Quantum Cultivation by Jace Kang (simple e reader TXT) 📕

The image shifted to the latticed columns of the famous temple.  Blood streaks and chunks of flesh, bone, hair, and cloth were scattered across a walkway.

In the corner of his eye, Aya’s complexion turned green as she covered her mouth.

“The first three looked similar. Bodies intact, blood beneath the navel.” Kentaro squinted at the scene. “This one is different, as if whoever did it shredded the poor woman.”

“Blood beneath the navel?” Ryu looked at him.

“Yes, we noticed that with the first.” Kentaro nodded at Aya.

“I have footage,” Aya said, voice shaky.

“Let’s see it.”

“Give me a moment.”

“In other news,” the announcer continued, “Ryusuke Ishihara has still not been located.  As of yet, nothing connects him to these other crimes, but Peacekeepers are exploring the idea that he could possibly be the perpetrator.”

The image flashed back to him, still wearing that ridiculous one-piece. Did they really think he would kill ordinary, unarmed humans? It went against the Code of the World of Rivers and Lakes.

“And in more news,” the broadcaster continued, “a Tivari delegation has arrived in San Francisco to discuss a peace treaty and istrium exploration rights. The Ministry of Galactic Interrelations and Peacekeepers warns citizens to avoid harassing them.”

The image shifted to a spacecraft—a real spacecraft!—flying above the Golden Gate Bridge. Protestors chanted, “No reparations, no peace.”

“Reparations?” Ryu asked.

Kentaro nodded. “For the Onslaught.”

“That was four hundred years ago." Ryu sighed. Even if humanity had come together, humans still knew how to hold a grudge.

Siena scoffed. “If the Tivari are on Earth, they’re up to no good.”

The Elestrae had been so carefree; now, there was so much venom in her voice. Ryu shook his head. “A great sage once said, Give peace a chance.”

“Confucius?” Kentaro asked.

“John Lennon.”

“Peace?” Siena just about snarled the word. “The Tivari don’t want peace. Had they succeeded in taking back one of their major istrium sources last week, they’d be launching another war.”

Apparently, this istrium caused more trouble than petroleum had in Ryu’s time. He turned away to monitor Aya’s progress.

She activated her holoprojector, and the scene from the first attack at Higashi Honganji appeared. Ryu watched as the monk went into the courtyard. The air nearby shimmered.

Just as Ryu had suspected. A portal into the World of Rivers and Lakes.

“This is where the original footage scrambled, but I was able to clean it up.” Aya grinned.

A Tofu-Kozo stepped out of the portal, with its telltale hat and plate of tofu. Ryu harrumphed.

“Do you know what he is?” Siena asked.

Ryu nodded. “They are natives of the World of Rivers and Lakes. They’re barely the equivalent of First Rank. Before the portals were closed in 1583, they’d sometimes cross over into this world in search of mischief. They were always harmless.”

In the image, the Tofu-Kozo pummeled the man into unconsciousness, then bit into his Core.

“That’s it,” Ryu said.

“What is?” Kentaro asked.

“When I left the World of Rivers and Lakes, they were at war with the Black Phoenix Sect.”

“The Black Phoenix Sect?” Siena asked.

“They’re a society that Cultivates a Fire Path.”

“Like Wing Chun?” Kentaro beamed.

“Not exactly. All those fighting styles from this plane are basic. They’re good for fundamentals, but to move to Second Rank, you need to start learning more complex systems.”

“So why did the Tofu-Kozo bite Mr. Smith’s abdomen?” Aya asked.

“It must be here to acquire Cores.”

Kentaro cocked his head. “I thought you said someone would have to be First Rank for it to solidify.”

“Yes, but even if it isn’t solid, the energy is still there. Like her.” Ryu tilted his head toward Siena, who had miraculously remained in the stance. “Even a First Rank initiate can sense it and use it.”

Kentaro stepped into the hologram, next to the Tofu-Kozo. “What style of fighting is it using?”

“It’s called the Way of the Thunder Fist.” Ryu rose into a high stance and held his fists out. He looked to the kids. “Rapid strikes. What Path does it belong to?”

“Fire,” Aya and Kentaro said in unison, then actually smiled at each other.

Maybe they were getting over their mutual dislike. Ryu nodded. “Yes. A pure Fire Path.  What Path counteracts it?”

“Water,” Ken said a beat ahead of Aya. Then he looked to her. “Your Path.”

She grinned.

The master studied Siena. “I think a Fire Path might be right for you.”

“Why?” the Elestrae asked.

“It’s flighty, unpredictable, creative.”

“And beautiful?” She blinked innocently.

Ryu snorted. “Aya, can you replay the Tofu-Kozo’s attack?”

Aya nodded, and the image sprang to life.

“Good. Now, Siena, you imitate his motions. Notice how he bobs on the balls of his feet, only rooting when his fist connects?”

“Rooting? Is he a tree?” Siena stretched her arms up and out, like a tree canopy.

“In a sense, yes. A root is our connection to the ground. Without it—”

Kentaro hopped up and down. “We can’t maximize our power.”

Ryu nodded. “Good, even if you’re now demonstrating what not to do. Now how does rooting maximize power?”

Kentaro licked his lips and looked to Aya for help. She shrugged and looked at Siena.

The Elestrae tilted her head. “Please explain.”

“Do people in this day and age learn about Isaac Newton?”

Aya’s head bobbed. “Physics, at its most basic level.”

“Yes.” Ryu went over to Kentaro. He stood on his tiptoes and gave the boy a shove, sending him stumbling back.

“Hey!”

Ryu advanced again. This time he dug his toes into the ground, bent his knees and pushed Kentaro with a finger.  The pressure coiled between them, and the young man went flying back three feet.

“Wow!” Aya clapped her hands.

“Cultivation?” asked Siena.

“No. Physics, at the most basic level.” Ryu turned to Kentaro. “The first time, what did you notice?”

“You were on your toes.”

Ryu nodded. “What happened