Stepping outside, Jack breathed out, then inhaled deeply, drawing in a large amount of air. The air quality here is so pure not like the polluted mess it was in my previous world, he thought, feeling an exhilarating freshness course through his entire body.
"No better time than now to practice," Jack muttered to himself.
Jack adjusted his stance, spreading his legs shoulder-width apart for balance. He tightened his fists, his knuckles whitening as he focused his energy.
With a quick inhale, he stepped forward, delivering a powerful straight punch with his right fist, the force of which seemed to part the air before him. Without hesitation, he followed it up with a left hook, twisting his hips to add momentum.
Pivoting on his back foot, he unleashed an upward uppercut, his fist cutting through the stillness. Then, stepping back into his stance, he performed a rapid one-two jab, each strike sharp and deliberate.
Jack paused for a moment, his breathing steady. A faint smile played on his lips. Each move feels better than the last. This body... it's adapting.
He continued the same moments and without jack realising it the sun had already reached its peak.
Putting a stop to what he was doing. The walked towards the house
Jack felt his stomach growl as he entered the house
He saw shen Lin prepare lunch his stomach instantly starts to grumble hearing the growl shen Lin turned to meet her eyes with jack
"Immortal master might be hungry after the training session would you like to have a bowl of rice" enquired shen lin
Although jack felt guilty about taking advantage of the stranger kindness. But thinking about how he has no place to go he involuntary gave up and let out a sigh 'i will repay my piling up debt somehow' as he "i would be happy have a bowl"
Shen Lin smiled. Jack to sat at the low wooden table in the corner of the humble kitchen. The aroma of freshly cooked rice and simmering vegetables filled the air, making Jack's stomach grumble even louder.
"Please, sit, Immortal Master," Shen Lin said, placing a steaming bowl of rice and a plate of stir-fried vegetables before him. "I hope it suits your taste."
Jack sat down, feeling a pang of guilt. He wasn't sure how he'd earned the title "Immortal Master," but Shen Lin seemed to genuinely believe he was someone extraordinary. He gave up on trying to correct the misunderstanding
He had tried once, awkwardly fumbling with words to explain that he wasn't the person they thought he was. After all, how could he explain his sudden appearance in this world or the fact that only Immortal Masters were said to possess the ability to manipulate natural elements?
"Thank you," Jack said sincerely, picking up the wooden chopsticks.
What if she's right? he thought, gripping the chopsticks tighter. What if I really can harness this world's energy?
His stomach growled again, and he didn't hesitate to dig in.
"This is amazing,"
Shen Lin smiled. "It's nothing, Immortal Master. It's an honor to host someone of your stature."
Jack's mind churned as he ate. He needed to figure out his next steps. This world was still a mystery to him, but one thing was clear—he couldn't continue relying on the kindness without giving something in return.
After finishing the meal, he placed his chopsticks down and bowed his head slightly. "Thank you for the meal. I owe you more than I can ever repay."
He then went back to practice martial arts.
........
One evening, Jack wiped the sweat from his brow after an entire day of repetitive practice. It had been a week since he transmigrated into this world. Most of his time had been spent practicing martial arts, and he was already starting to integrate into the family that had taken him in.
The family made their living by selling herbs collected from the nearby forest. Jack had begun helping Lin Ao in herb picking . His martial arts training had also progressed rapidly he had nearly mastered the basics and was now thinking of advancing to weapons training. It was high time to move on to the real challenges.
As he contemplated his next steps, Shen Lin approached him with a serious expression.
Shen Lin looked up, her eyes wide with hope. "Immortal Master?"
Shen Lin hesitated, her hands clasped nervously. "I have a request... a bold one, perhaps. But please hear me out."
Jack raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. "What is it?"
"I have a request immortal master" said shen Lin
She took a deep breath, then bowed deeply before him, catching him off guard. "I humbly ask that you consider taking my daughter, Xiao Mei, as your disciple."
Jack blinked, utterly confused. "Your daughter? Disciple?"
Shen Lin straightened, her gaze filled with determination. "Yes, Immortal Master. Xiao Mei has always been fascinated by cultivation, but we lack the means to teach her properly. She has the heart, the discipline, and I believe she could flourish under your guidance."
Jack opened his mouth to object, then hesitated. What could he say? He wasn't an Immortal Master. He didn't even fully understand what cultivation entailed. But the earnestness in Shen Lin's eyes stopped him from voicing his doubts.
"Why me?" he asked instead, stalling for time.
Shen Lin's expression softened. "I saw you earlier, practicing in the yard. Your movements were precise, powerful. The air itself seemed to respond to your will. Only a true master could command such force."
Jack frowned, recalling the trance-like state he'd entered during his practice. He still wasn't sure what that had been.
"I... I don't think I'm what you think I am," he admitted cautiously.
Shen Lin shook her head. "You have the knowledge and strength that Xiao Mei could only dream of achieving." She clasped her hands tightly, her voice trembling slightly. "Please, Immortal Master. This is the only chance she may ever have to rise above the limits of this village."
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't want to lead them on, but at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to crush her hopes outright. And perhaps... perhaps teaching Xiao Mei could be a way to learn more about his own abilities.
"Alright," he said finally. "However, I must be clear—I cannot teach her immortal cultivation. I don't know how. For one to cultivate immortality, they must possess spiritual roots. If she doesn't have them, she must prove her abilities to a cultivation sect to acquire techniques to awaken them."
Shen Lin's face fell slightly at his words.
"But," Jack continued, "I can train her in martial arts. It could help her prepare to join a sect."
Shen Lin's face lit up, and she bowed deeply again. "Thank you, Immortal Master! You won't regret this. Xiao Mei will prove herself worthy."
As Shen Lin hurried off to fetch her daughter, Jack sat back, exhaling deeply. What am I getting myself into? he wondered. But a small part of him couldn't help but feel curious .
"I should continue what I was doing earlier," Jack thought. "If I can enter that same state again, I might be able to learn all of Yun Li's abilities. In that state, it might not even take a month."
Moments later, Shen Lin returned with a young girl by her side. Xiao Mei was a small figure, her eyes shining with determination as she stepped forward.
Xiao Mei bowed lightly. "Xiao Mei greets the Immortal Master."
Jack was impressed by her respectful demeanor. "I'm Jack, and I'll be your martial arts instructor," he said with a small nod.
As Shen Lin left them, Jack couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. What am I getting myself into? he wondered. Yet, a part of him looked forward to what lay ahead.