Back at the village—
Inside the quiet room—
Lían sat cross-legged upon the floor.
His eyes remained closed.
Spiritual energy slowly circulated through his meridians.
A faint trace of green spiritual light surrounded his body.
Earlier—
he had consumed a spiritual herb he had found deep within the forest.
The herb wasn't particularly valuable.
But—
its spiritual energy was pure enough to provide him with another boost.
Lían calmly guided the energy through his meridians.
One circulation.
Then another.
The spiritual energy gradually merged with his cultivation.
Time slowly passed.
Eventually—
Lían's breathing became steady.
The spiritual energy surrounding his body slowly dissipated.
His crimson eyes opened.
A faint gleam flashed within them.
Lían exhaled.
"...Not bad."
He stretched his fingers.
The energy within his body felt noticeably stronger than before.
*That spiritual herb helped quite a bit.*
He could clearly feel that his cultivation had advanced.
Yet—
he still hadn't broken through.
Lían frowned slightly.
*I'm close.*
*Very close.*
His gaze lowered.
His mind immediately recalled the past several nights.
Every night—
after everyone in the village had gone to sleep—
he would quietly leave.
He would enter the forest.
Then—
he would cultivate using the Blood Nourishing Art.
He had absorbed the remaining life force from several demon beasts.
But—
most of them had only been First or Second Stage.
There had been fewer Third Stage beasts.
And—
he still hadn't encountered a Fourth Stage demon beast.
Lían sighed.
*If I had found a few more powerful beasts...*
*I probably would've broken through already.*
His expression became thoughtful.
He could feel the bottleneck.
It wasn't particularly strong.
Another accumulation of spiritual energy—
and he should be able to cross it.
But—
something else had become increasingly clear to him.
*The weaker the creature...*
*The less useful its life force is.*
Absorbing the life force of a First Stage beast could strengthen him.
But—
the improvement was small.
Second Stage beasts provided more.
Third Stage beasts provided considerably more.
As for a Fourth Stage beast—
Lían could only imagine how much stronger the effect would be.
His eyes narrowed.
*If I want to grow quickly...*
*I need stronger targets.*
The thought lingered.
But—
Lían didn't intend to recklessly hunt something far beyond his current strength.
His current cultivation was only at the Third Stage of Spirit Refining.
Even with his physique and techniques—
there were limits.
*I'll take what I can get.*
*As long as I keep accumulating...*
*I'll eventually break through.*
Lían slowly stood.
His joints cracked softly.
He glanced toward the window.
Morning light had already begun entering the room.
He had spent another night cultivating.
Lían adjusted his clothes.
Then—
he walked toward the door.
*I should go see Mother.*
He opened the door.
The quiet corridor appeared before him.
Lían stepped outside.
His footsteps echoed softly through the residence as he headed toward his mother's room.
For now—
cultivation could wait.
There were other things he needed to take care of.
Lían walked through the corridor.
The residence was already awake.
Faint voices came from the courtyard.
The smell of cooked food drifted through the air.
Lían followed it.
Before long—
he reached the small room where his mother stayed.
He raised his hand.
**Knock. Knock.**
"Mother?"
A moment passed.
Then—
her voice came from inside.
"Lían?"
The door opened.
His mother looked at him.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"You're awake."
Lían nodded.
"Good morning, Mother."
She stepped aside.
"Come in."
Lían entered.
His mother closed the door behind him.
She looked at him carefully.
"You've been cultivating again, haven't you?"
Lían paused.
"...A little."
His mother sighed softly.
"You've only recently returned."
"You should rest more."
Lían smiled.
"I know."
"But I'm fine."
His mother looked at him for several moments.
Then—
she reached up and lightly touched his hair.
"You've grown so much."
Lían blinked.
"Hmm?"
She smiled.
"Not just your height."
"Everything."
"Your eyes."
"Your expression."
"Even the way you carry yourself."
Lían became silent.
His mother withdrew her hand.
"For the past year..."
"I kept wondering when you'd come home."
Her voice became quieter.
"When you finally appeared..."
"I almost didn't recognize you."
Lían's expression softened.
"I'm sorry."
His mother shook her head.
"Don't apologize."
"As long as you're safe..."
"That's enough."
Lían nodded.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
his mother looked at him again.
"So..."
"What were you doing all morning?"
Lían thought about the spiritual herb.
"Just cultivating."
His mother frowned slightly.
"Again?"
Lían smiled awkwardly.
"I've been making progress."
She studied his expression.
Then—
she sighed.
"You really are like your father."
Lían froze slightly.
His mother's expression softened.
"He was always like this."
"Whenever he decided he wanted something..."
"He wouldn't stop until he got it."
Lían lowered his gaze.
"...I see."
His mother smiled faintly.
"Just don't push yourself too hard."
"I won't."
Lían nodded.
Then—
his gaze shifted toward the small table beside her bed.
The defensive artifact he had received from Wa Shi was there.
His expression became serious.
"Mother."
She looked at him.
"What is it?"
"I want you to keep that jade talisman with you whenever you leave."
His mother glanced at it.
"The Village Head gave this to you?"
Lían shook his head.
"He gave it to me for you."
"For me?"
"Yes."
His mother picked up the talisman.
She examined the spiritual patterns carefully.
"It looks valuable."
"It is."
Lían's expression became serious.
"That's why I want you to keep it."
His mother looked at him.
For several moments—
she didn't speak.
Then—
she smiled.
"You've become quite protective."
Lían scratched his cheek.
"You're my mother."
"Of course I am."
She carefully placed the talisman away.
"I'll keep it."
Lían nodded.
Then—
he hesitated.
"There is something else."
His mother looked at him.
"What?"
Lían's expression became slightly awkward.
"The Village Head..."
His mother immediately understood.
"Ah."
Lían stared.
"You know?"
She smiled.
"He already told me."
Lían's face twitched.
"...About the engagement?"
His mother nodded.
Lían sighed.
Inside—
*I still can't believe he actually suggested that.*
His mother chuckled softly.
"You seem quite troubled by it."
"I'm only ten."
"Exactly."
She smiled.
"You don't need to worry about something like that right now."
Lían looked at her.
"So I don't have to agree?"
"Of course not."
His mother shook her head.
"That's something you'll decide when you're older."
Lían visibly relaxed.
"...Good."
His mother laughed.
"Why do you look so relieved?"
Lían quickly looked away.
"Nothing."
She shook her head.
Then—
her expression became more serious.
"Lían."
"Hmm?"
"About the forest..."
She hesitated.
"You won't be going there alone again, will you?"
Lían remained silent.
His mother's gaze sharpened.
"You disappeared for an entire year."
"I don't want you disappearing again."
Lían looked at her.
For a moment—
he didn't know what to say.
He couldn't tell her about his nightly cultivation.
Nor could he explain why he needed to become stronger.
Eventually—
he smiled.
"I'll be careful."
His mother stared at him.
"That's not what I asked."
Lían sighed.
"I won't go too far."
She continued watching him.
Then—
she finally nodded.
"Promise me."
Lían's expression softened.
"I promise."
His mother smiled.
"Good."
Outside—
voices could be heard from the courtyard.
Someone was calling for the morning meal.
Lían glanced toward the door.
His mother noticed.
"Let's go."
She stood.
"You're probably hungry."
Lían nodded.
"Actually..."
His stomach quietly growled.
**Grrrr—**
Silence.
His mother stared at him.
Lían froze.
Then—
she burst into laughter.
Lían's face reddened.
"...I guess I am."
His mother smiled.
"Come on."
The two left the room together.