The First Steps
"Let's focus. I can't always avoid these kinds of problems. I need to make my own force to face them in the future."
"First, I have to strengthen myself to protect the people important to me."
"Let's start with that."
He sat cross-legged in a meditation pose and began to focus his mind. He opened the storage in his mind and took out five stones that shone bright blue, releasing a slight blue cloud with shiny particles.
He placed all five stones around him, closed his eyes, and started to focus on the particles being released. He began to feel them. After some time, the particles swarmed around Max. Once they fully surrounded him, he collected every particle into his body, forming a space to store them in his stomach's qi/chakra point. Sweat drops appeared on his face. After a while, his whole body was covered in sweat, as if someone had poured a bucket of water on him.
After a struggle, he vomited a mouthful of blood, then smirked. Finally…
He stood up and walked to the bathroom mirror. He could feel his body slowly healing five times faster than before. If he wanted, he could heal himself instantly by concentrating on cultivation. But that would be suspicious if doctors or nurses checked on him and found no injuries.
There was a chance of him becoming a research subject for some secret government organization, which he wanted to avoid. "Thanks to those level 1 spiritual stones, it seems I've become stronger than before. I don't have to rush. I need to build my strength slowly without arousing suspicion. Let's take it slow and steady."
He took a shower and changed his clothes, cleaning them so his mother or others wouldn't notice the bloodstains. Just as he planned to return to bed, his mother entered the room, looking at the bed with a confused expression.
"Mom…?"
"Did you spill water on the bed?"
"Ahh… Yeah… Sorry about that."
"No, it's alright. Next time, tell me. You are not allowed to do this until you get better. It's good to know that you can walk without a problem, but don't push yourself so hard."
"Okay, Mom, I won't."
After a few days, a doctor came to check his condition.
"It seems you are healing pretty well. At most, it will take two to three months. Rest and please diligently follow physical rehabilitation exercises to regain strength and mobility." saying that after a while he went back.
The process had been intense for the first time, but it was worth it. As he lay back in bed, he made a silent vow to keep growing stronger.