The next day, Nan Heng sitting in the library. Reading a book about the story of the spear god. Reading the book for 1 hour straight, his eye start to get weary.
"Im tired."
Nan Heng stretch his body, while letting out a loud moan.
"Good thing today is a better day than yesterday."
Gathering attention, encountering one of the main character child. Nan Heng shook his head.
'Forget it. I don't want to recall that anymore.'
He straighten his eyes.
'Let's just focus.'
Nan Heng stood up and walk up to the bookshelves near him. Searching for a book for him to read. As he was searching, a book piqued his interest. He glanced his eyes toward it.
'What's this?'
He picked up the book, there was many dust covering the book. Nan Heng brushed the dust off the book.
'Art essence manual? What's this?'
Nan Heng had never know this kind of book exist in this world, even though he always read the novel from the beginning until the end.
'I guess the novel weren't detailed enough. But Art essence manual? What kind of book is this?'
'Is it learning about the meaning of art? But why is it called a manual?'
Usually a manual was used to learn about martial art and for practice, but this time it was about art, making Nan Heng confused. Many question remained in his head. Nan Heng then opened the book, curious about the inside.
"What?"
As he opened the book, he was surprised. Nan Heng continue to read the book. Flipping page by page. The book was filled about the beauty of art, but the book itself was also teaching about the hidden meaning behind the essence.
'Wait, even though this book was explaining about art and it's essence. It's also a manual.... wait a minute.'
Thinking about the title, it doesn't make sense. Hence if it's just telling the reader about the beauty of art and it's essence, why is it called a manual? Trying to understand the book, Nan Heng read the whole book again.
Trying to disclose the strange feeling in his mind. Reading it again, while explaining the meaning of art, the book itawlf was also showing a step.
'Huh, all of this... is a martial art manual aswell?'
Realizing this, Nan Heng widen his eyes.
"Hahaha."
He laughed out loud.
"Why is he laughing?"
"Is he crazy?"
The librarian in the room watched him in confusement. But Nan Heng just ignored them and continue to laugh. He covered his eyes with his hand.
'I can't believe it. This kind of book existed. I bet most of the guy that read this book don't understand the hidden message.'
Nan Heng read so many book in his past life, let it be novel, motivation, even a biography. Yet none came close this book.
'The most beautiful yet complex book i've ever seen in my life.'
Nan Heng picked up the book, he walk up to one of the librarian.
"Can i buy this book?"
"Im sorry but that's not for s-"
"I'm willing to pay for it whatever price, beside no one ever read this book."
"Why do you think that?"
"The book was so dusty, while the other was crystal clean."
The librarian did not say a word after hearing that.
"2 silver, im changing my mind. That book is not worth anything. I've read it myself, you can keep it."
"Alright, thank you."
Nan Heng pull out 2 silver coin from his pocket, he handed it to the librarian. The librarian quickly took the silver coin and put it in his pocket.
"No refund."
He quickly said that as he took ths silver coin.
'I was about to throw that book away, i don't know why did grandfather have that kind of book. Im Lucky, someone bought that book.'
"Yeah, i know."
Nan Heng left the library. He went back to his room in the inn. He sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. While reading about that book, he noticed that if he want to practice the manual. He need to have Hanzhu.
'Haaa... in the end, i need to go down the path of cultivation.'
Nan Heng sighed, just because he wanted to learn something he never knew, he must go down the path of cultivation. The path he really doesn't want to go.
'I hope this is the right decision.'
"If i'm right it goes by Renzhu,Hanzhu,Zenzhu.Xizhu."
Every human body was filled with Zhu, or Qi. Martial artist later refine that Zhu into a higher level. Dividing it into 4 category.
Renzhu, a stage where people can circulate a Zhu, spreading it through their entire body.
Hanzhu, a stage where people can circulate a Zhu that was spread, gathering them together to one point.
Zenzhu, a stage where people can took out a piece of Zhu from their body, creating a large energy. Surrounding them.
Xizhu, a stage where people can control their Zhu fully. There are less than 100 people in this world who reached the Xizhu cultivation.
'This is going to be hard.'
Even though there are young people like Yuang Meili and Gan Hao who reached Hanzhu, reaching Hanzhu was no easy task. Many adult person and warrior only reached the level of Renzhu, only a few managed to reach the level of Hanzhu.
Both Gan Hao and Yuang Meili reached the level of Hanzhu at young age, because they were talented. While Nan Heng, he was just like an ordinary people.
'Even though i know how, how can this weak body handle that kind of thing.'
Nan Heng knew what his body capable of.
'Should i go home?'
Nan Heng suddenly thought about his father living in the forest. He was a lumberjack.
'Let's do that.'
Nan Heng then decided to go back to his home in the forest. He think that if he came back there he could train his body, while chopping down tree. He quickly took the book and put it on his bag.
He then walked to the mountain, where the forest his father live were there. Climbing the mountain, Nan Heng was really tired. He took a rest twice while climbing the mountain.
Finally arriving home,
"Father?"
The place was empty, there was no one there. Many wooden log were placed on top of a table. He walked deeper, Nan Heng noticed that the door was open.
'Wait, what's this smell?'
He smelled something so bad. Nan Heng covered his nose with his hand. Slowly walking inside his house. He widen his eyes.
Blood could be seen covering the floor in the house.
"Fa...ther? Bwargh!"
Nan Heng throwed up seeing the scenery infront of him. Looking at his father head, not far away from his body. His body was shaking, Nan Heng forgotten, that this was reality. No longer the novel he read. Many thing like this happend in the novel.
But seeing it in reality, Nan Heng couldn't help but tremble in fear. He walked outsids the house. Throwing up once more.
'So this is what the character see, when they saw a person head got deattached. Fuck, why is this happening?'
When he recalled the memory of the real Nan Heng, his father was an ordinary lumberjack.
'So why.... why did he got killed in such sadistic way?'
"Huh?"
Nan Heng didn't notice but tear were flowing down from his eyes.
'I'm crying? But i didn't feel sad? Even though he is not my real familly?'
"Ha... ha..."
He hold his head high up. Sam right now was feeling Nan Heng emotion. Wiping down his tear. Recalling the memory of his father.
"Father...."
He went back inside the house, picking up his father head and body outside.
'This is the least.... i can do.'
He grabbed a shovel in his father yard. Digging up the ground. He buried his father, covering his body with dirt. Nan Heng tear was still flowing down. Feeling the sadness in his heart.
"Hah.... i guess being happy is just hard."
'With every happiness come sorrow, with every birth come death.' Nan Heng remembered that quote back in his past life. Now that actually happened, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Ha...ha..."
He stood up, looking at the sky. Took a deep long breath, and let it out.
"Time to train..."
He walked to the workshop. As he was walking he stopped, taking a glance at his father's grave
"Father, rest in peace. I will take care of myself."
He glanced back to the workshop, he took an axe and start chopping wood.