The woman slid her foot out from under her sari and placed it before Sharv, saying,

  ‘Disciple, now touch your master’s feet and take my blessing.’

  “Uh? is that really necessary?”

  ‘Of course it is! A disciple must worship the feet of his master. Don’t tell me you didn’t even know this? Tch! Tch! After so many centuries, children have changed so mu…’

  She was about to continue when Sharv suddenly pulled her back into his sacred thread.

  ‘Disciple!’

  “Ah! forgive me master, but right now, leaving this place is more important. You rest inside for now. Once the night arrives, I promise I’ll let you out, master.”

  ‘...Humph! Fine! But remember next time, don’t take me inside without asking.’

  “Yes, yes, of course, master.”

  Sharv turned and began walking away when Vijay asked from inside the thread,

  ‘So, are we finally going to the Northern Plains?’

  “Yes, we’re heading to the Northern Plains.”

  ‘Northern Plains? What’s that?’

  Sharv’s master asked. Perhaps in her era, the region had been called something else.

  “The Northern Plains… that’s the region of India where most of its population lives. To explain it more clearly, it’s the area through which the Ganga & Yamuna River flows.”

  ‘Ah, I see…’

  “...”

  ‘But disciple, if that’s the most populated region, why are we going there?’

  “Because the man I must take my revenge on is headed there.”

  Just then, Sharv’s foot struck something. When he lifted it, he saw the black beads lying there.

  Those very beads his master had discarded earlier. But for some reason, Sharv felt they might still be of use.

  ‘Disciple… leave those beads. They’re useless now.’

  Ignoring her words, Sharv examined the beads for a moment, then picked them up.

  ‘Disciple… why did you pick them up?’

  “Because I feel they may still serve a purpose in the future. And besides, they contain your body, master. How could I simply abandon them?”

  ‘Sigh!...But I no longer need that body.’

  “Even so, master, who knows when it might be useful? And if not, well, it harms nothing.”

  Sharv secured the beads in his hand this time. They rested calmly, without the strange reaction from before.

  ‘Tch! You're such a stubborn disciple!’

  Sharv gave no reply.

  Inside, however, he was smiling.

  He knew that if he ever wanted to truly control this woman, her sealed body within the beads would one day prove invaluable.

  “Now, let’s move.”

  Step! Step!

  ‘So which route should we take?’

  Vijay asked. To reach the Northern Plains, there were two main routes. One passed southward through cities of Kurukshetra and Hastinapur.

  The other wound through the smaller peaks of Himalaya n mountain, into North-East direction, crossing into the kingdom of Nepal before finally descending into Magadh, deep within the Plains.

  Sharv thought for a while, then said,

  “We should take the second route.”

  ‘But that one is much longer…’

  ‘Second route? What are you both talking about?’

  His master interrupted. To which Sharv explained,

  “The first road goes straight down to the plains, while the second one takes a longer time by going North West, along with the mountain ranges…”

  ‘I see. So you’re saying you'll take the second one?’

  “Yes.”

  ‘But, isn't that route is far longer.’

  “Yes, master, it is. But… it’s far better for my body.”

  ‘??’

  “Master, if we pass through the first route, then as soon as we leave these mountains, we’ll face scorching heat. For someone like me, who’s spent so many years now, in this cold mountain air, being thrown straight into that blazing heat would be devastating for my body.”

  ‘I understand. By taking the second path, through the low mountain ranges, you’ll remain in the cooler climate for longer. That way, as you gradually descend into the plains, your body will adapt slowly to the rising heat, keeping you fit and sharp.’

  “Exactly, master. But there’s another reason I’ve chosen this path…”

  ‘...’

  “The first road is heavily traveled by merchants. Because of that, soldiers often patrol it. If I take that route, I’m certain those soldiers won’t let me pass easily.”

  ‘But Why not?’

  “Because they’ll think I’m a spy from the Crimson Heaven Society, trying to sneak in.”

  ‘Crimson Heaven Society? And what exactly is that?’

  Sharv chuckled lightly at her question.

  It was natural, back in her time, martial arts organizations like these either didn’t exist or weren’t nearly so vast.

  ‘Crimson Heaven Society is a martial arts organization.’

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Vijay answered before Sharv could.

  ‘Lowly spirit! I wasn’t asking you…’

  ‘Ahh! How am I a lowly spirit? I’m only one rank below you!!!’

  ‘Humph! A lowly spirit remains a lowly spirit. If you don’t like it, raise your rank!’

  ‘Old hag…’

  Vijay muttered inwardly, though he didn’t say it aloud.

  Sharv then continued,

  “As Vijay said, the Crimson Heaven Society is indeed a martial arts organization. But it isn’t some minor sect, it’s large, atleast so much that it could rival the emperor’s own army.”

  ‘What?’

  “Yes, I’m telling the truth. That’s why the armies of the Northern Plains are always on high alert, checking everyone who tries to enter. Especially those who come through these mountains. That’s why the first route isn’t safe. Which makes the second path the better choice—fewer travellers, so fewer soldiers, and fewer eyes.”

  ‘…’

  The woman understood at least one thing: the rulers of this age must be far weaker than those of her own time.

  If kings and emperor couldn’t even control a single martial arts organization, how could they possibly rule their lands properly?

  ***

  “Let’s stop here for today...”

  Night had already fallen, and Sharv had begun his journey toward the Northern Plains. The road ahead was going to be long, so for now he chose to spend the night in a small abandoned temple.

  “Alright, you two, also come out,”

  Sharv said as he released Vijay and his master.

  ‘Haa!... The air outside...’

  The woman muttered.

  In truth, she had felt suffocated while staying inside, but she could not complain to Sharv.

  She didn’t want her disciple to ever see her as weak.

  ‘Night has fallen...’

  Vijay remarked.

  At night, spirits were far stronger, and it was difficult to sense their negative energy, even for spiritual Masters or Martial Artists, let alone a normal human being.

  That was why Sharv had released both of them to let them remain outside for the night.

  The woman lifted her head toward the black sky, gazing at the stars and the crescent moon nestled among them.

  She couldn’t remember how many centuries had passed since she had last witnessed such a moonlit night.

  ‘How beautiful it is...’

  After gazing at the heavens for some time, she lowered her head. Then Sharv asked,

  “By the way, you said before, you know many ways to cultivate death prana. So which method would suit my body best?”

  Her eyes fell upon him.

  ‘Yes, I know many methods indeed. But before that, tell me what is your chakra like? Its color?’

  Sharv closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and focused inward.

  Soon, in his mind’s eye, he saw a black orb-like shape resting in the lowest part of his body. He opened his eyes again and answered,

  “Black... completely black. That’s its color.”

  ‘Oh... black, you say.’

  “...”

  ‘You are a boy, so naturally you should have Solar Energy. In that case, I think...’

  She was still speaking when Sharv interrupted,

  “Well... Master. There’s something you should know, my body contains more Lunar Energy than Solar Energy.”

  ‘What?’

  Her brows shot up instantly. Had she misheard?

  ‘Lunar Energy?’

  But that existed mostly in women. And yet Sharv, her disciple was unmistakably a man.

  ‘Lunar Energy? In you? Are you perhaps... impotent?’

  ‘pftt...’

  Vijay almost laughed hearing this.

  But, that woman gave Vijay a fierce look, telling him to stop that laugh.

  She then focused her eyes back on sharv,

  “...No.”

  He replied sharply.

  ‘Uh...Then perhaps...you’re a castrated one? Did you cut off your... you know? Without that, how could you possibly wield Lunar Energy?’

  ‘Hahaha!’

  At this Vijay couldn't control his laugh and let it out of his mouth.

  Tung! Pak!

  The woman sent his flying towards a tree trunk nearby. Sharv took a long breath, eyes glinting as he replied firmly,

  “No, Master. I am neither impotent nor castrated. I still have my organs healthy and intact down there. I am a full-fledged man.”

  Before he could say more, Vijay interjected getting up from the tree trunk,

  ‘Gasp!... Well, actually... Sharv didn’t have internal energy at first. So when he made me his spirit servant, then...’

  He was about to explain further when the woman cut him off,

  ‘I see! He must have absorbed some of your Lunar Energy at that time. Tch! My memory really is fading... I forget this simple thing!’

  ‘Sounds like a sign of old age to me...’

  Vijay thought to himself, though he didn’t dare say it aloud.

  ‘...Wait a minute, If you have Lunar Energy from your spirit servant, and you’re not a impotent or castrated, that must mean... you also have Solar Energy!’

  At that, Sharv’s lips curved upward.

  “Yes, you’re absolutely right, Master. I have both energies. But my body carries far more Lunar Energy, and it is in complete harmony. Solar Energy, however, has only reached halfway to harmony within me.”

  ‘...’

  The woman said nothing. She was uncertain what to think.

  This boy contained both energies together, a dangerous balance that could kill him if he ever miss stepped.

  ‘But still...’

  For some reason, she felt that perhaps he truly could manage both. She exhaled deeply.

  First Samavesh, then death prana, then the third eye, and now both energies within him?

  This kid, was giving her surprises after surprises.

  She herself had carried both energies in her physical body. But unlike him, she had been born with strong Lunar Energy and had fought long and hard to obtain Solar Energy.

  And here was this boy... Who held both at this young age? A faint smile appeared on her lips, and she said,

  ‘Well, that makes things easier and interesting. Since your Solar Energy isn’t in full harmony yet, for now I’ll teach you the technique that will cultivate your death prana along with your Lunar Energy.’

  “...”

  ‘And once your Solar Energy reaches complete harmony, then I’ll teach you the technique to cultivate it alongside your death prana.’

  “Alright... but Master, is there a way cultivate both together? Death prana, Solar Energy, and Lunar Energy at once?”

  Adjusting the black sari draped over her shoulder, she replied sternly,

  ‘Don’t be greedy, disciple. One step at a time. For now, focus on what I tell you.’

  “Master, just tell me if there's a way or not?”

  ‘You won’t give up unless I tell you plainly, will you? Yes, there is a way. But you are not ready yet. When you’ve learned to balance both energies, only then will I teach you that method.’

  At this, relief filled him, there was indeed a way.

  If he had been forced to cultivate them separately for his entire life, it would have been a monumental waste of time.

  ***

  Sharv sat outside the temple, right at its gate.

  His eyes were closed, his mind focused in meditation as his breath moved in and out but only through his left nostril.

  With his hand, he had blocked his right one. At first, Sharv found this method very strange. Breathing only through the left nostril?

  It felt far too simple! But it wasn’t.

  When one breathed through both nostrils, both halves of the body and mind were affected in balance.

  However, when breathing only through one nostril, only one side of the body and brain was affected placing great strain on it.

  At this moment, Sharv felt as though the entire left half of his body had frozen over, colder than the mountain snows themselves.

  Clench!

  Sharv clenched his teeth.

  That frost-like chill was spreading into the left side of his brain. He remembered exactly what his master had told him:

  ‘The moment you feel a sudden frost invading the left side of your brain, stop inhaling. Slowly, the chill will fade on its own. The faster you do this, the better—otherwise the prana you cultivate during this process will not settle into your body. Now then, I’ve explained you the process. I’m going to take a little walk. In the meantime, you practice this cultivation technique.’

  “But Master, where are you going? What if you lose your way and can’t find me?”

  ‘Ah! Don’t worry. I’ll find you no matter what, I’m your spirit servant. I can sense where you are by your energy. And you will also feel if I am near or far. So there’s nothing to worry about. Now, be a good disciple and follow your master’s instructions. Start cultivating!’

  With that, the woman flew off into the night sky.

  Sharv followed her instructions. He stopped inhaling, and slowly, the frost began to fade from his brain.

  The cold dispersed downward, flowing into six separate Nadis that spread throughout his body.

  Two flowed toward his arms, two toward his legs, one near his heart, and one circled along his spine before returning to his brain.

  But this time, his brain didn’t freeze on just one side, it was entirely enveloped in the coolness.

  When only half of his brain froze, Sharv had felt pain. But when his whole mind was chilled, he experienced peace and tranquility instead.

  The Nadis’ that carried the cold to his arms, legs, and heart left those parts slightly frosted as well. From within his body, Sharv felt a profound calmness, serenity, and an unearthly stillness.

  He opened his eyes and realized that his death prana had grown. His internal energy had surged slightly.

  In comparison, his energy now somewhat, somewhat near, with White Frost Bandits’ Chief.

  It was all thanks to his master; that women because he absorbed some death prana from her earlier. Otherwise if he were to cultivate this much by himself, then it would have taken him more than a year.

  Just then...

  Rustle! Step! Step!

  Sharv heard footsteps approaching.

  A figure walked up the temple steps and stopped before the gate where Sharv had been sitting.

  Sharv rose to his feet and looked at the man who had arrived.

  At his waist hung two swords, and his body radiated an immense amount of internal energy for some reason.

  ‘He's Dangerous.’

  Sharv exclaimed in his mind.

  “Hehehe!... At last, I’ve found it!!!”

  The man spoke, though Sharv couldn’t understand what exactly he meant. But the man’s eyes weren’t fixed on Sharv himself.

  They were locked onto Sharv’s wrist, where along with many sacred threads, a string of black beads also hung.

  That man was none other than Surendranath; Third Elder of the Crimson Heaven Society.

  Fuck!