The Price of Transformation

The image of the young girl, seared into my mind, lingered stubbornly. Even after Master could no longer sustain his telepathy, I still seemed to catch a faint glimpse of that delicate, somewhat frail girl whenever I closed my eyes.

‘Was that truly me? Me, after transforming into a girl?’

“My dear disciple, what’s wrong?” Master, noticing my stunned silence, inquired in a low voice.

I looked up at him, as if deaf to his words, but saw nothing clearly in the darkness. Instinctively, I closed my eyes again, trying to recall the girl’s form that had just appeared in my mind. After a long silence, I finally asked dazedly, “Master, um, why… why does it feel like my body has shrunk after becoming a girl?”

A myriad of questions swirled chaotically within my mind, but this one, after witnessing that unbearably adorable girl, was perhaps the most unsettling. While I had always been of average height, neither tall nor short, how was it that after becoming a girl, I now seemed to possess the stature of a middle schooler?

Apparently, Master hadn’t expected such a question to escape my lips. He paused for a moment before speaking in a calm tone. “As I told you earlier, within these two days, the innate yin-yang energy within you has completely reconstructed your body. However, all things grow according to their own laws; nothing can simply appear from nothingness. Therefore, when reconstructing your form, it was necessary to consume your original flesh and bone. That is why your current physique and skeleton are significantly shorter and weaker than before.”

I listened, somewhat dazed, when another question abruptly surfaced in my muddled mind. “Wait, Master, are you saying… I’ve been unconscious for two days?”

“Precisely twenty-four hours, no more, no less!” Master replied evenly.

“Heavens… that means… my school, Tianwu University, must be about to start classes?” The thought instinctively came to me, only to be immediately followed by the realization of my current state: utterly unrecognizable, my very gender transformed, and even my internal energy completely gone! How could I possibly return to school like this?

Unexpectedly, Master chuckled softly. He said languidly, “It seems my dear disciple and I have finally thought alike. Indeed, by our reckoning, Tianwu University is nearing the end of its break, poised to resume classes. And it is precisely my intention for you to return to Tianwu University and complete your four years of undergraduate study.”

“But how can I possibly go back in this state? Even if I were to tell others what happened here, I doubt anyone would believe such a tale,” I couldn’t help but voice my doubts and worries.

“My dear disciple, why don’t you tell me, what exactly have you become now?” He didn’t answer my question, but instead countered with an air of amused interest.

“Well, that is to say…” I thought for a moment, finally deciding to articulate every thought weighing on my heart. “My gender has changed, my appearance and physique are entirely different from before, and on top of that, all my internal energy and true qi are lost. As far as the martial world is concerned, I’ve been rendered a cripple. Moreover, even if my martial arts remained, with my appearance and gender irrevocably altered, if I were to return to Tianwu University, I doubt the school would acknowledge my identity as a student, would they?”

After I finished speaking, Master remained silent for a long time. I glanced at him timidly, unsure if I had somehow offended him with my words. After a while, I heard him ask softly, “Disciple, now that you’ve transformed like this, do you harbor some resentment towards me?”

I froze, surprised by his sudden question. I was about to deny it outright, but that felt disingenuous. So, I could only half-heartedly reply, “How could your disciple dare to resent Master? It’s just that the changes that have occurred to me are so drastic, so utterly inverted, that in my heart, I can’t help but feel a certain discomfort.”

He sighed, then continued languidly, “You are an honest child, after all, but also a bit wishy-washy. Resentment is resentment; what does it matter? I, for my own selfish reasons, transformed you into this state, so it is only right for you to resent me. However, some of the things you said earlier were incorrect!”

“Your disciple is ashamed. Please enlighten me, Master!” Although I said this, I still felt deep down that everything I had said was true, and I couldn’t fathom what could be wrong.

“Firstly, your assertion that your internal energy and true qi are completely lost is a grave misconception. Within your body right now is the ultimate yin internal energy of the Sunflower Divine Art, cultivated by me for decades. Although some was expended when your innate primordial yang was dissolved, approximately seventy to eighty percent still remains. In terms of true qi strength alone, throughout the world, those who could surpass you would surely not number more than ten.”

“Then why can your disciple not sense even a trace of true qi within my meridians?” Hearing his words, I felt a surge of hope and immediately interjected.

“That is because the Yang Meridian True Qi I imparted to you, born from the ultimate yin’s return to yang within the Sunflower Divine Art, is insufficient in quantity. Originally, within my own body, my innate primordial yang and this burst of yang energy together restrained the Sunflower Divine Art’s ultimate yin internal energy, allowing me to wield the true qi at will. Now that it is within your body, it is somewhat lacking. Therefore, I used this burst of yang energy to imprison all of your ultimate yin internal energy within your Dantian and Qi Sea, preventing it from dispersing into your meridians and thus averting the danger of qi deviation and uncontrolled true qi. Once you elevate your Yang Meridian internal energy to a sufficient level, you will be able to control this world-transcending Sunflower Divine Art as freely as I do!” He revealed this secret in one breath before pausing.

My heart stirred with excitement, yet a subtle sense of unease lingered.

“Then, does that mean I cannot use true qi until my Yang Meridian True Qi reaches its peak?” I pondered, then asked.

“Not so. The Yang energy I imparted to you can only temporarily restrain the Sunflower Divine Art’s ultimate yin internal energy. Using it for an hour or so is harmless. But remember, disciple, you absolutely must not use it for more than an hour. And should your true qi show any signs of spiraling out of control, you must immediately gather it through your Eight Extraordinary Meridians and return it to your Dantian!” By the end, his voice had grown very solemn.

“Your disciple obeys, but… how exactly does one use this true qi? Your disciple is truly quite unclear!” I nodded honestly, yet couldn’t help but press further.

“Youngsters are always so impatient. Once I transmit the *Sunflower Manual* to you, you can comprehend it on your own!” He said this with a touch of helplessness.

“Yes, your disciple understands.” Hearing that there was finally a way, I instantly felt a wave of relief.