If it had been a few weeks ago or a month or so ago when Lu first arrived at Lodo, he wouldn't have been able to do much, even after understanding the theory behind the technique. But now that Lu's world essence was brimming after his training until exhaustion every night, he couldn't help but sense his world essence.
And sensing his world essence was the first step to understanding it, which was the first step to controlling it. It wasn't as simple as it sounded. The world essence wouldn't just do what he wanted. When it did, he wasn't sure what to do with it.
Eventually, though, Lu got the hang of it.
The Chameleon's Hiding Technique essence art was based on making the practitioner's world essence blend with the world's world essence around them. Successfully doing it made it difficult for others around the practitioner to distinguish between the practitioner's world essence and the world around them.
"Nice, nice, nice."
Lu nodded in appreciation as he could feel his world essence blend with his surroundings. It wouldn't just muddle his world essence presence. It would also muddle his regular presence. If he did it well, it would be more difficult for people to notice he was there, even if they couldn't notice his world essence.
It wouldn't make him invisible, but it was the perfect technique for when he was in hiding.
Lu smiled. This stuff was fun. He was about to get up and go to Feltor. See what he thought about Lu learning the technique in one night. That had to be pretty good.
"You're up to something pretty fun, ain'tcha."
Without Lu even noticing, Limping Lightning Leopard had entered his room and taken a seat next to him, studying the booklet.
"Whoa."
Lu was too surprised to act surprised. So, he just slowly looked at his Master.
"You're here. Got what you promised?"
Lu put down the booklet and reached out with his hand as he gestured for Leopard to hand it over.
Leopard sighed, his long beard flapping in the wind of his exhale. He looked toward the sky with a lamenting gaze.
"What did I do to deserve such a greedy disciple…?"
"I don't mind severing our ties right here and now."
Leopard snapped out of his solemn mood and retrieved a booklet from inside his shabby robes.
"Perish the thought!"
Leopard handed it over to Lu with both hands and a serious expression. There was no way he was letting Lu go.
Lu smiled and received the gift. Two books in one day. He had never thought he would have been so happy to receive something like that back before he received his Blessing. But now, especially after he had learned the Chameleon's Hiding Technique, Lu looked forward to learning more about cultivating world essence.
So, without thanking his Master, Lu flipped open the booklet.
However, a paper note slipped out of the booklet as Lu opened it. Curious, Lu read it.
"Property of the Nightwalker Clan. Ps. If you steal this, Leopard, you're dead meat!"
Leopard yoinked the paper out of Lu's hand before crumbling it up and turning it to ash.
"Don't worry about that."
Lu shrugged.
'Bright Night - Child of the Moon. Part one. Advanced fire grade essence condensation art.'
Lu looked at his Master and nodded.
"Good job."
He felt like patting the old man's head. But he didn't want to catch any strange diseases.
Leopard's lips twitched. First, a patronizing acknowledgment of his hard work, and then a strange thought? Leopard wasn't sure what it was, but he could tell that whatever was running through Lu's mind wasn't something one should think regarding their Master.
But Leopard had brought it upon himself. So, he took a deep breath and set that matter aside.
"It's the best I could get you on short notice. It should do the trick."
"Is advanced fire grade the highest grade?"
"Ah, no. Far from it. But it's the highest grade that's useful for you. The grade is also an indication of how long it is useful. That masking technique you had just now is advanced water grade, right? It will stop working when your world essence reaches earth grade. After you reach advanced fire in your condensation, you will have to find another art to continue cultivating. The best would be the next part of the same series. But that's what's so great with these guy's methods. They work great with other arts as well!"
Lu nodded.
"Uh-uh. Did you have to talk so much? Your voice really grinds my ears."
Lu checked his ears to see if they were bleeding. But it was mostly for show. He had to torment his Master a little for being so forceful. Inwardly, he was actually thankful for the opportunity Leopard had given him and the sincerity his Master showed.
Leopard also put up with Lu's antics in a way that Lu thought not even the Mittens family would do. It was because Leopard knew he had to be nice to Lu if he actually wanted a master-disciple relationship. But the displayed patience still gave Lu a pleasant feeling in his stomach.
"Bastardly disciple. Where do you get all this from?!"
Lu looked his Master up and down as if saying that it was clearly from the shabby, one-handed old man.
"Don't even try! You were like this before you became my disciple. And I've been on my best behavior both times we've hung out—"
Lu looked at his Master with disgust.
"Hung out? You kidnapped me the first time, and now you've broken into my room. Let's keep to the facts, alright?"
"...Fine—"
"And if this is your best behavior, I really don't want to see what isn't your best behavior. So, do remember to stay away. Please, and thank you."
"B…—"
Leopard didn't know how to respond. He felt a crushing sense of defeat he had only felt when he lost his hand. Didn't all the other old bastards say that having a talented disciple was the best feeling in the world? Why was he feeling so miserable?
'Should I just do as this brat says and cease this charade?'
Leopard considered the idea of resigning himself from being Lu's master.
'No! That's exactly what he wants!'
Leopard looked at Lu again. His pure and bright world essence, even when he tried to hide it, was too good to let go of. The part about a talented disciple's growth being one's own joy resonated with Leopard.
"Don't look at me with those pervy eyes, geezer. I think it's time for you to leave."
Lu got up and opened the door for Leopard.
"Don't forget to train your world essence to the limit using your Blessing first."
Leopard disappeared from the spot.
Lu raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn't expected that. He shrugged, closed the door, and returned to his bed.
"Sure."