"Hahaha! That’s the spirit!" Foyan praised, puffing his chest.

"This seclusion training will start right after the Serene Blossom Valley women leave, so it should be in a day if no more incidents occur."

"...Is that it?" Xuan tilted his head. "Just 1 month long training with you as my sparring partner?"

"Well, when you put it that way, that is all there is to it, I suppose," Foyan chuckled. "Oh, but I did forget to mention one thing. You’ll get rations that will last you two days and just enough water to get by. Oh, and you’re not allowed to leave seclusion until the one month period is over."

"Two days’ worth of food for the whole month?" Xuan repeated, baffled. "What’s the discipline behind that? Hunger equals muscles?"

"Hunger equals mental fortitude. Your body will be pushed to the limits, leaving no choice but to get stronger or die. It’s a fun exercise, I did it twice when I was younger. Nearly died on my second attempt though," Foyan said cheekily.

By now, Xuan was not very trusting of this seclusion training, but if it meant he could get the strength necessary to challenge a Spirit Master, then he would go through with it.

"Fine. I’m up for it. See you in a few days?" Xuan asked.

Foyan smirked. "I’ll call you when it’s time to go. Until then, I’d suggest eating as much food as possible and getting a lot of rest. There won’t be much of that during seclusion... Pfft... Hahaha!"

His hysterical laughter resounded throughout Xuan’s shabby room, shaking the walls. Eventually, Foyan’s laugh died down, and with a reassuring nod, he soon made his way out the door, leaving Xuan alone again.

He sighed and slumped back down on his bed.

Xuan was way too tired now after the long training yesterday and the beating he had received earlier. So with that in mind, he closed his eyes and drifted asleep—

"Hey."

"..."

His brows twitched in annoyance as he reopened his eyes, meeting Hanbi’s gaze. She was wearing a cloak once again.

"How do you people sneak into my room unnoticed?" Xuan mumbled. "Besides that, what do you want? Is sleeping on my chest through the night while covered in sweat not enough for you?"

Hanbi puffed her cheeks. "I told you not to talk about that. Also, the reason I visited you... Why is your Dantian so jumbled up?"

Xuan pointed at his cuffs. "My Qi is sealed. I already told you." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

She rolled her eyes and sat on the bed, brushing her hand under his shirt and touching his abdomen.

He was a bit startled at her boldness, but when he realized she wasn’t flustered in the slightest, he calmed down as well.

"It’s like..." Hanbi’s warm hands traveled across his abdomen, then stopped.

She tapped her nails on that spot several times. "It’s here. There’s some kind of Qi blockage inside your Dantian. I’ve never seen something like this before..."

"Sounds like it’s bad," Xuan said.

Hanbi nodded slowly. "My father told me Qi blockage slows down a cultivator’s cultivation speed and Qi circulation. It weakens Elemental Qi as well as reduces your lifespan."

"Wow... Are the good news coming any time soon?" Xuan joked around.

"The good news is that it’s treatable," Hanbi replied, finally bringing her hand out of his shirt and staring at him. "I’ve treated two cultivators with Qi blockage in their bodies. Never in the Dantian, but I think I might be the only person here who can help you."

"Listen..." Xuan met her gaze. "I appreciate it, but I really never felt that anything was off with my body. Plus, I’m going into seclusion after you and your sect leave, so you wouldn’t be able to help me anyway."

Hanbi immediately shook her head. "No can do. I won’t be able to rest easy until I fix you."

Xuan raised a brow. "Do you always force yourself onto people?"

"I’m a healer. As a healer, I want my patients to be healthy." Hanbi pointed at him with a slight pout. "You’re now my patient. I don’t want my patients dying, and I definitely don’t want to leave this place knowing there’s someone like you here."

She rose from his bed and walked over to the door, opening it slightly and glancing in his direction.

"Call it whatever you want, but until your Qi blockage is gone, you’re going to be stuck with me. I’m going to have a chat with the first Head Monk. Don’t run away."

With those words, she left his room.

Xuan stared at his door, completely stunned by the sequence of events.

But aside from this Qi blockage that he had heard of for the first time, he was more confused by Hanbi’s actions.

She didn’t seem so assertive at first. Is this change really because she’s a healer?

He couldn’t believe it one bit.

She’s prideful and arrogant, but then she’s caring and affectionate... then she’s stern, bold, and demanding. Just how many sides does she have to herself?

There was too much he didn’t know about her, which made him extremely curious.

Nonetheless, he didn’t want to jinx anything, so Xuan simply closed his eyes, and finally, with no more interruptions, he drifted off to sleep.

.

.

.

—KNOCK KNOCK!

Xuan awoke to a knock on his door, his body slightly sore. But when he glanced out of the tiny window, he spotted that it was still nighttime.

He rose to his feet and approached the door, opening it.

Fully expecting to see Huizhen, Foyan, or Hanbi, he was instead met with a child who was half his height.

"Think you got the wrong room, kid. The cafeteria’s the other way," Xuan said warmly.

But as he was in the midst of closing his door, he felt a cold pressure envelop him, freezing his movements in place.

And a moment later, that child spoke, his voice oddly soothing.

"Hmm... It’s just as young Hanbi had said. You truly have a Qi blockage in your Dantian... How fascinating."