AI Transmigrator Chapters 7 and 8 (Patreon)

[Sorry guys. Tried to get SK chapter completed but couldn't get it to jive, and was just so busy besides (house goes on the market next week - so tons of cleaning, painting, etc). Aside from a half-written explicit scene, this is almost the last I got of AI Transmigrator before I believe I jumped the shark, so to speak. I can sort-of share the rest, but I think that's kind of a bad idea for continuity's sake - it might confuse you when I do rewrite the next scenes. I plan on heavily editing chapter 9 and beyond to tweak the story a bit, but I do believe any edits before this point will be 'relatively minor'.

I may add some minor plot lines and shift a scene or two that came later, but otherwise the story should stay the same in the broad strokes. One idea I have is making it so that even in the intro, we see Aida being Dan's friend somewhat, keeping him company in his crummy life, even if she had no will of her own and it was just a program he chose.

The plan is for monday to be SK and I already have most of the next bonded summoner written, so we'll be back to normal on Wednesday then. I think this should be my last week or so of 'rush rush rush' for the house, so I should be able to focus on writing soon.]

Chapter 7

Dan raised his arms high, as he snapped two kicks with his right foot, one low and one high. He alternated feet as he shuffled forward and repeated it, the strange form of the crane somehow weighing down on him. His body full of sweat and fatigue, he moved through the thirtieth form for today.

Dan’s body was already significantly smaller, and only a month later. He was amazed at how much impact Aida’s changes made when combined with a strict diet, pills, and exercise, and whatever magic was built into the forms.

He now had built quite a bit of muscle, he could tell. Dan was starting to look quite fit. He wasn’t ripped or anything, but most of his fat was gone. He still had a slight pouch for a belly, but otherwise had muscle definition built all over his body.

Dan had been mixing some jogging around the garden and some weights the last few weeks. After spending long enough doing the forms, his mind would just become a mush, and he wouldn’t really improve.

[I’m still building a model for the Forms, but it’s hard. Maybe if I scanned someone that truly perfected the forms, I could guide you a little better– the forms seem to be different based on body type, somehow. The book on the topic was almost entirely useless. Anyway, I’m so excited for today! Maylin has a little extra pep in her step. She can’t wait for you to start cultivating, too!]

Dan just shook his head. That girl was too happy about everything. He was overjoyed at his new life, now that he’d had a month to live it. He worked hard, and his hard work was rewarded with praise by a cute girl, and usually delicious food and praise from his mother. 

Dan was even rewarded for doing nothing, most of the time.

Maylin enjoyed all his successes, and he was a little disturbed at how far she would go to receive the smallest amount of his affection. 

He had given her some head pats for finding some more books for him, then it was like she was on a mission to find everything she could, just so that she could receive more. 

She then realized her cute smile and pleased sounds made him smile too, so now, she went out of her way to make them.

Aida had now worked through thousands of books, them feigning disinterest in a majority of the cart, marking down books they completed already. This was in hopes that they would bring more like what they marked down as positive, but it seemed most were filled with a wide variety no matter what they did. Combined with what Maylin brought, Aida had a large compilation of data to work through once she could experiment with Qi. 

They finished their form, and Maylin nearly teleported to the cart, grabbing him some water and a fan. It was a bit hot as the sun was high in the sky, and she produced a pleasant breeze as he drank the large glass. Once he was done, she took his cup away and drank her own.

He had chosen to work outside near the garden, as he would need to mix running in, and it was quite pleasant to view the different flowers and plants. The smells and sounds were pleasant, making it better than his room, even if he had tons of area to move around there too. 

She gave an exaggerated, almost erotic sigh when she finished her drink, “Ahhhh, cold water after a good workout sure feels good, doesn’t it, Master Dan? I’m so excited about your big day! I know you’ll be amazing, you’ve worked so hard.”

She had watched him, looking for his reaction. He couldn’t help but smile at her, as hers was beaming one at him.

But Dan looked at her dubiously, as she resumed fanning him with much effort. Her breaths came in heavy, her still not really having rested after her own workout. He regretted mentioning that it was a ‘little hot’ a few days ago, because after that, she refused to stop fanning him. It wasn’t quite summer yet, but it was starting to warm up.

He felt bad about her fanning him while he did the forms, so he said he still needed her help showing him the way.  

Dan was working hard, sure. But he got the feeling she would say he was working hard as she carried him up a hill somehow. She’d say, ‘Good job watching where we’re going, Master Dan! I couldn’t carry your heavy body up this hill without your help!’  

[You should just let her fan you if you feel guilty. It’s less work than the forms.]

He knew that, but it was distracting how she followed him. The forms had him moving and turning a lot, so her almost dancing around as she followed him waving the fan was weird. Well, watching her do squats and similar was distracting in its own way.

She then toweled him off, and they moved on to some of the extra workouts that Aida had worked out, to cover a few muscle groups. To get them to the optimal levels without needing to do dozens more forms, as he’d run out of mental stamina before he got them to the appropriate level.

He was lifting weights above his head with Maylin fanning him. He strained during his set, not able to lift and continue. Dan noticed a sly look on Maylin’s face. 

“You can do it, Master Dan! Do just two more, and we can play that twister game again!”

Dan nearly dropped the weights, a blush of embarrassment taking over his cheeks. He had gotten a little bored with all the training, and they had taken to a few games to pass the time between all the reading and training. 

He wanted a new game to play, so Aida tricked him into both creating, and playing, the Twister game with Maylin. Maylin was all too happy to play, her bending and twisting their bodies together as they reached for the colored points on the mat. He enjoyed her soft body up against his as they contorted in different ways, and she noticed this all too well. 

Still, he felt cheated that he hadn’t known what they were making until they made the spinner and Aida began explaining the rules, only telling him how to play once they had spent half an hour making the game. Aida had only promised that they were making a game that both he and Maylin would enjoy, which, was true. At that point, it felt ridiculous to back out.

Aida snickered. [I got you good! That was tons of fun! Still, next time you play checkers, at least make it strip checkers or something. It’s no fun without any stakes.] 

He struggled to push the weights above his head twice more anyway, when he heard a voice from the side, his mother. “Working hard again, son? I’m so proud of your hard work. Your dedication will serve you well with cultivation, I just know it!”

Dan turned to find his mother and her servants standing there, a proud smile on her face. One servant held a small chest in front of them, Dan realizing it was probably the catalyst.

He was quickly engulfed in a hug, before he could think more about it, the weights even removed from his hands somehow. He was bothered by his mother’s ability to seemingly teleport, but thankfully it always resulted in a soft embrace. Dan hugged her back.

“Mom, I’m all sweaty. Is that what I think it is?”

She pulled back and smiled at him. “Don’t mind it–It is. Your catalyst is here! Let Maylin get you all cleaned up, then we’ll meet in your cultivation chamber.”

“I have a cultivation chamber?”

His mother covered her mouth as she chuckled. “Of course you do, how could the Meng Clan’s scion be lacking for his own chamber? You could use your father’s while he’s gone, but as you are now, you’d die without me protecting you. It’s much better to have your own for now, that way Maylin can enter as well. We’ll upgrade it as your needs increase.”

Dan nodded, and Maylin beamed and sighed wistfully. Likely, she was just imagining serving him as he cultivated in his chamber. He could already picture her staring at him intently, for any hint that he needed anything, as he had his eyes closed, breathing in some strange chamber for hours upon hours.

His mother smiled at him. “Little Maylin will show you the way. It will take us a little to prepare the room and get it ready for you. I can’t wait for you to begin your journey.”

Dan was a little worried and excited, as Maylin dragged him to the bath. He was now past his bashfulness, just letting her take care of him now. Dan was lost in his thoughts about cultivation, as he had read the Meng family’s cultivation technique: Heart of the Mountain.

He didn't fully understand it, but it was like he would visualize himself as a mountain, while he drew in Qi from the air he breathed. The pressure of the mountain would then bear down on him, and that would push more and more into the mountain’s heart, created as a result of the catalyst and the technique combined. It would be refined into something more from the magical pressure.

Before he knew it, he was standing wearing his cultivator robes as Maylin removed the creases in his robes with a smile. These past two weeks, her attitude had made him feel loved, something that he had never had in his last life. 

At the same time, he felt guilty. Dan knew that Old Dan had really tortured her. Yet, her eyes showed no sign of resentment, and she never once mentioned it. Though, something was strange. His clothes kept disappearing.

Of course, Maylin was in charge of his…well, everything. But she would take his laundry, and fewer clothes would come back. It got to the point where he had to ask another maid for socks and underwear, as every time he asked Maylin, she would act a little weird before getting more. The replacements would often be a different color, clearly not the same as the original.

Aida snickered. [It’s a mink thing. She has probably built a nest out of them.] 

“Huh? She’s collecting my sweaty clothes? For what? Never mind, this is more important.”

He had struggled to find the words to say to Maylin for some time now. It was hard to apologize for something he never did, and it was even harder with how little she seemed to care.    

“Thanks, Maylin. I… Just wanted you to know that, for all those years when I was mean to you, I’m sorry. You’re a wonderful life bonded, and my important friend. You didn’t deserve it, and–”

Maylin appeared to almost know this was coming. He had tried to build up to this many times, but had chickened out. She interrupted, “Master Dan, this last month has been the happiest time of my life. Just being able to attend you once more has made me feel so fulfilled. Then, you heap on all sorts of praise to me, making me feel special and wanted. You’re not just like you were when we were younger–You’re better! As far as I’m concerned, the Old Dan died that day, when he was stabbed.”

Dan’s eyes grew big, her using the same term that Aida and himself often used to refer to the Old Dan.

Dan asked Aida, “You don’t think she knows…do you?”

Aida replied, “She might. She has spent the most time with the Old Dan and the New Dan. It appears either she’s kept it to herself, or the family just doesn’t care or believe her. Still, tread carefully.” 

Maylin continued with a small smile, “So you don’t need to feel guilty about before, that was Old Dan! Just focus on the now. I’ve seen how hard you really work, and with how you’ve changed for the better, I know in just a short time you will become a splendid Patriarch of the Meng family. I’d suffer any torture or give my life with a smile for this to become true.”

Dan was taken aback. She didn’t feel any resentment for how she was treated at all whatsoever. All she cared about was that her Master, Dan, was successful. He still felt terrible about what she had to go through, but if it didn’t bother her…

“I…okay. Thanks, Maylin. You’re awesome.”

She smiled, then she began taking on a sly expression and her tail flicking behind her. “I’ve noticed you like making me happy, too. I had fun when with Old Dan we were kids, but I love the New Dan now! I love serving you, but the games and spending time together have been fun too, even if I almost always win!”

Dan chuckled. One day he was quite bored, as one can only spend so much time working out and reading. They had played hide and seek, and he learned that hiding from Maylin was impossible, thanks to her nose. 

Then, even limiting the playing area, Maylin knew far too many hiding spots, her…flexible, smaller body able to fit in places he could hardly imagine. Only with Aida’s help was he able to find her. 

Maylin hugged Dan, and he hugged her back. Maylin added, “Let’s hurry. They are waiting on you to become a cultivator. Good luck! I know you’ll do great.” Dan nodded.

Maylin guided him, and to his surprise, they headed in a direction of the Meng family compound he’d never been in before. The garden was in the opposite direction, and he realized this was on the way to the mountain. That made sense, when he thought of it.

They continued to walk outside, when he noticed something.

“You’ve been awfully quiet, Aida. You’re not worried about…?”

[I’m not really. If something was to happen, it would have already. You were lost in your thoughts, so I didn’t want to interrupt you. I didn’t want my anxiousness to transfer to you, is all. I’m buzzing over here! Thousands of computational cycles have modeled everything I could from those books, but it is almost meaningless until I can get some real data! We may have twenty specks now from the forms, but they just swirl around uselessly. I’m excited and frustrated at the same time.]

Dan was certainly excited and anxious, as they entered a building at the base of the mountain. He would have to walk all this way each time he wanted to cultivate? Well, it was only a few minutes, he supposed.

They walked through a hallway, then turned down a corridor filled with the Meng family colors emblazoned on the wall. Maylin opened a door, and a waft of air buzzing with energy blasted into him. It was like the light chamber, only even stronger.

He felt a pressure as they walked down the stairs, almost like he was going through the forms. There was an earthy aroma in the air, a mixture of soil and stone. The staircase went on a while, making Dan wonder how deep this place was. There were decent guardrails, and platforms every story or so.

It even seemed to bother Maylin, who hardly sweat at all when going through the forms. They reached the bottom, and Aida confirmed it was ten stories deep. He was tired just going down, he would have to go back up? Ten stories was a fair amount of work with his out of shape body, even without some weird magical weight pressing down on him!

When Maylin opened the door at the bottom of the stairs, the weight increased even further. The door had strange lines drawn on it, and while Dan and Aida wanted to spend some time inspecting it, Maylin motioned for him to hurry inside.

He did, and he was awed. There were lines drawn all over the walls, which were made of stacked stone. There were eight posts surrounding the middle of the room, likely pointing the cardinal and ordinal directions. In the middle was a giant boulder, which had some sort of seal over it. It looked like a rope with papers threaded through it, with various things written on them.

Mother and Evelyn were next to a walkway that lead to the top of the boulder, a sort of wooden bridge held by ropes. The large boulder sat on a mound, and off to the sides were an almost chasm. This place was more than a little creepy, to Dan.

There was an area surrounding the chasm with a rope guardrail, that looked like a living area. A bed, several doorways to what he assumed were other rooms, likely including a bathroom.

“Welcome, Son. This is a Meng cultivation chamber created for scions of the family. Behind me is a heart of a mountain, obtained some thousands of years ago. It is sealed, so it doesn’t try to subsume the mountain here.”

Dan frowned as he looked at the large boulder. “Try to? It’s alive?”

She nodded. “Yes, it’s very much alive. It wouldn’t be able to subsume the mountain anyway, since your father’s heart of the mountain would just consume it, instead. Still, it is fed Qi and kept healthy, to allow it to aid in aspecting the Qi into Mountain Qi for this chamber. In a way, it’ll be your partner, but in the end it is just a tool. One day, you will inherit your father’s instead. I would try not to get too attached.”

Attached to a rock?

His mother laughed, he guessed at his expression. “I see you’re dubious about that, but it’s easy to get attached, as you will form a sort of symbiotic relationship with it. A mountain’s presence is comforting, and that will be doubly so for you. It will grow along with you, for a time. It will help you, and you will help it. Let me check you before we begin.”

She swept him with her divine sense. “Oh! You’ve been quite the hard worker, my son. It’s a good thing we didn’t take much longer getting you that catalyst. Too much buildup and you’d have broken through with elementless Qi. Anyway, it’s time.”

Maylin gave him an encouraging smile, as he walked across the bridge on his own. He sat down on the boulder, where his mother appeared with the box, about the size and shape of a jewelry box.

She opened it, and he saw what looked like two vials inside. 

He asked, “Two?”

His mother smiled at him, one filled with pride. “As a Meng family scion, you must obtain a Dao Seedling of the Mountain to start your path of cultivation. However, that doesn’t mean you must always be a hundred percent Mountain, or that you can’t learn truths that are adjacent. This catalyst comes in two parts, first, one more Mountain focused, and then the second more aligned with Nature, but still fitting for a Mountain cultivator–it will depend greatly on what parts of the vision resonate with you.”

Dan thought he understood, though this was complicated for him. “When would I take the second catalyst?”

“When you’re ready. It’s hard to tell precisely when, but it’s important for your spirit to recover, and for you to solidify your foundations. When the truths of the heavens merge with your body, it takes time for you to fully absorb and understand what you learned, as well as them becoming part of you. Usually, it would be well after you cleared many of your meridians and reached the fourth or fifth stage of Qi condensation, at a minimum. Many wait until they’re nearly ready to break through to Foundation Establishment.”

Dan sighed. It was all so complicated. 

“Do not fret, my son. Your journey to eternity may be fraught with complexity, but you still travel one step at a time.” She nodded over at Maylin. 

“Anytime you are tired and need a break, Maylin will be there to take away your stress. While cultivation is somewhat of a personal journey, it mustn’t be walked alone. Hopefully, your fiancé will be up to the task as well.”

She handed him the vial. He opened it by removing the stopper, and Dan was going to peer inside, but his mother quickly lifted it to his lips. It appeared this was a limited time thing. He swallowed it, and she disappeared. 

Then, everything else did. He didn’t remember closing his eyes, but now, he opened them. 

Dan was now a mountain.

Chapter 8

A lone mountain stood in an area as ancient as time itself, its presence formed through erosion and volcanic activity. As eons slipped by like grains of sand in an infinite hourglass, the mountain gradually awakened to its own existence. 

Time had carved its essence into the very core of its being, etching the wisdom of ages into the layers of stone and soil. The mountain's consciousness, once dormant, stirred to life with a newfound awareness, a heart of the mountain formed deep within.

The mountain, in its newfound sapience and sense of awareness, began to perceive the world around it in ways it had never known before. It felt the gentle caress of the breeze against its cliffs, the soft murmurs of the creatures that called its slopes home. 

It sensed the energy that coursed through its veins—the Qi that flowed through the ley lines beneath its surface and connected it to the vast tapestry of existence. 

Its majestic peak pierced the heavens, its granite faces weathered by countless eons. A profound stillness resonated throughout the mountain, exuding an unyielding solidity that mirrored the unchanging nature of the earth itself. 

The mountain’s slopes were adorned with ancient pines, their gnarled roots clinging to the rocky terrain, demonstrating the enduring strength that only time and resilience could bestow.

Its vast expanse seemed to cradle all life within its embrace, providing a sanctuary for flora and fauna alike. The mountain's gentle slopes and verdant valleys teemed with vibrant ecosystems, supporting a myriad of creatures that found solace in its massive, protective presence. Its streams flowed with crystal-clear water, quenching the thirst of all who sought its life-giving essence.

The passage of time slowed to a near stop, and Dan’s consciousness stirred. He had been watching, even feeling the events unfold, witnessing the mountain’s journey somehow with it resonating through his very soul. 

He felt that the mountain’s feelings suddenly changed. Despite being a cradle of life, creatures would come and go. Trees lived long, but they would eventually crumble to the unending sands of time. 

The mountain was now lonely. It longed for a partner, to join it in its journey through the ages. It prayed to the heavens, hoping for a change to its lonely existence.

Time sped up once more, and it didn’t appear it was very long before its prayers were answered. Like a meteorite, something slammed into the sturdy mountain. Rock shattered, the massive mountain nearly folding in on itself. Pain ran through the mountain and Dan, the many caverns within him collapsing.

Despite the pain, the mountain and Dan wept with joy. As within that meteorite, was a seed. The weight of the mountain drew it toward the heart of the mountain itself, pushing it within until it was a part of the mountain itself.

It didn’t know what it was, but that did not matter. The seed was alive, and Mountain Dan couldn’t wait to see what it was. Time passed, and tectonic plates shifted to raise the mountain higher. Erosion slowly flattened out the fractures, and ultimately erased the cracked stone. The mountain healed through the ages, and the mountain nurtured the seed with zealous fervor within the heart of the mountain itself. 

Something within the seed grew, and calamity happened. Clouds somehow filled with hatred blanketed the sky, looming over the mountain with impending doom. Lightning began to strike the mountain over and over again.

It was like the seed’s existence angered the heavens themselves, and elemental storms raged to destroy Dan’s precious passenger.  

Like an immovable fortress, it defied the ravages of the countless elements and the passage of generations. The mountain protected the seed like it was its most precious treasure. The seed was empowered by the attacks of these elements, making Mountain Dan almost thankful for the angry clouds.

But the storms of the various elements wounded the mountain each time, its steadfast resilience being put to the test. Like when struck by the seed originally, it mended after every attack. It weathered the many storms, its resolve to protect its passenger growing with every strike of celestial thunder or blast of scorching rays.

Dan respected the mountain’s still resolve, its solidity standing against the heavens as it nurtured its precious seed. The mountain continued to cradle all sorts of plants and fauna, even while standing against the ravaging of the heavens themselves.

Something stirred in Dan’s very soul, and entered within his Dantian. Qi of the Mountain gathered, forming a Heart of a Mountain, as the two resonated, and he visualized himself and the mountain as one and the same. Unknown to him, Aida’s soul found resonance too. A seed was planted, as a portion of her very soul and existence entered within.

A perfect storm of consequence, the Heart of the Mountain was joined by a seed, just like in the vision. The seed within the vision stirred as if something was going to be borne, but the vision came to an end.

Dan’s consciousness came to in his body, his Heart of the Mountain within his mostly-empty Dantian. Mountain Qi entered his body with every breath, and he looked inward into it. He had a tiny core that was like the boulder he was sitting on, made of a granite of sorts. But he–

His mother’s voice was laced with concern, “What happened, son? Did something go wrong?”

“N-Nothing, Mother? I formed the Heart of the Mountain.”

Her eyes narrowed at him, he thought doubtfully but full of worry. Something swept over him and his Dantian, causing him to shiver.

“You understood the cultivation technique of our family, right? Please, do it now. I want to make sure everything is okay.”

Dan was a little unnerved, and prodding Aida, it seemed like she was asleep. Did something strange happen once again?

He looked at Maylin at the other side of the bridge, seeing her face laced with concern. She must have heard his mother’s words. Dan slowed his breaths, and closed his eyes.

He visualized himself as the mountain he saw in the vision, the ancient mountain that was like a fortress. He imagined his meridians as veins and caverns, leading deep into his body. In his imagination, he visualized the weight of a mountain pushing the energy of the heavens deep into the heart of the mountain itself.

Dan continued breathing, imagining every breath drawing in the energy through the caverns of his mountain body. He did his best to picture the mountain from his vision, its majestic granite peak which pierced the heavens, its stillness, its enduring nature in the face of all adversity.

After a moment, his breathing slow and drawing in the imaginary energy of the heavens, something began to change. He could feel the Mountain Qi rushing inside his body, almost as he had visualized it. A trickle of energy entered his body through his meridians, pushing down into his dantian. 

The force was almost oppressive and painful, as the thick energy in the room surrounded it. But he visualized the stillness of the mountain, remembering the unyielding solidity of the majestic peaks. The Mountain Qi piled on top of the heart of the mountain, layer after layer, adding with every breath.

Within the closest layer, enough pressure built until the Qi thickened and became like sand. Within the heart of his Dantian it was like granite, but the outer layer was building coarse sand. The sand continued to increase, until the heart in the center was surrounded by many layers of it. 

The sand eventually filled out the inside of his dantian, as the energy poured in from the chamber into Dan. His Dantian now felt full, but energy continued to pour into his body. The weight on his core increased, until finally, the innermost layer of sand became like the granite of his Heart of the Mountain, and it grew ever so slightly.

As it did, he felt a strong sense of accomplishment. The pain of drawing in the energy as it weighed down on him required concentration, but he had weathered the storm.

He continued to breathe in the mountain Qi. The energy and weight continued to increase, but Dan could feel it wasn’t enough. The pressure wouldn’t increase any further, or at least further enough to add more granite onto his heart.

Dan could hear the sigh of relief from his mother, taking him out of his musings.

“Thank goodness. I thought I felt nature, or a plant based Dao in there when you formed your heart. While dual aspects exist, and it is not a negative thing, it is direly important that your seedling was of the Mountain. Your father and I would love you just the same, but I’m afraid you couldn’t be the Patriarch of the Meng family one day unless you did. The formations that protect us left by our ancestors that tie into this very island require it, and the branch families will only bow down to a Mountain Patriarch. There would be fracturing with our Clan if we propped you up as the Patriarch in spite of all of this.”

Dan thought he understood, but he felt like at the center of his Dantian, there was in fact a seed like within the story. “How can you be sure I’m fine?”

“Your heart grew just as it should, using Mountain Qi alone. You see, you can actually cultivate with plain Qi as well. But those with an aspected core, like many here in the Shrouded Isles have, benefit significantly from using aspected Qi that matches them. The downside is that they cannot absorb Qi from other aspects. If on your first layer especially, you attempted to absorb Qi that was against your aspect, your dantian would have rejected it. Based on what I felt, you would have needed a plant or nature based Qi, rather than the Qi of the mountain.”

“So, I’m okay? How come it feels like I can’t advance? I do remember the book talking about time…”

She smiled. “Patience, my son, you had only been at it for a few minutes. That’s right. You have two problems. One, is that you would benefit from spending more time with the weight of the mountain bearing down on you–a lot of time. The second is that your meridians, while having a path for Qi to follow, are clogged.”

He remembered this from the vast information Aida had given him, but hadn’t had time to inspect it for himself. He looked inward, now having a sort of sense of his body that he hadn’t before, he knew called Divine Sense. It was like he had a sight when he closed his eyes, and he could know what was within him if he focused on it. Later, this would extend much further than just his body. 

He followed the paths leading from his Dantian, and looking, he could see what his mother was talking about. He just knew Aida would be gushing about this right now, if she had been awake.

There were all sorts of blockages within his pathways, like arteries being clogged with fat. Some were completely blocked altogether, and many of the smaller ones just allowed a small percentage of Qi to even get through, the pressure low.

He likened them to roads leading to a city. Many of the pathways now wouldn’t even let a small moped through, without driving around rocks and so on. Likely, not even one percent of the maximum flow was coming through, and Dan was amazed this could have any effect at all. The ones completely clogged were almost like four or five lane highways.

“You understand now? You have much work ahead of you. You must clean your meridians and increase the amount of Qi flowing into you, using your own Qi inside you. This is your new room, where you’ll spend most of your time. You will still benefit from working out, and you may gain more from doing the forms within this room. Maylin will take care of you, your chamber has everything you need.”

Dan’s chest tightened, as he looked at his mother with a bit of regret. He had been having lunches and dinners with his mother, and he enjoyed their talks. She encouraged him, and gave him the love and affection he never had in his last life. She was pushing him away?

His mother laughed. “You going to miss me, son? Nothing makes me happier than knowing my son loves me so. But to be ready to join the Sect in the fall, you must work hard, here in this chamber. You are nearly one entire year behind your peers in your start. I can tell you have talent fitting of a Meng Scion, completing your first layer in mere minutes. You should catch up in no time. If it makes you feel better, I will be busy with my own cultivation. Then, your father should be returning within the next month with a surprise. We will have some time together soon.”

That made Dan feel much better. He smiled as he stood, and gave his mother a hug. “Thanks, Mom. For making me feel so cared for, and making sure I have everything I need to succeed. You’re a wonderful mother.”

“Oh, I’m so glad my wonderful son came back to me. I love you so much!”

She returned the hug, her small body producing a strength that belied her small frame. Dan felt a gentle calm spread in his heart, as he felt the care and affection from his mother.

“With that, we’ll be off, leaving just you and Maylin. Maylin will make sure you have everything you need. Right, Maylin?”

Maylin nodded, and Dan could see a beaming smile on her face. “That’s right, Matriarch! I can’t wait to take care of Master Dan. You can rely on me.”

His mother gave Maylin and himself a proud smile once more, and Dan bid her goodbye. The servants all left along with her, leaving Dan with just Maylin.

Maylin bowled into him, almost as soon as the door closed. “You did it, Master Dan! Oh, I’m so happy for you.”

She hugged him fiercely, almost to where it hurt. He did his best to hug her back, but he could feel just how happy she was for him. 

“T-Thanks, Maylin.” He frowned, as he felt like this was strange. Didn’t she have any desires of her own? “Aren't you envious of this?”

Maylin recoiled almost like she was slapped, and Dan almost wanted to slap his own face. Why had he said that? But Maylin’s expression just turned to confusion.

“Why would I be envious? Because I can’t? I…” She began to tear up. “When I found out I couldn’t cultivate, I was really hurt. I learned I couldn’t accompany my life bonded on his journey forever, and that I wouldn’t be nearly as useful to my Master.” She looked at him with hurt eyes, something that broke Dan’s heart. “And then you… “

Dan grimaced, and he was nearly brought to tears himself. “I… I’m so sorry, Maylin. I… have no excuse. I–”

She shook her head. “It’s okay, Master Dan, we talked about this. That was the Old Dan! I just, I’m still worried I’m worthless to you, too.”

“You’re not worthless! You’re wonderful, Maylin. I’m so glad I have you to take care of me, I know I wouldn’t be able to accomplish what I’ve done without your help. Your beautiful smile fills me with determination.”

She blushed, and looked up at him with upturned eyes. “Y-You think my smile is beautiful? What about… the rest?”

Dan couldn’t help but nod at that. “Oh, you’re very much the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

She gave him a beaming smile, and rubbed her face on his robes, he guessed to remove her tears. Her ears were twitching, and her tail flicking back and forth. She giggled as she hugged him tight.

She nearly bowled him over as she did this, and her belly and lower body pressed into his thighs. Something stirred in him below– Dan realized that whatever Aida had done, had come undone.

Dan’s erection touched Maylin’s stomach, and both of them froze stiff when it did. Maylin’s hand immediately darted for it, grasping onto it through his clothes before Dan could recoil and pull away.

Her smile became even bigger, filling Dan with confusion.

“What–”

“You do want me! Oh, this is wonderful!”

“H-Huh?”

“I was so happy when you let me attend you once more, but then when I gave you the massages and baths, Big Dan wouldn’t wake up. I thought you didn’t want me, or that I did something wrong. Even the Matriarch was worried when you still didn’t want me!”

Dan did not want to hear that his mother was keeping track of such responses. He tried to parse through what that all meant, but he had a hard time thinking straight. She was now moving her hand back and forth as she felt it over his clothes, causing Dan to gasp in pleasure.

“Big Dan? N-No, you are very attractive. I just– Why don’t you let go?”

She had been looking at her hand, but now she met his eyes with a big smile. Then, she appeared to get a sly look, one that he had seen more than once. One where she had gotten him to do what she wanted, or she got to do what she wanted with her many means.

“Big Dan is awake now, why don’t you let me attend you once more? You said you’re so glad you have me to take care of you, right? It would bring me great joy, if you would finally let me.”

Dan’s mind was nearly melted as she took his hand and pulled him toward a chair. He didn’t know what was going on, but it was impossible to say no to this girl when he could think coherently.