Recesses of the Heart

13 ⚠️

⚠️Some sensitive content in the chapter. Content includes fighting and violence, and blood.⚠️
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Over the past week, I have been diligently training. I haven't been able to fully let go and just be myself since I've been hiding my immortality for so long. Lan Zhan and I will continue to hide it for a little while but as we know what the future holds, it will come out eventually and we will be targeted for our abilities.

Baoshan created a link between us using our blood to keep us safe. We were already considered as adults as we were sixteen and we lived a whole lifetime already, Lan Zhan and I are not ready to advance forward in our relationship. We only just started to court and his father has more of an idea of it but no one else. Sooner or later my identity will also come out but I hoped it would be after the war that I am exposed.

That was another reason Lan Zhan and I couldn't marry yet. I would be doing so under a false name and I do not want that. If it was under a false name we wouldn't be considered a married couple. If we married, I want to use my real name, and I'm sure Lan Zhan would also like that too. It wasn't ideal for me to keep hiding but it's the only way I am going to gain any sort of trust in most of the people I am around. That trust would be lost the moment they knew who I really was. It would not be because I lied over who I am, but because of my name in general. People have such strong opinions about my parents and they have always took it out on me in my past life.

I was training in the fields. Baoshan had an orb, once activated, it sends out a series of challenges, eliminating the targets, focusing on your skills, and learning endurance. I was currently in the middle of a simulation. There were about seven figures I needed to eliminate. Even if it was a simulation, these figures had swords and their own fighting abilities and I could be hurt by them if I wasn't careful. The orb created an environment around me, laying out floating rocks that I could jump on and fight in the air. Some of these figures could fly, so I had to be creative.

I sent my sword flying, splitting it into several swords. Doing so, it allowed me to take out multiple targets at once. After taking out the figures in the air, I had one more on the ground, and it was a fairly large being. It was a large ogre like creature using a huge mace as its weapon. Anytime he stuck it, it caused the ground beneath me to quake, and leaving large craters in the ground in its path. Of course, this was the cost sometimes of using this orb. It can take it out on the environment. Baoshan might be a bit upset over the damage done but luckily, I can use the earth element to fix it up when I am done here.

Unfortunately, Baoshan came towards the end of my training and noticed the mess. She just grinned and me and shook her head. I could tell she wasn't too upset this time. I saw that Lan Zhan was with her, which might be a slight reason for that. Thinking I was distracted, the ogre thought it could take me down, but I went back to focusing on him and fought back. As the ogre had armed on, it's only weak spot was it's head and neck. So I jumped in the air and landed on its back. It tried to shake me off but I shoved my Suibian into the side of its neck, killing it. I jumped off of it and landed beside it. The orb deactivated clearing out everything except the mess it created on the ground...and me being covered in blood, thankfully it wasn't mine.

Baoshan and Lan Zhan walked over to me as I used some energy to clean up the field, "I could have done that later," Baoshan said to me.

I smiled, "I got it, I created the mess so I will clean it up," I told her, "plus I know how you are when I use the more advanced training orbs."

"I was upset one time because you used it in the training room, that takes a lot more time to clean. I appreciate you doing this outside this time," she said.

"Then I will do these outside more often," I said.

"You can do that later, you are going to help your partner here train now that he has returned," she told me.

I looked at Lan Zhan, "how do you feel?"

"Well," he answered, "I am guessing I will use one of those orbs?"

"Yes, but there are different levels," I replied, "I know you are a strong fighter but we need to start off with the basics to get you used to your new skills and strengths."

"That is fine, how long do you think we will need?" Lan Zhan asked.

"Luckily I have a couple orbs you can take back to Gusu with you," Baoshan said, "you two will need to head back soon as the guest lectures are going to end soon and the events after are on the way."

"We will have to stay for at least two to three days to get you set," I said, "once the lectures are over, I will be needed back at Lotus Pier. Since you and I are immortal, we have new ways of communicating. Because Baoshan tampered with the elixir just a little bit, you and I can communicate telepathically, no matter where we are. We have a small bond set until we can complete it in the future. It allows us to at least detect if the other is in danger, or hurt."

"Alright, shortly after lectures end, the archery competition will happen," Lan Zhan said, "that will be our next big event before Cloud Recesses is attacked."

"Lan Zhan, I will help you protect your home," I said, "I have some new talismans and charms that I can use. I will have your library and treasury building protected. They targeted those last time...as for your father, brother, and Uncle, I don't know what to expect...was Wen Zhuliu there last time?"

"He was not," Lan Zhan answered, "why?"

"Because Baoshan helped me develop a core protection charm. I will see if our families will use them," I answered.

"Can you teach it to me? Maybe they can use it if they know it's from me," Lan Zhan suggested.

"Of course," Baoshan said, "I will give you some things that will help you train on your own. A'Ying has a book of charms and talismans he can let you use so you can learn to make them. I am sure it will be of use."

Lan Zhan looked at me, "will you?"

"Of course," I answered, "we are in this together this time."

"That is something you need to remember," Lan Zhan countered.

I smiled knowing he was actually right about that. I went about everything alone last time and it was one of the reasons I ended up being killed. This time, we will not repeat the same mistakes again.