. She seemed to grow in stature, throwing off the shackles of the pretence of a nerdy student. Benzhi felt uneasy, he would like to get to the bottom of her story, but time was not on their side, he had made his bed and now he had to lie in it.

Benzhi had now doubled his chances of causing problems with his plans and possibly created a chance that if he met substantial resistance, then he would not know where the source of betrayal came from. It was a risk he was willing to take, no one ever accused him of being overly wise.

Benzhi spent that night going over portal creation with Huineng and his theories on splitting from his earthly body. He kept Anastasia with them the entire time, watching and learning as well. Benzhi also insisted she sleeps on the lounge chair, again. They never did move to a bigger room, Benzhi thought, he had more important things to worry about.

 

 

Benzhi woke the pair before dawn.

"Wake, wash and grab a bite to eat. We have much to do," Benzhi ordered.

Benzhi led the pair to the Elven District, it was time to see what their decision was and it was time to see if either one would betray him.

When they arrived at the Elven District, the square was empty, no one was to be seen. Benzhi sighed sadly, he could not help those who did not want to be helped. It was a risk for them, perhaps they were happy enough with their life here.

After a few moments of contemplation, doors started to open and Grey Elves streamed out, wearing their warmest clothes with packs on their backs.

"Holy crap," Huineng said, "what are you doing?"

Benzhi knew that Huineng now must have known what he was doing, "what must be done. You know chinese wisdom like Sun Tzu and Confuscious much better than me, but do you know JRR Tolkien?" Benzhi asked, "I don't know who he was quoting but he wrote, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Benzhi turned on Huineng looking him in the eyes, "are you a good man?"

Huineng shifted uncomfortably, "I would like to be, assuming I can live to tell the tale."

Benzhi harrumphed.

The Tinker approached Benzhi, "we will follow, all of us, we could not let this chance pass."

"As soon as the portal opens, Huineng here will lead you through and give you directions on the other side, I will follow as soon as I can," Benzhi stated.

''Where am I leading them?' Huineng sent to Benzhi 'The closest Gael settlement, The Staggan Clan,' Benzhi responded, 'I will catch you well before you reach it if all goes to plan. Will you attempt the sever?' 'Like I have a choice now! I am leading three hundred grey elves,' Huineng sent 'You can still return to your pod or you can wait for me in the cave if you decide to sever. Do not lead them, just point them in the right direction I will find them,' Benzhi sent 'And what if you do not come?' Huineng sent 'They will have to fend for themselves on Basal, at least tell Mother I sent them before you turn tail and run,' Benzhi sent.

 

Huineng nodded, "hurry up and open the portal, I do not have all day," he was now in a grumpy mood. Being railroaded by Benzhi did not sit well with him.

Benzhi began to form that assisted opening a portal, he was certain it was not necessary, but until he worked it all out he would do what Huineng had shown him. Benzhi pushed out qi to open a portal to his antechamber, this much was easy. Once the connection was established he then sent his qi through the portal to open another to the Seer's cave. The inactive portal that was in his antechamber. All it needed was a stream of his qi to activate.

Benzhi nodded, he had opened both portals and linked them. Now when Huineng and the grey elves stepped through they would appear in the Seer's cave, if all went to plan.

Huineng looked back at the Grey Elves lined up behind him, sighed and stepped through the portal.

The Grey Elves streamed behind, there were three hundred present it would take over half an hour for them all to pass through. Benzhi had to maintain the portal for that time because of the link, there was no storage that he could fill with qi to keep it open without a constant stream.

"Where are they going," Anastasia asked.

"You will know soon enough," Benzhi answered, "we will follow later. Keep an eye out for anyone who is not a grey elf"

The grey elves departed Dawnharbour without incident. No version of a Dawnharbour police showed up to stop the escape. Benzhi closed the portal and called Anastasia.

"Follow me," he said. She nodded and they headed to the Temple district.

Benzhi led Anastasia to the second-floor chamber, home of the Land Core for Dawnharbour. Upon entering the room, Benzhi spied the Grandmaster, standing with his arms outstretched concentrating, merged with the Land Core and totally oblivious to their presence.

On the floor lay two masters, as indicated by the colour of their robes. Engaging qi sight Benzhi could sense they were dead. Both had been damaged internally, there was no qi whatsoever present in thier body and interestingly no blood present in the physical scene either.

The Grandmaster was doing something with the Land Core, what, Benzhi had no idea. The scene in front of them indicated it was against the wishes of the QWP. Benzhi was intrigued, he could afford a few minutes to find out what was going on.

He leaned against the wall and waited for the Grandmaster to finish.

 

Chapter end