"You really want me to kill one of the demonic beasts in the garden?!" Yu Han asked, utterly alarmed.
Xiu Baok calmly nodded.
"Yes, you'll kill one. But don't worry, I'll give you time to regain your strength."
"But that's madness! A demonic beast is as strong as a professional alchemist—"
"And I've defeated one, haven't I? And I wasn't even an alchemist when I did it," Xiu Baok retorted firmly.
"Yes, but you're—"
"Then you'll succeed too!"
Yu Han sighed, exasperated by his older sister's stubbornness.
"Alright, so where do we start—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp and powerful slap struck his face, making his nose bleed.
"Why?!" he shouted, clutching his bloody nose.
Xiu Baok clenched her fist tightly, almost trembling.
"In eight months, I'm leaving on a journey, and I won't be back for a long time. So…" She paused before declaring, "I'm going to help you train!"
A shiver of fear ran through Yu Han's body.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" he muttered.
"And we'll start by teaching you martial arts! Come on, get moving!"
"But I'm still injured!" Yu Han protested.
---
Under the cherry tree, where the young apprentices of the Ha family often trained in the mornings, Yu Han had turned the space into his personal training ground. Day after day, he returned there, always under Xiu Baok's watchful eye and the curious gazes of hundreds of apprentices.
"Look at you! Your punches are far more devastating than they were three months ago," Xiu Baok said, brimming with pride.
Time had flown by. Three months had already passed, and Yu Han had mastered the basics of alchemy. Not only that, but he had perfected his control over spiritual energy, achieving near-complete mastery. His combat skills had also improved, almost reaching the level of a true martial arts master.
"It's strange," Yu Han remarked, surprised. "Everything becomes easier when you train using your energy…"
"You see? It feels weird, doesn't it? Like rediscovering an old habit you used to have!" Xiu Baok joked, laughing while holding a bottle of alcohol.
"Don't talk while you're drunk…" Yu Han muttered, exasperated.
Since the start of his training, Xiu Baok had forbidden him from using his spiritual energy, making the exercises much more demanding.
"Alright!" Yu Han turned toward his sister with a serious expression.
"What?" she asked, crossing her arms with a resolute air.
"You said you'd give me eight months, but I've improved so much in just three… Are we moving on to the next stage?"
Xiu Baok shook her head.
"No, little brother. Tomorrow is the big day!"
"I'm finally going to fight a demonic beast?"
"Yes!" she replied, flashing a broad smile.
But Yu Han wasn't smiling. His expression was serious, focused.
"So tomorrow is the big day, huh?"
In the distance, a calm and confident voice interrupted their conversation.
"Xiu Baok, my dear sister!"
"That voice… Not him…"
Yu Han turned, curious. A young man wearing a long coat was approaching them. His long, white hair, almost silver, nearly touched the ground. His piercing red eyes seemed to scan everything they saw, though his jovial smile gave him an air of friendliness.
"What do you want, Ha Tie Xong?" Xiu Baok asked coldly.
"Ha Tie Xong? My half-brother… The one who might become the head of the family?" Yu Han thought, intrigued.
"Oh, you're calling me by my full name now? I thought we were close after all these years. I'm so disappointed," Ha Tie Xong replied with mock sadness.
His gaze shifted to the bottles of alcohol near Xiu Baok, and a grimace of disgust crossed his face.
"But let's put that aside, shall we?"
He then looked at Yu Han, his friendly smile barely hiding a mocking glint in his eyes.
"So, you're Yu Han, huh? I've heard you've improved quite a bit."
"Wait, he didn't even know who I was?" Yu Han thought, bewildered.
"Yes, that's me," he replied simply.
"And how is old YuXiang Jun doing? I don't see him around. Isn't he supposed to be your servant?"
"He… had things to take care of," Yu Han answered hesitantly.
"Well, what a lack of respect! A servant neglecting his master, how disgraceful!" Ha Tie Xong declared, barely hiding a mocking smile. "Though I suppose it's fitting for an insect like you."
Despite the provocations, Yu Han's expression remained unchanged. This unexpected reaction slightly unsettled Ha Tie Xong, who sighed.
"Well, my dear sister, I'll leave you to it."
He turned and walked away, leaving Yu Han and Xiu Baok behind. Once he was out of sight, the siblings finally let their frustrations out.
"Did you see how insufferable that bastard is?!" Xiu Baok exclaimed.
"Who does he think he is, anyway? And his greasy hair!" Yu Han added, grinding his teeth.
"Imagine that I have to put up with that guy every time I come back to the estate!"
After a moment, Yu Han asked, intrigued, "Is he really that strong?"
Xiu Baok's face turned serious.
"Terribly strong. About the same level as me."
A shiver ran down Yu Han's spine. He realized that if he hadn't kept his composure, Ha Tie Xong might have killed him on the spot.
"But that's not what's most dangerous about him," Xiu Baok continued.
"What do you mean?" Yu Han asked, his concern growing.
"He manipulates people. He exploits their potential to the fullest, drains them of everything they have, and then discards them like worthless objects. That's what he did to YuXiang Jun. That boy had incredible talent… but now, I'm not sure he'll ever surpass his current level."
"YuXiang Jun fell for it too?" Yu Han murmured. He looked up at the orange sky, where the sun was setting, giving way to the moon.
"Xiu Baok, let's do it now," he said suddenly.
"What?!"
"I'm going to kill one… no, two demonic beasts!"
"You know they're much stronger at night, don't you? This is suicide!"
"I know. But it's only by brushing against death that I'll grow stronger, right?"
He looked at his sister with a determined and confident gaze.
Xiu Baok sighed, overwhelmed by her brother's unwavering resolve.
"Alright then… Let's go."