In the main training hall of the Ha domain, one of the most powerful alchemist families in the Kingdom of Zheng, led by the formidable Ha Zhan Feng...
Yu Han, against all odds, had issued a challenge to one of the family's most promising fighters, Ga Boh Tag, with the ambitious goal of earning the mentorship of YuXiang Jun, the enigmatic master.
"Damn it, I acted on impulse without thinking it through..." Yu Han thought as he faced his opponent.
Standing before him, Ga Boh Tag was an imposing figure, his stout frame marked by a round belly and an unflatteringly grotesque face.
He looks like a pig, Yu Han mused silently.
"You little wretch! You're just a pampered noble with no alchemist abilities! I'll teach you what it means to respect your betters!" bellowed Ga Boh Tag, his voice booming through the hall as he pointed a wooden sword menacingly at Yu Han.
Unfazed by the insult, Yu Han maintained an indifferent gaze, his calm demeanor visibly irritating his opponent.
Around them, the onlookers were gripped by a mixture of fear and anticipation, their thoughts uniform: "He's going to be slaughtered!"
Among them, YuXiang Jun remained stoic, unmoved by the prospect of Yu Han's success or failure. Whether the young noble died, lost, or triumphed made no difference to him.
"Come on, I don't have all day," Yu Han declared, his confidence cutting through the tension like a blade.
The provocation was the final straw for Ga Boh Tag, whose face turned crimson with rage. Letting out a roar, he launched himself at Yu Han with surprising speed, channeling the essence of his soul into his foot to propel him forward with an impressive burst of energy.
The hall echoed with gasps as the massive figure surged toward Yu Han, whose initial surprise at the sheer speed of the attack quickly gave way to focus. At the very last moment, Yu Han sidestepped the charging bull-like Ga Boh Tag, narrowly avoiding the blow.
Both combatants were visibly astonished—Ga Boh Tag at having missed his mark, and Yu Han at his own ability to dodge the attack.
The spectators, too, were dumbfounded. Some were awestruck, others skeptical, but they all shared the same thought: "How did he do that?"
Yu Han himself grappled with the same question.
"How did I manage to evade him? I was certain my body wouldn't react in time—my physical abilities are nothing to boast about…" He paused, gripping his wooden sword more firmly. "Could it be that months of meditation have made up for my physical shortcomings?"
Adjusting his stance for better balance, Yu Han shot a questioning glance at YooXiang Jun. Though he kept his face composed, his wide eyes betrayed his confusion.
"Damn it, even he doesn't seem to understand how I managed that..."
Before Yu Han could finish his thought, a surge of danger jolted his senses. Without thinking, his body acted on pure instinct, raising his sword just in time to block an overhead strike from Ga Boh Tag.
The clash was deafening. Both swords met with such force that a shockwave of air rippled through the hall, knocking all the spectators off their feet—except for YooXiang Jun, who stood firm as though unfazed by the chaos.
Moments later, as the onlookers scrambled to their feet, the fight was already over.
Ga Boh Tag lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious, his bulk motionless. Towering over him was Yu Han, his gaze cold and unyielding.
"Well, Jun? Still not convinced?" Yu Han asked with a smug grin, his voice dripping with provocation.
YuXiang Jun's expression hardened, his eyes simmering with suppressed anger. Without uttering a word, he turned and strode toward the exit, slamming the door behind him as he left.
The room fell into a stunned silence as all eyes followed the master's departure.
"THAT BASTARD IGNORED ME AGAIN!" Yu Han yelled in frustration.
As YooXiang Jun wandered the corridors of the Ha estate, his mind replayed the events of the duel.
"How did that brat manage to pull that off?!"
In his recollection, Yu Han had indeed blocked Ga Boh Tag's strike, but the shockwave that had shaken the hall wasn't caused by the impact of their swords.
In a split second after the clash, Yu Han had reached the level of a confirmed alchemist and delivered a decisive upward strike to Ga Boh Tag's chin, knocking him unconscious instantly.
"He defeated that lump of lard without breaking a sweat," Jun thought, his fists clenching tighter with growing irritation.
"When did he become this strong?" he muttered under his breath, his frustration evident.
A few days later, news of Yu Han's victory over Ga Boh Tag had spread like wildfire. The entire estate buzzed with talk of the young noble's unexpected triumph.
Meanwhile, Yu Han sat beneath the radiant cherry blossom tree, meditating as he had every day for the past month. The dappled sunlight painted serene patterns across his face as he focused on his breathing.
"Master!"
The voice of Zhao Chen Li, shrill with panic, broke his concentration. Turning toward her, Yu Han's initial concern quickly dissolved into exasperation.
"Chen Li? What is it now?"
She clutched an enormous pile of honey biscuits in her arms, devouring them with an enthusiasm that bordered on reckless abandon.
"This girl... I swear."
"Is it true, Master? Did you really defeat the third-ranked fighter of our family?"
"Yes…?" Yu Han replied, his tone uncertain.
"Am I really that famous now?"
At his confirmation, Chen Li lowered her head, still munching on her treats, before looking up at him with tears streaming down her face.
"Chen Li? What's wrong?"
"I'm… I'm just so proud of you, Master! You've become so strong…"
"Chen Li…"
"A few years ago, you had completely given up on the idea of becoming an alchemist, but now… now you're amazing!" she said, trying in vain to wipe away her tears as more spilled down her cheeks.
Yu Han watched her with a mixture of guilt and tenderness.
"Chen Li… if only you knew."
He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, a familiar voice interrupted their moment.
"Yu Han!"
"YuXiang Jun? What is it?"
"I've made up my mind," Jun declared. "I'm going to teach you martial arts. Don't make me regret this decision."