Impermanence.

[I'm well aware that any man who tries to enter the heavenly realms will either triumph as an Immortal or end up the dust said Immortals tread on. I risked my entire life to find it, but it doesn't make sense to me...]

Jin: "Why are we doing farm work again, Master?"

The illustrious figure that I was sold to simply laughs. I click my tongue in frustration, but he raises his hand in front of me.

M.: "You might think that such farm work would be tedious, no? A boy like you entered the Heavenly Realms without a single understanding of the Qi, but you will not make it very far if your body is not prepared for the immense power it provides."

(Is Qi really that all-powerful? I suppose that might be why he's an Immortal and I most certainly am not.)

M.: "I suppose a good way to put Qi is that in the Heavenly Realms, we have the ability to harness energy far beyond that of the Mortal Realm. On the mere physical side of things, there are nine ways which Qi can be exerted. Hence the first Stage of Immortality being the Earthly Stage."

Jin: "How did you know that I was even thinking about what Qi can do?"

Master simply looks down towards the ground he is tilling.

M.: "As you progress further and further into the Stages, people who have yet to start become effortless to read. Oh ho! It is very lucky that you became a mere servant as opposed to a corpse."

I begin to grow frustrated. 

(Shit. Didn't think about that one too hard. And I can barely keep up with him tilling soil!)

M.: "Well, did you think of a reason why I bought you as opposed to someone else?"

Jin: "Because you're a monk?"

M.: "Hmm... It's not easy to say, but most monks here have little intention of carrying a whelp, male or female, if they do not have the innate talent required to be an Immortal. Guess again."

Jin: "Does it have to do with my Qi?"

Master finally looks at me and smiles.

M.: "Correct! Only one wrong answer was needed for you to get it right, so I'd say your intuition is sharp. Your Qi is that of the Mortal Realm, yes, but despite that you obviously have some training altering your meridians. Once you become an Immortal, most would have a hard time keeping up with you."

I feel proud in the moment for being able to at least have some understanding in the mind of an Immortal. But it leaves a question unanswered.

Jin: "That makes sense... so why only manual labor?"

M.: "You'll see!"