Chapter 21

Charlotte sits miserably in the dining room as she listens to her grandmother berate her parents in the lounge. How her grandmother knew that there was gossip to be had she doesn't know. But she'd not been sat down to talk to her parents for 10 minutes before she waltzed in and listened as she described the low level bullying at school, and how it ramped up after January.

The sound of one of the chairs being pulled out has her looking up as her mother sits down next to her. "Charlotte, why didn't you tell us that things were getting worse?"

Charlotte looks at her mother in disbelief, "Mom, you didn't believe me. I didn't believe me half the time."

"What do you mean?"

"My homework or pens sometimes ended up in my locker when I was sure I put them in my bag. Even when I was sure I hadn't gone to my locker. Not often, just enough that I… And then Taylor Hebert went missing, and it started getting worse, and they said I was acting out and they told you and you believed them. When my swim gear soaked my books you called me stupid. I mean, even I figured out that they were picking the lock on my locker at that point. But you believed the school because their friends backed them up."

Charlotte abruptly shuts up as she realizes that her grandmother has stopped shouting at dad.

In a tight voice, her mother asks, "What do you want to do now?"

Charlotte shrinks down in her chair, and in a small voice says, "I want to get that job and prove that it's not me. That I'm not just acting out for attention."

Charlotte waits for the lecture on how she's not responsible enough to be trusted, or something like that. When her mother says, "Ok. You can use the phone in our bedroom to let your boss know."

Charlotte doesn't move as she's waiting for the other shoe to drop, then her mother adds, "If you choose to attend the shop on Saturdays you still have to attend the Synagogue for a few hours to keep your grandmother happy. I'll deal with her if it becomes a problem."

"Really?"

Her mother nods, "As my mother has just repeatedly reminded us, part of our duty as parents is to listen to our children just as it is our children's duty to honor their parents. How can we hope to teach if we do not listen to what you don't understand. You know the law as well as any, Shabbat is a day of rest. If you find that rest in a shop, then that is where you find it. What matters is that you find rest."

"How?"

"I was not always a mother, and I had the same questions myself. Your grandmother is very traditional. Fortunately, our rabbi was more open minded, though I chose to spend the day at home I do like my embroidery. The sun is setting if you want to make your phone call. And do remember that you can talk to the rabbi if you have any questions."

Charlotte darts for the stairs before rushing into the kitchen to grab the bag with Michelle's phone number in it.

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My name is Hao Bo, and I'm the founding ancestor of the Three Whispers Sect. It is my hope that in the future my Dao and cultivation technique will allow others of our sect to breach the heavens.

With this Dao along with my sisters Dao of Integrity, we have brought safety and prosperity to the Xinyeng region. But be warned, this is not a fast or easy path to power. Most of your bottle necks will come when you turn the Dao on yourself and struggle to accept the truths that you reveal. Indeed, many of my sect have accused me of following a Dao of Truth, much as they accused my sister of following a Dao of Honesty.

There is an element of truth to their accusations, however, Appraisal is to Truth as barter is to money. It is because of our skills that we have chosen to entrust our Dao to the loose cultivator Chónghuò Xīnshēng and her daughter. She has promised to return these slips to the Sect if it survives the next three centuries.

If she has entrusted this to you after the demise of our Sect, then I urge you to meditate on all the different things and ways that can be appraised. As while many consider this to be an abstract Dao, it is instead a hybrid between abstract and knowledge. Something I have shown by taking the previously incomplete Dao to the Heavens.

Kayden pulls the jade slip away from her forehead with a pensive expression on her face. She's not sure if this is a slap in the face, a gift, or a message.

The sound of footsteps coming down the concrete path sees Kayden putting the slip into her purse before turning towards the gate on the property, "Mrs Donaldson?"

The woman walking down the path nods, "Ms Anders, thank you for coming, I saw your work at Libby's house and she gave me your card. Please, come in."

Kayden nods politely, "Thank you, I hope you don't mind that I brought Aster with me."

Mrs Donaldson starts to open the gate as she says, "Not at all. Morgan has allowed me to redecorate the dining room."

Kayden nods as she looks Mrs Donaldson up and down and appraises her choice of clothing. A couple of steps later she stumbles over her feet as she realizes that her normal evaluation of another woman's clothing and posture is an appraisal.

As Mrs Donaldson looks back with a little concern, in order to cover the slip, Kayden makes a point of lifting up one of her feet and feeling the narrow sole of the heel. With a sour look on her face she says, "I think the sole of one my shoes is going."

Mrs Donaldson winces in sympathy, "I remember losing one at the mayors gala a couple of years ago."

Kayden gives Mrs Donaldson a grateful smile before continuing to push Aster's stroller towards the house as she resolves to read the entirety of the jade slip later.

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Dakala smiles as she pushes open the door to the tea shop.

From the side of the shop Michelle calls, "Dakala, you just missed the morning rush." Indicating at the girl standing next to her she continues, "This is Charlotte, my new assistant. She'll be advising customers on Saturdays, and general assistance the rest of the week."

Dakala smiles and bows to the girl, "Good morning, I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other when it's less busy. Speaking of which, where is everyone?"

Charlotte nervously says, "Uh, the PRT has started their holiday schedule. Um. A group has just gone in and the tour should be finished at around half one."

Michelle smiles, "It's OK, Dakala is here to do her tea ceremony. You're fully booked for the next two weeks by the way, so you might want to let the regulars know."

Dakala nods as she steps over the rope protecting the ceremony area. "When did that happen?"

"Saturday. Sorry for not letting you know, we were packed the entire day. I'm glad I hired Charlotte, as she was able to field a lot of the queries while I was running the till."

"It's a good thing we got the sect started then."

Michelle nods, "It is, and after the holidays I'll probably start joining you for the weekday tea ceremonies while Charlotte watches the counter."

Charlotte cocks her head to one side curiously, "Why?"

Dakala smiles and takes her cushion out of her ring as she gestures to Michelle.

Michelle snorts and says, "The weekday sessions have turned into an informal class on cultivation and using qi."

"Using what?"

Michelle blinks, "Have you heard of Tea Master on PHO?"

Charlotte shakes her head, "No, I've, um, not really been able to get online much in the last few months."

"Ah, well there's a new method to get superpowers called Cultivation. Rather than getting powers in a single instant, you instead need to work hard and cultivate your qi. That can then be used to do various superhuman things. Such as boiling a pot of water."

"Could, ah." Charlotte licks her lips, "Could they be used to keep your stuff safe?"

Michelle tips her hand backwards and forwards, "Sort of. Once you are able to Cultivate, Dakala or the Empress might invite you to their sect. If they do, you'll be given a spacial ring like this one. You can store anything in it."

Dakala looks backwards and says, "Although there's no air inside, so living things will die."

Their conversation cuts off as a crowd of tourists pushes their way into the store, some of them waving tickets towards Dakala.

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Missy groans as she pushes herself to her feet and stumbles towards the communal dining room shortly after the morning gong woke her.

As she reaches the doorway, the Empress gently touches her elbow from behind, "Not today Missy. You're moving well enough that you can join the morning exercises."

Missy turns and stares at the entrance to the pagoda, "But, I'm not ready."

The Empress chuckles, "This is why you need to do the exercises. You won't get to the level of being able to run errands during the 'camp', but I hope to get you to the point where you can start practicing with your meteor hammer."

As Missy starts to stagger after the Empress she groans, "Why meteor hammer?"

"Why don't you examine the hammer and see what insights you can glean from it after practice."

Missy groans once more. "I don't get it."

"Don't get what?"

"The Dao you've given me."

The Empress looks back with a smile, "It wouldn't be a path to enlightenment if it was easy. Have you at least read it?"

"No, ah, sort of. I don't really understand what it's talking about."

"How do you think you could go about finding out more?"

"Um, school?"

The Empress smiles encouragingly, "That's one method, any others?"

"Um." Missy pauses to think as she carefully navigates the stairs to the courtyard.

Her eyes brighten slightly, "Ooh, how about the Central Library?"

"Any others?"

"Um, no?"

"You should talk to Dakala and any others that are around later. They might have some more ideas for you."

"Can't you just tell me?"

The Empress turns to face Missy, "I could, but what would you learn if I did?"

"Where I can find out stuff?"

"Almost, you'd learn whatever I told you. But that is not the way of the Dao. Turn to face me and stand with your feet shoulder width apart."

As Missy shuffles into position, she asks, "So what is the way of the Dao?"

"It is a personal journey of discovery and enlightenment. Rock backwards and forwards on your feet and feel how your changing balance feels on your feet."

Missy starts doing that as she's thinking. As she's rocking backwards and forwards, trying to work out what the Empress wants her to feel, something clicks. "Is it like planning your own patrols, where you need to be aware of the gangs you're likely to run across, places you could be ambushed, and things like that."

The Empress smiles, "You're on the right track, yes. Start moving side to side too."

Missy frowns as she starts to move from side to side, her knees bending slightly. "Don't bend your knees."

Startled, Missy stumbles forwards as she over balances.

"Move back to your starting position and start moving around again. While you're doing that, think about why you over balanced."

Missy scowls as she does just that.

After a minute or so, The Empress crouches down on one leg and puts her other leg out straight in front of her before placing it on the floor. Then she smoothly transfers over to the other leg, before lifting up the now back leg and placing it in front of her like before. "Missy, try to do this. When you transfer, don't stand up, just move smoothly from one foot to the other."

Missy scowls and tries to do just that, only to fall over backwards before she's even got her foot down. After several tries, she huffs, "It's impossible, I can't do it."

The Empress chuckles, "Dakala said the same thing. Dakala! Come over here and demonstrate step of the prowling tiger."

Dakala folds her fans with a snap and turns to face Missy and the Empress, "Oh, yeah. I hated that move. Once you've got it right, Empress will just tell you it's wrong and how to fix it. But it is still an important move in martial arts. The important thing is to be aware of your balance, and that you don't have to go as low as she does right off the bat."

As Dakala demonstrates the move, it's clear that she's not going nearly as low as the Empress is.

On her third step, the Empress says, "Remember to loosen your hips, and push off with your front foot before you move. Keep your knees behind your toes."

Missy can see the grimace on Dakala's face as she starts making adjustments to her movements.

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After nearly 2 hours of practice, Missy's struggling to think, let alone move, as she staggers into the dining room. As she kneels down at the small table, Dakala ruffles her hair, "You did well for your first time."

Missy mumbles, "Thanks. How did you get so good at this so quickly?"

Dakala looks out of a window at the forest to the north, "Initially, there was a lot of practice and then I was able to get to the mortal library on the second floor. That's when I started reading about some of the techniques I could do, like that leaf technique I told you about before. I've also been in a couple of fights, and they quickly showed me why this is so important. I think that following my Dao has also helped me, as I've been learning all sorts of things while looking for insights into Life."

Missy leans over to put her head on the table, "I've still got no ideas about my own Dao. I don't understand why I was even given this one."

Dakala puts her hand on Missy's shoulder, "What is it? If you don't mind me asking."

"Integrity. The introduction seems simple enough, but where would I even start? Why me?"

Dakala huffs in amusement, "Missy, Integrity is something that people have. Are they honest or will they lie to you? Can you trust them at your back, or are they likely to stab you? I think there's also stuff about buildings too."

"Oh, like the way mum and dad keep changing their plans just because they don't like things, or to annoy each other?"

Dakala nods, "Yes, just like that."

"How would I know if I've even had any insight into it?"

"I'd say, you'll know when it happens. But I doubt you'd be happy with that answer. I know I wasn't when the Empress told me. Even though it's absolutely true. Instead, I'll ask, have you been given the pond in a garden analogy?"

"Analogy?"

"Um, metaphor, simplified explanation, comparison?"

"Oh, right. I've never heard the word before. Um, yes."

Dakala nods, "Well, when you cultivate you're making the pond bigger, but it can only get as big as the garden it's in. Your Dao would be how you make the garden bigger. Each bit of insight allows you to fit more qi into your soul."

"So, what's stopping me from just asking my teachers about it and reading whatever they give me."

Dakala laughs, "Absolutely nothing, and it will do absolutely nothing for you either. I tried that with Life, I read everything I could find on the internet about life and DNA. Nothing. The rosebush in the courtyard? The Empress made that from a bit of rice taken off a mochi to show me the difference between knowledge and understanding or insight…"

Dakala trails off as she notices that Missy's eyes widened just before she pulled out her phone and started tapping on it.