"You're strong. Few people can survive alone. But why did you choose that? Why didn't you ask someone to take care of you?" Mei Lie asked. She wanted to understand what led Fang Yichi to live in solitude—and how the people of the village allowed it.
"Back then, I wanted to be independent… not rely on anyone. I was afraid of losing, overnight, anyone close to me. I grew up with that fear… one that pushed me away from people and made the wilderness my favorite place." Fang Yichi replied casually. It was the first time he had told anyone about it.
Mei Lie remained silent for a moment after hearing his words.
"I'm sorry for what you went through."
That was the only thing she could say. In the end, she opened her arms and called Fang Yichi. He was stunned but obeyed. As he got closer, he saw his master pull him against her chest and wrap her arms around him in a tight embrace.
"M-Master?" Fang Yichi spoke, confused, but didn't pull away. It was… comforting, to be honest. The last time he'd felt something like that was with his mother.
'Maternal love?' That thought made Fang Yichi smile. 'My master is taking the old saying too literally… but it's not a bad thing.'
He kept smiling, but deep down he knew this wasn't exactly good. He was an adult—and so was she.
"…"
Fang Yichi wanted to punch his own brain for thinking nonsense. Especially when he noticed the points of light.
Not going to lie: he had the urge to squeeze something big. He wanted to see her reaction. But he didn't. He wasn't that kind of person. Well… maybe a little indecent, yes, but respectful. Without permission, he would never do something like that.
Mei Lie, on the other hand, didn't think twice before pulling Fang Yichi into a hug. Her pure heart saw no malice in it. Her luck was that he was a kind person—if it were someone else, with the "diagram"… forget it.
"From now on, you're not alone anymore. Even if I'm strict. Like today, when I'll train you until you can barely move your body.
You won't be lonely anymore. And don't be afraid of me disappearing… your master is stronger than she looks. So, count on me, disciple." Mei Lie spoke in a gentle tone.
Fang Yichi looked up, and in that moment, only one thought crossed his mind:
'Now that's a woman!'
'Damn it! Don't ruin the moment, you cursed brain!' He scolded himself. One of the downsides of spending too much time alone was paranoia in his thoughts. Sometimes his mind would wander… over anything.
It was like playing with danger.
Laughing at sadness.
Smiling at disaster.
Fang Yichi was that kind of person.
"Thank you," he said, genuinely grateful. Another interesting thing about Fang Yichi was his ability to blend emotions. Of course, there were moments when it was impossible— like the thirst for power to bring his parents back or awkward situations too hard to disguise.
"Well… the sun's fully risen. Shall we begin training?"
"Yes." Fang Yichi pulled his face away, feeling a slight sense of loss. Sighing, he waited for the training to start.
"Follow me."
Mei Lie spoke and walked ahead, with slow steps. But when Fang Yichi tried to follow her, it seemed like the distance between them remained the same—no matter how fast or slow he walked.
'What the hell is this? Some cultivator spell?' Fang Yichi was puzzled, and in the next moment, just decided to follow her without trying to overtake.
Since he lived at the back of White Wolf Village, right next to his courtyard were the mountains. Following his master along the dirt trails, he entered the mountain range and saw several trees of different sizes. He kept moving forward, not knowing exactly how long he walked, until he reached a nearly ten-meter-tall hill made of rock.
Mei Lie jumped over it easily. Fang Yichi didn't. Seeing his master disappear at the top, he started thinking about how to climb it.
'Master, why didn't you carry me?' He was resentful. He looked around, searching for something to help him climb. After a long search, he found some vines.
"Rule number one for survival in the wilderness: know how to improvise." Following this advice, learned from his master in the past, he began tying the vines like a garlic head, forming a rope.
Much later, the green rope was ready. Fang Yichi, the builder, was exhausted — his entire body drenched in sweat.
'Making a vine rope is harder than it looks… especially when you have to twist it so the ends don't come undone.'
After resting for a good while, he looked up at the hilltop, searching for something sturdy to throw the rope onto.
After analyzing, he found something shining up there. He couldn't tell what it was — the distance was too great to see with the naked eye. But he smiled, glad to find a hold point.
Now came the challenge: would it hold? He wanted to test it. He spun the rope like a lasso and threw it high. His hand-eye coordination was excellent. During his years as a hunter, he had used a bow and arrow many times.
He hit the sharp object above and pulled down. To his surprise, it didn't break. To his relief, it felt firm. Smiling again, he began climbing, using the vine for support and placing his feet against the rock, ascending slowly.
Upon reaching the top, he realized the object the vine was hooked on was… a horn?
'How did this end up here? Of all places?' Fang Yichi felt something strange in the air. But he ignored it, even though he wanted to find out—he had no clue where to start.
Shifting his gaze downward, he saw a waterfall. The water was translucent, colorless. So clear it was possible to see the bottom with the naked eye.
He only knew it was a waterfall because of the sound of water falling.
'How's this possible? And why, after living here for eighteen years, have I never seen this place?'
Fang Yichi wasn't stupid. In that instant, he realized something was hiding this place from the outside world—and it had something to do with the woman down below…
'Master… you really are mysterious. I understand less and less about you.' His curiosity grew.
He grabbed the vine and threw it onto a tree below. In the next moment, he jumped, descending like a Russian shroud. The speed was terrifying, his black hair fluttering in the wind.
'This is so badass!'
It was the biggest adrenaline rush of his life—and he loved the feeling. When he reached the ground, he let go of the rope and fell straight into the water.
…Submerged in it, he noticed it was like normal water. Holding his breath, he swam to the surface. Because of the transparency, he had the illusion of flying.
When he emerged, he didn't feel much… except for the liquid that seemed to merge with his skin.
And then, as he approached the shore… the ground trembled.