Hearing Fatty Kui one’s words Kui Two nodded.
"That’s why most people can’t go all the way. Even with the Flesh Mold Refining Technique, my teacher says I’ll probably only be able to refine my Liver and Heart. So at best, I’ll reach Second Treasured Organ. That’s already peak Nascent Soul equivalent in body strength though."
"That’s not bad at all," Han Yu said with a thoughtful nod. "You’ll be able to take hits like a fortress."
"And dish them out too," Kui Two grinned. "The downside is its hard to cultivate both Qi and body at the same time. I’ve been focusing more on body refinement recently."
"What about the further realms, though?" Han Yu asked, since the technique seemed limited.
"Well, I’ll probably have to get another technique later. Mine just works for Liver and Heart." Fatty Kui two stated.
"I see..." Han Yu muttered. "Wait... What about Qi refining realm?" he asked.
"Well that comes under the initial mastery that." Fatty Kui two stated. "Its just the basics and we don’t gain much change other than our basic strength increase. But when we reach the Five Treasures realm, we can get more qualitative changes." He added.
"Intresting..." Han Yu could see the potential of the Body refining path.
"What about you?" Kui One asked, turning to Han Yu. "You planning to try body cultivation too?"
Han Yu thought for a moment. "I haven’t really considered it. My current cultivation path is already kind of... complicated."
That was putting it mildly. Between his hidden soul cultivation methods, Eight Emotions Energy, and the freaky vial of liquid living flames, he was already juggling enough secrets to earn a lifetime ban from every library in the sect.
But now, body cultivation had started sounding more appealing. Or at least... informative.
"Well, if you do," Kui One said, "I can ask my master or someone with good judgment. Body cultivation isn’t something you start casually. It reshapes your entire foundation."
Han Yu nodded slowly. "I’ll think about it."
He was already doing qi and soul dual cultivation, so didn’t know if adding body cultivation to the mix was viable. Simply pursing one path alone took a lot of resources and effort, adding another would be overwhelming.
Plus, there was also another important factor Han Yu needed to consider, the Undying Life Charm.
’What would happen if I die and revive with the Undying Life Charm?’ Han Yu thought to himself. ’Would my rebuilt body still have the body cultivation or will that be gone?’ he didn’t know.
As the conversation carried on under the plum tree’s blooming branches, Han Yu couldn’t help but glance at his two old friends. They were growing stronger, walking different paths. And yet, somehow, here they were again—talking, laughing, and reminding him that not every part of cultivation was lonely or terrifying.
Sometimes, it came with buns, bad jokes, and brothers who had your back.
Even if they also punched stone pillars for fun.
That evening, the three of them sat under the soft lantern light of Han Yu’s courtyard, the sky above turning a deep indigo as stars blinked into existence.
The scent of grilled meat, sweet bean pastries, and some questionably pickled radishes wafted from the wooden table they’d dragged outside. A gourd of wine—clearly smuggled in from somewhere not legal—was passed between the three, and the laughter never stopped for long.
"Alright, alright," Kui One said, wobbling slightly as he raised his cup. "To Han Yu! For surviving the Mist Eye Sect, returning mysteriously, and somehow managing to still look uglier than both of us!"
Han Yu raised his own cup. "To Kui One! May your future cultivation path be paved with enough meat buns to satisfy that gluttony physique!"
Kui Two snorted into his drink. "To both of you! May neither of you fall into a latrine again. Once was enough for all of us!"
They all drank—wine that burned going down, making even Han Yu wince—and laughed again. The energy around them shimmered faintly with the warmth of camaraderie, and without meaning to, Han Yu passively absorbed just a little more Eight Emotions Energy. It wasn’t much, but the sincerity and joy in the moment had a potent flavor.
By the third round, things had already gotten out of hand.
Kui One had taken off his outer robes and was now attempting what he called a "spiral lung-kicking dance" that looked more like a turtle rolling downhill. Kui Two had decided the small plum tree in the corner of the courtyard was "radiating sword intent" and challenged it to a duel using a chicken skewer as a blade.
Han Yu sat on the floor, legs splayed out, watching them with an amused grin, wine cup still in hand.
"You two are disasters," he muttered.
"You love it," Kui One hiccuped, falling into Han Yu’s lap with a thump that shook the table.
"I tolerate it," Han Yu corrected. "Out of pity."
The two fatties roared with laughter, the kind that left their sides aching and tears forming in the corners of their eyes. And again, Han Yu felt it—that emotional resonance. It was the kind of thing soul cultivators couldn’t replicate in a dark cave with a hundred incense sticks. This was raw, messy, sincere joy.
The kind of thing that fed his strange cultivation far better than even a top-tier pill. Wisp after wisp of yellow energy of joy wafted over from the two fatties, filling up Han Yu’s Soul Space nicely.
Some time later, Kui Two staggered back to the table with a triumphant expression and a plum blossom stuck to his forehead. "I won," he declared. "The tree has surrendered."
"Did it bow to you?" Han Yu asked dryly.
"It dropped a flower! That’s a sign!"
Kui One clapped slowly. "A tree dropped a flower in spring. Incredible. Truly, fate itself recognizes your Dao."
Then, suddenly inspired, Kui One grabbed the wine gourd and stood tall—well, as tall as he could given his current swaying state.