Late into the night, the moonlight cast the shadows of two individuals, large and small, sitting cross-legged on the peak of the Emerald Island.
Xu Kai was busy slurping the delicious rice noodle with bright eyes, despite the presence of four stacks of wooden bowls beside him.
Lan lowered a wine jar from his mouth and said amusingly. "Where is all that food going?"
He stared at Xu Kai's abdomen curiously.
Xu Kai dropped the cleaned bowl, pulled up his black tunic, and revealed his flat abdomen to Lan.
"I think I can still fit two more bowls inside there," he said, patting his stomach with a cheeky smile.
Lan burst into laughter. "You're one amusing kid."
After his laughter died down, silence befell them. "I noticed that others don't want you around, and you don't want to interact with them. I know it can be depressing to be the only one without a talent amongst your peers but the path to success is 99 percent hard work and 1 percent potential. If you're willing, even these tall mountains will pave the way for you." Lan said with a comforting tone.
"En." Xu Kai nodded.
"Good! Do you have a place to spend the night?"
Xu Kai nodded twice, and Lan ruffled his hair before descending the stairs.
"Wait, Uncle Lan, why doesn't Elder Feng have footsteps?"
Hearing that, Lan halted. "That's because he doesn't walk. It's rumored that after the demons massacred the Feng family, he lost interest in the world and attained an unknown state of heart, which detached him from it. He doesn't walk because he no longer feels the need to." Lan said solemnly. Exhaling loudly, he continued his descent.
"Do you know what demons are?" His voice drifted into Xu Kai's ears. Apart from the attack that occurred when he was five, Xu Kai never experienced another demon attack until he died.
Truth be told, he had no clue what those evil beings looked like. All he knew was that they brought destruction, death, and misery everywhere they went.
"The Primordials refused to obey the Primordial king and repent, but instead chose to go the other way, drowning in their negative thoughts, which eventually made them mad," Xu Kai said.
Lan turned his head toward Xu Kai with an astonished expression. While astonished, he spoke. "You keep surprising me. But no matter how you learn about them, pray to never meet even the weakest one."
"Isn't that the reason we train every day to become skilled martial arts practitioners and rid this world of those vile things?" Xu Kai's temples creased as he uttered his question.
"You'll understand when you're older. By the way, what's your name?" Lan refused to speak further but asked for his name.
Xu Kai felt a pang in his heart. He yearned to know more but since Uncle Lan didn't want to reveal anything, there was nothing he could do.
"I'm Xu Kai."
"The brilliant rising sun achieves victory. What a wonderful name," Lan said with a nod. He was about to leave when a thought crossed his mind.
"It's late; can you go home alone?" he asked.
Xu Kai puffed his chest out. "I'm a martial arts practitioner. I can easily take out anyone with my fists!" He punched the air twice and exposed his white teeth.
"Good!" Lan chuckled. After his figure disappeared into the distance, Xu Kai's eyes gleamed. 'Elder Feng doesn't need to walk at all? Doesn't he have legs or maybe he floats? Tch!' He clicked his tongue. Speaking about Elder Feng, Xu Kai realized he never saw the old man again after he took him to the awakening ceremony.
Last time, Elder Feng didn't sit and watch. Perhaps after hearing about Xu Kai's awakening, he decided that he could take care of himself, but this time, things were different.
He was known as a worthless trash and despised by his peers. However, his mental fortitude kept him strong, even when he felt the urge to prove his strength before a beauty like Shui Mei Er.
'The Feng Shui here is beneficial, but I can't train with others because they'll undoubtedly discover something odd. Also, the Elders must already have their suspicious bars raised.'
Sighing heavily, he stood at the edge of the cliff, staring at the town brightly illuminated by lanterns. There were few people moving about.
As he veered to the right, his eyes locked on the Shui manor, which had several people moving about in the outer and inner courtyards. Currently, a banquet is going on, and the Cheng family is also there. That manor was incredibly secure, yet he was about to visit it secretly.
Crystal Water Lily was there. In his past life, Shui Long Yan used it and his control over his water-type element became smoother and better. The crystal Water Lily he took was an advanced-grade mortal herb, a grade higher than what he needed.
But if his past knowledge proved him right, the water lily should have just entered the intermediate grade.
'Sneaking into the Shui manor is not going to be an effortless task.' Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes, remembering when he came to the Shui manor with his captain, two years and seven months after the esteemed guest picked those he wanted and left.
The Skylark Beast Soul's advancement to the next stage had several advantages that drew him in. Being able to gain a deep connection with the water element would, in turn, increase his cultivation speed. Also, gaining the adult Skylark Shark's Beast Soul would make him a predator in some parts of the sea.
I've got it. The guards may be extra vigilant tonight, but this is my opportunity to take advantage of their laxity. Shui Wuhen, the son of Elder Shui Ling and the father of Shui Long Yan and Shui Mei Er, defeated Elder Cheng in a drinking contest last time. I should wait until he's drunk before acting.'
Taking his time to meditate till it was deep into the night, he left for the manor.