「Hah…」He released excessive breath that turned to palpable silver vapor in the gelid air.

「Am I running out of time?」

His gaze landed on a mound of mangled ash grey fur that slept motionlessly at the bottom of the hill. His pseudo-disciple, Ah Zhong the only one to be as foolish as to enter in the forbidden forest; or maybe he was just naivete enough to believe in its inhabitants.

《What was he thinking, it had to be the later...》

Zeng Ru’s lips curled mirthfully as the mound released a noisy snore. His body shook with laughter as he watched the young pup tussle with the long grass in his sleep, his legs twitched then moved as if running. The young one had to be having an intense dream.

His back that rested against the coarse tree truck heaved as he began coughing from his laughter. He continued coughing until he spat out a glob of congealed crimson blood. Sadness clouded his features as he swiftly removed the blood from his palm with a handkerchief.

A rush of air blew past rustling the leaves overhead, they fluttered and some had fallen upon his hair. The sharp contrast of golden leaves on his inky black hair was striking. Yet, it had made his figure look so very lonesome.

「 I must hurry! 」

✦

He was blissful unawares of his surroundings, the snoring bestial Ah Zhong; turned in his sleep. Only to rudely awakened shortly soon after.

「Are you a pig? How long are you going to continue to sleep for?」

Ah Zhong groggily stared at the older male who had his arm crossed, his brows scrunched together in agitation. As Zeng Ru stood still his long onyx hair twisted madly in the breeze, matched with his expression he looked like an evil god come to reap his soul. His tufted ears immediately flatted atop his head as his throat released a mournful whimper.

Even with him unskillfully obscured by the thick meadow he couldn't escape Zeng Ru's gaze. He yelped as a clawed hand made contact with his scruff lifting him into the air. A sinking feeling of panic swept over him as he flailed his limbs.

「Relax I won't drop you.」

It was only when he had calmed that he realized the sun had not risen and that it was still night. What had laid before them was a grandiose pond, its surface so translucent you could discern each respective scale off an aquatic beast. Such as the one that swam lithely before him, it coiled its body displaying its bold orange, red and black coloration. He was abruptly brought back to reality when he was dropped on his rear end.

「Kid, we're not here for a picnic.」 Zeng Ru said gruffly.

Ah Zhong glared at him with indignation, 「Wu, how could you drop me like that? 」

An arrogant expression was visible on his face as if saying,【Who says I can't】

This bully! for now he will refer to him as the demon king! He declared to himself with a slight grin on his maw. Yet when he glanced upward at his oppressor he noticed a sharp murderous glint in his slate eyes, a shiver ran up his spin.

「Are you done playing around now?」 His voice which growl out was laced with malice.

If looks could kill Ah Zhong knew he'd be dead by now.

He squeaked out his reply, 「y-yEs.」

「In...」

A dazed expression over took his face as he looked to the pond and back to Zeng Ru, 「IN?」

「You heard me..」

As he contemplated how to accomplish the task he was propelled forward by an unknown force plunging right into the pond. The weight of his body disrupted the surface of the pond diffusing ripples irregularity. Frightened all the nearby aquatic beasts had scattered. Water rushed inside his snout making him gasp out for air as he swam back to the surface of the pond. Anger filled him as he caught the slight curl of a smirk on Zeng Ru's face, he fought an internal battle with himself but did not shout out in rage.

When they had first meet he witnessed first hand the oppressive pressure that his body had oozed, if he so desired killing him would have been as easy as crushing an ant.

《I wouldn't be able to lift a finger against him... 》

He truly felt like a frog at the bottom of a well. He wanted to get stronger, no he needed to get stronger to find his mother and to punish the man that had killed his fatherr. The urge grew inside him, no longer would he be the weakling that everyone had looked down upon.

Zeng Ru placed one of his hand behind his back and lifted the other to his lips to cough, 「Now then are you ready?」

「Yes! 」He energetically called back.

✦

Two days had passed with the two of them repeating the same absurd routine. Zeng Ru would bring him to the pond push him into the water than he himself would begin to mediate.

Anger escaped him as he shouted, 「What is the point of this? I don't feel myself getting any stronger!」

「If you weren't so hard-headed you'd have understood by now. Have you tried to simply empty your mind and cultivate.」

He sunk into deep continuation he was so focused on the why that he had forgotten the simplest thing, cultivating. Feeling the rush of qi as it filled his vessel's he realized that it was two-fold his regular rate. Surprise filled him as he opened his eye to stare at his mentor

「W-Why didn't you tell me?」

「I can not guide you forever, there are something you must understand on your own. After all intelligence is also strength. 」Zeng Ru said solemnly.

Hearing his words something resonated inside him as the rush of qi sped up he seemed to reach a state of enlightenment. Shortly after he broke through reaching the next stage. The sixth stage of spirit innate or as others called it the late stage.

「Good, it seems my words reached him」

A smile crossed Zeng Ru's face as he watched his disciple consolidate his realm. However soon after his smile froze and his lips set into a grim line. Under his feet the earth shook and the water violently sloshed around. Behind Ah Zhong the water began to form together towering over him.

The fish headed beast who commanded water was known as a lake wraith; and he knew his disciple wouldn't be its match. He watched as Ah Zhong opened his eyes realizing the situation.

「Do not move!」

He moved with urgency his feet strode over the pond not even sinking a centimeter.

How was it that an aquatic beast of this size had eluded his perception.? A feeling of unease seized his chest, his breathing slightly increased by his agitation. Had he grown so weak that a beast this weak could outwit him?

He pushed his body forward.