Yan Zi, his curiosity piqued, looked at Zhenyi and asked, "How do you know so much about the inscription? And how did you get stuck with it? Who... who are you, really?"
Zhenyi stood silent, his expression softening into something uncharacteristically somber. A flicker of sadness crossed his elegant features as he turned slightly away from Yan Zi. The air grew heavy for a moment before he finally spoke, his tone unusually restrained. "That's not important right now. When the time comes, you will naturally know everything."
Yan Zi frowned, unsatisfied. "But—"
Zhenyi interrupted with a sharp wave of his hand. "Enough with the questions, brat! What you need to focus on now is your path forward." He paused, his usual commanding tone softening just a little. "Why I'm helping you, though... now that is simple."
Zhenyi smirked, folding his arms as he looked down at Yan Zi. "One day, after you've grown strong enough to unlock the full power of the inscription, those chains you saw will break, and its secrets will be revealed. At that moment, the seal binding me to this place will also be lifted."
Yan Zi blinked. "And then?"
"And then," Zhenyi continued matter-of-factly, "you'll help me restore my physical body."
Yan Zi, stunned, took a step back. "Restore your... physical body? How am I supposed to do that?"
Zhenyi sighed dramatically, as if the boy's questions were exhausting him. "Tsk. That's not important for now. What's important is that you grow stronger. Strong enough to face whatever challenges lie ahead. Strong enough to protect the people you care about."
Yan Zi, touched by the comment, began to nod appreciatively. But Zhenyi's next words sent a jolt through him. "And strong enough to protect that little girlfriend of yours—the one you left behind in the clan."
Yan Zi froze, his face turning beet red. "Wh-what?! Girlfriend? No, no, no! You must be mistaken!" He waved his hands frantically, his words tumbling out in a panic. "You mean Yan Ru? She's not... she's not my girlfriend! She's just my friend!"
Zhenyi raised an eyebrow, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "Friend, huh? I can see it all over your face, boy. You don't need to explain anything to me."
"No, I mean it! She's just—"
"Enough." Zhenyi cut him off, his voice dripping with mockery. "Tsk. If you keep shouting like that, even the beasts in this forest will know you've got a little crush."
Yan Zi opened his mouth, then closed it again, his cheeks still burning. He glared at Zhenyi, but the old spirit just smirked, clearly enjoying the situation.
"Leave it all for later, kid," Zhenyi said finally, waving dismissively. "What matters now is that you start cultivating properly. Oh, and one more thing..."
Yan Zi looked up nervously. "What now?"
Zhenyi's gaze turned serious, though a mischievous glint still lingered in his eyes. "You can start calling me Master."
Yan Zi stumbled over his words. "M-Master?! Why would I—?"
"Because, you little brat," Zhenyi interrupted, his tone growing commanding, "I'm going to teach you everything you need to know. Without me, you'd still be running around, crying about being a trash. So acknowledge me as your master already!"
Yan Zi stared at him, flabbergasted. "You... you're unbelievable!"
Zhenyi shrugged nonchalantly. "Tsk. And you're ungrateful. Now say it—'Master.' It's not that hard, brat."
Yan Zi groaned, rubbing his temples. "Why does it feel like I've made a deal with a scam artist?"
Zhenyi burst into laughter, his voice echoing through Yan Zi's mind of sea. "Hah! Scam artist? Kid, by the time I'm done with you, you'll thank me for every moment of this partnership."
Yan Zi muttered under his breath, "Partnership, my foot..."
Yan Zi hesitated for a moment before bowing his head slightly. "Alright, Master. What should we start with first?"
Zhenyi folded his arms and smirked. "First, tell me this—do you even have a single skill to your name, brat?"
Yan Zi looked up, puzzled. "Skill? You mean those elegant, flashy moves people use in battles? I've seen some of them during the clan tournaments."
Zhenyi sighed deeply, shaking his head as if his new disciple was the biggest disappointment in the world. "Ah, you're truly a beginner. Let me guess—you've spent your entire life avoiding physical training, haven't you?"
Yan Zi scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well... I didn't have a cultivation core, so it's not like I could've done much anyway."
"Excuses!" Zhenyi snapped, clicking his tongue. "Before I even think about teaching you a skill, you need to toughen up. Get used to your newly restored cultivation and harden your body. Your muscles are as soft as tofu right now."
Yan Zi frowned, rubbing his arm defensively. "Hey, that's not fair—"
"Fair?!" Zhenyi interrupted with mock indignation. "Tsk, life isn't fair, brat. But don't worry, your kind and generous master is here to set you on the right path."
Yan Zi sighed, already regretting his decision to acknowledge this man as his master. "Fine, fine. So how do I harden my body, oh wise one?"
Zhenyi stroked his silver beard thoughtfully before pointing to the vast valley that stretched out before them. "First, start with running. Run across this entire valley, all the way to the cliff above, and then come back here."
Yan Zi's jaw dropped. "Run up to the cliff and back? Are you trying to kill me? I'll die of exhaustion before I even get halfway!"
Zhenyi rolled his eyes. "You brat, that's the point. You've never practiced martial arts, and you've certainly never exercised a day in your life. Starting today, that changes. Enough whining—get moving!"
Yan Zi groaned but started running, muttering under his breath. "First, he drags me into this mess. Now, he wants to work me to death. What kind of master did I agree to follow?"
As Yan Zi began his run, the morning sunlight warmed his face, but the uneven ground beneath his feet made each step a challenge. The valley was deceptively vast, with winding paths cutting through patches of wild grass, rocks, and small streams.
At first, his pace was steady, and he thought to himself, This isn't so bad. Maybe I overreacted...
But soon, the incline grew steeper, and his breathing became labored. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he trudged up a narrow path lined with jagged rocks. "Tsk, why does this valley feel like it's growing longer with every step?!" he grumbled.
Zhenyi's voice echoed in his mind, sharp and unsympathetic. "Stop mumbling and focus, brat! Running is just the warm-up. If you can't handle this, you're doomed."
Yan Zi shot a glare upward. "Easy for you to say! You're just floating around like some celestial ghost while I'm down here suffering!"
As he pressed on, Yan Zi reached a shallow stream cutting through the valley. The cool water was tempting, and he paused to splash some on his face. "Maybe a little break won't hurt..." he muttered.
But no sooner had he stopped than Zhenyi's voice boomed. "Don't even think about resting, you lazy fool! Keep running, or I'll double the distance!"
Yan Zi groaned and reluctantly pushed forward, his legs growing heavier with each step. He finally reached the base of the cliff, a towering wall of stone that seemed to mock him with its height. Looking up, he muttered, "He can't be serious... this is insane."
"You're wasting time!" Zhenyi barked. "Climb, brat!"
Yan Zi gritted his teeth and began the ascent. The path up the cliff was narrow and winding, with loose rocks threatening to slip underfoot. His heart pounded in his chest as he pulled himself up, step by agonizing step. By the time he reached the top, he was drenched in sweat, his legs trembling from the effort.
Standing at the edge of the cliff, Yan Zi took a moment to catch his breath, leaning against a jagged rock. The view from the top was breathtaking—rolling hills, the glinting river below, and the endless expanse of blue sky above. For a brief moment, he forgot his exhaustion, marveling at the beauty of the world.
But Zhenyi's voice shattered the peace. "Don't just stand there gawking! Get back down and finish the run!"
Yan Zi sighed heavily, shaking his head. "This old man's going to kill me, I swear..."
The descent was quicker but no less challenging. His legs threatened to give out several times, and he stumbled more than once on the uneven ground. By the time he reached the valley floor and began the final stretch back to their starting point, every muscle in his body screamed in protest.
When he finally arrived, he collapsed onto the grass, panting like a dog. "I... I made it... Master..." he gasped.
Zhenyi hovered above him, unimpressed. "Hmph. That was pathetic. You've got a long way to go, brat. But at least you didn't faint."
Yan Zi glared at him weakly. "If this is just the warm-up... I don't want to know what comes next."
Zhenyi smirked, his silver beard shimmering in the sunlight. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough. This is only the beginning."
Zhenyi stroked his silver beard, his tone unusually kind. "Alright, brat. I'll be merciful. Rest for half an hour."
Yan Zi collapsed onto the grass, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. "Half an hour? That's it? You're not going to make me run again after that, right?"
Zhenyi chuckled, his expression smug. "Tsk, tsk. Don't worry. I'm a very good master. I wouldn't dream of overworking my precious disciple."
Yan Zi shot him a suspicious look but was too tired to argue. "You better mean it," he muttered, lying flat on his back.
As he stared at the sky, thoughts of his family swirled in his mind. His gaze turned distant, and a bitter smile crossed his face. If I survived falling off that cliff... then maybe... maybe my father survived too.
After a moment of silence, Yan Zi spoke up. "Zhenyi, do you think it's possible my father is still alive?"
Zhenyi raised an eyebrow but didn't reply immediately. Instead, he floated closer, his expression softening. "That depends. Do you believe it's possible?"
Yan Zi nodded firmly, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "I don't just believe it—I know it. My mother always said he was strong, stronger than anyone. I'll find him. No matter what it takes, I'll find my father."
Zhenyi let out a soft hum, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Hmph. You've got determination, I'll give you that. But determination alone won't cut it. You'll need to grow much stronger to uncover the truth. For now, focus on surviving my training."
Yan Zi sighed, resting his arm over his eyes. "I knew there was a catch..."