The kids had a good time sharing their meal with Mr Zhang, then went on to complete little chores like planting crops in the farm and little tasks here and there.
Mr Zhang assigned them a considerable amount of work, and it never felt stressful because he was careful not to overload anyone, and rest was permitted if someone was tired.
And it was interesting to Siyash that none of them grumbled at the work.
'I wonder if it's because they don't want to upset Mr Zhang or it's because they're getting free care here.'
During the next meal, Pippin sat beside Siyash. Although they didn't talk much, Pippin used hand signals to communicate what she wanted from the table.
Siyash understood and passed her the dish. Mr Zhang then excused himself from the table to attend to something, which made the kids feel free.
"Aha, so she's mute!" Kun exclaimed. "I was wondering why she was quiet, I was starting to think she had mental issues, but she's just mute. She'll make a great wife, she won't be nagging."
"Not cool man, not cool." Halls said, glancing at Siyash to see his reaction. "We all live here like family, so why would you say that about your family?"
"I rebuke you." Kun retorted immediately, offended by the statement. "We can never be family, I'm white and you're a monkey even the disabled girl can tell."
Siyash continued eating, he felt uneasy, a strange emotion stirred within him, but he suppressed it immediately.
He noticed Halls clenched fists at the remark, and it wasn't surprising since Kun was known for making such comments when Mr Zhang was away.
Soon Mr Zhang arrived and the room was quiet.
"Once you're done eating, make sure you rest to digest, then meet me at the courtyard." Mr Zhang instructed.
The kids were excited on hearing that, some flailed in excitement.
'Even the little ones are excited to learn martial arts, reminds me of my days when I wanted to learn magic.'
But it wasn't a happy childhood memory that flashed in his mind. Instead, it was a five year old Siyash, bruised in a storm, with blood dripping from his temple.
After everyone rested for a while, they gathered in the courtyard as Mr Zhang instructed, which was large enough to host an Olympic game.
"We have new companions today, so I will go over a few things before we begin." Mr Zhang announced, with his arms behind him. It reminded Siyash of the military mages he killed.
"The outside world is dangerous, especially for you kids, although many of you wish to avoid martial artists, it's uncertain that they will infiltrate the public someday."
"So now everything I will teach you is to maintain a peaceful life out there. Whatever you decide to do with these skills when you leave is up to you. Am I understood?" Mr Zhang concluded.
"Yes sir!" The children responded in chorus.
"Good. Kun begin the warm ups." Mr Zhang instructed.
Kun bowed, then everyone took their positions, doing side stretches before jogging around the courtyard at a reasonable pace, with Siyash and Pippin following behind.
They jogged over and over in a square pattern for a while, until Siyash felt his legs dragging against the ground, his lips drying up by the second, and his chest heaving like it would explode from exhaustion.
'What's happening to me?' Siyash wondered as he forced himself to keep going, then a six year old ran past him, and so did everyone including his sister, circling a lap around him.
'Yeah, I was old and stiff before, but I'm in a teenager's body, shouldn't I be at least athletic? Why am I so far behind? Why is this body so weak?'
Then a troubling thought crossed his mind, could it be because of the spells he cast in the past, to strengthen his body to become a grand magus, which made him engage in forbidden practices and turned his hair white.
His current body also had white hair, so could it be the spell's effect had followed him to this body?
'Damn it, so that's why. This body is best for magic, not martial arts, but it doesn't matter, magic will help me.'
At that moment, he paused, resting his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
Mr Zhang had been keeping an eye on Siyash and his sister as newcomers.
"Kun, continue with the other drills, Siyash and Pippin, get over here." Mr Zhang said.
Kun then proceeded to the next warm up, body weight exercises, like pushups, situps, and squats.
Siyash was surprised by the intensity they put in and he concluded he wouldn't ever be a part of that.
"With time, both of you will be able to join them." Mr Zhang said. "But because it's your first day, I wouldn't advise over stressing your muscles to the point you will be sore."
"Now you both sit with your backs facing me."
The siblings did as they were instructed, and Mr Zhang placed his hands on their backs.
"Since both of you have never practiced martial arts. What I am about to teach you is the foundation of your martial arts, it's what we call Qi."
"Qi is the energy inside your body, it comes from your dantian, an invisible force in the center of your stomach."
"When we practice techniques from the air we breathe, to the steps we take, we use the power of Qi."
"And that's why it's important to have a strengthened dantian. Imagine the dantian as a plate while Qi is the food, and what I'll show you now is how to feel your Qi, the world energy from plants and animals to fill your dantian."
"They work together, and as you improve them both, it will strengthen your rank as a martial artist. But that depends on you"
Siyash found the explanation interesting because Qi seemed similar to mana, the difference was that mana energy came from the world, and one's skill was determined by how much mana they could control.
And that depended on how strong one's mana core was.
"As you know, we are in the dark faction, and what I will teach you is the basics of dark cultivation. The dark essence absorption technique."
"After you have learned this, you must practice and cultivate daily to grow your dantian."
"But I will warn you now, never go above your limits, if you absorb more than your body can handle, it will result in dangerous effects that can damage your mental state and morality."
"And if either of you goes mad, I will deal with you myself."
This information filled Siyash with joy, the same thing was said about dark magic. If one learned it, they would go mad, and now the same thing was being said about dark cultivation.
Although he never ran mad, he was always aware of his actions with full intent. And if the dark magic didn't make him go mad he would welcome this dark cultivation with open arms.
'Such an amazing teacher, he threatens his students who he just met with death. But if i
t's that dangerous, why is he teaching us, this world is getting interesting.'
"I shall start, now!"