The sound of the donkey's hooves echoed against the stone road as Uncle Han played a soft melody on his wooden flute, blending with the whispers of the wind and the chirping of birds flying above them.
Ni Tian walked beside him with a scowl on his face, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead under the scorching sun. With a sigh of boredom, he grumbled:
"Old man, we've been walking for five hours! Haven't we arrived yet?"
Uncle Han paused his playing for a moment, then turned his head toward Ni Tian with a calm smile and said:
"You're right. It's best we take a break. Come, I know a suitable place."
They continued walking for a short while before reaching a vast green meadow, surrounded by a gently flowing river that mirrored the blue sky. The trees on its banks swayed with the cool breeze, and the fresh air helped ease the fatigue of the long journey.
Uncle Han stopped at the river's edge, then turned to Ni Tian with a mischievous smile and said:
"Come here, I want to show you something."
Without suspecting anything, Ni Tian approached cautiously, but as soon as he got close—
Splash!
A sudden push sent him straight into the cold water!
"What the—?!"
Water engulfed him instantly. He kicked frantically, gasping as he struggled to keep his head above the surface. Emerging, he coughed violently, his hair plastered to his face, his clothes completely soaked. He glared at Uncle Han and shouted:
"Are you trying to kill me, you senile old man?!"
Standing on the riverbank, Uncle Han chuckled lightly and said mockingly:
"If you think trying to get you to take a bath means I want to kill you, then you're even dumber than I thought."
Ni Tian gritted his teeth in frustration and snapped:
"You could've just told me!"
Before he could finish, a metal teapot came flying straight at his head!
"Ouch!"
The impact wasn't too strong, but it was enough to make him clutch his head in pain. Uncle Han, still as indifferent as ever, ordered:
"Fill it with water and come quickly."
With an exasperated sigh, Ni Tian bent down and filled the teapot with the cool river water. When he returned, Uncle Han had already lit a small fire and placed some fragrant herbs into the boiling water. Ni Tian sat beside the fire, placing his wet clothes near the flames to dry.
Taking a sip of tea, Uncle Han looked at his new disciple and spoke in a serious tone:
"Ni Tian, before I teach you the skill you're looking for, you must promise me four things."
Ni Tian raised an eyebrow with curiosity and asked:
"And what are those things?"
Pouring himself another cup, Uncle Han said calmly:
"First, you must follow all my orders without hesitation."
Ni Tian scratched his head, feeling a little uneasy, but eventually replied:
"Fine, I promise."
Uncle Han took another sip before continuing:
"Second, no matter what happens, you must never use the skill I teach you for evil."
Ni Tian hadn't expected this condition, but he nodded seriously and said:
"I promise."
A satisfied smile appeared on Uncle Han's face as he said:
"Good. Now, let's continue our journey—we're running late."
He stood up and extinguished the fire, while Ni Tian also got up, puzzled.
"What about the other two promises?"
Turning toward him with a mysterious smile, Uncle Han replied:
"I'll tell you when we reach our destination. Also, from now on, you must call me 'Master.'"
Ni Tian raised an eyebrow mockingly and said:
"I think 'old man' suits you better."
In an instant, he heard a loud "Thud!" before feeling a sharp slap on his head, forcing him to take a step back.
"Ouch! Fine, fine! Master! Does that make you happy?!"
Uncle Han chuckled as Ni Tian put his clothes back on, and they continued their journey toward the city.
Bianjing City
After a long walk, the two finally arrived at Bianjing City, which was bustling with life. The streets were packed with people, merchants shouting excitedly about their goods, and women chatting about the latest city gossip.
Ni Tian looked around in awe. This was one of the cities near the Northern Heavenly Sect, and it was far more prosperous than he had imagined.
However, what truly surprised him was the respect the townspeople showed Uncle Han. Wherever they passed, people greeted him with deep reverence, as if he were an honored figure in the city.
Eventually, they left the market and entered a quieter district, where Uncle Han stopped in front of a large wooden building with a sign that read "The Northern Dragon Pillars."
Uncle Han smiled with pride and said:
"This is the place... Come, your true journey begins now!"
Ni Tian gazed at him, feeling that his future was about to change forever. What he didn't know was that stepping into this place would mark the beginning of a world beyond his imagination.