On their way to Ryujin's chamber, Laura Yun shared a tale. She revealed that Master Ryujin had four disciples in total, including herself. Laura Yun was the first disciple, assigned not only the duty of accompanying the master but also engaging in missions and tasks directly assigned by him. The other three disciples, however, were entrusted with missions from the sect. They were scheduled to return next month, having completed their tasks, to present their reports in the Disciple Hall. These three senior disciples of Ryujin were named Liwei Ni, Xirou Shi, and Mokan Yu.
After the conversation, the two of them finally reached Ryujin's chamber.
"Here is your room, junior brother," said Ryujin.
"Thank you, senior sister," responded the junior disciple.
"When we're alone, please call me sister," she added.
"Okay, Sister," he agreed.
"I'll leave you here and return to the master's room to report about the mountain's disappearance," she explained.
"Alright, sister," he acknowledged.
"I'll instruct the maid to bring you some food. See you later," she said before departing.
"Thank you, sister," he expressed his gratitude.
Once Laura Yun had left, Ryujin closed the door and took a seat on the bed. He contemplated the information he had acquired – details about the techniques that had been transferred to his mind.
[Congratulation You have Learn about Enchanced Sense Lv.1]
[Congratulation You have Learn about Shadow Sword Lv.1]
"So, I got both of them as active skills," Ryujin remarked to himself.
"Knock... Knock." The sound of a knock came from the door.
"Please come in," Ryujin said.
"Excuse me, Lady Yun asked me to bring food for you," said the maid as she placed the food on the table near Ryujin.
"Thank you so much for the food," Ryujin expressed his gratitude.
"Do you need something else, Young master?" the maid inquired while noticing Ryujin wearing a blindfold.
"Oh, just call me Ryujin... And I don't need anything else, thank you," Ryujin replied to the maid.
"You're welcome." The maid then asked for permission to leave and continue her work.
The maid exited and closed the door, leaving Ryujin alone with his meal.
Ryujin walked over to the table and saw the food laid out: two pieces of bread, Goat Milk Soup with carrots and potatoes, mineral water, and a grilled fish. Ryujin was excited because this food came from the cultivation world. He began to enjoy the meal while thinking, "I told her to call my name instead. Anyway, this food does taste delicious, but it's missing something."
"Ah, there is no MSG in this food to enhance the taste," Ryujin said disappointedly.
{MSG or monosodium glutamate is a flavor-enhancing substance often used in Asian cuisine.}
Meanwhile, back with Laura Yun, she had arrived in front of her master.
"Master, your disciple has come," she announced.
"Tell me everything about the information you obtained regarding Ethereal Peak," the master commanded.
"Yes, Master. When I was there..."
Laura Yun proceeded to recount everything she had discovered during her journey to West Mountain. She described how a large crater had replaced the mountain, and how numerous other cultivators were inspecting the area. They speculated that it might be a result of a Natural Treasure appearing, but there was also the possibility of it being caused by a Nascent Soul or higher realm cultivator. Laura Yun also shared the story of how she had encountered Ryujin not far from the location.
"So basically, there are no witnesses about what happened over Ethereal Peak Mountain?"
"Yes, master. The Ethereal Peak Mountain disappeared along with whoever caused it."
"I see. Then why did you ask me to become his master?"
"Master, can you sense something strange about him, like his demeanor or aura?"
"That's true. I do feel the same, even though he has no cultivation. But that's not what I meant. Do you like him?"
"No, master. How can I like my junior brother?" Laura Yun responded, her cheeks blushing.
"....Anyway, how will you collect the item for Ryujin?"
"Master, I will obtain a Dew of Transcendence Tree for him."
"Are you sure, Disciple Yun? The location of the Transcendence Tree is so dangerous?"
"Yes, master. I will be fine with the Stealth Robe you provided."
"Sure, but you should remember to avoid all the beasts."
"Yes, master. With this item, Ryujin should have an Earth Physique."
Xiao Minhwa shook his head and sighed.
"It's up to you. Do as you wish. If it's too dangerous, you should come back soon."
This Disciple Understand, Master"
After Ryujin finished eating the whole meal, he went to his bedroom and fell asleep without removing his blindfold because he was extremely tired from the journey.
In his dream, he found himself in his old room, and then someone called out to him.
"Ryujin, wake up!
How long will you keep sleeping!
WAKE UP, YOU USELESS SON!!
Ryujin quickly got up and the scene changed, showing him sitting at a desk, and suddenly his boss threw a piece of paper at Ryujin's face.
"Why are you so foolish!"
"Even a donkey could understand this!"
"Do your work properly, you fool!"
The scene transitions to a dining table.
"Did you get fired again?" His father said to him harsly
"How did I end up with a worthless son?" Continoued with his mother said with pointing her finger
"You're just a burden to the family." His father said to him harsly again
"Can you do better like your brother!!" Said His mother to him while comparing his brother
"Brother, Can you even do it properly !!" said his brother, casting a disdainful glance.
"Murmur... mur... muring." The scenes keep changing, depicting the constant struggles Ryujin faces in the real world.
In the depths of Ryujin's dream, his voice trembled as he muttered, "I am so tired..." The words hung heavy in the air, a reflection of the burden that had settled on his shoulders. His heartache spilled into his subconscious, creating a landscape of desolation.
With a sigh that carried the weight of countless sleepless nights, he continued, his words quivering with suppressed emotion, "I gave my all, poured every ounce of myself into the fray... But no one supported me." The bitterness in his voice was palpable, as if he had tasted the disappointment of unmet expectations one too many times.
As the dream unfurled, an atmosphere of isolation enveloped him, wrapping around him like a suffocating cloak. The dream world mirrored his despair, casting shadows that danced with the haunting echoes of loneliness. Ryujin's form seemed to slump under an invisible burden, his shoulders drooping, and his once vibrant eyes now dulled by the weight of his thoughts.
"No friends," he whispered, the words a fragile admission of the void that had grown within him. It was as if his efforts had fallen on deaf ears, as though the connections he longed for were denied him by some cruel twist of fate.
His voice cracked further as he continued, a tremor of pain lacing his words, "No lover..." The ache of unfulfilled longing echoed in those two simple words, a reminder of the empty space that had been carved out in his heart.
He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making each word a struggle. "No siblings," he rasped, his voice catching on the bittersweet memories of bonds that should have been unbreakable.
His voice, now almost a whisper, quivered with raw vulnerability, "Not even my parents." The foundation that was meant to be a constant pillar of support had crumbled beneath him, leaving him adrift in a sea of emotions.
Tears welled up, blurring his vision in the dream as his anguish spilled over, unchecked and unrestrained. The dream world seemed to weep with him, raindrops falling from an unseen sky, mirroring the depths of his sorrow.
In that moment, the dream became a canvas for his pain, painting a portrait of a soul caught in the throes of despair. Ryujin's vulnerability was laid bare, a symphony of sadness that resonated in the heart of anyone who dared to listen.
Ryujin disregarded the ever-shifting scenes in front of him and reached for a knife, contemplating stabbing his own heart. However, he woke up from his dream.
"So it was just a dream..." He slowly opened his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his mind, gazing at the ceiling.
Ryujin got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to wash his face. He found a mirror and slowly removed his blindfold. After taking off the blindfold, he realized that his facial features weren't drastically different from his old self, but his face appeared younger and more masculine, with white hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
"I see, so this is my new appearance. There isn't much difference from before, but it seems better, though."