Uncle Han stood up from his seat after lunch and gestured for Ni Tian to follow him.
The two walked out into the outer courtyard, where the sun reflected off the stone-paved ground.
On a simple wooden table, Hao Ran had prepared the food.
Hao Ran looked at Ni Tian with a mischievous gaze and said mockingly:
"Come on, beggar, don't let the food get cold."
Ni Tian laughed and responded with equal sarcasm, keeping his composure:
"As you command, Princess Face."
Hao Ran was about to respond, but Uncle Han's hearty laugh cut him off. In his booming voice, he said:
"Enough chatter, boys. Let's eat. Hao Ran, did you give Di Xian her share of the food?"
Hao Ran raised an eyebrow and replied:
"Yes, sir. I brought it to her just a while ago."
"Good."
They all began eating. The food was simple but delicious. Despite the suspicious glances Hao Ran kept throwing at the new guest, he didn't say more.
After finishing the meal, Uncle Han set down his chopsticks and said:
"Hao Ran, take Ni Tian to his room and get him some clothes."
Hao Ran stood up lazily and motioned for Ni Tian to follow him.
They returned to the main building, where Hao Ran began explaining the rooms one by one: the meditation hall, the basics library, the inner training ground…
But as they approached one of the side corridors, Hao Ran suddenly stopped and quickly turned away.
Ni Tian looked at him with suspicion and teased:
"What's wrong, Princess Face? Did you see a ghost?"
Hao Ran pointed to the closed corridor and replied:
"That wing belongs to Lady Di Xian. Don't go near it, or even think about it. Got it?"
Ni Tian raised his hands in surrender and said calmly with a smile:
"Alright, alright. No need to explode with anger."
Hao Ran didn't reply. He just continued walking until they reached a medium-sized room. Ni Tian stepped inside, and Hao Ran left to fetch the clothes.
Ni Tian quietly examined the room… it had a simple desk, an old cabinet, and several scattered scrolls on the table, but he didn't care. All he needed was a moment of rest.
Hao Ran returned minutes later, carrying new clothes, and pointed to the bathroom:
"Clean yourself properly. We don't want the smell of blood spreading around here."
Sssshhh...
The hot water wrapped around his body as if washing away the sins of his past. Ni Tian sat in the stone tub, staring at the palm of his hand. Although he had bathed in the river earlier, the stains of blood still made him feel filthy.
"I killed them..."
He whispered to himself.
Images of their faces crept back to him: fear, pleading, tears... their voices begging him for mercy.
"Why did I lose control? What was that?"
He closed his eyes and submerged his face in the water, trying to bury the memory beneath the surface of stillness.
He emerged, dried off, and put on the new clothes.
He opened the room's door to find Uncle Han standing there, arms crossed, waiting.
"Thought you'd drowned in there, boy."
Ni Tian smiled and replied confidently:
"I won't die that easily, master."
Uncle Han pointed toward him and said:
"Now, your training begins… in the Northern Dragon Hall."
Ni Tian grinned with excitement and said:
"Finally! Show me what you've got, old man!"
Uncle Han laughed, then suddenly stopped and asked in a serious tone:
"Do you know how to read?"
Ni Tian stepped back a bit and answered curiously:
"Yes… why do you ask?"
[To be continued...]