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

“Stop.” Master Ryusuke’s head whipped around, and he gestured the others to him. He flipped the Kappa walking stick in his hands.

They all gathered around him, like a team of heroes from the old movies. The clouds, which had dispersed earlier, now loomed low in the night sky, as if they were pressing down on them.

“It’s what I feared: a Nue is stalking the streets, looking for victims. As I said, it is a very dangerous yokai. Right now, hold your stances and feel the energy.”

Doing as he was told, Ken dug his toes into the pavement and straightened his spine. Across from him, Aya did the same, and even Siena joined in.

A cold sensation crept up Ken’s spine, a primal fear.

“Up to now,” Master Ryusuke said, “we’ve fought bipedal creatures whose bodies more or less resemble our own. The Nue is like nothing I’ve prepared you for.  Therefore, I will engage it directly.  I want the rest of you to do what you can to punch or kick it.”

A shiver ran through Ken.

“Channel whatever you can at a distance.” The master said to the Elestrae before turning to the rest of them. “If it looks like we are losing, I will be forced to flee. I want you to be ready to do the same. Do you understand?”

Ken exchanged glances with Aya, then they both nodded.

A female scream rent the air.

The master’s eyes gained sharp focus, and he broke into a run.

Ken took off after him with the others on his heels.

The old buildings zipped by in his peripheral vision as he tried to keep up. Master Ryusuke disappeared around a corner, just as another one of the bone-chilling chirps echoed through the air. A crack of thunder pealed through the air.

Ken turned the corner and skidded to a halt. If worry had sent him into shivers before, it now felt as if ice water ran through his veins.

The Nue was the most bizarre creature he’d ever seen.  Its head resembled a white-haired baboon, while its brown furry body resembled a badger fox with enormous testicles. Its four limbs were orange with black stripes, like a tiger’s, and a scaly green tail wagged from behind it. Easily twice as large as a person, it bared its sharp, gleaming teeth. Power rippled off it, tangible in the air.

Reared up on its hind legs, its claws were raised, ready to slash through a sobbing woman huddling by the grey-tiled temple gates.

Ken’s limbs trembled, and he had to fight the instinct to flee. At his side, Aya was backing up, lips quivering.

“Stances!” Master Ryu yelled, not looking back as he dashed in.

If only Ken’s jelly limbs would obey. They would obey.  He sank into the Zhan Zhuang stance and, against his better judgement, shot his hand out to grab Aya before she turned and fled.

It didn’t seem possible that her face could turn paler. She gave him a quick nod, and then assumed the low stance the master had taught her.

Ken turned back just in time to see the Nue swipe at the woman.

Then, Master Ryusuke was there. He swung the Kappa walking stick to intercept the swipe.

The walking stick’s runes lit up for a split second, and with them a low hum Ken hadn’t noticed before; but the force of the blow sent it hurling through the air. Thankfully, the master recovered from the surprise of losing his weapon as the monster lashed out its claw again. With an arcing of his hand, Master Ryusuke grabbed the monster’s arm and torqued his hips.

With its momentum redirected, the Nue crashed into the ground, but instantly rolled up to its feet.

Master Ryu interposed himself between it and the woman. “Run!”

The woman needed no more prompting. She scuttled to the side as she climbed to her feet, then ran away.

Snarling, the Nue unleashed a barrage of slashing swipes of its claws. Master Ryu gave ground, and already his blood seeped from tears in his shirt. The creature pressed, pushing the master to the wall.

At Ken’s side, Siena barked out several words. The beads around her neck lit up. Bolts of energy shot from her fingertips, crackling through the air and striking the monster.

It cried out, then emitted a series of staccato chirps. The clouds lit up.

Siena jumped back, avoiding the forking blades of lightning, and settled into her own Elestrae fighting stance.

The ground rumbled from blackened spots in the street, and an ear-shattering boom roared.  Despite his attaining First Rank, Ken’s legs wobbled. He locked his knees, maintaining his balance. Aya, however, fell.

Ignoring them, the Nue closed fast on Master Ryusuke, who’d rooted into the Xinyi Water Form stance. It leaped with zigzagging strikes of its four gleaming claws. The master took a step forward, bobbing and weaving through the barrage. When his lead foot struck the ground, he thrust his arms out and slammed both of his palms into the demon’s chest before it landed.

It went tumbling head over heels before stopping midair. Its warbles came out deep and slow, like Ken’s father when he was angry. Lighting flashed again, forking through the sky.

Master Ryu sank into Xingyi’s Wood stance just as bolts surged into him, then stomped forward with his hands forming the position of the Fire Form. The electricity crackled from his fingers into the Nue.

Monkey face contorting, the beast let out a shrill screech. The stench of singed fur hung in the air. It covered the dozen feet between it and the master, and slammed into him.

It looked as if Master Ryu had tried to sink into the Earth stance, but too late. He staggered back several feet before bending his knees and anchoring his feet into the street.  The smooth pavement buckled beneath him.

Siena shouted out more sounds, and her beads glowed blue