It's Time

Brax is in a trance while practicing the Qi release and absorption cycle.

"Master... Master," Brax's eyelids twitch as he hears Anna's voice call for him. He opens them and sees Anna standing there, patiently waiting for him.

"What is it?" He asks. "Uncle Net is back and waiting outside. He has finished the task you had given him," Anna says.

The village chief's quickness pleases Brax. "Great," Brax says. He gets off the bed and walks out to find the village chief waiting for him.

"Immortal lord, I have done as you asked," the village chief immediately speaks up, noticing Brax's arrival. "Lead the way," Brax lets the village chief guide him out of the house and into the streets.

Brax walks out and sees carts of treasures in front of him, all of these were the loot that the bandits had in their possession, and now all of these belong to Brax.

'It is still a lot for me to take all by myself,' Brax thinks seeing the large amount of treasure in front of him. Knowing that he cannot take everything with him, he starts comparing the items on the carts.

"Old man, come here," Brax calls the village chief and starts pointing out all the expensive items that he plans to take with him. "Separate all the items I pointed out to one cart," Brax says at the end.

"What about the rest, my lord?" the village chief asks.

"You can use them for the development of your village," Brax says.

The village chief is elated. With all these treasures, the village will be able to develop a lot and provide more comfortable living for its residents.

"Thank you so much, oh great lord. Your generosity will be remembered for ages to come," the village chief praises Brax while getting to his knees in reverence.

The truth of the matter is that Brax doesn't care much for all the mortal items. He has already claimed all the expensive ones for himself. He is just leaving the scraps, which seems to be the bulk of this loot to the villagers. They can do anything with it as they please.

"My lord, but I have a question that has been bugging me. I hope you don't mind if I ask it?" the village chief nervously asks for Brax's permission to ask him a question.

Brax stares at the village chief and nods his head.

"Can I ask where Lord Farco is? Will he be returning to his estate?" the village chief asks nervously. Though Farco was a bully and pushed the villagers around, he kept the village safe from bandits and wild beasts. So, without him, the village would become unguarded, left alone for hungry beasts and bandits to exploit.

"Farco is dead. He won't be coming back. But don't worry, the sect will send someone else to take his place," Brax answers.

These words shock the village chief. Farco was a powerful immortal cultivator in his eyes. The death of an immortal cultivator sounds like a myth to a simple mortal like him.

'How is lord Farco dead? What happened to him? Who killed him?' The village chief has many questions. He even suspects Brax to have killed Lord Farco, but he doesn't dare speculate. At the end of the day, he is just an old mortal man. He shouldn't be concerned with the matters of the immortals.

"I am heading back. Make sure all my things are ready by tomorrow. I will be leaving at daybreak," Brax instructs and enters the Farco estate.

As soon as he returns, he enters Farco's room and begins practicing again, leaving Anna to do as she pleases. Finding Brax busy with his practice, Anna too finds something to distract herself.

Soon day ends and the moonlight shines down on the village of Whiteworro.

Inside the Farco estate, Brax snap-opens his eyes as he now has complete control over his ability to release Qi from his nether parts and absorb it back.

"Now the only thing left is to perform it practically," Brax murmurs and looks around. The room is well lit as the moonlight enters the room through multiple well-placed windows and the skylight glass.

"Time to find Anna," He says, walking out of Farco's room and making his way toward Anna's room. He pushes open the door and finds Anna sitting at her desk writing in a book.

Noticing Brax's arrival, she immediately stops her action and faces Brax. "Master! Are you done with your cultivation?" she asks, as she presumed him to be cultivating all this time.

"Hmm," Brax nods. "What are you doing?" He asks. "I... I am writing down in my journal," Anna says meekly. "Is there something you need a master?" She asks as Brax did come looking for her.

"It's time," Brax says.

Anna is initially confused, but as she sees Brax staring at her, she realizes what he means. Her face turns red again as she realizes this is finally going to happen.

"Does master... want to clean up before?" she asks shyly, avoiding his gaze.

"Good idea, join me," Brax says. Anna's heart starts beating heavily hearing Brax's words. Brax sees her getting riled. He turns his back and heads toward her bathroom.

Brax enters her bathroom and removes his clothes. He checks the temperature of the water with his leg. Finding it pleasing, he steps in and closes his eyes, relaxing his mind by stopping his thoughts and entering a complete state of emptiness.

Right now, there is nothing but complete emptiness in his head. It's almost impossible for people to empty their heads of thoughts, but Brax can do it. He doesn't do it much, but when he does; he finds the emptiness very freeing. Without all the chaos running around his mind, the silence feels ethereal.

Brax never stays in this state of mind for long because it can make him lazy, make him unmotivated, would make him want to give up on his pursuit of knowledge. That is how good it feels to him.

A man whose consciousness is never silent seeks silence the most. Brax knows how great it feels because he can switch it off anytime, but he doesn't do it. His desire to know is greater than the pleasure he will receive from the complete silence.

As he takes himself out of his empty consciousness, he hears Anna's footsteps behind him. Her damp footsteps are filled with nervousness. Every step is taken with hesitation.

"Master," she calls out. "Get in," Brax orders and opens his eyes to look at his Anna.