Cloud Mist Villa, situated on the waist of Donglan Mountain, had patrols of brave soldiers visibly protecting the area, while the top experts hidden from outsiders were beyond any stranger's knowledge. Besides, Cloud Mist Villa was Prince Zhen Dong's estate; nobody who cherished their life would dare intrude.
Outside the grand entrance of Cloud Mist Villa, there stood two colossal stone lions. Meanwhile, two warriors clad in black battle armor were beside the main gates, surveying the surroundings. They stood proud and solitary like lone pines, and their robust bodies naturally emitted a murderous aura, a testament to their bloody experiences on the battlefield.
"Third Prince!"
The two black-armored soldiers suddenly kneeled on one knee, respectfully speaking.
Qin Yu swiftly jumped down from the back of a tiger, with Black Hawk stable on his shoulder. He was clearly very excited and happy at the moment, and he rushed towards the gates while grinning at the two warriors, "Two uncles, please rise quickly."
The two black-armored warriors also stood up, watching the small figure of Qin Yu as he rushed into the estate, a trace of affection in their eyes.
"Hehe, Big Brother and Second Brother are definitely soaking in the hot springs." Qin Yu didn't need to think further, running directly toward the hot springs in the West Garden of Cloud Mist Villa, muttering, "Humph, these two guys dare to enter the hot springs without the permission of me, the mighty owner of Cloud Mist Villa."
Shortly after, Qin Yu had already dashed to the West Garden of the villa.
Hands on his hips, Qin Yu suddenly pointed with his right hand and glared furiously at the two people in the hot spring, "Hey, you two are bold, sneaking into the hot springs without the owner's permission, oh… " Qin Yu could only shout out once before a hand suddenly reached out and yanked him, instantly making him lose his balance and fall toward the hot spring.
"I haven't even taken off my clothes yet!" Along with Qin Yu's shout, he plunged into the hot spring with a "splash," causing countless splashes. Black Hawk on Qin Yu's shoulder frantically fluttered its wings, fortunately avoiding falling into the hot spring, or else the future eagle would have turned into a soaked chicken.
"Hehe, Little Yu, you dare to act so arrogantly with your Big Brother and Second Brother, that's really too much. Your Big Brother and Second Brother are exhausted every day, yet you enjoy these hot springs every day, and it's even Cloud Mist Villa's hot springs!" A young boy spoke indignantly, yet a hint of amusement hid deep in his eyes.
"Pfft!"
Qin Yu suddenly spat out the water in his mouth, soaking wet all over. He looked at the young boy in front of him, visibly annoyed.
"Second Brother, I knew it was you, I knew only you would pull me into the water, not Big Brother." Qin Yu quickly removed his jacket and trousers, remaining in his underwear and soaking in the hot spring, discontentedly looking at his Second Brother, Qin Zheng.
Qin Zheng was still just a twelve-year-old boy at the moment, but his face always carried a warm smile, always making others feel a spring breeze, only showing his youthful mischievousness with his own brothers.
"Are you saying Big Brother? Haha, he's nearly fallen asleep," Qin Zheng laughed heartily.
"Second Brother, do you think your Big Brother is a pig, falling asleep so quickly?" From another part of the hot spring, a stern young man opened his eyes and spoke to Qin Zheng, then smilingly turned to Qin Yu, "Little Yu, these hot springs at Cloud Mist Villa are truly miraculous. Last time I soaked here, the scars on my body lightened significantly, only faint traces remain. If I soak a few more days, I might become just like you."
This was Qin Yu's Big Brother, Qin Feng, who was sixteen this year but looked eighteen or nineteen due to his martial arts training. Big Brother Qin Feng was someone Qin Yu greatly admired. The last time he saw Big Brother, he had witnessed him smashing a thick wooden stake into powder with one punch, something Qin Yu deeply envied.
Upon hearing Big Brother mention the divine effects of the hot springs, Qin Yu stood up rather smugly, puffed out his little chest, and lifted his little head proudly, declaring, "Of course, need we even talk about the miraculous effect of the hot springs at Cloud Mist Villa? Hmph, just look at who the owner of Cloud Mist Villa is? It's your little brother me!"
"You little rascal!"
Big Brother Qin Feng and Second Brother Qin Zheng both burst into laughter.
It had been a long time since Qin Yu had seen his elder brothers, and they started goofing around. However, Qin Feng and Qin Zheng were slightly lenient with Qin Yu, doting on their little brother immensely. Without a mother, they naturally cared even more for their brother.
After a long bout of frolicking, Qin Yu comfortably lay down in the hot springs, and Qin Feng and Qin Zheng lay down as well.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, aren't you both very busy? How did you find the time to come here?" Qin Yu asked.
Their father he …" Qin Feng seemed to realize he had said something wrong and immediately said, "Actually, it's nothing special; there's temporarily nothing pressing with the military, so I came back, and Father allowed it. I found Second Brother, so I brought him along."
Qin Zheng nodded, smiling at Qin Yu, "Yes, you wouldn't believe how hard I had to squeeze out some time. Even so, I only have half a day to rest. After half a day, I must rush back."
"Me too, after half a day, I need to leave with Second Brother," Qin Feng said apologetically.
"Oh, only half a day." Qin Yu responded, sounding a bit downcast. His earlier excitement and playfulness had vanished completely.
Qin Yu had only three loved ones, his father, and his two elder brothers. Their father was extremely busy, only visiting once in two years. It was rare for him to see his two brothers, and yet, after half a day, he would be alone again, maybe with the company of 'Little Black' by the hot springs.
Qin Feng and Qin Zheng exchanged glances, each feeling helpless inside.
"Big Brother, when Father went to the Boundless Wilderness, did he teach you a lot about leading troops?" Qin Yu suddenly smiled again, quickly inquiring, "I know Father is very impressive at leading troops, even Grandpa Lian often says so."
"Yes, Father truly is remarkable at leading troops. I practiced military chess with Father for half a year before I barely met his expectations," Qin Feng, apparently reminiscing about those days, unconsciously said, "Father really is very impressive when it comes to leading troops!"
"Big Brother!" Qin Zheng glanced at Qin Feng, and Qin Feng suddenly felt a jolt in his heart, inwardly wryly smiling, knowing he had misspoken.
Qin Yu seemed not to mind at all; his face was excited as he began discussing with Qin Zheng and Qin Feng about what they had been up to these days. The three brothers talked in the hot springs for a long time, and after having dinner, Qin Feng and Qin Zheng were ready to leave.
Outside of Cloud Mist Villa.
Qin Yu, dressed in a black brocade robe, watched Qin Feng and Qin Zheng from a distance, waving repeatedly.
"Goodbye, Big Brother, Second Brother." Qin Yu's eyes twinkled with reluctance.
Qin Feng and Qin Zheng turned to Qin Yu with a smile, then both mounted fierce tigers, followed closely by nearly a hundred elite soldiers also on fierce tigers, and soon they disappeared on the mountain path without a trace.
...
Below the mountain path, Qin Feng and Qin Zheng rode side by side on fierce tigers.
"Big Brother, you misspoke this time. Little Yu doesn't like scheming or the art of manipulation, and because of his Dantian issue, he can't cultivate to become a Military General. Thus, he succeeds neither in letters nor in martial arts. Father has diverted all his energy to us, while Little Yu barely sees father once a year, enduring his solitude. What do you think Little Yu feels when Father and you play military chess for half a year?" Qin Zheng said to Qin Feng, clearly infuriated.
Qin Feng gave a bitter smile and said, "Second Brother, I wasn't careful, and I regret what I said."
Suddenly, Qin Feng's expression turned grim: "Second Brother, Little Yu was born with a Dantian problem, rendering him weak in both letters and martial arts, with little ability to protect himself. We must defend Little Yu at all costs and not allow anyone to bully him."
"Who dares to bully Little Yu, I will make them regret coming into this world!" A cold light flashed in Qin Zheng's eyes.
The two brothers, along with their guards behind them, quickly left Donglan Mountain and headed toward Yan Capital City.
...
Deep in the night, atop Donglan Mountain.
Amid the chilly breeze, a slender figure sat atop the mountain, a black fledgling hawk quietly perched on his shoulder. Qin Yu gazed at the vast expanse of stars, his eyes reflecting a maturity far beyond that of his peers.
Spending his days alone in the study reading or reflecting, Qin Yu's thinking had surpassed that of an eight-year-old child.
"Little Black." Qin Yu suddenly spoke, yet his eyes remained fixed on the stars. The black hawk on Qin Yu's shoulder stirred, its glossy black eyes whirling around, unaware of why its young master was calling it.
A smile suddenly appeared on Qin Yu's face, radiant and joyful: "Little Black, do you know? When I was very young, Father was often by my side and cared for me a lot. Then those twelve teachers came, and Father had me study with them. Although I disliked what they taught, I still worked hard to please him. I quickly learned those texts, and Father even called me a prodigy, but then ..."
Qin Yu fell silent.
"In my sixth year, I remember clearly, in the quiet courtyard of the Prince Mansion, those twelve teachers told me I could never be a leader. Later, Uncle Feng also mentioned my Dantian problem, saying I couldn't accumulate Inner Strength or cultivate. Then I was sent to Cloud Mist Villa. And after that...Father stopped caring about me. Back then, I didn't understand the meaning of Dantian or leader. I even thought Father truly sent me here to play, but..."
Qin Yu lowered his head, biting his lips, his eyes full of sorrow: "These past two years, I've curiously asked Uncle Wang and the others about the meanings of Dantian and leader. I think, I should now understand why Father no longer values me."
Qin Yu fell silent again, looking up at the stars.
"I truly dislike those books full of schemes and intrigues—I really do. I've been forcing myself. I really, really want to see Father's smiling face, to hear his affirming praise, but those schemes, those harsh tactics, those cunning plans... I, I force myself to read them. I know all those tricks and strategies, but I can't do it! Father, I really can't!"
Qin Yu broke down in soft tears, his frail body beginning to tremble. Beside him, Little Black, with its glossy eyes, watched Qin Yu, using its small wings to wipe his face.
Qin Yu turned his head to look at the black hawk on his shoulder, and suddenly embraced it tightly, holding the hawk quietly in his embrace, as if the hawk understood his young master's mood: "Little Black, I really want to hear Father's praise, to see his happy smile, I really do…" Qin Yu murmured quietly.
...
In a dark corner at the peak, three masters secretly protecting Qin Yu couldn't help but sigh.
Suddenly—
A shooting star streaked across the sky, dazzlingly bright, outshining all other stars for a moment.
"Shooting star!"
Qin Yu's eyes suddenly brightened, and he let go of Little Black, stood up, and closed his eyes tightly, hands clasped in front of him: "Let Father care for me, just as he does with Big Brother and Second Brother, hit me, punish me, I'm not afraid, just don't ignore me, that's enough."
Qin Yu slowly opened his eyes, looking toward the shooting star that had reached the horizon.
"Father once said, making a wish upon a shooting star will make it come true. Father wouldn't lie to me, it has to come true," he said, looking at the celestial expanse, his young face set with determination.
Suddenly, a spark of inspiration lit up in Qin Yu's mind.
Qin Yu's eyes suddenly brightened, and he slapped his forehead: "Ah, how foolish I've been, literature or martial arts, if I can't excel in literature, am I also unable to excel in martial arts? Uncle Wang once said there are countless Internal Cultivation Methods in the world, perhaps there's one suitable for my Dantian. And even if there isn't, do I really need Inner Strength to practice martial arts?"
Qin Yu was still only an eight-year-old child. Although he had matured a lot from reading alone, he was still just a child. Previously, because Uncle Feng had said his Dantian was flawed, preventing cultivation, Qin Yu had developed a fixed mindset. But now, he had realized the truth.
Is a unique Dantian really unable to cultivate?
"Yes, as long as I put in the effort, as Father said, perseverance turns an iron rod into a needle. I will definitely succeed," reaffirmed Qin Yu, nodding vigorously to himself, his eyes filled with unparalleled confidence and unwavering determination.
"Little Black, let's go, back to the villa!" Qin Yu said, and with a new goal in mind, everything seemed different.
At this moment, Little Black on Qin Yu's shoulder seemed also to feel elated, flapping its wings joyously. Qin Yu hopped and ran toward the Cloud Mist Villa, and in a moment,三道黑色身影一闪, like three streams of smoke, chased after Qin Yu.