Временные трудности / Temporary hardships: Глава 7

Chapter 7, in which the hero shows foresight, but this does not save him from more betrayals

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:43

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Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:43

This time, Han, as a wise and modest young man, relied on his experience. The attitude of the servants had changed, and for some unknown reason, everyone around him looked at him differently, but he did not repeat his past mistakes and tried to take into the forest the things and food he needed for the camping. Now he knew the servants would not be allowed into the forest, and he would have to carry the things, and besides, shoulder bags were a good excuse to put something heavy inside.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:47

Han even managed to whisper to Mei that she shouldn't take anything either - the sneaky master would load her up, too.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:47

As it turned out, the precautions didn't work. The master, seeing Han and Mei, grinned with satisfaction and took out a brush and two strips of cloth, which Han recognized with indignation as the silk of his best scrolls.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:48

If it wasn't for his previous experience, and Han hadn't strengthened his vision with qi, he might not have noticed anything. But now he saw the brush clasped in the bastard's fingers glow dimly with the qi that filled it and then slid lightly across the strips on his forearm, leaving calligraphic inscriptions in precious red ink. The master then tied them around Han and Mei's wrists. Han looked at the cloth with astonishment - there was a perfect nonsense written there:// "Embrace of the Swamp Mire."

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:49

He had long since gotten used to the insults, the comparisons to eggs and tadpoles, the stories about how he, Han, could not become like his master, and how he could not overcome the waterfall. So he wasn't surprised by the inscription - insult more, insult less. Except that the inscription on Mei's wrist was exactly the same - and no one had ever called her a tadpole.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:50

But as soon as he moved, Han realized the meaning of the inscription. He really felt as if he were enveloped in a mire. Every movement became slow and heavy as if he were tumbling in a huge vat of honey or molasses. Even the use of qi didn't help much, as his strength drained away too quickly. Han glanced at Mei, who was waving her arms in the air and, judging by her slow movements, was experiencing the same difficulties. But instead of being upset at her mentor's new meanness, she looked delighted.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:51

"All right, my favorite students? Are we going camping?" smirked the rascal.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:52

"Yes, Master!" Han and Mei replied in unison.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:52

The journey into the forest with the new talismans was not as horrible as Han had feared, merely physically exhausting and devouring a great deal of qi. No comparison to the stone on his back or the heavy bags. He still wanted to resent and protest, but the sight of Mei walking resolutely ahead made him swallow any angry words.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:53

It had been a very hard day. Not only did they have to wade through the undergrowth, not only did they have to overcome the resistance of talismans, cross the river, and risk broken legs on the rocky scree, but then, when the thickest of the thickets began, they had to jump like squirrels from branch to branch, protecting themselves from leaves and twigs with qi. Then the master disappeared, and he and Mei walked forward, looking for traces of him, such as crushed moss, crumpled grass, or broken branches.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 15:07

When Han suddenly fell, he didn't realize what had happened - after all, he and Mei were walking on a completely open beast path. He would have been ashamed of his embarrassment if Mei hadn't fallen next. After a few falls on level ground, they realized something was wrong. Han decided to use a stick to probe the path and soon discovered an invisible obstacle. Following Mei's advice, he directed his qi to his eyes and saw that the path was blocked by many barely visible glowing threads, completely insensible to normal vision.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 15:08

The threads were fragile, disappearing completely when they collided with his feet, so Han felt a vengeful satisfaction in stepping on them and destroying them. He might even have felt something romantic. After all, there was no master now, and Mei was beside him, but the fatigue from the cursed talismans left no energy even for talking, and the constant pain in his eyes from the enhanced vision gave off a dull ache in his head.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 15:10

"Well, students of mine!" came a disgustingly smug voice as they made their way into the clearing. "Congratulations. You did it. Not well, of course, but you did it."

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:19

Han looked around. Even though his master was traveling light, there was a large tent in the clearing and a cauldron hanging over an inexplicable fire, in which a brew was already bubbling, judging by the smell of the same boring vegetables and rice. Something told him that tomorrow they would not have such luxury and they would have to get food by themselves again.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:20

"Hey, why 'not very good,' Master?" Han indignantly collapsed on the grass, indignant. "We found you despite the traps!"

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:21

"I agree with Han!" Mei suddenly supported him, and his heart fluttered with joy. "I thought we did pretty well, Master!"

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:22

The master sighed and shook his head.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:56

"Before you discovered the traps, you fell into them several times. And you're lucky it's my job to teach you, not kill you. Otherwise, the traps wouldn't be so harmless. And then you deliberately destroyed them instead of avoiding or circumventing them."

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:22

Han wanted to object to 'not kill' since this rascal's attempts to kill him were uncounted. But he resolutely bit his tongue.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:39

"But how do you do it?" Mei asked. "Master, we couldn't walk around with qi vision all the time!"

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:40

Han was in complete agreement with her, so he nodded decisively.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:41

"Why couldn't you? I have to admit I'm disappointed. If Han's stupid tadpole is worthless, then you, Mei...."

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:57

Han immediately suppressed the feeling of gloating. As much as he was in love with Mei, it annoyed him that she was constantly being made an example of. Everything should be different, like in the crystals. Han would do feats like Bao Xiao, and Mei would admire and look on with amorous eyes.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:57

"But Master, isn't it silly to walk around with qi vision all the time? Not only is it inconvenient, but it's also a great hindrance. The qi of nature obscures the eye, spirits and ghosts distract you, and using it wastes energy. You can't train your eyesight - once you've learned it, no matter how much you use it, you'll never see more. It either works or it doesn't."

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:42

"And it also consumes qi!" Han backed up and heroically stuck out his chest without getting up from the grass. "Which can be used in battle!"

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:42

The master gave both students a long look. Han could hardly resist the urge to check that his clothes were in order. He knew it was bad enough. Instead of silk robes, he had to wear the unsightly clothes of his father's foot soldiers: simple cloth pants, a robe, and rough leather shoes. If it weren't for her graceful figure and beautiful face, Mei, dressed in the same clothes, would look like a peasant!

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:45

"You are right, my students," the master finally replied. "There are no advantages in using vision all the time. That is why many people, having mastered it, stop there because the disadvantages are many times greater than the advantages. But it is only at first sight. It is like weights on hands and feet - at first, they interfere with movement and seem heavy and uncomfortable. But then a person gets used to them, gets used to them, stops noticing them. A child at first does not know how to walk either, but he stands on his little legs and takes the first step. But he does not think that he has reached the top. He takes the second step and the third. And when he gets used to it, he no longer has to think about how to move his legs. He just walks and then runs. And then he is not concerned with "how" but only with "where."

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 15:00

Han grimaced. Running around with qi vision all the time would be just as unpleasant as running around with weights on his legs.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 15:01

"Apparently, this is difficult for my student, so I'll give a more understandable example: a tadpole learns to move its tail and fins to swim forward. And exactly the same thing happens with vision. Yes, you won't see more. Yes, you will be tired, your eyes will hurt, and the qi around you will get in the way. Yes, it is difficult, but these difficulties are temporary. As you get used to your new vision, it changes and becomes a part of you. It ceases to be a burden and turns from just seeing into a way of perceiving reality, adding another sense to the Great Triad. It becomes a spiritual perception - the eye of the Tiger and the Dragon, the Phoenix and the Qilin!"

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:53

Han wished he had the Qilin's Gaze - it sounded very heroic, in the spirit of the best crystals in the Hero's Almanac. But his supernatural sense, which was as good as that of the Divine Beasts, told him that he wouldn't like the way he had been trained.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:54

"You are right, my student," laughed the master as if he had read his thoughts, "it won't be easy. But it's great training, and the hardships are temporary! And in the process, you will learn a special technique!"

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:55

"Which one, Master?" Han asked suspiciously.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:56

"The Indestructibly Enduring Dragon's Ass!"

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 16:56

* * *

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:43

If Mei hadn't been there, it might have seemed as if the villain was only trying to torture him, Han. Even Mei's presence might have been an added humiliation if she hadn't fought shoulder-to-shoulder with him to defeat the master. But alas, even after joining forces, they failed to land a single blow. The master cowardly ran away, hid behind bushes and tree trunks, jumped on branches, and hid in the thickets of bamboo. And from there, he would attack - sneakily, insidiously, striking in the back, legs, and wrists. The trees and branches were in the way, clinging to their weapon, preventing them from striking.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:03

The teacher behaved like a rat or a snake but, of course, not like the noble Celestial Beasts, but like their vile earthly counterparts. He stung and bit, jumping and retreating. And he struck not with a weapon but with a transparent pole, visible only through this very "spiritual perception." It was air, which was dense with qi. This air was much more painful than even his favorite bamboo stick, and, most annoyingly, it was impossible to block the blows with swords, sabers, spears, shields, clubs, axes, hammers, guan dao, and a dozen other weapons, a stand with which, inexplicably appeared in the middle of the forest, looked completely alien. And when Mei and Han tried to deflect and parry, the "stick" lost its rigidity, bent, and sometimes acted as if it were alive, either coiling around his arm or darting about like a snake.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:07

When Han woke up after another sneak attack and sat on the ground, his master slipped a scroll into his hand, one of many on the shelves of a large rack that looked even wilder in the forest than the weapons rack.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:09

Han didn't even bother asking questions. He unrolled the scroll and read the title. He was still expecting to learn some top-secret powerful technique that he could use to defeat this scoundrel. But now he was in despair, his hands crumpling the scroll as if he wanted to tear it to shreds.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:09

"But why would I need it?" he cried out.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:10

"Why would I need it, master?" corrected the bastard.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:12

This time, Han managed to raise his arm, covering it with his qi. The stick lost its rigidity, curved around his arm, and struck first his forehead and then his solar plexus.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:13

"Master," Han muttered, resignedly.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:14

"You have a fighting spirit. I'll give you that. But you have not enough brains," the scoundrel explained. "So I have to either develop them or find a roundabout way out."

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:17

"But they're deep-sea fish! Why should I study them... master?"

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:18

The scoundrel laughed. He shifted his eyes to Mei and then back to Han. And, to Han's annoyance, Mei smiled slightly.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 17:18

"The little tadpole thinks his whole life will be spent in shallow water. Why does it need to know about waterfalls or depths? But remember student, there is no such thing as useless knowledge, only useless tadpoles who do not want to become fry, let alone carp and dragons!"

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 15:03

"There is no such thing as useless knowledge, Master?" Han interjected.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 15:06

He knew perfectly well that this was nonsense, that there was a lot of knowledge that was not only unnecessary for a nobleman but even harmful. For example... Who would want to know why peasants were digging in the mud or what savages were doing somewhere outside the Empire? He'd expected Mei to back him up, but alas, she was staring at one of the scrolls, reading it intently. Perhaps she had gotten something good and not some unnecessary nonsense.

Camrad_RIP 12.01.24 в 14:45