CHAPTER 76

  Wind Masters

  LUO FAN

  The next day, Tao Liu invited me out for a walk along the shore. This side of the island was unbearably windy. My hair whipped across my face, stinging my cheeks and forcing me to brush it away constantly.

  I squinted at the endless expanse of sea, trying to listen as he spoke over the crashing waves. He seemed entirely unfazed, walking calmly as if the wind did not bother him at all.

  “You asked yesterday about the path the Storm Surge Sect follows,” he said, his hands clasped behind his back. “It’s a complex one. We are a sect that respects and studies the coexistence of light and dark, though not without its challenges. Our philosophy is simple. When light and darkness intertwine, they form a new path that is neither purely of light nor entirely of darkness. It remains a righteous path, though it is shrouded in shadows. To walk this path, one must learn to uncover and hold onto the light within while navigating the darkness without being consumed by it.”

  I frowned, brushing away another strand of hair that slapped across my face. “And what happens if I lose my way because the darkness becomes too overwhelming?”

  Tao Liu stopped and turned to face me. “The darkness will consume you.”

  The starkness of his words hit me like an arrow, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. I thought of the times when my dark core had taken hold—the mutilation of the marquis, the rage-fueled punches I’d thrown at the man in the street, the haunting satisfaction I’d felt when slicing off Purple Rogue’s fingers. Each memory was like a phantom clinging to my back, whispering that I was no longer the man I once was.

  “Dual cores are under constant temptation,” he continued. “The dark core will always try to overpower the light, especially when one is emotionally vulnerable. Your resolve must be unshakable, Priest Luo. To lose that balance is to lose yourself.”

  I swallowed hard, the truth of his words piercing through me. “It’s frightening,” I admitted quietly. “To see yourself becoming someone you never thought you’d be. Since the dark core was implanted in me, I’ve done things I never would have dared before. Sometimes, I look at my own actions, and it feels as though I’m watching a stranger.”

  Tao Liu nodded, his expression filled with understanding. “You are not alone in this struggle. Many before you have felt the same. There’s a journal in our library. A former master of the Storm Surge Sect chronicled his journey as a dual core cultivator. He spoke of similar challenges and the methods he used to manage his cores.”

  My eyes widened slightly at his words. “A journal? Do you think it might help me?”

  “Perhaps,” he replied. “The former master was an exceptional dual core cultivator, though his methods may not work for everyone. Still, it is worth studying. I will have Nan Wucheng help you locate the book.”

  “That would be excellent,” I said, a faint spark of hope flickering in my chest. “Thank you, Elder Tao.”

  The wind tugged relentlessly at my robes, and I tried not to let it distract me as Tao Liu turned to face me, his expression thoughtful. “Now, there’s something important we need to discuss,” he began, his voice rising slightly to compete with the howling breeze. “The wind.”

  I blinked, unsure if I had misheard. “The wind?”

  He nodded. “You possess an affinity for it.”

  I frowned, skepticism creeping in. “I do?”

  He hesitated, as if taken aback. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know?”

  Shaking my head, I met his gaze, utterly bewildered. “No one’s ever told me that.”

  “Ah,” he mused, rubbing his chin. “That makes sense. You’ve likely never met another cultivator with a wind affinity. Only those who share the same element can sense it in others.”

  My curiosity stirred. “Then… that means you have it too?”

  He let out a quiet chuckle. “I do, though it’s nothing remarkable. At my current level, I can barely summon enough force to snuff out a candle from across the room.”

  Despite myself, I smiled. “That’s still impressive.”

  He laughed, the sound warm despite the cold wind whipping around us. “Well, let’s see if you truly have it. There’s a simple way to find out. May I borrow your stick?”

  Stolen story; please report.

  I handed it to him, curious about what he planned to do.

  Tao Liu gripped the stick firmly and began sweeping it through the air in slow, deliberate arcs. Gradually, his motions quickened, each swing growing sharper, more fluid. A faint hum arose, deepening into a whispering rush as the wind coiled around the stick, responding to his touch.

  I watched in awe, my breath catching.

  Then, just as suddenly, he halted. Holding the stick at his side, he turned to me expectantly. “Did you hear it?”

  I nodded, astonished. “I did. That was incredible.”

  He chuckled and handed the stick back. “If my cultivation hadn’t deteriorated, I could have summoned a visible whirlwind—something even your eyes would have caught. But my elemental skills faded along with my strength. You, on the other hand… I’m certain you can do better. Do you want to try?”

  I nodded eagerly and shifted into position, turning to face the oncoming wind. Mimicking his stance, I raised the stick and began to whirl it as he had.

  Nothing happened.

  “Focus your mind,” Tao Liu urged. “Call the wind to you. Don’t force it. Invite it.”

  I took a steady breath and closed my eyes, centering my thoughts. At first, there was nothing, just the empty air moving past me. But then, ever so faintly, I felt it—a resistance at the tip of the stick, like the first stirrings of a breeze.

  My eyes snapped open.

  It’s real! I really can command the wind!

  Encouraged, I guided the energy, coaxing it forward. The wind responded, growing stronger, swirling in a delicate spiral around the stick. Its momentum carried into my movements, making each swing lighter, more fluid, as if the air itself was lifting my strikes.

  The strain quickly became overwhelming. My breath grew ragged, and I finally had to stop, lowering the stick as I gasped for air. “I didn’t expect it would take so much energy.”

  Tao Liu nodded knowingly. “It does. That’s why this old man can’t even manage a tiny whirlwind anymore.”

  I exhaled, still catching my breath. “I didn’t even come close to what you did.”

  He chuckled. “It was your first attempt. Mastery takes time.”

  His confidence in me was reassuring. “Of course.”

  For a moment, he simply observed me, his gaze thoughtful. “You truly had no idea you possessed the wind element? How is that possible?”

  I started to shake my head, but a distant memory surfaced, one I hadn’t thought about in years.

  “When I was younger, I once borrowed one of the Ethereal Frost Sect’s five treasured swords. I played with it the same way you just played with that stick, and I noticed the wind gathering around the blade. At the time, I thought the sword itself was special. My master caught me and scolded me for ‘disrespecting the weapon.’ I never tried it again and eventually forgot about it.”

  Tao Liu raised an eyebrow. “And more recently? Haven’t you felt it manifesting?”

  I recalled the sudden gust that had knocked my pursuer down in the woods. At the time, I had assumed someone had intervened to help me. But now… could it have been me? Could my own latent element have reacted on its own?

  But that wind had been far too strong. No matter how I tried to convince myself, it didn’t seem possible that I had summoned something that powerful with my current cultivation level.

  “I don’t think so,” I finally said, shaking my head.

  Tao Liu studied me for a moment, as if debating whether to push the matter further. Instead, he smiled and nodded. “Wind is a formidable ally, especially for a dual-core cultivator like you. It acts as a bridge between light and dark. Light generates heat, dark generates cold, and their interaction creates movement. That is the key to controlling the wind.”

  I was amazed by the explanation. “How do you know all of this?”

  He smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. “I read it in a book written by the legendary Wind Master himself. The founder of the Storm Surge Sect also wielded the wind element, which is why he had chosen this island to build the temple. The abundance of wind here makes it the perfect place to refine wind techniques and shape them into storms.”

  My eyes widened in surprise. “Storms? It’s really possible to summon something that powerful?”

  “Of course,” Tao Liu replied with certainty. “Haven’t you heard of the Dark Wind Master?”

  I nodded slowly. The Dark Wind Master was known to me, though the Frost Mountain library had little information about him since he was a dark core bearer. His legendary status, however, made him a frequent topic of discussion, even among disciples of light sects. “I’ve heard of him, yes. But if I understand correctly, you’re saying a dual core is required to summon storms. Is that right?”

  “That’s correct.”

  “Then does that mean the Dark Wind Master is a dual-core cultivator?”

  “Precisely,” Tao Liu confirmed. “But his dark core is stronger than his light core.”

  My breath hitched. All this time, I had believed the Dark Wind Master was a pure dark core bearer, which explained why the light sects shunned him and why his name was scarcely mentioned in their teachings. But now, it all made sense. He wasn’t only rejected by the light sects—he was also an outcast among dark cultivators. His dual core had left him truly alone, a master of wind standing between two worlds that refused to claim him.

  “Then how is it that you can harness the wind even with your core damaged? And how did I sense it back when I was still a pure light core?” I asked, my mind racing with new questions.

  “Dark and light qi permeate the world around us,” Tao Liu explained evenly. “If you wield the wind element, the environment itself provides the qi needed to harness it, regardless of whether your core is dark or light. However, the force of the wind you summon depends on the potency of the surrounding energy. That is why this island is ideal for dual-core cultivators. Both light and dark qi flourish here in equal measure.

  “But more than that,” he continued, his gaze steady, “being a dual-core cultivator grants you a unique advantage. Throughout history, every true Wind Master has possessed both cores. That balance is what allows them to command the wind with unrivaled precision.”

  His words left me momentarily breathless. “Is the book you mentioned in the library?” I asked eagerly.

  He shook his head. “No, it’s a personal treasure. I keep it in my quarters. But I’ll lend it to you later. The Wind Master’s writings are filled with techniques that may prove invaluable to you.”

  Excitement bubbled within me. “Thank you, Elder Tao. I can’t wait to study it.”

  He chuckled and gestured toward the path. “Come. Let’s head back. The wind may favor you, but this old man’s bones are not what they used to be.”