The next morning, the sun shined brightly through the large windows of the mansion.
It was the weekend, so Jean and Ororo didn't have to go back to school yet. They could stay and relax.
When Jean finally walked into the kitchen for breakfast, she saw Natasha and Ororo sitting at the large island counter.
Jean stopped in her tracks.
The two older women looked amazing.
They were literally shining. Their skin was glowing, their eyes were bright, and their energy felt incredibly deep.
The pure Yang energy they had received from Sam the night before had refreshed them completely.
They looked healthier and stronger than ever.
Jean sat down on a stool slowly.
She looked at them with a very complicated feeling in her chest.
She was shy, nervous, and secretly a little jealous.
Natasha took a sip of her coffee and smirked.
As a master spy, she had planned this perfectly.
She knew Jean would listen in, and she had purposely sent that telepathic thought to Ororo to plant the seed in Jean's mind.
Ororo looked at Jean and smiled gently.
Ororo knew all about Natasha's little trick, but she just went along with it.
She knew it was for the best.
Sam walked over from the stove and put a plate of warm food on the table.
Jean immediately looked down at her hands.
Her face turned pink. After hearing everything last night, she simply couldn't look him in the eye.
Sam looked at the blushing girl and let out a soft, gentle sigh.
With his Golden Core, his senses were perfect.
He knew exactly what had happened. He knew her shield had dropped in the dark.
He walked up behind her stool and gently patted her head.
His hand was warm, heavy, and incredibly safe. The moment he touched her hair, Jean gasped softly.
All the tension in her body vanished. She completely melted into his touch.
"You don't have to hide, Jean,"
Sam said softly, his voice full of care.
"I know you heard us. But this is a very big path. You are still young. You should take your time considering everything. There is no rush."
Jean looked up. Her green eyes widened in panic.
If she took too much time, what would happen? Sam was powerful and kind. What if Natasha and Ororo found other women to be his Dao Companions? What if there was no room left for her in his array?
She didn't want to be left behind.
She didn't want to lose him.
Before she could stop herself, her heart took over.
"I am fine with it!"
Jean blurted out loudly.
The kitchen went completely quiet.
Jean realized what she had just yelled.
Her face turned completely red, burning with intense embarrassment.
She wanted to hide under the table.
But as she looked up at Sam's surprised face, and saw Natasha's proud smirk, Jean didn't take the words back.
She was deeply embarrassed to say it out loud, but she knew it was the truth. If she didn't make her feelings clear right now, she would lose her chance forever.
Sam looked at Jean's bright red face and smiled warmly. He didn't laugh or make fun of her.
He gently stroked her hair one more time.
"I hear you, Jean,"
Sam said softly.
"And I am happy. But before we share any fires, you need to learn how to walk on this path. It takes time."
Jean nodded quickly, feeling a deep, happy warmth in her chest.
She had secured her place. Now, she just had to work hard.
After breakfast, Sam took them out to the large, grassy backyard to continue their training.
Sam taught them how to pull the natural energy from the air into their bodies.
Ororo was a natural. Because her mutant power already connected her to the earth and the sky, she understood the flow of energy perfectly.
By the late afternoon, the warm spark in her stomach grew into a steady, flowing stream.
She officially stepped into the Qi Gathering Stage.
The change was amazing. Ororo felt physically stronger than she had ever been in her life.
Her muscles were tight and full of explosive power.
But the biggest change was her mutant ability.
Before, summoning a storm took a lot of emotional effort.
Now, her control was perfect. With just a simple thought, she could create a gentle breeze or summon a dark cloud.
It felt as easy as breathing.
Jean, however, was struggling a little.
She was doing her best, but she had not officially entered the path yet. Her Qi was still just a tiny, flickering spark.
"Do not feel bad, Jean,"
Sam told her kindly, seeing her frustrated face.
"Building your foundation from nothing takes a lot of time and patience. It is normal. Without the shortcut of Dual Cultivation to push the energy into your body, you just have to practice every day."
"I will,"
Jean promised, closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing again.
Natasha walked out into the yard.
She had finished her S.H.I.E.L.D. work and wanted to stretch her muscles.
She looked at Ororo, who was floating a few inches off the ground, surrounded by a soft breeze.
"You look dangerous, Ororo,"
Natasha smirked, stretching her arms.
"Do you want to test your new strength? A friendly spar?"
Ororo smiled back. She felt incredible, and she wanted to see what she could do.
"I would love to, Natasha."
They stood across from each other in the wide, open grass.
Sam and Jean sat on the porch to watch.
In a normal world, a human spy would never fight Ororo head-on. A normal Natasha would have to hide, use tricks, or run away.
You cannot punch a woman who can drop a tornado on your head.
But Natasha was not a normal human anymore.
She was a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
"Go ahead,"
Natasha said, standing completely relaxed.
Ororo's eyes turned pure white. The sky above them suddenly darkened.
The wind howled, and Ororo raised her hand.
CRACK!
A bright, thick bolt of real lightning shot down from the sky, aiming straight for Natasha.
Jean gasped, covering her mouth.
But Natasha didn't run. She didn't even dodge. She just raised her hand.
A thick, solid wall of pale Yin Qi appeared over her skin.
The lightning crashed directly into Natasha.
The ground around her exploded, sending dirt and grass flying into the air.
But when the dust cleared, Natasha was still standing there. She wasn't burned.
She wasn't even hurt. She had completely tanked the lightning bolt with her Qi.
Ororo's eyes widened in pure shock.
Before Ororo could summon another strike, Natasha moved.
She was faster than the wind itself.
She crossed the yard in less than a second, moving like a blur.
She appeared right behind Ororo and gently tapped the back of her neck.
"Boom,"
Natasha whispered playfully.
"You're dead."
Ororo slowly floated down to the ground.
The dark clouds in the sky faded away.
She turned around and looked at Natasha with absolute awe.
"You are incredible,"
Ororo breathed out. She wasn't angry that she lost. She was amazed.
Natasha smiled and patted Ororo's shoulder.
"I just have a head start on the path,"
Natasha said.
"But with your mutant powers and your new Qi, you are going to be a force of nature, Ororo. Literally."
Jean watched them from the porch.
She looked at the crater in the grass and the two powerful women laughing together.
She looked up at Sam, who was smiling proudly.
Jean made a firm promise to herself right then.
She was going to practice every single day.
She was going to grow up, get stronger, and stand proudly by their side.
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