55 Ash 110
He had been curious for most of a season now. Just what was it in those pills his teacher had given him? The entire bottle had been given to him after their... third lesson? When somehow Shuai, though he did know what exactly it was he did to have earned his teacher's approval, was determined to be someone who was worthwhile to cultivate. The bottle had been given to him to help build the boy's physical foundations as long as he took it regularly after every time he completed his exercises. A miracle pill? This sounded a little bit too suspicious even for the young boy who had been sheltered from the world by the privileges of his family. Because of this suspicion of his he promptly went to his father with the bottle to find out what was in it. There was no way he was going to follow his teacher's instructions by taking the pill from the bottle now that his exercise for the day had been completed. For Youdu this visit was a surprise as his son was not one to seek him out during office hours and with the bottle placed right in front of him, he could see what brought on this change of attitude in his son. Without wasting any time the boy continued, "father, that teacher you got me? I do not like him. He's ruthless, brutal, and I think he doesn't like me. I mean look at what he gave me? He just told me it was some miracle pill, didn't take the time to explain to me what it actually does and he expects me to nom nom it? What if it's a bad thing which would get me sick?" Shuai wasted no time in laying out all qualities he thought was bad in his teacher and to expose the shifty nature of the pills but at least his suspicions did not change him too much, believing the pills if were bad would only make him sick and not the usual assumption of nobles that bad things given to them would be harmful poisons.Ah, that bottle. Youdu recognized it and told Shuai there was nothing wrong with it. His teacher had already asked for the man's permission to give it to the boy before handing it over and while he had no knowledge of medicine or alchemy, he had checked with the teacher's source and found it to be legit. It was something which the boy could use and would help him in his development and cultivation of his body. "But what is it father? What does it do? What's in it? What if I don't eat it everyday as the master told me to? or I forget to take a pill? What could happen to me?" Why did Shuai need to ask so many questions about these pills? His father recommended good or bad, the boy should try and determine it for himself, make his own decisions. It was a good skill to practice especially if he were to grow up to be a fine noble of the house. Only by being able to make his own decisions and to be confident in the decisions he makes would Shuai be able to firmly stand beside them. Failing that he would become a weak man, easily influenced and manipulated by the insidious individuals of the court or worse still by unconfirmed rumors and chatter of the commoners. Did Shuai want to grow up to be a noble like that? "No" Louder. "No!" He was not supposed to try and convince Youdu of this but himself. Was Shuai himself sure he was convinced yet? About the pills and the lesson his father wanted to impart to him? "NOOO!!!"
Actually yes as that last time had him convinced, so what was he waiting for? "What am I waiting for?" the boy asked his father mirroring the question directed his way. Youdu thought his son understood Just take the pill and make the decision for yourself with his father's blessing he quickly took a pill and popped it right in front of the man who congratulated him for being decisive instead of waiting for something to change his mind. While nothing was set in stone, this characteristic would be a mark in his favor should he want to lead the house in the next generation because Youdu felt all leaders had to have it. Decisiveness. And then another thing the man decided, he had to get back to work although his son provided just the right distraction for him to rest from the stacks of paperwork, a lengthy collection all to do with the management of the house, its finances, and future projects. He noted that Shuai had yet to leave and asked if the boy had anything else to add. Alchemy? Youdu realized his mistake in telling the boy that but nonetheless sent him off. Alchemy is nothing you need to know about but added he had pills like that when he was training as a youth as well so he could swear by their effectiveness if trusting his teacher was not enough.
The next day Shuai did as he was instructed, worked himself to exhaustion and popped in a pill. He continued it in the next day, another workout until his whole body was sore and then popped in another pill. It was the same for the day after that, workout exhaustion and pill. It had become a part of his routine that he no longer even needed to think about it but one thing he thought about? Maybe he had been mistaken about the pill and it was good for him after all. As he compared to the early days he went without the pill but was under the same exercise routine, he could easily tell. While not immediately effective, it was a gradual but quick recovery for him. His fatigue would leave his body by the end of the day, instead of the usual of only after he had woken up. The soreness of his muscles? What used to last until he went to bed would now subside after a good bath. He was even less hungry and could go without dinner if he really wanted to although he still sat at the table and partook in the meals a little bit as his mother was more constantly expressing the belief that his training was bad if he would not even eat or bother to show his face. An excuse to get him to stop, he was not going to allow that so even if it was a waste of time he joined in with the family regularly to deny his mother the excuse.
In fact just look at the pills' most prominent quality, it actually tasted good, like chocolate. The boy's logic was sound. How could something so good be bad for him? Many days on the pills and he was now sure just like his father had said, he had to stand by his decisions. However this only steeled his resolve to make another decision. He was going to have to learn what went into the making of these pills and this method of making them called alchemy. So far, everyone in the estate could not give him a definite answer, other than miracle pills.