Mason listened quietly as Chase explained the events that led to his miserable circumstance. He had to admit that the occurrence was a little too much to be handled by a 12years old kid. Of course, Chase did not know the fact that the family clan were forced to sacrifice him. He only had the feeling of being abandoned.
Mason studied Chase whose body seemed like an empty vessel without a soul. He suddenly said, "If you had the opportunity to cultivate and grow strong enough to walk unhindered in your clan, what will you do?"
Chase thought for 2seconds and answered expressionlessly, "I will ask my parents why they betrayed me.." He thought again for a moment and added, "If the answer is not satisfactory, I'll abandon the clan."
"Why won't you kill them? They literally destroyed your life." replied Mason looking at Chase with a playful smile. Well Chase couldn't see the smile anyway so he just answered Mason seriously,"I can never kill my parents or destroy my first home.... After all they are the ones that brought me to this shit world. And the clan has my childhood memories and friends."
Mason's smile became even wider and it made him look so handsome in addition to his natural handsome face. He grabbed Chase again in the usual spot, the collar, and suddenly disappeared from the kitchen leaving the lingering aroma of roasted meat behind. The two then appeared in front of a small cave that was hiding itself behind a waterfall.
Chase could hear the sound of flowing water and knew that there was a change in the environment. He was flabbergasted by the sudden environmental change and asked Mason whom he guessed was near him, "Master Lu, can you travel through space?" Space teleportation was an ability that air elementalists that have achieved perfection can utilize. Chase remembered his father telling him about the mysterious art. Mason answered, "When you can see me, you will know if I can actually travel through space."
"Old Lu why are you making fun of me...aren't you the one that said that I was blind? why are you now talking about me seeing you.." said Chase 'I feel like punching this old man in the face.' Well..Chase thinks Mason is an old man because of the crooked voice that Mason uses.
Mason's face turned white and he barked at Chase forgetting to use the crooked voice "Brat...who are you calling old!" Chase was shocked hearing the unfamiliar voice. He then asked, "Old Lu, is there someone else here apart from the two of us?"
Mason's face became whiter "Your father is old....everybody in your family is old." Chase felt like crying. 'It's not my fault that I couldn't recognize you. The two voices are so different.'
Chase then became curious "Old Lu, so why did you change your voice to sound crooked...were you just trying to be mysterious?..and how did you do it?"
"It's none of your business brat" replied Mason. It seemed like he gave up on teaching Chase to call him master Lu. He then held Chase's hand and led him to the cave entrance. He then said, "Brat just keep on walking forward until you feel that you've entered a pond. Then sit down in the pond and absorb the water energy through your pores. It will repair your broken meridians and make them stronger than your previous ones. The water is a natural treasure that can only be found depending on tremendous luck. It is called the spring's tears because it is formed from the spring's residue that have mixed with the magical elements of water. Hmph...I wanted to use it for my cultivation but now I'm giving it to you as it can only be used once. Don't waste this opportunity. I'll come back to pick you up after 3days. You must have absorbed the energy from the pond by then. Don't worry about food, the energy will rebuild your body. Alright...now get going...shuuuu!"
Mason explained the details and disappeared from his previous position leaving the stunned Chase in front of the cave entrance. Mason's words were replaying in his mind. 'I will be able to cultivate again?...sob..sob..' He soon started crying. After settling his emotions, he clenched his hands into fists and his face was full of determination and fighting spirit. He then walked with a straight back into the cave. The cave was dark and narrow and it looked like a long walk to the end.
After walking straight for 10minutes, he felt water under his feet. The water was transparent with blue lights shining on its surface from time to time. It brought a little light to the dark end of the cave. Chase could not admire it of course. He continued walking forward until the water reached his knee. He then sat down on the spot with his lifeless eyes staring forward and he began to absorb the water energy according to Mason's instructions.
As soon as the first wave of energy passed through his pores, he felt refreshed but the refreshing feeling did not last for long. He soon began twisting his face in pain as he gritted his teeth to avoid shouting. His determination as strong as ever. 'That old man never told me that I will feel pain in the process of my body transformation. damn...'
The energy that was being absorbed into his body was breaking down his organs, veins, arteries, bones, cells and his broken meridians into particles. If someone looked at him from outside, the person will notice black smelly fluid flowing out of his body pores into the water, but weird enough, the fluid evaporates when it comes into contact with the water.
He continued to grit his teeth in pain and the breaking down process continued. It was a dimly lit cave with a small beautiful pond and a young boy sitting in the bond suffering in pain alone. It looked like a beautiful painting.
Mason suddenly appeared at the front of the pond watching Chase endure the pain. He found a suitable spot on a rock and sat on it. 'It appears that my heart has a soft spot for this brat...' He then smiled gently 'You remind of my son. He was born blind and he was murdered later on after finding a mysterious martial art almost 200years ago. I will pass that art to you since you guys share the same fate.' He then waved his hand and a black zither appeared on his crossed legs.
It appears Mason's actual age cannot be judged by his physical appearance.
He then began strumming the strings and a beautiful tune sounded in the cave. The tune had a flavour of loneliness and determination mixed together. When Chase heard the tune, the pain he felt reduced a lot and his face eased up. His ears subconsciously began to absorb the sound and different infos flowed into his brain and his body absorbed the energy from the water at a faster rate.
As Mason played, his face got paler and blood began sipping out of his mouth. His face showed the same determination as seen on Chase's face. "This art can only be passed down once. After this I won't be able to do it again. Don't disappoint me and my son.. brat..."
Now one more person was added to the painting. A handsome man whose face showed that he was experiencing pain greater than the child in the pond. He had long black hair while wearing white robes and sitting on a rock beside the pond with a zither on his legs and his fingers dancing on the strings.
Mason stopped playing after sometime and waved his hands, then the zither disappeared. Medicinal herbs appeared in place of the zither on the air and he snapped his fingers, then fire consumed the herbs feeling the air with a medicinal smell. He then controlled the fire temperature that was refining the herbs on the air and after 12minutes, he suddenly opened his palm. 2 blue pills flew out from the fire burning in the air and landed on his palm. He swallowed one and kept the other in a small bottle.
He remained motionless with his eyes closed as he waited for 3days to pass. Chase no longer felt pain and he could feel his organs, meridians and bones undergoing a reconstruction. He continued to absorb the energy from the water quietly. Time passed with the two sitting motionlessly.
On the 3rd day at noon, Mason opened his eyes and looked at Chase. Few seconds later, Chase got up from the now black water and walked towards Mason with his eyes still grey and without life. But he somehow knew where Mason was. Mason smiled when he saw this. Chase has learnt the mysterious art.
Chase came to the front of Mason and suddenly knelt down on the floor and kowtowed. "Disciple greets MASTER."
Mason bent down and helped Chase to get up. "Brat...Your journey begins here."
Chase"... still brat huh.."
Mason "..." ;)