The Huxwell family was one of Europe's oldest and most powerful dynasties. With a legacy spanning over two millennia, it was a global leader in education and healthcare, boasting schools and medical institutions worldwide. As a loyal servant of this great family, Andrea, the third son of the Alessandro clan, often took on the role of a troubleshooter. When thorny issues arose, he would leave the mountains to resolve them. Along the way, he naturally built friendships in the secular world.
Helena, for instance, was the daughter of the head of the Beauperon Group in France, one of Andrea's close friends. Likewise, Maria was the daughter of another of his friends, Lucie Orleans.
When Helena met Andrea, she offered her greetings but quickly launched into a complaint about the events at the foot of the mountain. Andrea listened with growing astonishment. He was well aware of Helena's abilities—she was no pushover. Even he couldn't be sure he could subdue her without lifting a finger. Yet, according to her account, the young man had done just that with a mere gentle force.
This revelation left Andrea deeply unsettled. Not even his father had reached such legendary heights. Who was this mysterious and formidable young man, and how had Andrea not heard of him?
After reassuring Helena, Andrea gave the girls a stern warning: under no circumstances should they provoke the young man again. Helena, dissatisfied, asked, "Are you saying even you, Uncle Andrea, can't beat him?"
To Helena, Andrea was one of Europe's top martial artists, far stronger than her father. The idea that the infuriating young man could rival Andrea seemed impossible. Maria, too, looked at him expectantly.
Andrea, however, understood that anyone capable of subduing Helena with such ease had likely reached the pinnacle of European martial arts. As for himself, he was merely at the top of the ordinary ranks. Shaking his head, he said, "Perhaps my father could defeat him."
If Andrea had known the young man they described was actually the clan leader, he might have been too mortified to speak.
"Ah!" The two girls gasped in disbelief. They had never imagined that the young man was powerful enough to rival Andrea's father.
Realizing that Andrea couldn't help them, Helena and Maria lost their earlier enthusiasm. With Andrea as their guide, they briefly toured the Alps, exchanged greetings on behalf of their fathers, and promptly returned to Paris.
After seeing Helena and Maria off, Andrea noticed Matteo approaching with his characteristic waddle.
"Uncle, Grandfather wants to see you," Matteo said.
Without hesitation, Andrea followed Matteo back to the castle.
At the rear of the castle, Andrea encountered an unexpected scene: the castle's residents, sitting like schoolchildren, were gathered around Fanmuir, intently listening as he explained the Huxwell family's martial techniques. The sight was both amusing and extraordinary.
Over twenty individuals sat with rapt attention, their eyes glued to Fanmuir as he spoke with a serene demeanor. Some even had notebooks and were diligently jotting down notes.
Every word Fanmuir uttered left his audience in awe. Andrea and Matteo quickly joined the group, eager to learn. Matteo and Massimo, whose skills were still developing, struggled to comprehend the advanced concepts. They exemplified the saying, "Better to write it down than to forget," scribbling hastily in their notebooks.
Even Caesar Alessandro, one of the most accomplished practitioners, found himself struggling to grasp much of Fanmuir's teachings. But this was hardly surprising—Fanmuir had inherited millennia of knowledge from the Bloodline of Apollo and stood at the pinnacle of Vampire Prince power.
Fanmuir's extensive knowledge made teaching these mortal disciples an effortless task, but the same couldn't be said for his students. Overwhelmed by the sheer depth and breadth of his lectures, they found themselves grappling with concepts far beyond their understanding.
For the first time, they realized the extent of their ignorance. Decades of training suddenly felt like a waste—they saw themselves as unworthy martial artists, bringing shame to their family and humanity. But rather than wallow in despair, they rallied themselves with a bitter thought: If I don't understand, there's no guarantee others do either! With this self-consolation, they managed to calm down and focus on absorbing Fanmuir's lessons.
As the sun set behind the mountains, the residents remained captivated by the profound knowledge Fanmuir shared. By the end of the day, they found their confusion dispelled, their understanding elevated to a new realm, and their martial abilities quietly advancing. It was as if Fanmuir's words were a life-giving spring rain, nurturing the seeds of growth within them.
Matteo and Massimo, however, were exceptions. Being younger and less skilled, they struggled to comprehend Fanmuir's profound teachings. Yet, the impressions left by his lessons became a lasting source of inspiration, shaping their future cultivation journeys. In time, the two would rise to unparalleled heights, becoming formidable figures in their own right.
"Andrea," Fanmuir said with a gentle smile, "I plan to leave the mountain to explore the secular world. Could you teach me about modern customs and traditions over the next few days?"
Hearing this, Caesar Alessandro found himself reevaluating his third son. For the first time, he seriously considered making Andrea the leader of the Alessandro clan. Previously, Caesar had disapproved of Andrea's fascination with the mundane, believing it to be a waste of precious cultivation time. Andrea's stagnation over the past decade seemed to confirm this view. Yet now, Caesar saw the benefits of understanding worldly affairs. If he himself had engaged more with the secular world, he might have been better positioned to strengthen his relationship with Fanmuir—and access all the opportunities that came with it.
Meanwhile, Andrea, seasoned by years of experience in the secular world, couldn't hide his excitement. Teaching the clan leader about society was not just an honor but a golden opportunity.
Fanmuir soon found himself living as both a teacher and a student. Each morning, he shared his profound martial insights with the castle's residents, whose skills advanced at breakneck speed. Their progress filled them with joy, and their gratitude toward Fanmuir became almost sycophantic. Unsurprisingly, their flattery skills improved as quickly as their cultivation.
In the afternoons, however, the roles reversed. Andrea's lessons on modern life—its customs, dynamics, and intricacies—were a revelation to Fanmuir. For the young and sheltered clan leader, Andrea's teachings were like a window to another world. Fanmuir absorbed each word with childlike curiosity, occasionally posing questions so naive they drew knowing smiles from Andrea.
In both roles, Fanmuir found himself growing—his students advanced rapidly, and his own understanding of the world expanded in ways he had never imagined.
"Andrea, can you explain the difference between men and women? And why do women seem to get angry so easily?" Fanmuir asked, his innocent expression brimming with genuine curiosity.
Internally, Andrea was in turmoil. Oh, heavens, why me? he cried silently, though outwardly, he remained composed. With a respectful tone, he replied, "Clan Leader, there are many differences between men and women. These differences extend beyond physical attributes to include psychological traits..."
For a full hour, Andrea delved into his explanation, growing parched and fatigued.
Fanmuir, listening intently, finally grasped why the beautiful girl had been so upset with him that day. Grateful for Andrea's insights, he felt relieved that he had sought lessons before venturing into the world. Without this preparation, who knew what trouble he might have caused? Perhaps even a coalition of outraged women might have pursued him.
Feeling indebted to Andrea, Fanmuir glanced at his companion, whose cultivation level was embarrassingly low. Despite his limited abilities, Andrea's wisdom had been invaluable. Inspired by gratitude and a newfound sense of responsibility, Fanmuir decided to help Andrea strengthen his cultivation.
"Andrea," Fanmuir said, gesturing for him to come closer. "Sit cross-legged and focus your mind."
Although puzzled by the sudden shift, Andrea obeyed immediately. He couldn't have imagined that the "troublesome youth" Helena had described was none other than this serene and virtuous clan leader.
Unaware of Andrea's confusion, Fanmuir, moved by his experiences that day, resolved to grant Andrea a gift of strength. As Andrea sat in meditation, a torrent of energy descended upon him, surging through his body with overwhelming force. The power coursed through him, leaving him enveloped in warmth and serenity.
When Andrea opened his eyes, he felt transformed. His body brimmed with strength, his mind was calm, and the world seemed sharper and clearer than ever before. Even the faintest sounds reached his ears, and he discovered he could now breathe through his skin. Overcome with gratitude, Andrea knelt and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Clan Leader," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Fanmuir gave a small smile. "You've worked hard these past days, Andrea. Consider this a reward for your dedication."
It wasn't until Andrea saw his father's stunned reaction that he truly understood the magnitude of his transformation.
"Unbelievable!" Caesar Alessandro exclaimed. "I've spent over seventy years cultivating to reach my level, and it took the clan leader only moments to elevate you to the same stage!"
Andrea, struck by the realization that he now rivaled his father's strength, felt his respect for Fanmuir soar to heights he couldn't have previously imagined.
A month had flown by, and during this short time, the Alessandro family experienced remarkable progress in their martial skills. Fueled by Fanmuir's pills and his profound teachings, their abilities soared to unprecedented heights. The entire family was intoxicated with the joy of newfound strength.
Had they known about rockets, they would undoubtedly have described their meteoric improvement as rocket-like. This rapid advancement also made Fanmuir realize just how valuable the pills were—far more precious than he had initially thought. Consequently, no amount of flattery could coax another pill from him now.
Fanmuir himself had gained a deeper understanding of modern society, though his knowledge remained mostly theoretical. Meanwhile, Andrea, having benefited immensely from Fanmuir's generosity, became more motivated than ever. Despite having no prior teaching experience, Andrea began staying up late to prepare lessons, filling multiple notebooks with meticulous notes. However, his newfound zeal also led to an influx of pills into his pocket, leaving him nervous about drawing attention.
The castle residents couldn't hide their envy, glaring at Andrea as if their eyes could cut him down. To resolve this tension, Caesar Alessandro introduced a distribution system where Andrea received only a small portion of the benefits. Yet, even this smaller share made him the wealthiest member of the Alessandro family.
One day, during a lesson, Andrea explained, "Universities are humanity's highest institutions of learning. They bring together the finest scholars, professors, and scientists, training professionals like doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs.
The world's first university, Federico University, was founded during the Roman Empire by your ancestor, Duke Vandest Huxwell. Initially, it focused solely on law but later expanded to include education, medicine, and theology. It played a critical role in reviving Roman law, paving the way for the Renaissance."
Fanmuir, hearing his father's name associated with Federico University, was deeply moved. The name "Federico," meaning "master of what he possesses," echoed his parents' hopes for him.
After a moment of reflection, Fanmuir asked, "So, universities are places where I could learn a lot about the modern world and its culture?"
"Exactly," Andrea replied.
"Can you arrange for me to attend one?" Fanmuir asked, his interest piqued. He believed that immersing himself in university life would help him better integrate into human society.
"Of course. Consider it done!" Andrea responded, eager to fulfill the request.
"Then let's start in Paris," Fanmuir decided, making the French capital his first stop in the human world.
Pleased with the decision, Fanmuir handed Andrea a handful of pills before sending him off to make arrangements. Andrea left, brimming with excitement, while Fanmuir remained in the castle, daydreaming about the bustling life awaiting him.
For Fanmuir, who had spent 1,500 years in isolation, the idea of living among so many people was thrilling. His once-dormant heart, awakened by the prospect of this new chapter, raced with anticipation.