Chương 28: Flow

Time would flow like a river when things got busy, and Ren felt this was never more true than now. Four weeks had already passed since he got his disciples, and teaching was… complicated, to say the least. He had to wake them up early, as he learned it was nearly impossible for them to wake on their own since he never let them rest much till the sunset. And oh boy, he couldn't even begin to tell how hard it was.

Wenhai would try every trick in the book just to sleep five more minutes, and even after managing to wake, he wouldn't stop complaining about how little sleep and rest they were getting. Ren felt that one day his ears would drop from listening to this yapper. Ruolan was another nightmare altogether. It was a near impossibility to step into her room without triggering a poisonous trap, and she was getting more proficient at catching him unaware.

Two days earlier, she had planted a man-eater flower right under her bed, and it had bitten his leg, causing all of its teeth to fall. So, he had to listen to shrieks about having a too-hard body and being the reason for her baby's toothless state. Last but not least, Liuxue… Ren had believed naively that she was the lesser brat among them, but from the looks of it, she had started to take after Ruolan lately. Unbelievably, she would wake up before him just to try her best at assassinating him. Her precision?

Deadly. I truly gathered all the troublemakers under my roof… Ren let out a sigh and took a sip from his tea, watching another troublemaker sitting right across from him.

"Hoho," Baozhai chuckled lightly, an amused smile on her lips.

"They are that energetic even after your training, huh? Mine are sleeping like logs whenever I don't look, yet always arrive right at the time."

"Of course they would," Ren muttered, a sigh standing at the edge of his mouth, "unless they've grown tired of living." She chuckled, her cup hiding her mouth. She could laugh all she wanted, as her disciples weren't the same. To be more exact, she was like a cat, an elegant feline standing in front of a group of mice. Who would dare to go against her words? And she is definitely fit to be an instructor. She doesn't have another relation to them other than being their teacher— unlike me.

He knew he was the real reason behind their bratty behavior. He couldn't be the strict instructor all the time. They reminded his little brothers and sisters too much for that. He could push them to their very limits, yet as soon as the training ended, he would crack jokes without hesitation or tease them for the mistakes they made. Of course, they would act spoiled and not disciplined. However, no matter how much he complained, there was one thing Ren genuinely appreciated: he didn't have to pretend around them.

Unlike those who had known his soul brother, this trio knew nothing about him. He was… truly himself around them. Acting without a care for manners, poking fun at them or himself, and sometimes bickering pointlessly. He could put aside his masks for a minute and truly breathe. Talking about this, she is also acting more comfortable around me. For the past four weeks, Baozhai hadn't missed a single day without finding a moment to visit him.

And as she usually timed it around the trio's treatment sessions, they would share a cup of tea and a bit of small talk. Gone was the awkwardness and the restraints he felt around her. Instead, her presence felt reassuring now. Peaceful, though it was hard to call like that from the outside. He couldn't help but throw a subtle gaze at Baozhai. Her golden hair was pulled back into a ponytail, with a few crimson strands left at the front, faintly resembling bangs.

Her regal aura was still there, but she now carried a hint of cuteness, just like a newly blooming flower.

"This style suits you," Ren commented without thinking, voice carrying genuine praise.

"What do you need?" Baozhai asked without missing a beat.

"Can't I give a compliment for no reason?" She remained silent, suspicion written all over her face, though he also did notice a faint blush coloring her cheek. Ren shrugged, feigning nonchalance as he looked away.

"…Fine, I won't say anything," he mumbled. Baozhai's lips curled, her eyes narrowing slightly as if seeing through him completely.

"Mm. It came a little bit late," she said, tone light but laced with amusement.

"Still, thank you. I thought you wouldn't notice it." He groaned.

"I'm not blind. Of course, I will notice."

"I'm only concerned," she said innocently.

"Next thing I know, you'll start noticing my earrings too." Ren paused. Blinked. Then squinted.

"…You're wearing earrings?" She gave a tiny, victorious smirk— because right at that moment, he noticed she wasn't. That's it," he muttered.

"I'm not saying anything nice ever again."

"Fair." They sat in silence for a few moments, the quiet surprisingly comfortable. He took another sip, tea's warm colliding with the warm inside. However, this peace couldn't continue for long as a shout reverberated outside the room.

"Save me, Senior Brother! Ahh, Iceberg, not you too!"

"Don't run, you little bastard!" And another scream. Ren put his cup gently and slowly. Then raised his right hand, with no hurry until he ran it through his face.

"Here comes the nightmare…" a murmur left his mouth.

"He must've talked during treatment again." Baozhai sipped her tea calmly.

"I told you to gag him. You said it was excessive."

"I'm having second thoughts about it." Wenhai burst in, stumbling and crashing through the doorway, then dove behind Ren's chair with lightning speed. Right on his heels, Ruolan and Liuxue stormed in, weapons already drawn. One wielded a staff taller than herself; the other, twin daggers as black as night. That staff… why does it resemble a straw so much? Ren couldn't help but raise a brow.

"Senior Brother, Senior Brother! They are trying to kill me!" Wenhai wailed in pure anguish.

"They mean serious business, really!"

"Do not even try to beg, doggy! This is the day you die." Ruolan shot him a glare, her face twisted.

"We warned you time and time again, but you can't keep that fu—""Hey, hey, calm down, you two," Ren intervened, lifting a hand before they beat the crap out of the probably-not-so-poor boy.

"What is it this time?"

"Believe me, Senior Brother, I didn't even move my finger!"

"Still running your mouth, huh!?" It seemed like Wenhai outperformed himself as even Liuxue snorted and chimed in:"Yeah, then who forced me to listen to the history of Liu Clan's whole nine generations while I couldn't move a damn muscle?" Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Ren glanced at Baozhai for help, yet she was busy giving him an 'I was right about gagging' expression.

"Fine, explain yourself, Wenhai," he said, annoyance playing on his face.

"Why must Iceberg know the history of what— nine generations of your clan?" Wenhai threw his hands up.

"I just wanted to break the ice between us! Besides, she looked interested!" Liuxue's glare could've frozen fire.

"…I couldn't even blink."

"Exactly! Pure focus!" Ren massaged his temples. He had to admit that Wenhai was a little… tactless, but he didn't believe the boy had bad intentions. So he reined in his urge to beat him— just like how his Master would do— and stared at him gently.

"Tell me the real reason," he asked again.

"I'm telling the truth, Senior Brother…" Wenhai whispered immediately, forgetting everyone could hear him. He also put on his best puppy gaze.

"A month— a whole month— passed, but I still don't know anything about them. This… this feels like we are strangers, not friends."

"That was the reason?!" Ruolan shouted as she threw both hands up, nearly hitting Liuxue with her staff.

"So all this time you've been yapping nonstop just 'cause we don't talk as much as you? Oh heavens." Ren couldn't help but facepalm.

"See? This is what I've been dealing with," he said to chuckling Baozhai, then turned to the hopeless trio.

"Looks like I've been going easy on you if you've still got so much energy to spare. It's time for the second phase."

"Are we gonna go out at last?" Ruolan's eyes glimmered with excitement.

"A sect mission? Or a trial we can try our hand?"

"Maybe we can beat those bastards who messed up with the great Lightning Pup!" Wenhai too jumped at the news. Unlike them, however, Baozhai's face turned grave. She glared at him with suspicion. She finally put down her cup, coughed slightly, and asked, "Are you thinking…?"

"Yes," Ren answered, letting out a slow chuckle.

"They grasped the first layer of their techniques, their bodies are in good condition, and more importantly—" he paused, just to point at them.

"They are energetic," Baozhai finished his words.

"Exactly!"

"Isn't it still too early?" she asked, frowning.

"Even I shed tears because of how intense it quickly became, and you're telling me you're gonna subject them to the same standards when they just started on their journey? Sure, just don't come and cry to me when they won't wake up the next day." Ren stared at her. Though she was more strict with herself than anybody, his soul brother's training method was nothing but pure torture. But both also knew that this might be the only way to get them ready for the Trial.

After all, she had forced him into this position because she knew only he could do it.

"Give them a chance," Ren said. It was the only thing he could say, as even he wasn't sure. Yet Ren also believed that since they could handle his harsh training till now, they wouldn't easily give up. This month has shown they have the grit. And that's all I need to see.

"Hello? You know, we're still here," Ruolan chimed in, suddenly waving a hand in front of Ren.

"We know Senior Sister is beautiful, but can't you at least keep your admiration to yourself until you're alone?"

"I think someone is jealous— Ah, she is hitting me, Senior Brother!"

"Nobody will take you for a mute if you just shut up!" Ren allowed himself a faint smile as he watched Ruolan 'gently' beat Wenhai for a moment.

"Alright, alright, come to the backyard before you spend all your energy," he said, clapping his hands.

"Wanna join?"

"Of course," Baozhai answered with no hesitation.

"I can't miss such a scene." …

"Cultivation is a long road, perhaps the only eternal one," Ren started as they entered the backyard. The earthy scent filled his lungs.

"But it's not a peaceful road, as you must know. It was an eternal struggle, still is, and always will be." He paused at the center and stared at the trio. Wenhai was brimming with excitement, hardly standing still. Ruolan had a lazy smile, as if expecting to watch a show while Liuxue listened with pure focus. The memories of his soul brother's younger self listening to his first lesson in sparring flashed in Ren's mind.

"You learned your techniques— the base of your power. The foundation. Now, it's time to build upon them. We will spar one by one until you engrave this foundation onto your bones and make it fully yours. Are you ready?" Before they answered, Wenhai stepped forward with a wide smile.

"I'm ready, Senior Brother!"

"Good, I want to see that smile afterwards too." Ren found himself smiling back.

"Wait, idiot." Yet Ruolan grabbed the boy and reined him in place.

"Since this is something so important, then care to tell us what the rules are, Senior Brother?" Ren noticed Baozhai give her a nod of silent approval. He too nodded.

"It's simple. You have one minute to attack me with all your power. Any method is approved," he answered, a strange glimmer in his eyes.

"That's it?" All three of them said in union.

"That's it," Ren said, struggling to hold back his smirk.

"Just that every mistake you make in the process will work one more minute to the clock, up to a maximum of ten. Anything beyond that will be added to your collective time."

"And in this collective time…?" Ruolan muttered, a slight hesitation already creeping into her voice.

"You will face me," Ren uttered, a predatory edge slipping out of his control.

"With no mercy." He waited for their shock, yet the trio only stared at him with question marks. Just as he opened his mouth—"Senior Sister." Ruolan turned decisively to Baozhai.

"Can I request a master change at this point? I think a master as serious as you might be more suitable for me." You little…! Ren's face twisted a little as even Baozhai couldn't hold back her laughter.

"Hey, Witch," he uttered, forcing a gentle smile.

"Which part of this doesn't look serious?"

"I think starting with which part is serious would be easier."

"Heh, then come and be the first. Let us all see how…" Ren held himself back just as his disdain was about to be shown. They are just kids, Ren. You're an adult, don't stoop to their level. They're just troublesome, mocking, and treacherous little mongrels…

"Alright," Ruolan immediately stepped forward, a confident smile playing on her lips.

"Let's start, cheap master." That smile won't be there soon, little witch. Chuckling lightly, Ren shook his head.

"Baozhai, keep the time, please."

"Try not to cry." Baozhai gave the girl a pitying glance, then appeared right between them. She raised her hand like a referee in a cage match and shouted with schadenfreude, "Fight!" Ruolan didn't rush into the fight as Wenhai would do. She stole a subtle glance at Ren's relaxed posture and took out two purple colored pouches. However—"First mistake," Ren muttered right behind her ears. His warm breath brushed against the girl's goosebump-covered skin.

"No enemy will give you time to prepare your poison."

"And your mistake is…" her voice started as a whisper, a green cloud of miasma suddenly exploding at the back of her shoe.

"Approaching without—" She fell. Found herself covered in the same green cloud, her eyes blinking in confusion.

"Second mistake, do not try to fool others with subtle movements before measuring their strength." Ren appeared back at the center, his lips already curling up faintly.

"Ah, come on, Ruolan! You need to do better!" Wenhai shouted from the side, jumping up and down. Yet unlike him, Liuxue was frowning. Yep, she is already grasping the danger. Only ten seconds had passed, and Ruolan had already made two mistakes. If it were to continue like this… She's gonna fill her available time and continue on the collective one. That's when the true nightmare will start. Leaning on her staff, Ruolan rose and shook her head as if to snap herself out of the shock.

Her confident smile already erased, she now glared at him— stern and grave.

"That's unfair," she said, her lips twitching into a pout.

"What's unfair?" Baozhai asked as the referee.

"I'm just at the second stage of Body Tempering. How do you expect me to react at such a speed?" Baozhai clicked her tongue.

"Nope, there's nothing unfair."

"How?"

"He isn't using any spiritual energy or his bodily strength. To be exact, the power he used hadn't even passed a mortal body's limits. So no, there's nothing unfair."

"W-wait," Ruolan's jaw dropped. She pointed at Ren, then glared at Baozhai.

"You're telling me that such speed could result from a mortal body?"

"That's right, so stop complaining. The clock's ticking, you know— tick-tock," Ren responded with a teasing smile. He swept one arm behind his back, the other extending out in a mock-gallant gesture, like an actor inviting a lady to dance.

"After you," he added, voice smooth with just a hint of mischief. The backyard erupted into a show of glaring miasmas. Tens of different colored pouches appeared all of a sudden, exploding into different colored clouds.

"Take this," Ruolan shouted and waved her staff. The clouds obeyed her orders as they gathered together and created wolf-like shapes.

"Valley of the Wolves, attack!"

"Another mistake," Ren muttered, dodging a gray wolf-cloud. He slapped air, hitting another one, this time green, and caused it to dissolve.

"Don't shout your technique's name just to be cool. Or you might remind them the weakness of it." He took a steady pace, slapping or dodging her attacks. He jumped over them when they came in as a horde. It wasn't that hard to take advantage of their stiff movements no matter how fast they got. Ruolan gritted her teeth, her staff slashing the air in fast, concurrent motions. At the same time, she threw another pouch that exploded into a thick mist to block his sight.

"Useless." Ren just chuckled as he stopped, a white wolf-cloud clawing one step ahead. He then ducked as he heard a whoosh over his head.

"Even the rookie cultivators would temper their senses, let alone veteran ones. You need to find a way to seal their senses, that's the only way to confuse them." He slapped toward his back, destroying another attack. Though this one burst into sparks, each one snapping with a sharp, piercing crackle. About the same time, Ren felt something approaching. Ruolan burst from the mist, a twisted grimace carved across her face.

A thin line of blood ran down toward her chin from her lower lip as she brought her staff crashing down straight at his skull. Following her were three purple wolf-clouds, nearly the same size as her, with claws that glimmered sickly. Not only that, but Ren also felt his instincts flaring to life, warning that something more dangerous was coming fast. Behind, his lips widened into a smirk. Good girl. He reached out to the staff without warning. Only a slight nudge was enough to change its destination.

The wolves came out of the smoke, but he didn't even look at them. Stomping the ground, he somersaulted behind them, and they crushed into the big wolf-cloud appearing. All of them instantly dissolved into a mixed miasma.

"Good tactics," Ren said, nodding lightly.

"Still, it's too straightfor—" The words stuck in his throat as Ren noticed the tiny, victorious smile playing on her lips. His hand shot to his neck— three white needles between his fingers, dripping poison. He waved his other hand to clear the mist just in time to see her smile crumbling into disappointment.

"Wow, I take back my words. This one was good," he muttered at last, an approving look settling in his gaze.

"But you still have time on the clock, so rise and shine, little Witch." His smile turned wicked.