Chapter 4 — The First Steps of Training
The morning sun had just begun to spill across the ridges of the distant mountains, painting the valley in a muted gold. Lin Xuan adjusted the simple cloak over his shoulders and descended from the cave toward the small village at the base of the mountain. His movements were deliberate, measured, and eerily calm, belying the power coiled within him.
[System Advisory: Demonic energy detected. Suggested concealment: Active]
[Action: Aura suppression—successful]
He could feel the faint pulse of his demonic essence beneath his skin, a subtle hum that even he did not fully control. For the eyes of the villagers, he appeared as a normal seventeen-year-old boy. No aura betrayed him, no qi flared. And yet, the system's presence lingered, calculating and cold, a constant reminder that every action could be optimized.
The village was quiet at this hour. Lanterns swayed gently in the morning breeze, and the faint smell of bread baking drifted from one of the stalls. Lin Xuan's gaze swept the narrow streets. He knew exactly what he needed: herbs for antidotes, medicines capable of purifying even the most potent poisons, and ingredients rare enough that many cultivators would pay a fortune for them.
He moved with precise efficiency. Every stall and shop he visited, he evaluated quickly—the quality of the herbs, the freshness, any hidden potency, the natural qi lingering in the plants. His fingers brushed leaves and roots, and in an instant, he could assess their worth, the hidden energies contained within them. A root slightly curled at the tip, a leaf tinged with golden edges—these were no ordinary herbs.
By the time he had collected everything necessary, Lin Xuan's basket was brimming with a mixture of mundane and rare ingredients. A faint shadow of satisfaction passed across his mind. He had been alive for centuries, and yet, even this simple act—the selection of herbs—reminded him of the meticulous patience of life itself.
As he turned to leave, a disturbance in the street caught his attention. Three men, gaunt-faced and crude, stepped from an alley, their eyes gleaming with ambition and malice. They were Zhi Clan members, low-ranking, but bold enough to strike at the perceived weakness of a lone boy.
Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes. His movements were calm, almost lazy, as he sidestepped toward the edge of the street. "Looking for trouble?" he asked, voice deceptively casual.
The gang did not answer. They lunged forward, crude knives flashing in the morning light. Yet they were too slow, too predictable. Lin Xuan's body moved almost on instinct. He ducked beneath the first swing, pivoted, and used the simplest of motions to redirect the second attacker into the street wall. His aura remained invisible, the system's guidance suggesting optimal displacement and evasion angles.
[System Advisory: Minor combat engagement complete. Observed ability: Shadow displacement technique acquired.]
[Reward: Minor Human Emperor Technique — "Qi Alignment Step"]
The gang crumpled to the ground, groaning. Lin Xuan ignored them, walking past with the collected herbs untouched. The encounter had been brief, but it confirmed a truth he had long known: even small threats could be dangerous if underestimated.
Returning to the cave, Lin Xuan immediately set to work. Luo Shuang and Liu Yue watched as he arranged the herbs with meticulous precision. He cleaned a small mortar, ground leaves and roots into a fine powder, and mixed them carefully with a concentrated qi solution. The air shimmered faintly as the energy flowed through his hands, purifying, refining, harmonizing each ingredient.
[System Advisory: Antidote preparation — optimal efficiency achieved]
Finally, he pressed the finished pill into a small jade case and handed it to Liu Yue. "Give this to Xiao Yang. It must be taken now."
Liu Yue's hands trembled as she accepted it, eyes wide with trust and admiration. "Thank you… Brother Lin."
Minutes later, Liu Yang's coughs ceased. His color returned to normal, and the fever that had marked his poisoned state faded. He opened his eyes, gazing at Lin Xuan with newfound awe. "Brother Lin… I… I want to learn from you," he said, his voice earnest. "I want to become your disciple."
The system nudged silently in the back of Lin Xuan's mind:
[System Advisory: Accept Human Emperor's son — high potential. Action Recommended.]
Lin Xuan's brow furrowed. Human Emperor's son. That alone carried weight beyond comprehension. He had not expected to encounter a cultivator of this caliber here, in such a small mortal village. Yet, the boy's presence, his potential, was undeniable.
"Very well," Lin Xuan said at last, his voice calm but resolute. "If you wish to follow me, I will teach you. But understand this: the path will be harsh, and failure carries consequences."
Liu Yang's eyes brightened, and a spark of determination ignited within him. He bowed deeply. "I will follow you, Brother Lin, with all my heart."
Lin Xuan studied the boy for a moment longer, then returned to the cave's central space. He motioned for Liu Yang to sit and instructed him in the basics: meditation, qi refinement, and breathing techniques that allowed the young cultivator to sense and channel internal energy.
The first lessons were rudimentary, drawn from the Human Emperor's records the system had begun revealing in fragments. Lin Xuan demonstrated each motion with precision, his fingers and body moving fluidly, the circulation of qi in his veins guiding the boy's own. The instructions were simple, yet every gesture carried the weight of centuries of knowledge, refined through the Demonic Sovereign's experiences.
[System Advisory: Teaching sequence successful. Recommended focus: foundational techniques.]
Liu Yang followed diligently, stumbling at first but improving with each careful repetition. Lin Xuan's gaze softened slightly as he watched the boy—seeing not only the raw potential of the Human Emperor's son but also the spark of trust and loyalty that mirrored what he had rarely experienced before.
Meanwhile, Liu Yue observed silently from a corner of the cave. Her heart, still fragile from the day's terrors, quietly grew attached to the young cultivator who had saved her and her brother. She could see his patience, the careful guidance he provided, the calculated yet gentle manner in which he corrected errors. Each moment deepened the admiration—and something more subtle, more intimate, began to stir within her.
Lin Xuan noticed her gaze once and turned to meet it. She quickly looked away, cheeks flushed, but he felt a flicker of warmth he had not experienced in his reborn life. Responsibility and protectiveness intertwined with the faint, unfamiliar feeling of attachment. For the first time, he realized that power alone could not sustain a life—companionship, trust, and loyalty carried weight even in the harshest of worlds.
The day passed quietly. Lin Xuan moved between preparation, teaching, and observation, carefully evaluating the health of Liu Yang and the endurance of Liu Yue and Luo Shuang. He allowed brief moments of levity—a smile here, a word of reassurance there—but always maintained the discipline and focus that had defined him for centuries.
As night fell, the cave's entrance was silent. The system interface hummed faintly in the back of his mind, its calculations ever-present. Lin Xuan, however, ignored it momentarily, sitting between Liu Yue and Liu Yang as they shared a simple meal of preserved vegetables and bread.
> They are alive, for now.
They will grow stronger.
And I… will protect them.
It was a thought laced with an unfamiliar warmth, one that contrasted sharply against the cold logic of the system. He had been Mo Tianyin once—cold, calculating, unyielding. Yet here, in the quiet moments with those who trusted him, the boy who was Lin Xuan discovered the first threads of something more.
Tomorrow, he would teach Liu Yang more advanced techniques, integrate subtle alchemy into their training, and continue strengthening Liu Yue's understanding of internal energy. But tonight, for a few stolen hours, they were safe. And in the rare silence, Lin Xuan allowed himself a brief pause, acknowledging the faint, stubborn ember of humanity that lingered within him.
The cave was quiet, but Lin Xuan's mind was never idle. Outside, distant movements whispered of the Zhi Clan's lingering ambitions, and shadows beyond the mountains hinted at threats yet unseen.
For now, he would teach, protect, and grow. But he knew the world would not remain still for long.
> I will survive.
I will strengthen.
And when the time comes… the heavens themselves will bend.