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

Analyzing, Ai’s voice droned in her mind.

“Hurry!” Aya’s Six Sealing, Four Closing technique slowed down the Tofu-Kozo’s lunge, but she failed to lock its arm up and take control of his center of gravity.

Integrating.

Without conscious thought, her Brush Knee sweep of the hand redirected its hooking punch aimed at her flank, while the expanding of her arms in White Crane Spreads Its Wings parried its overhand wheel strike. It overextended itself, and she landed both palms across its back with Buddha Warrior Pounds Mortar.

Her hands stung, but it sprawled into the dirt.

“I’m here!” Kentaro said, driving his heel into its head with a Xingyi Water stomp.

Though Aya’s techniques had worked perfectly, she still lacked the stamina to fight. She squatted down, fighting for breath, even as the Tofu-Kozo staggered to its feet. Thankfully, it turned from her and attacked Kentaro.

Its Thunder Fist techniques surged in rapid succession—straight punch, wheel punch, spinning windmill punch—yet Kentaro kept pace with the simple parries of the Xingyi Water Form. He followed through with a stomp and a punch that knocked the Tofu-Kozo back.

Unrelenting, Kentaro followed through with rapid-fire punches that looked more Fire than Water. The Tofu-Kozo tumbled to the ground, scrabbled back, and started to flee.

Right toward her.

She rose from her hunched position with Blue Dragon Flies out of the Water, coming up underneath him with one arm while slamming down with the other. Though the strain of the technique on her frail body caused every muscle to scream with pain, the Tofu-Kozu crashed to the ground.

It didn’t move. Was it alive? Did it breathe air in the first place? None of the video footage suggested it did.

“Kill it!” Ryusuke said as he rushed over, Siena on his heels.

She shuddered. The Tofu-Kozo had attacked her, and had killed three people over the past few nights, but could she murder it while it lay there helpless? She met Kentaro’s gaze. He, too, looked horrified at the idea. Neither of them moved to finish it off.

It stirred, and Ryusuke came over and crashed down on its chest with an open palm. The cracking sound reverberated, and a bright light flashed.

Aya shielded her eyes, but the flare left an orange afterimage. When she blinked it away, expecting to see a bloody mess, all that remained was a tiny red gemstone, no larger than a data bead, sparkling in the moonlight.

“What is that?” she asked.

Ryusuke plucked it up between his index finger and thumb. “Its Core.”

“What happened to its body?” Kentaro scanned the area, expression perplexed.

“Some yokai, like the Tofu-Kozo, project a solid form around a Core when they cross into this world. Their true self remains back in the World of Rivers and Lakes.”

Good. Aya wasn’t sure if her stomach could take seeing its bloody remains splattered over the sand.

“Is that how its Core is still here?” Siena asked, peering at the gemstone. “I can feel its strong bioenergetic properties.”

Ryusuke nodded. “Yes. And the Tofu-Kozo must Cultivate a new Core in order to come back into this world.”

“Then hopefully, the nightly murders will stop,” Ken said.

Ryusuke shook his head. “More portals are opening, so more yokai will wander in. Some are benign, but many others are not. If anything, more people will die on this side.”

Aya shuddered at the thought. “Can these spirits be harmed by modern weapons?”

“I don’t know. But if those weapons are energy-based, it might even make them stronger.” Ryusuke turned the Tofu-Kozo’s Core in his fingers. “Now, we need to integrate this into one of your Cores.”

While Siena looked uninterested, Kentaro’s eyes brightened. His gaze fell on Aya, and his lips pursed tight. She probably wore the same expression.

Ryusuke looked from one of them to the other.

Dread grew in her chest. He was going to give it to Kentaro. Of course he would.

“Aya,” he said. “The Core of a Fire Path creature would be like throwing gasoline on flames for Ken-kun.”

“Gasoline?”  Kentaro said, shoulders slumping.

Ryusuke cocked his head. “It’s what cars, trucks, and planes ran on.”

Siena’s laugh chimed like bells. “Earth phased out that dirty technology not long after you departed for your World of Rivers and Lakes.”

“Well…” Ryusuke scratched his head. “It means that this Core would make Ken-kun’s Fire burn hotter, when he needs to learn how to contain it. You, however…” Ryusuke set a finger to Aya’s Core.

Her heart fluttered at his touch.

“You have too much Phlegm and Dampness. I’ve been teaching you a Water Path so that you can learn to drain that off and strengthen your lungs, but Fire will help evaporate the phlegm.” He looked to Kentaro. “Don’t worry, with all the yokai crossing over, we’ll find a Core you can use soon.”

Kentaro shuffled on his feet, but nodded.

Ryu patted him on the head. “This pair practice will help you, too. It’s almost like using sex to connect to each other—”

Aya gasped. There was no way she’d let Kentaro…

“—except without the sex.”

Aya’s heart pounded. “What do I need to do?”

“This is a perfect location, close to a portal.” Ryusuke offered her the Tofu-Kozo’s Core.

She took it and held it up to the moonlight. It sparked red. Kentaro came in close and peered at it. “Why is being close to the portal important?”

“Because the ambient energy in my world is more saturated. Now, sit.” Ryusuke gestured to the sand garden. “Ken-kun, you too, across from her.”

They exchanged glances, but then did as they were told, assuming the sitting meditation stance. The sand felt cool beneath her.

“Now, set the Core into your belly button.”

Aya chewed on her lip. Turning her body to the side so that Kentaro couldn’t see her, she reached down the front of her dress and pressed the