Aimless Ascension

"Lower yourself a little more," Wang Li commanded as Gale stooped in a very uncomfortable position, meeting her stature.

His height wasn't making it easier for her to collect measurements, especially when she had to measure his neck, shoulders, and chest.

Eventually, he sat on a chair for her to finish with the measurement of the upper body.

The young lady whom Wang Li introduced as Qing'e hadn't left. She was talking with his disciple and Xiao Yun in the shop's front. The young maiden's whole concern seemed to be circling the hidden master she came across just a moment ago. Since she found Xiaolin to be his disciple, she felt there was no harm in knowing more about Gale from her.

She was referring to the topic very implicitly and deliberately, however, it didn't go unnoticed from Gale or Wang Li's eyes. However, being the soft-spoken and quiet girl she was, Linlin hardly found anything amiss in their conversation.

All of that indicated Gale had succeeded in playing the mysterious persona, not that it took that much work.

"Looks like you have succeeded in drawing her attention," Wang Li said, measuring his waist. The mysterious glint reappeared in her eyes as she said that, making Gale consider what he was missing there. "All those words you threw at her about aura reading, are you really that impressive, or was she an open book?"

Gale adopted a hurtful expression. "I thought you understood me well. How can you not see I'm very impressive?"

Wang Li snorted.

"Well, most of it was guesswork, though her aura really was an open book to a seasoned master like myself," Gale continued. "I'm afraid she barely had the basic introduction to aura control. Then again, it's stressful to train aura control, plus in your tradition, it is frowned upon the practice of concealing true emotions. Especially for women who probably needed it the most, considering poor aura control could leave a woman more vulnerable than a man."

Wang Li listened to it all silently as she continued with the measurement. "What about Linlin? She didn't have any training in it either," she asked, eventually. "Can you read her emotion that easily?"

"If I put my mind to it, yes," Gale said. "With her rank still being under copper, she wasn't like a beacon of emotion like that elegant girl. The higher the rank, the more vulnerable one's aura control becomes. Considering how Qi amplifies everything about a practitioner, it isn't too hard for you to understand. Xiaolin is like a candle flame to her bonfire."

Wang Li finished with the measurement. She had a thoughtful look on her face. Most of the topics of spirit arts was new to her, especially the conjecture the Master Artisan provided her every now and then.

"Wait," she frowned. "Doesn't that mean my aura is too easy to read as well?"

Wang Li was a Copper ranker for years, presumably in the upper middle of the rank, the vibe she transmitted through her aura should have been magnified more compared with someone like Xiaolin, considering she was never taught even the basics of aura control.

However, that wasn't the case.

"Actually, you have better control of your aura than most people in this town," Gale said, catching her off guard.

"Are you joking?"

"Save for your Grandma, of course," Gale added.

"Thank you, but I can guess that already." Wang Li poked him with the measuring tape.

Gale shook his head. "Of course, I could tell you had never been taught the proper way of aura control, as your actual intention leaked out occasionally. It was still better than most people."

"How?" Wang Li asked, her expression incredulous. "I have never been taught anything related to aura control, nor did I put much effort into learning anything related to spirit arts after I advanced to copper all those years ago."

"That's why you do it instinctively," Gale said. "Do you know what the fastest and most brutal training for aura control is? Putting yourself under a lot of emotional stress when you're young. Because most children adapt to change really quickly for better or worse, and in case they cannot. . . Well, let's not talk about it now."

Wang Li's lips remained hung open as she heard the gold ranker. What Gale was telling her was pretty easy to understand. All the unfairness and inequity she suffered when she was young—all that provided her with an adequate environment to train aura control. Not that it did any good.

Since it was a very sensitive topic, Gale decided not to carry on with it.

"Should we finish with the measurement?" Gale asked.

Wang Li nodded as she handed him the tape. She was probably still thinking about that topic. At last, she sighed. "Do you have a sibling, Master Gale?"

"I had three, probably more now. What about it, Madam Li?" Gale said, addressing the formal tone as her.

Wang Li narrowed her eyes and sighed. She knew the more she acted formally with him, he would act the same, talking to her more respectfully than she deserved.

"Fine, Gale," she said, letting out a breath. "Did you ever feel unfairness when you were young?"

"Yes, but not really at my siblings," Gale said. "They were either self-dependent adults or too little for me to feel much about them. Then again, most of the time, we never lived together. We barely meet once or twice during the holidays. I fear there's too much difference between our upbringings to compare them."

"I wasn't comparing," Wang Li said. "I just want to be sure if you can understand me. . . Anyway, let's finish with the measurement."

Gale nodded. He was sure Wang Li didn't notice her aura piqued for some moment, and then all her emotional entanglement went to hiding as she changed the topic.

Wang Li stood, drawing her arms wide for him to measure. Gale proceeded with the hand first. He measured three times once for her shoulder to underarms, then above elbow and forearm, considering Wang Li preferred a full-sleeved dress.

The real problem began after that.