Li Bingbing had mixed feelings about this. She felt obliged to take care of Ling during his study in the Royal Academy.
However, she couldn't defy Fang Zhen's order as the dean of the Royal Academy.
Every person and the students who had been in the academy at least for a year knows that whoever under his teachings wouldn't last long enough.
His methods were truly unorthodox, diabolical even.
Death is the most merciful way to get away from his hellish training regime. Many students who had been picked up by him ended up being a cripple.
"I think… we should ask Ling himself regarding this matter." Li Bingbing tried to save five-year-old Ling. He's a talented kid but he was far too young.
"Fair enough."
Before Li Bingbing asked Ling's willingness, he's already kowtowed before him.
"This disciple is honored to become your pupil! Thus, I shall pledge my loyalty and follow your teaching!"
"Hahaha! I like you already!" Fang Zhen let out a thunderous laugh. "Very well! I will wait in my mansion. It is situated at the Bramble Maze Forest. Li Bingbing, guide him to the entrance of the forest this evening.
"Certainly, Fang Zhen Shifu."
***
After that Sorting Ceremony, Li Bingbing guided Ling to Bramble Maze Forest's entrance.
The air was eerie and yet filled with abundant Qi Energy. Ling could feel the prickly sensation on his skin just standing in front of the entrance.
"Here we are." said Li Bingbing. "Once you step into the forest, there's no way back. I will ask you again for one last time, are you certain of your choice?"
"I do. Besides, I can't get along with the other kids. Not to mention that there's a bunch of noble brats in the mix. I might end up accidentally murder one of them."
Li Bingbing understands Ling's complexity. Being a genius was also a burden for one's soul.
It will need guidance from another genius to teach a kid like Ling.
"Very well." Li Bingbing casted a spell, summoning a hundred fireflies on palm. "These fireflies will guide you through the forest. Remember, focus on yourself, never look back and walk as straight as you can!"
"I understand, Li Bingbing Shizun." said Ling, he accepted the fireflies by making a bowl with his palm.
"Alright then, off you go. May the heavens guide your steps."
With that last blessing, Ling threaded his step onward to the mystical forest.
As he went deeper into the forest, he felt hundreds if not thousands of pairs of eyes gazing at him from every direction.
"This sensation, those eyes belong to the Spirit Beasts… So they also existed in this world, huh?"
For a couple of hours, Ling was having a hard time since the Spirit Beasts were changing his path and casted an illusion, causing him to lose his sense of direction.
The pendant that was gifted by Ling's grandma, Kwan Xi Yin, emitted a faint golden light engulfing him with warmness as if to protect its bearer from any danger.
Before long, Ling returned to the main path and arrived at the front gate of the mansion.
The gate opened wide without any command from anyone.
On the other side of the gate, Fang Zhen had been waiting on the porch. Folding his hand across his chest.
Ling hastened his step to meet with his new master.
"Greetings, Shifu." Ling bowed and cupped his fist.
"Hmm." Fang Zhen nodded. "Took you long enough to reach here."
"Apologize, Shifu. Those Spirit Beasts were quite a trickster. They changed the path by casting some illusion in my eyes."
"I see… That's how they greeted a new person. Anyway, let's get inside, I will show you your room."
Surprisingly enough, the interior of the mansion was quite normal for a venerable person like Fang Zhen.
Strangely enough, despite being surrounded by lush vegetation, the mansion was well maintained. Two storey high with dozens of rooms. The corridor was lit up by a series of candle lamps.
This made Ling think inwardly. "It seems like there's no other person here. Did he maintain the whole mansion by himself? What an antique old man."
After a short walk, they arrived at Ling's bedroom.
"This is your bedroom. Have some rest and we will start the training in the morning. I will wait at the training hall."
"Yes, Shifu."
Fang Zhen strode his way just like that to his own living quarters at the center building of the mansion.
The room was not too shabby either. Decent size bed, comfy pillow and blanket, a cupboard to store his clothes and a desk.
Lying down on the bed, Ling reminisced his resolve upon agreeing to be reincarnated in this world.
Eternal Life.
That's his ultimate goal in this second life. And he will use any methods to achieve it!
For him who had seen both heaven and hell, there's no good or evil. There's only power!
The reason why Ling agreed to become Fang Zhen's Inner Disciple was quite simple.
There's no better way to gain power other than obtaining it from someone who already had the great power.
"If I can shed his blood that's worth more than billions of people, I can forge my spear to its former strength and power! It might take years if not decades to achieve it, but Eternal Life is what I am aiming for. This is nothing but a small struggle in this life!"
Without even noticing, Ling was asleep soundly as if being lulled by his own dream.
Early in the morning, he was awakened by the smell of a delicious breakfast.
When he looked on the side, a kettle of warm tea was already being prepared along with the cup at his desk.
A bucket of warm water and a towel were already on the floor for Ling to wash himself.
"Who prepared all of these?" Ling asked himself. It's no way that Fang Zhen was this generous to provide him with such hospitality.
Coming down to the first floor, Ling could hear a clatter in the kitchen. Someone is cooking breakfast.
Out of his curiosity, Ling went straight to the kitchen.
He slowly peeked through and saw a small petite girl with a pair of ears and a tail. Standing on a wooden chair to reach the stove. Her wagging happily and humming merrily as she cooks the breakfast.
"Eh?! A little fox girl?!!"
"Eepp!"
The little fox girl flinched, and almost dropped the wok.
Ling was even surprised when he recognized her face.
"Qiqi?!!"
***