~The Next Day~
"Where you are going?" asked a still sleepy Huaisang when he felt Kagome get up and relaxed his face when she kissed his forehead and said, "I want to show you something." He groaned but slowly sat up with a yawn and said, "Let me get dress." She nodded before getting out of bed and swiftly and pulled on her training outfit which was pants, under a long sleeveless jacket that showed her breast bindings a bit. "Dress comfortable." She said as she moved behind Huaisang and started to brush and untangle his hair and he nodded and she swiftly braided it and kissed the back of his neck making him sigh. "It will be worth it. Can we go to the garden?" The garden was a birthday gift from Mingjue who had a small garden with a pound in the middle which turned to help calm his Saber's spirit. He nodded and took her head, and the couple left the room and went to the garden that had a calm and serene feel to it.
Huaisang yawned as he sat beside Kagome then flinched when water was splashed in his face. "Thanks." He said, awake now earning a peck and asked, "Have you mediated with the sun rise?" "No?" he asked and Kagome nodded and said, "Then we will do that. Close your eyes and relax, focus on what is around you. The ground, the air, the rocks, the trees, the water and centre yourself." He nodded and closed his eyes and took a deep breath before following what she said.
Suddenly something clicked and he was aware of everything around him, even the small bugs. After what felt like forever, Huaisang slowly felt his surroundings growing with head and felt a giddy feeling through his body that kept building and he felt his Golden Core start to pulse and gasped when the sun hit his face making his eyes snap open just as his core finally grew.
"Are you alright?" asked Kagome who opened her eyes at his gasp and swell of qi which was odd as she could feel her own golden Core reacting. Startled eyes met hers and he said, "My core grew!" she nodded and said, "I thought it would happen." He blinked but pulled her to him and laid back in the ground and asked, "What do you mean?" "I've been reading some books about different cultivation techniques and Qi methods that my sect had collected. Apparently, there was an older method that was used before they knew what cultivation was. They learned from the powers from nature but only a handful could use it which led to what we know today." She explained and Huaisang hummed and asked, "So I'm related to them?" "I guess so. How do you feel?" she asked as she sat up and placed her hand over his chest to check on his golden core and said, "It's stronger and…brighter?"
"A bit off balance." He admitted and Kagome kissed his neck and said, "You'll get used to it. Now your core is at the 'normal'." His eyes nodded as she sat up and said, "I need to meet Wuxian for something." He nodded and sat up and said, "Ok. I'll see if Brother needs any help." Making her smile and the couple parted ways.
~Nie Study~
"Is it possible?" asked Wei Wuxian as he looked up from the research that Kagome had done on restoring and rebuilding a golden core. She nodded and said, "Yes." His eyes sparkled with excitement and asked, "How so?" Kagome then stood up and went over to the section that was from the Higurashi Sect and grabbed few books before coming back over and reclaimed her seat beside him and said, "These are a few book from Mama's sect. did you know that the Gu sect was the first ones to gain a core?" he shook his head and she opened it to a page and said, "We all know that a golden core is a core formed by cultivators after they had cultivated to a certain point which can store and control spiritual energy." He nodded with understanding.
Kagome pointed to a passage in another language and translated, "Core Formation requires Cultivators to forge a Core within their lower dantian by using the dantian as a crucible and their Qi as raw material. Even the lost of a core, Qi is to be a vital force forming part of any living entity. It is possible for one to develop an affinity for an element which is named Elemental Bending which is where cultivation started."
Wei Wuxian was impressed then asked, "Can you forge one then?" she shook her head and said, "One has to forge their own." He nodded and then took the book as he flipped through it and asked, "Do you think that the Gu sect has more books on this?" she nodded and said, "I do. Wuxian, you can't tell anyone about this." He nodded and said, "Of course. Are you going to tell Bro Huaisang?" "Later. So what did Lan Wangji want with you?" she asked suddenly and he flushed and said, "He kissed me then ran." "Finally." She muttered and he shook his head with an amused smile making her giggle.
~Discussion Conference Banquet 3 months later~
"Are you alright, Lady Nie?" asked a shy voice making Kagome turn to see a soft spoken and kind young man wearing the Wen Sect's robes. Due to her gifts, she knew that he could be trusted and was such a pure soul. She was wearing a sleeveless, gray dress with a translucent golden layer of fabric over the skirt, held by golden ribbon that had the Nei sect's motif, with a black textured pattern going down each side, matching that on either side of the chest with her hair loose and brushed to perfection with a golden necklace and light face paint.
"I'm just getting some air. I don't believe we met before." She said with a smile making him flush and he said, "I'm…Wen Ning courtesy name Qionglin. I'm from a branch family." "You can call me Kagome if you like. We seem to be around the same age after all." She invited and he blushed but nodded and said, "Miss Kagome. May I join you?" Kagome nodded and surprisingly found that the two had a lot in common and she was more than happy to talk about herbs and their uses.
Nei Huaisang smiled softly as he saw Kagome talking to a Wen member and Jiang Cheng asked, "Why is she talking to a Wen?" "Based on her expressions, they are talking about herbs and medicine. Kagome never was the one to refuse one regardless of their sect or position." Said Huaisang, his voice holding a fond tone making Jiang Cheng look at him with slight disbelief but then a wary smile appeared and he said, "That is Kagome after all." "Plus she won't be relaxed if she thought that he was dangerous." Piped in Wei Wuxian joining them as well.
