Chapter 5

Unconsciously, the red sun had gradually risen, and the sky was filled with rosy clouds.

Under the morning light, Ye Fan, who was sitting cross-legged on a rock, slowly opened his eyes, ending his night of cultivation.

Unlike novice warriors who could only cultivate through boxing and physical training, Ye Fan, now a 'Postnatal Great Perfection' powerhouse, primarily cultivated through meditation.

Meditation refers to the warrior calming his mind and, through a special breathing method, making the air flow in and out of the body like water. With each inhalation and exhalation, the body was cleansed, and impurities were unknowingly expelled, making the flesh, bones, and internal organs stronger and the blood and qi more vigorous.

While expelling impurities from the body, the vigorous blood and qi would generate essence, which would then be converted into power.

Power was far superior to physical strength!

This directly led to whether one could meditate being the true mark of a warrior. As a saying in the martial arts world went: "A day without meditation is a day not considered a warrior." Without meditation, one could not generate power within the body and could only fight with physical strength!

Generally, only after reaching the Postnatal Great Perfection realm could a warrior understand meditation, but there were exceptions, such as martial arts geniuses who could meditate right from the start.

In a sense, Ye Fan could outshine those so-called martial arts geniuses.

Because... he had learned to meditate when he was very young!

At the age of six, a cultivation technique called the 'Nine Heavens Profound Art' appeared in his mind.

Unlike ordinary cultivation techniques, this one was more like a Daoist scripture, a method for health and breathing, without specific moves.

Out of curiosity, Ye Fan followed the breathing method in the 'Nine Heavens Profound Art' and easily learned how to meditate.

At the time, Chu Xuanji was amazed by Ye Fan's ability to meditate and was so happy that he didn't ask why. Later, Chu Ji did ask once, and Ye Fan jokingly said, "A genius's life doesn't need an explanation," which made Chu Ji throw him into the pool under the waterfall.

Later, as Ye Fan displayed demonic talent in other areas, Chu Xuanji and Chu Ji were either numbed by surprise or guessed the reason, and no longer felt astonished.

"Ow..."

The little wolf, who had been staring at the blue sky and white clouds, excitedly barked when it saw Ye Fan open his eyes.

"Come, let's go get water!"

Ye Fan smiled, patted the little wolf's head, stood up, and leaped toward the wooden house, preparing to take the little wolf to get water.

Like meditation cultivation, this was something Ye Fan did every day—meditation cultivation made the power in his body reach saturation, and he had to release it to form a cycle, thereby improving his strength.

Back at the wooden house, he picked up two buckets, and with a burst of power from his feet, he ran toward the waterfall several kilometers away.

Although Ye Fan had given the little wolf many rare herbs to save its life, improving its physique and making it much faster than ordinary wolves, it was still much slower compared to Ye Fan.

Therefore, to take care of the little wolf, Ye Fan had to deliberately slow down.

When the sun was high in the sky, Ye Fan brought the little wolf to the waterfall.

"Do you want to go down by yourself, or do you want me to help you?"

Holding the buckets, Ye Fan smiled at the little wolf, treating it like a companion, and always felt relaxed when with it.

"Whine... Whine..."

The little wolf made a pitiful sound, closed its eyes, and, like a 'diving wolf,' jumped down the waterfall.

"Ha ha, I'm coming."

Ye Fan laughed and followed the little wolf down.

"Plunk!"

"Plunk!"

Both the man and the wolf fell into the pool below, splashing water.

"Ow..."

The little wolf, now a drenched wolf, poked its head out, growled, and splashed water at Ye Fan with its paws, as if retaliating for being forced to jump.

"Looks like you want to drink water, huh?"

Ye Fan laughed and scolded, first throwing the two buckets to the shore, then using his feet to propel himself to the little wolf's side, and pressing the little wolf underwater.

"Huff... Huff..."

After about two minutes, the little wolf escaped from Ye Fan's grip, gasping for breath, and looked at Ye Fan pitifully, begging, "Whine... Whine..."

"Starting to act pitiful again?"

Ye Fan laughed and scolded, hugging the little wolf and stroking its head, sighing, "Little wolf, I'm grateful for your company these past few years. Otherwise, I don't know how I would have gotten through it."

As he spoke, images of the bustling city flashed in Ye Fan's mind.

"Little wolf, do you know? The outside world is vast, exciting, and lively. There are tall buildings, cars, planes, and many fun things. In the outside world, people my age are mostly in school, and after graduating from university, they will work, get married, and have children."

As Ye Fan spoke, he seemed to recall some unpleasant memories, and his tone became particularly bitter, "But I'm different. I can't go to school or fall in love like them, and I don't even know who my parents are."

The little wolf, sensing Ye Fan's loneliness and disappointment, licked his ear, as if trying to comfort him.

"Master said he found me in an alley behind a hospital, abandoned by my parents."

Feeling the little wolf's comfort, Ye Fan couldn't help but laugh bitterly, "If I hadn't been abandoned, I would probably be in university like other people my age, right?"

"Little wolf, if they didn't want me, why did they give birth to me?"

Ye Fan looked up at the blue sky, his eyes filled with deep sorrow, as if asking the little wolf, or perhaps himself, "I must go down the mountain to find them and make them tell me why!"

As he finished speaking, Ye Fan's expression was no longer sad but determined.

That determination would not change, even if the sky fell!

...

Several kilometers away, Chu Ji arrived at the wooden house like a gentle breeze.

"Master!"

Unlike Ye Fan, who was informal with Chu Xuanji, Chu Ji immediately bowed upon seeing him, showing great respect.

"Back?" Chu Xuanji put down the ancient book 'Qimen Dunjia' and spoke indifferently.

"I missed you and Little Fan, so I came back to visit."

Chu Ji wasn't surprised by Chu Xuanji's attitude. On one hand, she knew that only Ye Fan could make Chu Xuanji smile. On the other hand, she knew that Chu Xuanji still harbored resentment over her past decision.

Chu Xuanji remained silent.

"Did Little Fan go to get water again?" Chu Ji noticed the missing buckets and asked.

"Uh-huh."

"Master, is Little Fan now the first among those in the Pre-Natal realm?" Seeing Chu Xuanji nod, Chu Ji thought about how Ye Fan was cultivating in this way.

Chu Xuanji's mind involuntarily recalled Ye Fan's depressed appearance last night because he couldn't go down the mountain.

"Master, you know better than I do that breaking through the Pre-Natal realm is not about the amount of power in the body or the precision of power control, but about mental cultivation and understanding of martial arts."

Chu Ji hesitated and said, "Little Fan's talent can be described as demonic. He hasn't entered the Pre-Natal realm for two years solely because of his mental knot. He wants to live a normal life in the world—though you've had him carry out tasks over the past two years, it doesn't count as living in the world."

Chu Xuanji remained silent.

"Why don't you let him live a normal life to resolve his mental knot?"

Chu Ji mustered the courage to continue, "With his character, even if he lives a normal life, he won't give up cultivation. If he resolves his mental knot, entering the Pre-Natal realm will be a certainty."

"Do I need you to tell me this?"

Chu Xuanji raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "The Post-Natal realm is the foundation of a warrior. Whether the foundation is solid will determine future achievements. Although he is exceptionally talented, we can't rush things. Besides, do you think his mental knot is about living a normal life?"

"What is it, then?"

Chu Ji was taken aback. She remembered that every time she came back, Ye Fan would sweet-talk her into pleading with Chu Xuanji to let him go down the mountain. She subconsciously thought this was his greatest wish and his mental knot.

"His true mental knot is that he believes he was abandoned by his parents."

Chu Xuanji said solemnly, "His desire to live a normal life is just a manifestation of his longing for parental love and a way to escape loneliness."

Chu Ji was suddenly enlightened, her eyes showing a hint of sadness.

"I haven't let him go down the mountain for a long time, not only to solidify his foundation but also to temper his will. Otherwise, when the truth comes to light, it will be a nightmare for him!"

Chu Xuanji's voice grew serious, "At that time, not only will he be unable to do that task, but it will be difficult for him to recover from the shadow of the past, given his emotional nature."

"I see, I was shortsighted."

Chu Ji sighed, thinking about the task Chu Xuanji mentioned, and continued, "So, you've been protecting him in secret, having him carry out those tasks, not only to expose him to the harsh realities and bloody battles to prepare him for the world but also to make him decisive, right?"

"Do you think it's appropriate to let him go down the mountain now?" Chu Xuanji asked.

Huh?

Perhaps not expecting such a sudden turn, Chu Ji was surprised at first, then guessed something and said, "Master, have you changed your mind and decided to let him go down the mountain?"

"Maybe it's time."

Chu Xuanji glanced at the jade kylin on the table, took a deep breath, then frowned, "But... I told him he couldn't go down the mountain until he reached the Pre-Natal realm. What reason can I give him now to let him go?"

"Master, I have an idea." Chu Ji's heart raced at the thought.

"What is it?"

"I just met someone at the foot of the mountain seeking your medical help. The patient is a girl with an extremely yin constitution." Chu Ji quickly said.

"An extremely yin constitution?"

These four words made Chu Xuanji's expression change, and his eyes flashed with insight, subconsciously thinking of a certain cultivation technique.

"Those with an extremely yin constitution must practice a highly yang cultivation technique from a young age to balance yin and yang, or they will be consumed by yin energy. Alternatively, they can merge with a man with an extremely yang constitution."

Chu Ji continued, "You can let Little Fan go down the mountain to treat that girl. The girl is strong-willed and dominant, so it will be extremely difficult for Little Fan to merge with her. Even if she agrees, you can tell Little Fan that if he completes this task, he can stay in the secular world."

"Let's do it your way."

Chu Xuanji nodded, then thoughtfully added, "However, you must find a way to conceal his identity. If his identity is exposed, the truth will come to light soon."

"Also, don't help him secretly. Let him handle everything himself."

Chu Xuanji's aura suddenly changed, like a sharp sword, and he said, "But I don't want him to come back with missing limbs!"

"Please rest assured, Master. I know what to do."

Chu Xuanji's protectiveness made Chu Ji smile bitterly, but she was also excited, looking forward to the storm Ye Fan would create in the bustling city!