The Time Stone Crystal

Chapter 44 - Training and Building the temple

Weng, Kairo, and Master Zhang Sanfeng went to a sacred place in the forest with falls and rivers to learn Master Zhang’s best-kept secret about learning Tai Chi. That was one of the agreements they made between Weng and Master Zhang while the temple was being built.

"There are different methods of learning Tai Chi but what I will teach you is basic first since you already know how to connect with nature," Master Zhang told her.

She just nodded in response. On the other side, her husband was just there in the shade of a tree, sitting and watching them.

"This is your basic step stance." It gestured to her the position of the foot. “Stand with your feet close together. Turn your left foot so your toe is pointing forty-five degrees outward. Slide your right foot straight forward until it is a full step ahead of you. You are now in a basic tai chi stance. In pushing waves and tai chi stepping, you’ll maintain this 45-degree angle at all times. Make sure that you aren’t stepping across yourself. Check by drawing your front foot back in a straight line. If it passes your back foot without your heels hitting each other, your stance is correct.”

She imitated Master Zhang’s step stance.

“Next is pushing waves. Pushing waves is a great way to use the basic tai chi stance and enjoy the meditative benefits of continuous movement. Place your feet in the basic tai chi stance. Push forward, driving your back foot into the floor and straightening your back leg, while bending your front knee. As you push forward, extend your hands straight in front of you at chest height. Push back, driving your front foot into the floor to straighten your front leg, while bending your back leg. As you push back, your hands retreat with you. Bend your elbows slightly. Repeat twenty to thirty times before changing your feet and working on the other side. ”

She just follows the flow of Master Zhang’s teaching. At first, she also had a hard time because it wasn't just moved that she had to watch if it wasn't the right angle and size. Also, she doesn’t use the stone crystal’s ability today. I hope I can last it. It looks like a physical pain I reached here.

“You can do it, my wife. Just don't hurry and just concentrate, ”Kairo said in her mind.

“Kairo… It's hard for me when I don’t use the ability of stone crystal. Can I use it?”

“No. I want you to learn on your own without relying on the power of the stone crystal.”

“I'm having a hard time, my love. Do you want me to see my bone broken?”

She heard his low tone of a laugh. "When you get hurt, it means you've learned something from Master Zhang."

"I'll try, my love."

"Lady Weng, concentrate!"

"Y-Yes, Master!" she suddenly replied. She was just surprised when Master Zhang spoke to her. Looks like he knows I'm talking to you, my love. She glanced at Kairo who just smiled at her.

She poured her attention into their training of Master Zhang even though it was more and more difficult to learn the basics. There she is losing her balance, being scolded by Master Zhang, or being disturbed by Kairo in her mind. That was only part of how determined she was to learn from her training. It is also one of those that she realized that training any self-defense is also not easy and it takes a long time to learn it. It also helps the human body a lot when it comes to health issues so most of those who know it will also live a long life.

Master Zhang next asked her to fill the drum with water. She had to fetch water from the river to the hill part where the drum was located.

“Huh? Do I have to fill that, Master Zhang? And it is really high?” she complained. She still thought that it would be difficult for her to climb the water using only the bucket.

“This is one way to strengthen your knees and stamina. Do you have any complaint, Lady Weng?”

She nodded. "Nothing, Master Zhang." She picked up the bucket and walked towards the river.

"You have to fill it up in an hour," he shouted.

"Yes, Master Zhang!" she replied. Instead of complaining, she just followed his order.

In the direction of Kairo, Master Zhang approached and sat down next to him.

"She learns quickly even if she doesn't use any skills," said Master Zhang.

"Yes, Master Zhang."

“Even if you confuse her mind. Lady Weng was one of my most unique students of all. You can see she has determination but she also has interesting things especially her actions and speech. Isn't she give you a headache, Master Kairo? Or having trouble with her?”

“When I first met her, I thought she was a creature that would be an obstacle to my destiny but eventually she didn't. I learned many things from her especially her appreciation for her family left behind in her time. She was also determined that we could get the stone crystal from Hyperion to sort everything out even though she didn’t know much about me. I don't want to tell her that right now and she might just lose her concentration.”

“But she needs to know everything, Master Kairo. Not forever you can hide that thing. As the partner of your life, she has the right to know any secret of what she cherishes for you.”

"I know. Master Zhang. I'm just looking for the right time to tell her that.”

"What if she already knows and she doesn't tell you?"

“My wife will understand me and if I need a long process to explain to her I will. For now, everything must be kept secret first.”

“I understand, Master Kairo. Anyway, you will only stay here seven days and during those seven days, you will travel again?”

"Yes, Master Zhang."

“The seventh portal is the most dangerous of all. The Abyss where the most underworld where Hyperion hides. So you are preparing Lady Weng for your reckoning with your former colleague in the Dimensional World. And you know she will be the only one left in your group.”

“I am sorry that will happen, Master Zhang. It will be difficult for me to see the consequences of everything, especially and something that will shock us all a few days from now,” Kairo said seriously.

“I am worried about Lady Weng's reaction and how the stone crystal may affect her emotions. I am also sad because I have many students and close friends who have passed away. Maybe that's how life is and we have to accept that everything is not permanent.”

“Everything will have comfort and hope for future generations. I have many plans for them but I cannot carry them out without them going through the process of death and resurrection.”

"The process of reincarnation." Master Zhang’s in his sighed.

The two of them fell silent again and just stared at Lady Weng in the distance. Weng, on the other hand, had a hard time climbing the bucket full of water.

"Huh?!" At the same time, she put down the bucket as she climbed the hill. "This is a big prank but I have to do it!" She peeked at the bottom. “It's a long way and it's hard to climb. I'll just think it's for my own good and our training. ” She poured the water into the drum. Less than half.

"You can do it, my wife."

“That's what you always say, my love. My arms will become warriors,” she replied to him in her mind.

“I will massage you after. Is it okay? ”

"Massage?" She shivered slightly and smiled. "Promise?"

"I promise."

“Okay. I am easy to talk to." She went down the hill again and fetched water again. Once again, she thought that she would be able to be with the young man in their room again and they hadn't had intimate s*x for a long time.

In the Temple, everyone is still helping to build it. Kairo's staff were also there to help but inevitably had an accident. Everyone was shocked when part of the newly poured cement suddenly collapsed.

"Watch out!" The follower of Master Zang shouted.

 Hander and the others also turned around and moved quickly.

“Jigger, Kristoff! Keep Master Zhang's men away!” Hander shouted.

People ran inside until the crushed cement finally fell to the floor. It was still smoking because of the sand but no one was hurt in the landslide.

"What happened?" Thiara asked.

"The part of the newly poured cement collapsed," Hander replied.

"It's impossible for that to happen because we have a strong connection to the steel," said Master Zhang's staff member Zhou.

“Zhou is right. We are making sure that the placement is in order as stated in the plan made by Lady Weng,” Tao replied.

"Maybe there's something wrong with the material, isn't it?" Jigger said.

"Didn't anyone get hurt?" Thiara asked.

"No one was hurt because the incident was seen immediately," Zhou replied.

Later, Master Zhang, Kairo, and Lady Weng arrived.

"What happened?" Master Zhang asked immediately.

"Master!" Master Zhang’s staff said in chorus.

"The newly poured cement fell on that part, Master Zhang." Zhou pointed at the cracked part at the same time.

"It happened again."

"Huh?!" Weng was surprised to see what was cracked down. "Why did it fall?"

Later, Kairo suddenly left, which Weng noticed. She immediately followed her husband wherever she was going.

“Kairo! Where are you going?" she asked. She was in hurry footsteps because her husband seemed to be in a hurry too.

"I just want to talk to someone." Then it stopped and faced her. "Do you want to join me?"

"Yes."

"Come on." At once he held out her hand to her.

She accepted it and then they suddenly diverted to a place near the temple on a big tree.

"Love, what are we going to do here in the big tree?" she asked. She wonders why they are in front of a large and seemingly old tree.

"There's a naughty creature we need to talk to."

"Huh?" she wondered again.

“Get out of there. If you don't come out, I will burn down your kingdom,” Kairo said.

Later, a young fairy appeared. She is dressed in white, has accessories on different bodies, has a flower wreath on her head, and has long black hair. This fairy is also beautiful and her first time to meet one.

"K-Kairo… who is she?"

"She is the reason why the temple that Master Zhang has built in that area is always destroyed."

“We need strong wind energy for my staff. The wind keeps us alive here because this is where our strength comes from,” the fairy replied.

"What's your name?" she asked.

“My name is Wendy. I'm sorry for what I did.” It bowed.

“I just waited for this opportunity to meet you, Wendy. You are the goddess of nature who protects this place. And based on your problem we can work out away. You won't even make a scene to get noticed.”

"I'm sorry." It remained bent her head.

“Dear, maybe we can help. What can we do?”

Kairo turned to her. It's up to you to decide, my wife.”

“Me? But how? If the wind direction is up and not down in this part?”

Kairo smiled then wrapped his hands around his chest. "If you make a way that Wendy's staff can suck in the air that's coming from that part in the atmosphere."

“Hmm…” She thought then she turned to Wendy and asked. "Wendy, do you have the ability to absorb air from here in case the air is in the atmosphere?"

"My abilities are limited," Wendy replied.

She turned to Kairo. "Honey, can a stone crystal provide the ability I have in mind?"

“Nothing is possible as long as you know what you are doing is right, my love. And I will help you.”

“I’m right. Let's do it together. Thanks, my love.” She smiled at her husband.