"Wait, what?"
Yu Han stood frozen, struggling to digest YuXiang Jun's unexpected declaration.
"Alright, fine, I'm leaving then."
"No, wait! Stay! I've got it now!"
Clenching his fist with all his might, Yu Han felt a surge of determination overwhelm him.
"This is it. This is my chance to reach the next level!"
he thought, his mind racing with ambition.
Behind him, Zhao Chen Li watched the scene unfold with an amused expression, munching happily on her honey biscuits.
The Ha domain was an immense estate, its grand structure towering 200 meters into the sky. To reach its threshold, one had to climb hundreds of steep stone steps—a trial that Yu Han had come to know intimately. Each trip to and from the city served as an unintentional but effective form of training.
Above the estate, atop a massive hill, lay the training grounds where the family's disciples honed their skills daily.
At the foot of the stone staircase, Yu Han and YuXiang Jun stood side by side.
"What are we doing here?"
Yu Han asked, his impatience seeping into his tone.
YuXiang Jun didn't respond, his silence unsettling.
"Seriously, are you going to—"
"You're going to climb these stairs, up to the palace and back down, one hundred times."
"What?"
"You heard me. One hundred laps. Up and down."
Yu Han's jaw dropped. "You've got to be kidding me. How is this supposed to help me master alchemy?"
YooXiang Jun's sharp, icy gaze landed on Yu Han, silencing him immediately. Under the oppressive weight of that stare, Yu Han swallowed his retort and stared at the ground.
"F-fine. No more complaints…"
YooXiang Jun shifted his gaze to the summit of the stairs, his expression calm but firm.
"This exercise is standard for the family's disciples. It builds endurance and physical resilience."
Yu Han's irritation flared as he thought to himself,
"You've got to be joking. This is pointless—a complete waste of time."
But when YuXiang Jun turned his head slightly, Yu Han's frown transformed into an overly enthusiastic grin, masking his frustration.
"For you, though, it's going to be special."
Yu Han arched a brow. "Special? What do you mean?"
YuXiang Jun pointed to three large sacks resting nearby.
"You'll carry these up the stairs. Each sack is filled with 60 stones. If even a single stone is missing when you finish, you'll start all over again. You'll do this every morning at dawn."
Yu Han's teeth clenched as he glared at the sacks.
"I hate this guy so much…"he thought bitterly.
"And how long do I have to do this?"
"Until winter."
A heavy silence hung between them before YuXiang Jun began climbing the stairs without another word.
Yu Han groaned audibly, muttering under his breath,
"Why is this guy even my servant?"
Reluctantly, he approached the sacks, hoisted all three onto his shoulders, and turned to face the imposing staircase.
"Well, complaining won't get me anywhere."
He set his jaw and began his ascent, one step at a time, his determination unwavering.
"This is the first step toward becoming a true alchemist and living a peaceful life."
High above, YuXiang Jun watched Yu Han's progress with an expressionless gaze.
"So, how's your little protégé doing?"a voice called out.
YooXiang Jun turned to see Fang Min, a young man with luminous, smooth skin, silver hair cascading to his shoulders, and emerald-green eyes. Fang Min was the second most talented recruit among the Ha family's youth.
"I never thought I'd see the great YuXiang Jun stoop so low as to take on a second-rate noble like that weakling. You've truly outdone yourself this time," Fang Min sneered, his laughter dripping with contempt.
YuXiang Jun said nothing, brushing past him without a glance.
"See, that's what I've always hated about you. And it's why you and I will never see eye to eye,"
Fang Min called after him, his voice laced with disdain.
---
For the past two months, Yu Han had risen before dawn every day to endure the grueling climb and descent of the staircase, each time carrying the heavy sacks.
The first three weeks were brutal. His bones ached, his body faltered, and his physical condition seemed to worsen with each passing day. Yet, through sheer grit, he persisted. When he wasn't climbing the stairs, he meditated to maintain his connection with his soul's essence.
By the fourth week, he began adapting—not effortlessly, but enough to withstand the pain.
During the first week of the second month, Yu Han discovered a breakthrough. By channeling his soul's essence to reinforce his muscles, he could ease the strain on his body, allowing him to train longer without succumbing to exhaustion.
The second and third weeks saw him dedicating more time to meditation, and he even began teaching Tien Yuan and his younger sister, Tien Mei, to read in his spare moments.
Now, in the current week, Yu Han stood at the summit of the stairs, having completed his 100 laps in just two hours—without taking regular breaks. As usual, he dropped the sacks at the estate's entrance, waiting for YuXiang Jun to inspect them.
He collapsed onto the stairs, watching the sun rise over the horizon.
"You're done already?"
The familiar voice drew Yu Han's attention. He turned to see YooXiang Jun approaching.
"Check the stones if you want."
"No need,"YuXiang Jun replied, sitting beside him, much to Yu Han's surprise.
"Since when does he sit next to me?"Yu Han thought suspiciously, casting a sideways glance at the man.
"You've improved faster than I expected," YuXiang Jun remarked.
"Oh? You think so?"
"Don't get the wrong idea. It doesn't mean you've earned my respect."
"I don't care about your respect."
"Shut up."
"Idiot."
"Bastard."
The brief exchange ended with Yu Han bursting into laughter.
"Thanks, YuXiang Jun. I wouldn't be this strong without you!"
Clearly flustered by the compliment, YooXiang Jun turned away, his expression unreadable.
"I didn't help you at all."
Yu Han smiled.
"By the way, why did you become a servant, Jun?"
YooXiang Jun paused, staring at the view before them.
"It's complicated. And I owe you no explanation."
"Oh, come on! We're close now, aren't we?"
"Not even slightly. I'd never bond with a second-rate noble like you."
"Bastard."
"Why do you want to get stronger, anyway?"YuXiang Jun asked.
Yu Han hesitated before extending his hand toward the rising sun.
"Because I'm afraid of the unknown. If I let fear consume me, I'll lose myself. Alchemy is an unknown force to me, so I want to master it. If I can, maybe I won't be afraid anymore."
YuXiang Jun stared at him, stunned by the honesty of his words.
"Pathetic."
"I didn't ask your opinion!"
Nearby, hidden from view, Fang Min observed the two of them with a scowl.
"Unbelievable. That guy can actually form connections?"