Following Zhu’s instructions, Zack sat down before closing his eyes. Next, he opened his mouth to expel all the air from his lungs before breathing in deeply, filling his lungs full of fresh air. While repeating the procedure, he observed the flow of Ki through his body.

Although initially he felt no changes, after a few minutes, his eyes widened. The strands of Ki floating about in his body increased steadily, especially near the area around his stomach.

Furthermore, the newly formed strands showed no signs of dissipating. They floated about randomly without a care in the world. As such, the strands accumulated, making him feel as if they would overflow any moment.

‘If I keep going on like this, I can initiate Ki flow and practice Ki arts in no time!’ Zack thought, his eyes glittering.

However, a certain sound made his expression turn odd.

*Grrr!* The sound of his stomach growling filled the air. At the same time, a strong sense of hunger came from his stomach.

His brows jumped. He opened his eyes before turning to look at Zhu.

“T-Teacher, why did I become hungry all of a sudden? I just had breakfast… Is it because the food I ate got converted into Ki? But then why did it happen so fast? Unless… is it because of the fruits I ate?”

Rubbing his chin, Zhu praised, “Rather smart, aren’t we?”

Scratching his head, Zack said, “I’ll take that as a yes. But then why do people not use those fruits in day-to-day life? Shouldn’t they be more popular?”

Nodding in approval, Zhu replied, “Yes. They could’ve been. But, they have one major issue. Even for someone at my level, eating too many of them can give a serious diarrhoea. Moreover, the Ki that they produce is insufficient after a certain level.”

Zack’s expression turned a shade paler as he remembered the fruits he ate. A wry smile spread across his face as he looked towards the hut in the distance.

Looking at the boy’s expression, Zhu asked, “How many did you eat?”

Turning his head to the ground as if searching for something, Zack replied, “Not a lot.”

“How many?” Zhu pressed.

“Just a few.”

Rubbing his temples, Zhu asked, “Less than ten?”

Zack shook his head.

“Less than fifteen?”

Zack shook his head again.

“Over twenty?”

Zack nodded, saying, “I ate twenty-three, I think.”

Zhu’s expression turned odd as he said, “I gave them to you, thinking you’ll use them for a while and make some good progress. But… But…” Clicking his tongue, Zhu continued, “*Tch!*, even with their taste, you emptied half that bag in one sitting. Just what were you thinking?”

Feeling embarrassed, Zack replied, “I thought they were breakfast. And that it was training of some sort.”

Zhu opened his mouth to say something. Yet, for a while, no sound came out. In the end, he sighed, “I don’t even know what to say. You’ll go far, kid. I gave these in the morning because you’ll feel the effect the best when you eat them with an empty stomach. And with that abominable taste, I thought you won’t even eat a second one. Good thing Uncle-Master gave me this in advance when I went to get these. Here, some medicine for diarrhoea. Get well soon.”

A bottle materialised in Zhu’s arm out of nowhere, which he passed to Zack with an expression full of pity. Speechlessly, Zack accepted the bottle.

With the atmosphere turning odd, Zhu called off the class, ordering Zack to return and rest for a few days.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the monastery. In front of a two-storied house which could only be termed as lavish, the old high-priest Shi Ke Mo stood in front of Samuel. Next to him stood Shi Mei, her expression placid as always.

The high-priest said, “I hope the accommodations weren’t half-bad because we all will be staying here for the time being. As for your friend, as I told you yesterday, he is in some other corner of the monastery, wherever little Zhu took him for training. As for the details, you’ll have to ask little Zhu directly when you see him. Speaking of which, his formal training probably already started.”

“I hope he’s doing alright.” Samuel said, looking a bit worried.

Picking up on his expression, the high-priest said, “Although I can’t say for certain how well he might be doing, with little Zhu taking care of him, he should be alright.”

Breaking out into a smile, Samuel said, “Thanks, high-priest.”

“While we’re here, you can dispense with the formalities and just address me as Teacher Mo, or just Yuan Mo.”

Samuel agreed readily. “Don’t mind if I do.”

Looking at Samuel, Yuan Mo nodded approvingly. With both hands, he lifted his cane before tapping it on the ground. A sonorous tap echoed through the surroundings. In the same instant, the air around Yuan Mo changed from that of a kindly elder next door to that of a strict instructor.

Looking into his eyes, Samuel couldn’t help but feel a chill. Involuntarily, he gulped. ‘His expression looks the same as mom’s. He wouldn’t be as bad though, right?’

Before he could continue to think, Yuan Mo’s voice rang through his ears. “From today, we will start your formal training. I will be the chief instructor, and Shi Mei here will be my teaching assistant. Any command from her is the same as any of mine, unless I overrule it myself.”

Before Samuel could say any word of ascent, a voice beat him to it. “Grandpa, what about Uncle Zhu? Wouldn’t he be training us as usual?”

The serious air around Yuan Mo dissipated as he said, “Little Mei, that won’t happen temporarily. He’s busy with other work and other students are either out on missions or busy with other tasks. Try to understand. And as for your training, you’ll learn a lot while helping me teach him. I guarantee it.”

“Really?” Shi Mei asked, looking doubtful. After a moment, she nodded, “Okay.”

Looking at Shi Mei, Samuel gave her a thumbs-up internally. ‘So he can’t bear being strict with her. Hehe. Good work! Though, gotta say, she really dragged his strict atmosphere through the mud. Haha!’

Heaving a sigh, Yuan Mo said, “To teach you, I must know your existing level beforehand. Well then, assistant instructor Shi Mei, can I ask you to spar with him?”

Hearing the words ‘assistant instructor’, Shi Mei’s lip arched faintly before her expression turned placid once more. She nodded before walking forward. Pulling out a ring from her pocket, she slid it across her finger. The stone atop the ring lit up, and a thin curved blade as long as her leg materialised in her hand.

Samuel blinked before the ring on his own hand lit up. A longsword as black as the night materialised in his hand. With a blade as thick as his thigh, the longsword gave off an intimidating aura. Unsheathing the blade, Samuel pointed it at Shi Mei.

“Ready?” the girl asked, lifting her own blade as she took her stance.

A dangerous sensation crept up Samuel’s spine as he looked at the little girl wielding her blade. He chuckled wryly when thinking about his unfounded worries for the girl.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Samuel put away the sheath before wielding the longsword with both hands.

Taking his stance, he said, “I’m ready.”