The mind was outside the realm, and everyone stared at the wish-fulfilling mirror, watching in frustration, but they could do nothing but keep shouting and cheering to give Ah Jun strength.
Not only that, Xiao Xi was also frantically trying to clear the thick black mist from Ah Juns face. Meanwhile, Xiao Wawo kept gently wiping his cold, clammy sweat with a tissue hed snatched from Ah Juns pocket, using his tiny mouth and tail like a skilled groom.
Gradually, Ah Juns five senses were being stripped away by the impostor uncle. Yet in a strange twist of fate, he somehow regained partial hearing... Suddenly, a girls voice drifted from the distance, gentle and encouraging. "Dont give up," it urged, "you can make it." Like a bowl of warm chicken soup, the words warmed Ah Juns heart with that familiar warmth.
Then the boy felt his arms surge with power, as if infused with an unseen force pulling him back... The guardians distinctive pulse patterns now shimmered along his limbs, two silver moonlight-like channels glowing. Meanwhile, the mist surrounding Ah Jun gradually dissipated.
—— This is... How?
However, Ah Jun only glanced once, for at that moment, he had no time to think further and needed to focus entirely——Gradually, a chance of reversal emerged as his right hand began to break free from the gems grip. Meanwhile, the impostor uncle beside the child started to look uneasy, suddenly reaching out with both hands in a panic, ready to seize Ah Jun.
At this critical moment, a figure that truly brought peace to the child finally appeared. With a sudden swing of his glowing red hand, the impostor uncle was instantly dispelled. Then, he swiftly pulled back the dazed Ah Jun, gave him a gentle nudge, and raised his hand to subdue the restless gem...
At this point, A Jun was in danger again, but because of the excessive force, he lost control for a moment and the child lost his balance and fell to the ground.
"Good boy, you really have a big heart! Ah! You dare to mess around even during your training in Xuanwu County..."
At this moment, the timely appearance of this figure suddenly turned around and gave a stern look at the disheveled Ah Jun, his eyes filled with concern——Ah Jun knew that there had always been someone like this, who would talk a lot when they were anxious, especially when worried. So, the child listened obediently, absorbing the emotions of the elder. After a while, he stopped.
"Uncle —— You really came!"
"Whats real and whats fake? Im cooking it!" The uncle glared angrily at the child. At this point, Ah Jun ordered more, and the counterfeit uncle who was dissolving wanted to explain his understanding.
"Thats just an A! You kid cant even see that, no sense at all—— What am I supposed to do? Youre wasting your life!"
Yet the uncle wouldnt let Ah Jun defend himself. Mistakes were mistakes—fundamentally flawed from the start. Though his mouth kept chattering, deep down he knew Ah Jun had already spotted the problem. The childs inability to handle the uncles bizarre tactics was understandable, and the current complaints were merely worries born from anxiety.
Ah Jun understood this too. Though listening obediently like a schoolteacher lecturing, his heart felt at ease and relieved——Having preserved his most cherished memory, he might have made grave mistakes. It seemed hed completed his trials—even through endless hardships—and reunited with his chatty uncle after years of no communication. Hed finally unleashed abilities he once only dreamed of, living up to everyones hopes. Though risking his life, he knew: "You cant catch a tiger without entering its den..." Yet the lingering energy from the great battle left him utterly drained.
The uncle glanced at the childs condition and suddenly waved his hand. The uncle and nephew sat down facing each other——Normally, Ah Jun would occasionally join the uncle for tea and conversation while in his spiritual state, but was usually sent away immediately. But today, the uncle seemed different. They drank the first pot of tea to the last drop, yet he remained seated leisurely as if still wanting more. This made the childs heart grow uneasy.
"—— How can you ask a young man like you to accompany me, a middle-aged man, for tea? It is very difficult!"
After a moment, the uncle looked at the child with an innocent expression and asked sarcastically, "Of course, it was just a joke." Then, he continued to lower his head, took a sip of tea, and explained, "You must be wondering why I kept you here so long...""
"Um!"
Although he was used to the uncles routine, this time, Ah Jun still did not react, and had to answer nervously, "——Uncle, are you in a bad mood today, looking for someone to talk to?"
" I～"
This was not good to say, but when the child asked so, the uncle almost spat out his mouthful of tea. He wiped his mouth and gave a strange smile: "——I look so idle!"
"Ah... Oh, no, Im just curious because normally..." In fact, Ah Jun had always been unable to read his uncles mind, and this time he might have been wrong again.
"—— Hmm, its a little special. Wait a minute!"
So, the uncle interrupted Ah Juns explanation again accurately, and then kindly scared the child: "Stinky boy! You broke the rules of Xuanwu Countys thousands of years of training, thinking there would be no harm? Well, this ordinary person, no matter how you say it, will be unconscious for ten days or half a month!"
"Ah? For so long—— but I still have training..." Now, Ah Jun thought it was a bad idea. This would delay the rest of the training schedule.
"Yay, whats the hurry!"
At this time, the uncle suddenly looked calmly at the child, the corner of his mouth slightly up and said, "——calm! That is for ordinary people, you will probably wake up in about a day!"
"Oh!" Ah Jun finally relaxed after getting an authoritative answer, then took a sip of tea to suppress the shock.
"Listen to everyone! Children should not interrupt adults when they are talking!"
"Me? You dont...", uncle
"——What do you think you are, and what am I? Trying to talk back?" The childs words instantly calmed the uncle. With a huff, he handed over the tea set and snapped, "Alright, you pick the second pot... Dont worry, Ill let you go soon. Keeping you around like this just makes me want to throw up!"
Of course, Ah Jun did not dislike the uncles nagging, but smiled and brought over the tea set. In accordance with the uncles previous practice, he brewed a pot of good tea—— top-grade Biluochun with jasmine fragrance.
And the uncle, though not looking at the child, his micro-expressions began to show satisfaction——After brewing the tea, Ah Jun looked at the uncle, then at the gem beside him, and so they continued drinking tea and chatting...
This is the scene that the child has been looking forward to all his life. It is comfortable and pleasant. Even he does not know why he feels as warm and friendly as at home when he is with the uncle.
In addition, Ah Jun still has a lot of questions to understand, the uncle seems to know everything, this time should be ok.
Meanwhile, as the uncle and nephew continued their tea-drinking session, the Sacred Hall stood in silent contemplation... Outside the temple walls, Xiao Xi was now carrying the frail Ah Jun, cautiously gliding across the lakes surface. Behind them, the Holy Maiden followed with a delicate smile, their eyes locked on the figure with synchronized gazes yet each displaying distinct expressions.
After witnessing Ah Juns past firsthand, the Holy Maiden gained deeper insights into the boy before her, yet also developed lingering doubts. She strained to recall every detail etched in her mind, trying to comprehend his resolve———why, despite repeated warnings and persuasion, he remained resolute in his mission: enduring trials, executing plans, breaking barriers, protecting others, and risking his own safety. The girl reproached herself for her emotional lapse at the critical moment, having breached long-held principles and the Sanctuarys rules. Was this a resonance of familial bonds? Or perhaps it stemmed from an emotion shed never experienced in her life, stirring subtle ripples within her heart as she stood before this man.
The kitten grew increasingly anxious about Ah Juns condition—— Since the moment he completed his spiritual training in the Holy Temple, he had collapsed unconscious. Despite repeated calls from Xiao Jiwoo, no response or interaction was received, filling her with growing worry. Though the Holy Maiden had reassured everyone not to fret, Xiao Jiwoo couldnt suppress her distress and attempted to revive him again. The girl gently stopped her, explaining that Ah Jun was simply exhausted and had fallen asleep, assuring him he would wake up soon.
Looking at Ah Jun and listening to the saints words, the cat gradually stopped making a fuss. Although these principles were professional, the little dimple hardly listened to them.
In truth, even the Holy Maiden maintained her apparent composure—— This was due to the divine guidance from the Sacred Beast, which granted her near-complete assurance that Ah Juns situation was both reasonable and safe. Yet her deep understanding of the trainings intricacies, combined with past experiences, left her emotionally unsettled—— Not long ago, she had witnessed a participant who, despite ultimately making the right choice and completing the training under these circumstances, still suffered lasting effects that left them unconscious for months.
Just like her friend Little Nose, she didnt take much of her own theories seriously. But their worries were completely unnecessary—the Divine Beasts message was crystal clear. Though Ah Jun looked disheveled on the surface, he was actually chatting happily with the uncle about old times.
Ah Jun recounted every detail of his journey to the uncle, yet was repeatedly urged to keep his account concise—— The elder listened with growing impatience, his expression shifting between cold chuckles, vacant stares, and hands clasped in silent contemplation over his tea. When children spoke of their trials—particularly the story of the Deer Boy—the uncles smile turned strange and icy, often accompanied by murmured musings. His face remained frozen during accounts of the beast battle, leaving the uncle utterly disinterested.
I only remember that when it comes to Monster Town and Vortex Island, the uncles reaction is positive, easy to interpret, and he seems to have a sense of empathy, and he has something to say about the launch pad and the new director.
While they were chatting, Ah Jun caught intermittent glimpses of the voice that had given him strength during the crisis. But this time, the tone was too urgent for him to understand. Yet he noticed the uncle smiling beside them, as if he too could hear it.
"Sir, did I do something wrong?"
Since the end of this experience, Ah Juns heart has been unsettled for a long time. In addition to all kinds of unexpected situations, he also felt guilty for his own way of rebellion and the consequences of others.
"Boy, training is a process full of uncertainty, there is no right or wrong—— the purpose of the protection mechanism is not just that, otherwise you think!"