"Your father," Adrian said solemnly, "was known as the Midnight Sage."
The na struck like lightning. I stood there, blood trickling from my wounds, barely registering the pain as the words echoed in my mind.
"The Midnight Sage," I repeated slowly, testing the na of the man who had given life. "What kind of person was he?"
Adrian's eyes grew distant. "A man beyond asure. His power... I've never witnessed anything like it, before or since."
My heart hamred in my chest. Finally, after years of emptiness, I was getting answers about my origins.
"Did he—" I began, but Adrian raised his hand.
"You're agitated. Let's sit." He gestured to a nearby log. "I'll tell you what I know."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts, and limped over to the makeshift seat. My body ached from our battle, but the physical pain paled compared to the storm of emotions raging inside .
"Your father appeared in my life when I was at my lowest," Adrian began once we were seated. "He said he saw potential in —potential others had missed. He gave a choice and an opportunity."
"What opportunity?" I asked, leaning forward eagerly.
Adrian reached into his robes and produced a small wooden box. "This."
He opened it to reveal three dried leaves, dark green with golden veins running through them. They emanated a faint, otherworldly aura.
"Enlightennt Tea," he explained. "Your father gave ten leaves. Three were ant for you."
I stared at the unassuming leaves. "What does it do?"
"It transford ," Adrian said, his voice hushed with reverence. "I was stuck at the Master Realm for decades. After drinking tea made from a single leaf, I broke through to the Grandmaster Realm within a month."
My eyes widened. The implications were staggering. "A single leaf did that?"
Adrian nodded. "Your father said they were cultivated in a realm beyond our understanding. He called them 'fragnts of enlightennt.'" Thanks for reading—brought to you by *.
I reached toward the box, but Adrian gently closed it before I could touch the leaves.
"Where is he now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know," Adrian admitted. "After giving the leaves and training for three years, he disappeared. That was nearly twenty years ago."
Disappointnt crushed through like a wave. So close, yet still so far from answers.
"Did he ever ntion a woman? My mother?" I pressed.
Adrian shook his head. "He was intensely private about his personal life. All I know is that he spoke once of leaving behind a legacy greater than himself. I believe he ant you."
I clenched my fists, frustrated by the cryptic nature of it all. "And the tea? When can I have it?"
"Tomorrow," Adrian replied. "The leaves must be handled with specific rituals. They're currently stored in a secure location in River North. I'll take you there."
I nodded, eager for any connection to my father, however tenuous.
"There's sothing else you should know," Adrian added, his expression grave. "The technique you used—the Absolute Beginning Sacred Fist—it's only the first layer of a nine-layer technique. Your father mastered all nine."
Nine layers? I had struggled for months to even activate the first layer correctly. The gap between my father and suddenly seed insurmountable.
"Can you teach the other layers?" I asked.
"No. I only mastered the first three," Adrian admitted. "The remaining layers were beyond my capability. Your father said only those with his bloodline could truly master all nine."
A bloodline technique. Sothing uniquely mine by birthright. I felt a strange mix of pride and pressure weighing on my shoulders.
"I'm still weak," I said bitterly, rembering how easily Adrian had overwheld . "Against fast opponents or distance fighters, I'm practically helpless."
Adrian rose to his feet. "That's because you've focused solely on your strengths without addressing your weaknesses. The Enlightennt Tea will help, but it's not a substitute for proper training."
He extended his hand. "Tomorrow, River North. I'll co for you at dawn."
I clasped his hand firmly. "I'll be ready."
After Adrian left, I remained seated, my mind churning with revelations. The Midnight Sage. A na without a face, yet it filled a void in my heart I hadn't fully acknowledged.
A commotion near the inn's entrance disrupted my thoughts. Several people with caras and recording devices were trying to get past the guards. The afternoon's events had apparently drawn attention.
"Mr. Knight! Just a few questions about the tournant!" a woman called out, waving frantically.
I sighed and walked over, maintaining a polite but firm deanor. "No interviews today. Please respect my privacy."
Most of them grumbled but dispersed. The woman who had called out lingered, her determined expression suggesting she wouldn't give up easily.
"Another ti," I told her before heading back inside.
I had just started ditating to recover from my injuries when a familiar voice called from outside my door.
"Liam! You won't believe what happened today!"
Eamon Greene burst into my room, his face flushed with excitent. His training clothes were covered in dirt and sweat, but his eyes sparkled with vitality.
"What is it?" I asked, sowhat amused by his enthusiasm.
"I found this amazing spot in the forest where qi is so concentrated you can practically see it!" Eamon exclaid, gesturing wildly. "My cultivation speed doubled! You have to co see it!"
Despite my preoccupation with thoughts of my father and tomorrow's journey, I couldn't help but smile at Eamon's boundless energy.
"That's impressive," I acknowledged. "How's your technique coming along?"
"Better! I can maintain the energy flow for nearly ten minutes now without—"
A sharp knock at the door interrupted him. Eamon, being closest, opened it without asking.
"Mr. Smith, there's a busty girl looking for you!" he shouted over his shoulder, grinning mischievously.
I looked up to see the persistent female reporter standing in the doorway, her face flushing red at Eamon's blunt description.
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