Chapter 128: Closer to Home

Two days after returning from North Ashbourne, Joe reviewed his monthly accounts with Serena. The income from his Blackwood workshop remained steady, while the pharmaceutical business had begun producing dependable profits. Montclair also supplied many of the resources he previously purchased himself, leaving him with a growing surplus after cultivation and personal expenses. Serena had marked several entries in the household accounts. "You've been sending your family two silverlings every month, but their expenses have increased since they settled in Blackwood. Simon's latest report mentions repairs to the property and additional medical expenses. Your current income can support a larger contribution without affecting your cultivation."

Joe examined the figures. His parents and Simon continued earning their own money, and the household had become financially stable since moving to Blackwood. Nevertheless, the family had several expenses that they continued postponing, particularly those concerning the property and his grandparents' health. Joe had little reason to accumulate money indefinitely while his family restricted its spending on necessities.

"Increase the monthly payment to ten silverlings and establish a separate reserve of thirty for medicine, repairs, and substantial purchases," he instructed. "Simon can manage the reserve and send us the accounts. If they need additional money for something important, I want to know."

Serena entered the arrangement into the ledger and assigned the transfers to his regular personal income. She would handle the payments through the existing banking arrangements, allowing the family to continue managing its expenses without requesting money for every purchase.

Joe wrote to his parents that afternoon. He explained that his businesses were performing well and that Montclair provided much of what he needed for cultivation. He wanted them to complete the outstanding repairs, replace anything they had postponed buying, and follow the physician's recommendations for Joseph and Pam. He particularly emphasized that their grandparents should not refuse appropriate treatment merely because it cost more than their existing medicine. He had begun considering a gentler medicinal preparation that might help elderly patients maintain their health, but the research remained preliminary. For the moment, he preferred that his grandparents receive proper examinations and ordinary medical care.

Joe included a separate passage for Mary. Her spiritual assessment had not revealed any unusual aptitude, but she had reached an age when further education would be valuable regardless of whether she pursued martial cultivation. He offered to support additional schooling and asked her to explain what she wanted to study. Serena arranged for the letter and financial instructions to leave with the next guarded caravan.

Marcus visited three days later with the martial training arrangements he had promised following the North Ashbourne exchange. He had spoken with several instructors attached to Montclair's training facilities and obtained access to complete movement and weapon inheritances. Joe welcomed the arrangements because his match against Darian had exposed weaknesses that his exceptional Foundation could not entirely compensate for.

Darian's superior cultivation had allowed him to maintain pressure through exchanges that Joe would otherwise have controlled. Joe's physical abilities remained extraordinary, but his unfamiliarity with specialized combat techniques had forced him to surrender positions unnecessarily. He wanted to improve his ability to determine where an exchange occurred and how an opponent could respond.

The Decennial provided a practical reason to develop that advantage. Joe knew that the national competition would gather young martial artists whose families had invested heavily in their training. Some possessed superior cultivation, while others had studied complete weapon inheritances since childhood. His hidden abilities gave him confidence, but he could not reveal everything simply to win a tournament. He had privately examined the national selection rules and understood the value of finishing among the first three. Those positions offered a certainty that discretionary selection did not. Joe had no intention of relying on another person's favor when his future cultivation opportunities were concerned, although he had no reason to announce such an ambitious objective.

Marcus approached his preparation more conservatively. Joe had performed well at North Ashbourne and possessed an exceptional Foundation, but his public cultivation remained Early Acquired. The other candidates would continue improving before the competition, and Marcus wanted him to develop a recognizable combat advantage.

"Your Foundation is strong enough that ordinary movement instruction offers little benefit," Marcus explained as they examined the available manuals. "A complete inheritance would be better. It should teach you how to use that control against experienced opponents. I also recommend choosing a primary weapon now, since the Decennial will include candidates who have trained with theirs for many years."

Joe agreed and examined the movement inheritances Marcus had obtained. Two emphasized rapid advances and aggressive changes of direction, while another concentrated on pursuing opponents who attempted to disengage. Joe eventually selected Unbroken Step because it covered a broader range of combat situations. Its methods addressed entering and leaving range, maintaining favorable positions, and preserving movement options during an exchange.

The instructor assigned to the inheritance was a Late Acquired martial artist in his forties. He had spent many years practicing movement techniques and had developed enough experience to teach promising candidates, although his own attainment remained within the ordinary limits of accomplished martial practitioners.

During the introductory lesson, he demonstrated several changes of direction and asked Joe to reproduce them. Joe's Return to Nature Foundation made the physical movements relatively easy, but the instructor immediately introduced an opponent whose position required a different response. Joe withdrew from the attack and maintained his balance, although he surrendered more ground than necessary. The instructor stopped the exercise and pointed out that the opponent had already committed his weight forward and could not immediately pursue.

"You don't need to retreat that far. Watch his recovery before choosing your position. The inheritance teaches several ways to withdraw, but you still have to recognize which one the exchange requires."

Joe repeated the exercise and preserved more ground while keeping a clear route for his next movement. The instructor increased the difficulty, changing the direction and timing of the attacks until Joe encountered situations that required more careful judgment.

Joe appreciated the instruction. His Foundation allowed him to execute the movements accurately, but Unbroken Step contained combat decisions he had never needed to study in such detail. He then examined the available weapon systems.

The sword offered considerable flexibility, while several saber inheritances emphasized powerful attacks through decisive commitment. Joe understood their advantages, particularly after observing Celia's swordsmanship during the exchange. Nevertheless, he preferred the spear because its reach allowed him to control distance and threaten an opponent without immediately entering the range where superior cultivation became most dangerous.

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Among the available systems, Ninefold Spear provided the broadest foundation. It covered thrusting, sweeping, shaft control, redirection, changes in grip, recovery, and coordination with footwork. Other inheritances specialized in particular methods, but Joe wanted to understand the weapon properly before studying more advanced variations.

Marcus arranged a spear instructor and provided the complete manual. The instructor was another experienced Late Acquired practitioner, approaching fifty, who had spent much of his martial career studying Ninefold. He possessed substantial practical experience, although he had never reached Complete in the inheritance. The first lesson concentrated on Joe's grip and the transfer of force through the shaft. His Foundation gave him excellent control over his own body, but the spear introduced unfamiliar demands. During a thrust, his rear hand occasionally advanced before the spearhead settled into its intended line, while his front hand became unnecessarily rigid during recovery.

The instructor demonstrated the correct movement and explained how each hand should guide the weapon. Joe repeated the thrust several times, adjusting his grip until the spearhead followed the intended line without disturbing his stance.

"Your Foundation has given you a considerable advantage," the instructor observed. "But controlling your body and controlling a weapon require different experience. Practice these movements until the spear follows your intention without requiring corrections."

Joe thanked him and completed the lesson. He returned to his private training room afterward and spent another half hour practicing the introductory exercises. When he finally opened his panel, the inheritance had already begun accumulating substantial progress.

Ninefold Spear — Lv.1 / Beginner — 36%

Joe examined the entry with satisfaction. The short practice session had produced a considerable amount of experience, and the movements felt increasingly natural. His talents would continue multiplying the benefits of every meaningful session, allowing him to develop the inheritance without sacrificing the time required for his principal cultivation. He set the spear aside and returned to his anatomical records. His Innate Transformation had recently advanced beyond thirty percent, but the increasing complexity of the remaining mortal structures demanded careful preparation. He needed to determine which regions could be transformed without creating weaknesses in the structures surrounding them.

Over the following week, Joe settled into a routine that divided his time between cultivation, research, and short martial training sessions. Ninefold occupied part of the morning, while Unbroken Step received attention later in the day whenever his cultivation schedule permitted. His instructors noticed that he learned quickly, but the early exercises revealed only a small portion of the inheritance. They continued arranging lessons according to their usual standards, expecting Joe to spend considerable time mastering the fundamentals.

Meanwhile, his letter reached Blackwood. Simon received the financial notice first and brought it to Mike, who initially believed the clerk had entered the wrong amount. Simon confirmed that Joe had authorized the change and established a separate reserve for larger expenses. Mike remained reluctant to use the money until the accompanying letter arrived. He read Joe's explanation carefully before passing it to Lily. The family had never expected Joe to assume responsibility for the household, particularly when martial cultivation required such substantial resources. His present income had clearly improved, however, and Mike could not reasonably object to help that Joe offered voluntarily.

Lily had fewer reservations. The western section of the property needed repairs, and several household purchases had been postponed while the family concentrated on establishing its businesses in Blackwood. She intended to complete the necessary work and preserve the remaining funds for future expenses.

Joseph objected when Lily mentioned arranging another examination for his joints. He considered his existing medicine sufficient and saw little reason to replace it with something more expensive. Pam insisted that the physician should determine whether his treatment remained appropriate, and the family eventually persuaded him to attend the appointment.

Mary paid greater attention to the passage addressed to her. Since moving to Blackwood, she had received increasing instruction in etiquette, sewing, household management, and the social expectations associated with a family of improving standing. She understood why her parents considered those lessons appropriate, but she had little enthusiasm for spending most of her time practicing them.

Music was an exception. She had begun learning a stringed instrument several months earlier and continued practicing even when nobody reminded her. Her teacher had praised her ear and musical memory, although Mary was less enthusiastic about repetitive technical exercises. She nevertheless returned to the instrument regularly and had begun considering whether she could pursue more serious instruction.

Joe's offer gave her an opportunity to ask. She wrote that she wanted to study music with a better teacher and wondered whether Ashbourne had schools that accepted students without unusual martial or spiritual aptitude. She also wanted to see the city where Joe had spent nearly two years. Her letter became considerably longer once she began describing what she hoped to do there. She asked about music teachers, libraries, and whether Joe had enough space for her to visit. By the time she finished, her request had become clear: she wanted to spend an extended period in Ashbourne.

Mike and Lily discussed the proposal before sending their reply. They were reluctant to have Mary living so far away, particularly when Joe remained occupied with cultivation and business. Nevertheless, Ashbourne offered educational opportunities that Blackwood could not provide, and Joe had established a stable position there. Serena and Edwin could also help with practical arrangements. They agreed that Mary could go if Joe accepted responsibility for her accommodation and education.

Simon supported the decision, although he advised their parents to establish clear arrangements for her travel and supervision. The journey through Greyspine remained long, and Mary had little experience living independently. The family assembled its response and sent it through the next guarded caravan.

By the time the letter reached Ashbourne, Joe had been training Ninefold Spear and Unbroken Step for several weeks. He opened the correspondence at Edwin's dining table after returning from an afternoon lesson.

Mike thanked him for the additional support and reported that the property repairs were underway. Simon enclosed the latest workshop accounts, while Lily described the grandparents' medical appointments and the household's ordinary affairs.

Mary's letter occupied several pages. Joe read it carefully before discussing the request with Serena. His sister had shown little enthusiasm for the martial path, and he saw no reason to insist that she pursue it when she had already identified another subject she wanted to study.

"Ashbourne has far better music teachers than Blackwood," Serena observed. "I can arrange an assessment and find someone appropriate. She'll need somewhere to live, but that shouldn't be difficult."

Joe considered Edwin's house. He had occupied a guest room there for nearly two years, and Edwin had been generous with the space. Bringing Mary into the household for an extended period would be inconvenient, however, particularly when Joe now had sufficient income to establish a residence of his own.

"I've been meaning to find a house," he said. "This gives me a reason to finish arranging it."

Serena agreed to examine suitable properties in the East District, where Joe could remain close to Edwin without moving into the more prominent residential areas associated with senior officials and established noble families. He wanted enough rooms for visitors, a private courtyard, and space for training, but had no need for an enormous estate.

Joe then wrote to his parents accepting Mary's request. He would arrange her accommodation, education, and an appropriate escort through Montclair's travel network. He also explained that he intended to visit Blackwood himself once his current training period was complete. The new inheritances offered an opportunity to strengthen his preparation for the Decennial, and interrupting the instruction after only a few weeks would accomplish little. He preferred to remain in Ashbourne for the coming months, then spend a proper period with the family once he could continue training independently.

The arrangement allowed Mary to begin her education without waiting for his return, while his parents would have a definite visit to anticipate. Serena added the journey to his longer-term calendar and began coordinating Mary's travel separately. Joe returned to Ninefold Spear the following morning. His new training routine had begun, and the months ahead offered enough time to discover how far his talents could carry him before he returned to Blackwood.