Young Drako Yau had been training for half a year; it was a miracle that he was still sane.
Every day, he did the sa actions over and over againthrusting or slashing his wooden staff. When he was tired, hed sit down and feel the warm chi circulating within him. The reinvigorated feeling after extre exhaustion was the main reason keeping him from a complete ntal breakdown.
The nine-year-old was made to swing the wooden staff every day, only allowed to sit down to rest when he was tired, resuming after recovering. Apart from having als and sleeping at night, he did nothing but swing the staff. For half a year.
Drako Yau blad the heavens for leaving him in the hands of such a devil, but he never once blad his father. He mustve been tricked! If he knew Im being tortured like this, he wouldnt let the devil take away! He silently glared at the old geezer who was lying on a branch.
While the old geezer appeared to be asleep, Drako Yau didnt try his luck. He had attempted to escape thirty-four tis. Every ti, a core of the unknown fruit took him out before he could make his third step. He also tried slacking off twenty-eight tis when the old geezer was supposedly sleeping, but was also t with a core to the head every ti.
Soon, he no longer resisted. His gaze turned hollow while his body moved like a machine.
An emotion called despair was gradually eroding his mind.
No matter how much of a genius or talented Drako Yau was, he was just a nine-year-old before that.
However, he hadnt noticed sothing himself. As he subconsciously repeated the basic spear attacking motions, he had beco extrely proficient and skilled at it. His movents were flawless even when asured by the most delicate of electronic devices.
Then one day, Drako Yau stumbled accidentally when thrusting his wooden staff. He dropped to the ground with hollow eyes, then simply sat there with a face void of any emotions. He was soulless.
Strangely enough, the fruit thatd hit him every ti didnt arrive as expected. The old geezer sat on the tree and nodded as he looked at the childs despairing face.
That should do.
A pair of dirty feet appeared in Drako Yaus unfocused vision, but he couldnt respond at all.
The past six months had worn away the last bit of hope he had within him. Just like an apple, consud and rotten to its core, with nothing but the purest form of vitality remaining. His mind was a slither away from a total breakdownloss of sanity and consciousness, a living dead.
Suddenly, a sweet aroma wafted into his node.
Slls good Really good
Drako Yau felt like he had never slt such an appetising aroma. His nose twitchedthe sense of sll that was once lost finally returned.
Along with the tempting scent ca crackling sounds. It was the sound of flas crackling on the firewood. His sense of hearing was back.
His eyes that had turned dark were slowly regaining vigour, thanks to the bright red fla burning before him. A dancer dressed in red it was, exhausting its vitality in its final dance of brilliance. His sense of sight was back.
A boar was hung above the crackling fire. Its skin was roasted golden while it dripped oil, urging the red dancer below to amp up its performance. Drako Yaus mouth watered before he knew it.
A pair of skinny hands chopped a large chunk off the roasted boar and handed it to Drako Yau. He subconsciously received it, subconsciously placed it into his mouth, subconsciously started chewing.
Everything took place subconsciously. It was an innate function within him, almost like an underlying program operating in his head.
Juicy. Crunchy. His sense of taste was back.
The delicious at was like an explosion, its savoury taste bombarding his brain, breaking apart the barrier that sealed his consciousness out of despair. His soul was back.
His five senses had all returned. The corroded apple core had fallen into the soil and sprouted into a shoot, which would later grow into a tall apple tree.
Broken, and reborn.
Drako Yaus bright eyes were set on the old geezer who sat across the fire. The old geezer had a broad smile on his face as he said, Kiddo, welco back.
Just like that, the pair of old and young devoured the large boar.
Drako Yau, having lived in the First City, had tasted all sorts of delicacies, but the roasted boar felt like the best he had in his entire life. He ate so much that his stomach bulged. Normally, eating so much oily food after starving for so long would end up in a stomachache, but his body was as fit as a bull after practising the Vitality Mantra for half a year.
Drako Yau had oil all over his mouth while his eyes sparkled like a pair of bright stars in the night sky. The old geezer also sat casually without caring about his image. He didnt explain anything as silence took over, but Drako Yau already knew everything from his smile.
The old geezer had intentionally plunged him into despair to bring about the drastic change he went through today.
Why?
Drako Yau knew the old geezer did this for his sake, but he didnt understand why. He also realised sothing he hadnt noticed all this ti after regaining his soul.
For the past six months, he wasnt the only one who went through torture. The old geezer was also observing him the entire ti. When he hunted and ate fish, the old geezer still ate nothing but the sour fruit that almost tasted acidic.
Training the body isnt that difficult, but tempering the mind is harder than reaching the skies, the old geezer said slowly. His sluggish voice was a stark contrast to the devilish cold tone back then. Even at your age, Im sure youve noticed that youve changed. It only worked because of your young age. Once youve entered secondary school, youre half a step into society, and once your childish innocence is lost, this could hardly work.
Drako Yau shook his head. Im asking why.
The old geezer simply shrugged. Of course he heard the kids question. Youre not qualified to know yet. Think of it as your father entrusting you to for now. Now sleep, the real training begins tomorrow.
The old geezer quickly disappeared from the spot. Drako Yau looked up as usual, and as he had expected, the old geezer was sound asleep on a branch. Drako Yau also closed his eyes; while todays training wasnt harsh, the ntal overhaul put a heavy strain on his mind.
When the old geezer heard Drako Yaus soft and rhythmic breathing, he opened his eyes and smiled.
Good, he has grasped the Vitality Mantra already. Its passively circulating even when hes asleep. This kiddo He has a strong mind. I broke in two months back then
But that was a story for another ti. The old geezer closed his eyes again. For the first ti in six months, he was finally getting so sleep. He had been focused on observing Drako Yau and keeping watch of his physical and ntal states the entire ti without taking any breaks.
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