Intricacies of Mana

"What I use is not Qi, my family used to call it Mana. Some part of it exist in the world, like Qi, but it's complete form comes from the fusion of energy during absorption, I'm not sure what the other energies are, we learn how to combine them when we are little and since we only learned to manage the complete form it sort of became impossible for us to manage the individual form of the energies, we can recognize the presence of them, but we can only move it in conjunction with the other. it's hard to explain, its as if you could control smoke, but before you could even touch it you had to learn to control fire and wood, and wind, and the second you learn how to control smoke, you become unable to control anything of the other energies aside from the smoke ignition process

Yue's eyes widened with surprise when she heard that explanation, 'different kinds of energy'!' "Do you mean a higher form of Qi is present in nature?"

Chester gave a self deprecating chuckle, its not like that. I'm not entirely sure where the two others come from, but it's not from nature, I only know that I can feel them.

Yue sat pensively for a few minutes before Chester broke the silence, "so what do you think, will it be possible to learn both Qi and Mana?

"Could you explain your breathing technique, I'd like to see what makes it possible for you to absorb and combine those different kinds of energy"

"I don't use a breathing technique"

"what"

"I don't use a breathing technique, it just happens, we intuitively become able to use the energy after becoming aware of it." Chester said with a straight face.

"No, that doesn't make any sense, are you a beast?" bewildered Yue lost all sense of propriety, she suddenly stood up with an expression a lady would never show.

"How can you even take it in your body if it's not by breathing techniques, does it get absorbed with your skin?" Yue unleashed a string of questions.

"how big is your dantain if you can just absorb it without even using breathing techniques."

"Do you even need to cultivate to increase your Qi reserves"

"If it is by instinct does that mean that it comes from your bloodline?"

"What's the highest rank you know that came from your family?"

"No, wait. Is that why your family got eliminated in the first place, naturally attuned a stronger form of energy that's not Qi. That could become a massive threat for anyone in power"

Yue started to delve deeper into her own delusions about Chester's background.

Chester realized that the knowledge of Mana might eventually get him in trouble if it were to spread, he had an inkling that people who were crazy about power like those from the Demonic Cult could very well capture him for that information.

'I should start keeping notes of the lies' He let out a deep sigh. Yue saw Chester's expression change, a grim smile that pulled at her heartstrings. She understood that pain somewhat now that more than half of her clan members had died.

The silence drew a heavy mood. "well, it is what it is. At the end of the day, if it's possible to combine our methods we can come up with something out of this world. If you want I can pass on my method to you and your clan members once I learn how to explain. It's probably going to take me a while to come up with a way to teach this, but I believe the underlying potential will make the Yue clan strong. It's not without risk, but if you are willing, my strength is yours. Your uncle saved my life, it can be said that I belong to you."

Yue's body shook when she heard Chester's declaration, his face now resolute. "Chen, your family technique, that's not something we should be teaching, it's grade is probably divine, the highest method of breathing technique. the same way Uncle saved you, you have saved our clan. If anything it should be us who are grateful."

Chester stared at Yue's eyes. She lowered her head and avoided his gaze. "Chen, this is too much, Iknow you feel indebted, but this is too much. I will respect your decision to help us, but at the end of the day, you are not one of us. at most you could be an external elder. I have some thinking to do." Before hearing Chester's reply, she quickly retreated to her chambers in the boat.

Chester remained standing on the hull of the ship, staring at the ripples created in the river. 'I pushed too hard, she just ran away from an arranged marriage and I pushed too hard.'