Chapter 45: Returning Home
Flux stood quietly, gazing out toward the forest.
"Time to go," he said softly.
He walked through the town gates and stepped into the open wilderness.
Instead of summoning his flying sword, he rose into the air on his own. His body glowed faintly with silver Qi as he flew. It was slower than flying with a sword but felt smoother—more natural. He moved like a drifting feather, gliding with ease through the sky.
Within minutes, he reached the forest and hovered above a familiar area—his old cave beneath the massive tree. He paused for a moment, just watching from above.
Then he took off his hat and stored it in his pouch. After a quiet exhale, he descended.
His feet touched the ground silently. The forest around him was calm and peaceful. He looked around and gave a small smile.
"Well, I'm back again."
He walked toward the cave, spreading his spiritual sense to scan ahead. Almost instantly, he felt a small presence inside.
"Huh? Someone's in there?"
He stepped inside and blinked. A small horned rabbit crouched near the back wall, trembling—frozen in fear under the pressure of his spiritual sense.
Flux tilted his head. "A horned rabbit?"
He paused. "Now that I think about it... wasn't the first thing I ever hunted here also a horned rabbit? And I used to eat them often. There were so many around."
A nostalgic smirk tugged at his lips. "Maybe I should roast this one too. Been a while since I had rabbit meat."
The horned rabbit's fur turned ghostly white, as if it understood his words. With a twitch, it collapsed on the spot.
Flux blinked. "...Did it just faint?"
He walked over and looked closer. "Still alive. Just scared out of its mind. Well, I'm not hungry anyway—I already ate at the inn before coming."
He glanced around the cave. It had changed. Some fruits and herbs were stacked in one corner, and a small nest made of leaves sat near the center.
"Huh. Looks like it's been living here for a while. It really made itself comfortable."
He stood there for a moment, then let out a soft laugh. "Now that I think about it, this place is technically my home too."
Memories of Oaktown and Mologan City drifted through his mind—he was always staying in inns, always passing through.
He sighed, smiling faintly. "At least I have somewhere to return to. Even if it's not much."
He raised his hand and released his Qi. A gust swept through the cave, blowing out leaves, dust, and debris. Within moments, the space was neat and clean again.
Flux looked at the unconscious rabbit. "Now what do I do with you?"
With a shrug, he picked it up and gently placed it in the nest. "You can stay here for now."
He turned toward the exit. "Time to train."
---
Outside, the forest was quiet. Trees swayed gently in the breeze.
Flux found an open space near the cave. He took a deep breath and focused. "Let's start with the movement technique first."
He recalled the Twilight Dance technique in his mind—a graceful art he obtained after breaking through to Core Formation at the blessed land. It focused on smooth, flowing motion—deadly and hard to predict. Like a dancing light in the darkness.
Silver Qi gathered around his legs and feet. He stepped forward.
His body moved... but it was clumsy. He turned too sharply. His balance shifted the wrong way. It looked more like stumbling than dancing.
"Tch," he muttered. "Again."
He tried again. Step. Shift. Turn. But each time, something felt off—too fast, too slow, or too stiff.
Hours passed. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows. His shirt clung to his body with sweat. His breathing grew heavy.
"Haa... this is harder than it looks," he said, wiping his brow.
He looked at the ground—scuffed dirt, broken twigs, crushed leaves.
"It's supposed to be smooth, fast, and controlled. Deadly and unpredictable. Like dancing through twilight... but my movements are all over the place. I look like I'm tripping over myself."
He sighed. "This technique is harder than I thought."
He looked at the sky. The sun was nearly gone.
"Guess I'll take a break."
He walked back to the cave. As he neared it, he sensed movement inside. "Hm? Looks like the little guy's waking up."
Inside, the horned rabbit was sitting up, eyes wide.
"You're awake?" Flux asked.
At the sound of his voice, the rabbit froze again, clearly remembering the fear it felt before.
Flux held up his hands. "Relax. I'm not going to eat you. Even though I am getting hungry. Luckily, I brought food."
He opened his storage pouch and pulled out a glowing fruit.
When he was wandering the blessed land with the spirits, they often gave him fruits, herbs, and flowers. He had stored them all in his pouch.
He took a bite, then held out another piece toward the rabbit. "Here. Eat."
The rabbit hesitated, but the scent was too tempting. It sniffed cautiously, then took a small bite.
After a few chews, its body suddenly shook. Its Qi flared—and a moment later, its cultivation rose.
Flux raised an eyebrow. "Oh? A breakthrough?"
The fruit was from the blessed land, rich in spiritual energy. Though it had little effect on him now, but for a creature at the first level of Qi Refinement, it was massive.
The fruit's spiritual energy had pushed the rabbit from the first to the second level of Qi Refinement in an instant.
He gave a slow smile. "Impressive. Maybe if you keep growing, I'll really consider eating you later."
The rabbit froze again, ears twitching.
Flux laughed. "Kidding. Kidding."
He leaned against the wall and rested for a while.
After a short break, he stood up. "You can stay here if you want. I'll be out training."
---
Outside, night had fallen. Moonlight filtered through the trees.
Flux stepped into the clearing. He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and began again.
This time, he slowed down. He paid close attention to each movement—every shift in weight, every flow of Qi. He didn't rush. He just moved, step by step.
Silver light trailed behind his feet like mist. His body twisted low, then rose in a light spin. His cloak fluttered behind him. His eyes were calm and focused.
Slowly, the pieces started to fit together.
Step. Slide. Pivot. Spin.
He moved faster. The rhythm began sinking into his body. It still wasn't perfect—but it was more balanced. The flow had returned. It wasn't stiff anymore.
He kept going until the first light of dawn touched the sky.
Breathing steadily, he came to a stop. His body ached, but his mind was clear.
"This technique... it's starting to make sense. But at the same time, it's getting harder."
He looked at the rising sun and smiled faintly.
"Looks like I'll be training for a while."