How old are you master Bulan? You look younger than my grandpa but I feel you are much older than him.
"How can you say that I must be older than your grandfather kid?"
"I don't know how to explain, but..." Pheonix thought for a few seconds before continuing. "One thing I observed was the way you behaved with my father. It was almost the same as my grandparents cares for me and my sister. And there is a kind of strong energy that I can feel around you that I had never felt around anyone.
Bulan started laughing so hard that it took more than a minute for him to calm down. He then tousled the boys hair with a warm smile.
You are an observant one kid. Yes I am older than your grandfather. Infact I am older than your grandfather's father. And the thing you said as energy is called Aura. That develops and expands as you grow old and powerful. Wisdom or cruelty is the first thing you notice on an older person's face when you see him.
If a person's life is filled with cruelty, he will definitely emit a kind of negetive energy that will make you feel, to keep a distance from such a person.
In the say way, if a person who does good things, help others and do lead an idealistic life. You will feel positive energy, that attracts people towards him. Make people approach him and accept him readily.
Thinking hard for sometime, Pheonix spoke at last. " But, master Bulan, I don't feel neither of those aura from you. It feels like ..... It feels like you don't exist. Yes, thats it. If someone sees you in a crowd, he will simply ignore you. That's what I feel."
Bulan was surprised by the astute observation from the young boy and nodded his head in agreement.
"Because, I am masking my aura my boy. Let me tak off this mask. Tell me what you feel." Bulan simply released his breath and a surge of energy swept across the clearing.
Pheonix was impressed with the aura he felt.
"It feels different master Bulan. I feel somewhat safe by this aura."
"Ha ha ha... Lad, you truely are an observant one. Rest for a few hours, we have to start your training for tomorrow." Bulan sat in a lotus position and Pheonix slept peacefully next to him.
"Wake up boy." Pheonix who was sleeping soundly, woke up suddenly and sat upright by the call from Bulan.
"Wash yourself, we will begin the early training after that."
After washing himself in the cold pond water, Pheonix felt refreshed and completely awake.
Follow what I do boy, and do it precisely.
Bulan raised his hands and stretched his body upwards standing on the balls of his toes holding it for 10 breaths. Then he slowly brought down his hands and touched both the palms to the ground keeping his knees straight and held the position for 10 breaths.
From there, he went down into the push-up position and held it for 10 breaths. Then arching his back he slowly came back to the bending position with his palms touching the ground keeping his knee straight. Then return to the original standing position with both his arms joined in front of his chest like he was praying.
"Repeat this for 20 times boy." Bulan instructed Pheonix. Who started doing it as instructed. After the initial 10 sets, he started feeling aches all over his body. Especially in his arms and legs. After 15 sets, it became almost impossible for him to continue. Still he soldiers along and completed 20 sets and collapsed on the ground breathing heavily.
Bulan handed him a cup of water after a couple of minutes. When Pheonix tried to bring his hand forward, he felt it difficult to lift his hands and after trying a few time, he succeeded but his hand was so shaky that he spilled most of the water down his shirt.
Bulan took another cup of water and held it infront of his mouth and made him drink it slowly.
After resting for a few more minutes, both had their breakfast. Bulan made Pheonix to sit in the lotus position.
"Kid, training ones mind is as essential as they train their body, if not more. Everyday we shall meditation for 2 hours before the lunch and two hours after the evening training. Relax your mind and get rid of all you thought, make it go blank. If you can do it, then I will start your advance meditation training."
"Ok Master Bulan." Pheonix closed his eyes and started breathing deeply. Within a few minutes, Bulan felt a calm aura emitting from the yong boy.
Bulan was impressed by the concentration and focus of the boy. Suddenly it started to waver and disappear. Then after a few more minutes the calm aura reappeared again. This happened for a few times before it became stable and stayed in the calm state for more than an hour.
When Pheonix opened his eyes, he saw the old man grilling the fish on a stick. His stomach growled loudly watching the big fish grilliní. Bulan beaconed him and gave him two big fishes to eat.
It was delicious. The spices and the seasoning the old man used on the fish was just perfect. He cleaned it up completely. Only the bones were left on his plates.
Watching the boy eat with gusto, the old man smiled and placed one more fish on Pheonix's plate which also disappeared within minutes.
Master Bulan, can you teach me how to cook like this?
Why not boy. Before that you need to learn how to catch a fish first. That would be your training for the afternoon.
After that the old man took Pheonix into the pond till the water reached just above his knee. Pheonix saw many fishes swim a few meter away from him. A few bold ones even came a bit closer and as soon as a slight movement or ripple was created, it ran off.
Watch closly boy. Catching fish bare hands takes the same amount of concentration and calm mind as you need for meditation.
Then, with his hand lunging into the water at a lightning speed, the old man caught a fish and pulled it up. The fish was still flailing and trying to escape. But the girp was too tight fo it to do so. Pheonix was in awe of his master's speed.
"Try it yourself." Bulan encouraged Pheonix.
After almost two hours of trying, Pheonix caught his first fish. As soon as he raised his hand in triumph, the fish wiggled out of his grip and fell into the pond again.
Instead of getting frustrated, the boy looked exited and started to continue fishing by his hand again. After another hour and three tries later, Pheonix finally caught his first fish. This time he was not holding it in his grip, instead he used his finger nails to get a grip on the slippery scale of the fish.
"Excellent boy. Let me teach you on how to cook it properly."
Pheonix was tasting the same flavors which he had for his lunch. But this time, he was the one who prepared the meal. The taste was slightly on the spicier side, but he was content by the outcome.