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

Master Ryu nodded. “At higher levels, Kappa can do some of the more amazing things that human Cultivators can.”

“Like what?” Ken asked.

“Hyperflexibility,” Teppin said. “None of the techniques I showed you would work on a First Rank practitioner of our Path. Our limbs turn in directions you can’t even imagine.”

As if to prove his point, Teppin twisted his upper body around almost a full circle, while lifting his leg back with his knee going the wrong direction.

“Which means elongation, too,” Master Ryu said.

Teppin nodded and threw out a punch at Siena, which travelled two meters—despite the fact that its arms were less than a meter.

Ken could only gawk. He’d dug up a 2D street-fighting video game where a yogi could do that with his limbs. Yoga was ancient even to the Age of Greed people.

“Now let’s see how well you’ve learned.” Teppin motioned for Aya and Ken together. “Spar.”

Just like that? With a shrug, Ken dropped to his knees into the starting position the Kappa had taught, facing Aya.  Though matted with sweat, her gold hair sparkled in the late afternoon sun.

Before he knew it, she lunged in, her slight weight pressing on him. When he resisted, she grabbed his sleeves, then yanked him back into her Sunbathing Position. He’d been too busy admiring her hair! He tried to pull back, but she locked her ankles together and jerked him forward onto her. At the last second, she slid to the side, wrapped an arm around his neck, and squeezed the breath out of him.

He tapped furiously on her arm, indicating his surrender.

“Very good,” Teppin said, tone begrudging. “I don’t think our children could execute that more perfectly.  Then again, your opponent was stupid. Again.”

Chastised, Ken paid more attention. Though he still got dragged down into her guard, he didn’t pull back this time, instead trying to pry her leg off. She swung around with a Lizard Whips Its Tail, and he ended up in a face-down armbar.

How did she keep getting him in her Sunbathing Position?

“Still using your wiring?” the master asked her.

Though Ken couldn’t see her expression with his face in the dirt, he heard the pride in her voice. “I’ve always been a quick learner.”

Master Ryu chuckled. “Now you just have to strengthen your body.”

At least in this, Ken was better.

“Again,” Teppin said.

The master leaned in close to Ken’s ear and whispered, “Be like Earth.”

Whatever did that mean? He looked up, askance.

Master Ryu chuckled. “Water becomes its container. Become a container that is advantageous to you. Like an earthquake, give ground to take ground.”

Give ground to take ground… Up to now, Aya had pushed him back, and when he resisted, she’d pulled him toward her. Maybe…

Aya lunged in again.

Instead of resisting her push like the first two times, he went with it, seizing her wrists and guiding her down on top of him. Her sparkling gold hair curtained their faces. Her eyes went wide. He pulled one of her arms across his body while turning his body over in the Turtle Rolls Over, and he was on top of her.

She was gasping for air now, the phlegm rattling in her throat.

“Good,” Teppin said.

Ken rose and helped her to her feet.  Looking at him with an inscrutable expression, she coughed up the mucous, the wet, sticky sounds quite disgusting. Then again, it was only the first time she’d coughed this afternoon.  By absorbing the Tofu-Kozo’s Core, she’d already started to overcome her disease.

“Would you demonstrate with Teppin?” Aya asked Master Ryu.

He looked to the Kappa. “Would you be willing?”

“I owe you my life, so I will do what you command.” Teppin bowed.

Owed him his life? Ken scratched his head.

The two faced off, and their exchanges ranged from fascinating to boring. There were times when one just lay on top of the other, doing nothing for a moment before shifting to some kind of submission. From the motions, it was evident the master was using something different than the Path of Swirling Limbs, even if the techniques were similar. He had said something earlier about Mongolian Wrestling resembling the Kappa fighting style. In the end, though, the Kappa usually gained the upper hand.

“You are losing most of the time,” Aya said. “Is their style invincible?”

“Yes,” Teppin said.

“No.” Master Ryu shook his head. “The key is, don’t play their game.”

“What do you mean?” Ken asked.

“They excel at grappling. Don’t grapple. Use the Earth techniques we practiced earlier.”

“That was little more than falling,” Aya muttered.

Ken scratched his head. “Then why did we practice the Path of Swirling Limbs?”

“Know your enemy, and you will win half your battles.” The master turned to Teppin. “Speaking of which, you’ve been spying on the Shirikodamanuki; how skilled are the ones that crossed over?”

“Five are very low, not even First Rank—that’s why they are here to harvest human Cores, since it’s so easy—but they’re led by a Fourth Ranker.”

Master Ryu whistled.

Ken looked to the master. “Is that good?”

“Bad.  A blindfolded Fourth Ranker with its arms and feet bound could defeat you and Aya together, without any trouble. Its Core is ten thousand times more concentrated than yours.”

Ken’s shoulders drooped. “So we can’t take them.”

“Oh, we can,” the master said. “When higher-ranked individuals cross over into this world, they temporarily lose a rank.”

Aya’s eyes widened. “Does that mean you were originally Fifth Rank?”

“No. I took an elixir that protected me from that effect. Now, Kappa have a weakness on land: the bowl on their head.” The master gestured to Teppin’s head. “The water inside is their connection.  If you spill it, or scoop it out, it will weaken them. We’ll practice some counter techniques to their style, and plan some strategy to face them.”

***

Huddled between two buildings