Blossoming Path

Chapter Extras + Sketches

Kai's Hometown:

The Gentle Wind Village was a small, coastal village that was often overlooked due to its lack of innate qi. The villagers were proud of their fishing industry, which sustained them despite the weak qi in the environment. The village was known for its beautiful beaches and clear waters, which attracted tourists during the summer months.

Despite being a small village, the Gentle Wind Village had a unique system for electing its Village Head. Every year, on the first day of the new year, the villagers would gather in the town square for a special ceremony. They would each write the name of a villager they believed would make a good Village Head on a slip of paper and place it in a large wooden box. The box was then sealed and placed in the town hall.

Over the course of the year, the box would be opened three times, on the first day of spring, summer, and fall. Each time the box was opened, the slips of paper would be counted, and the villager with the most votes would be declared the interim Village Head for the next four months.

At the end of the year, on the first day of winter, the box would be opened one final time, and the villager with the most votes overall would be declared the new Village Head for the next year. This system ensured that every villager had a say in who would lead their community, and that the leadership was shared among the villagers.

Despite its seemingly haphazard nature, the system had served the village well for generations. The villagers believed that it was their collective wisdom and love for their community that guided them in choosing their leaders, rather than individual ambition or power struggles. As a result, the Gentle Wind Village was a harmonious and prosperous community, where everyone worked together for the common good.

Elder Ming

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Wang Jun:

Wang Jun was a large and strong young man, apprenticed to the village's blacksmith, Master Qiang. He had a natural talent for crafting metal, and under Master Qiang's tutelage, he learned to make all sorts of goods, from sturdy armor to delicate pots and pans.

Despite his dedication to his craft, Wang Jun had interests outside of blacksmithing as well. In his free time, he enjoyed reading books and practicing calligraphy. His calligraphy was a surprising hobby for a man of his size and strength, but he found it to be a calming and meditative activity.

Wang Jun's calligraphy was a source of amusement for some of the villagers, who found it humorous to see such a big, burly man delicately holding a brush and creating intricate characters. But Wang Jun took his calligraphy seriously, and he spent hours practicing his strokes and perfecting his technique.

As an apprentice blacksmith, Wang Jun spent most of his time working in the forge, hammering and shaping metal. But he found that his calligraphy helped him develop a different kind of precision and attention to detail, which he could then apply to his metalworking.

Wang Jun's dedication to both his craft and his hobbies made him a respected and well-liked member of the community. He was known for his gentle demeanor and willingness to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. Despite his size and strength, he was a humble and modest young man who took pride in his work and his village.

Wang Jun and Kai had grown up together in the Gentle Wind Village, and they had been best friends since they were children. Kai had always dreamed of becoming a cultivator, but when he failed to manifest any innate qi, he had been forced to give up on that dream and become a gardener instead.

Despite the setback, Kai had never given up on his love for nature and the cultivation of plants. He had become an expert gardener, and his garden was the pride of the village. Wang Jun admired Kai's dedication and his ability to stay true to his dreams, even when the odds were against him.

Kai's perseverance and hard work had been an inspiration to Wang Jun as he pursued his own dream of becoming a skilled blacksmith. Whenever Wang Jun faced a difficult task or felt discouraged, he would think of his friend Kai and how he had never given up on his own dreams.

As children, Wang Jun and Kai had spent countless hours playing together, exploring the countryside and dreaming of their futures. They had both been fascinated by stories of heroes and adventures, and they had often imagined themselves as the heroes of their own tales.

Now that they were older, their paths had diverged, but their friendship remained as strong as ever. Whenever they had free time, they would meet up and catch up on each other's lives. Wang Jun loved to hear about Kai's latest gardening projects and the exotic plants he was cultivating, and Kai was always eager to see the latest weapons and tools that Wang Jun had crafted.

Despite their different paths, Wang Jun and Kai were united by their shared love of their village and their desire to contribute to its prosperity. They both knew that it was their hard work and dedication that would ensure a bright future for their community.

Lan-Yin:

Lan-Yin was the daughter of the owner of the Soaring Swallow, the largest tea house in the Gentle Wind Village. As the only child, it was her responsibility to take over the family business when her father retired. However, Lan-Yin secretly despised the idea of running the tea house and longed for the freedom to pursue her own dreams.

Despite her reluctance to take over the family business, Lan-Yin was a dutiful daughter, and she worked hard to learn the ins and outs of the tea trade. She was knowledgeable about different tea varieties and was skilled in the art of tea brewing and serving. She was also responsible for managing the tea house's finances and ensuring that it remained profitable.

Lan-Yin's betrothal to Wang Jun had been arranged by their parents when they were still children. Although they had been friends, their relationship had always been platonic, and Lan-Yin had never really given much thought to the betrothal. However, she didn't mind the arrangement and looked forward to getting married to Wang Jun, whom she respected as a skilled blacksmith and a kind and caring person.

As a child, Lan-Yin had played with Wang Jun and Kai, the two other children in the village who were of similar age. While she thought Kai was silly and overly idealistic, she had always enjoyed playing with him and appreciated his kind heart. She felt a twinge of guilt for doubting Kai's dreams of becoming a cultivator, especially now that he had found success.

Despite the pressures of her responsibilities and the weight of her family's expectations, Lan-Yin remained a compassionate and caring person. She often went out of her way to help others and was known for her generosity and kind nature. Although she yearned for a different life, she knew that she had a duty to her family and her village, and she was determined to fulfill her responsibilities with grace and dignity.

Now working two jobs, Lan-Yin remained committed to her duties at the tea house. She continued to work there part-time, and she made sure that the business continued to thrive even when she wasn't there. She was also determined to fulfill her responsibilities as a betrothed partner to Wang Jun, even though their relationship had yet to become romantic.

As she went about her daily tasks, Lan-Yin dreamed of a future where she could be free to pursue her own passions and interests. She yearned to explore the world outside of the village and to learn more about the wonders that lay beyond. But for now, she was content to work hard and to do her best for the people she loved.

One dream she has is to visit Crescent Bay City and tour the province with her friends.

*Didn't sketch her out, I'm horrible at drawing females :(