Then, an exhale.

No matter how much of a talent or innate advantage Nysalea possessed, it was not the same as what Selene and Riven had experienced.

They had once stood beneath the sky as it tore open; literally.

A portal had split the very fabric of the heavens, and from that gash in reality, energy of a higher world poured down upon them like divine baptism.

Yin and yang, gold and silver, all descended together in blinding streams.

But for Nysalea…..

It was the culmination of something quieter. Her body was refining power, extremely old, dense power, from a 500-year-old serpent, and even that did not grant immediate transcendence.

It took time.

Her body, her blood, her core… everything was still processing the gallbladder's contents.

So, Riven and Selene didn't force the moment.

With a last glance at the now-peaceful Nysalea, the two stepped away from the center of the room.

Riven moved to the door and gently opened it. The soft creak of the wooden frame was the only sound. Selene followed silently.

Then, without a word, Riven turned and closed the door behind them.

He locked it.

Nysalea's transformation had begun, and until it was finished, no one was allowed to interfere.

Once they left the quiet of the chamber, the contrast was immediate.

Outside, the inn's courtyard was alive with happy chaos.

The smell of sizzling serpent meat filled the air.

Spices, oils, and herbs mingled with the heavy, rich aroma of roasted flesh.

The massive carcass of the ancient Pusiqu snake had been sectioned; each part laid out on chopping blocks, racks, or enormous iron skillets.

Flames danced beneath the woks. Smoke curled upward in thin plumes. A wave of heat rippled through the courtyard.

Everywhere, people were moving.

Guards hauled bones and limbs.

Stewards barked playful complaints at each other about who was working harder. Suyin stood over a boiling cauldron, adding dried mushrooms and green onion while wiping her brow.

Liam, ever scholarly, even with sleeves rolled up, carefully arranged meat slices on flat rocks to sun-dry for preservation.

Azira, Riven's little maid, darted between them, her sleeves tied up and cheeks flushed, throwing orders like she ran the whole operation.

The guards and stewards acted like they followed the little ancestor's commands as laughter rang out.

A few of the guards were already taste-testing tiny bits of snake skin cooked crispy, eyes wide with disbelief at the flavor.

And why not?

This was no ordinary beast.

Even a single fucking scale from the serpent could be sold at auction as a high earth-tier crafting material.

To cultivators, even the tiniest sliver of such flesh was a treasure, used for armors, talismans, even pills.

To cook an entire one and eat it casually like a backyard roast? It was lunacy. Delicious, glorious lunacy.

Riven walked forward into the commotion, Selene just behind him. A few stewards saw him and immediately straightened their postures.

But Riven only waved his hand and gave a nod of approval.

He was pleased.

It wasn't about the food. It was the moment. This warmth. This laughter. This chaos.

They had all suffered for him. They had all fought for him. Now, they deserved to celebrate.

After checking in with the guards and exchanging a few light-hearted words with the stewards about portioning and spice control.

Liam, in particular, was nearly in tears over the misuse of precious marrow stock.

Riven looked around and spotted Azira skipping between tables, barking a few orders at older men three times her size.

He smiled faintly.

"Azira," he called.

She turned around immediately, her eyes lighting up. "Yes, master?"

"Come with me, sweetie."

Selene joined them as they stepped aside from the bustling feast area, walking toward the quieter edge of the courtyard under the shadow of a large banyan tree.

The sound of oil popping and fire cracking faded a little as they distanced themselves.

Riven turned to face her.

He crouched, so he was eye level with the little girl.

"You did a lot today," he said. "Always moving, always helping. You've been shining brightly since the day you joined us."

Azira beamed. "Of course! That's because I'm the best in the entire kingdom!"

Selene chuckled beside them, ruffling her hair.

Riven chuckled as well, then his tone shifted. Nothing heavy, but serious.

"You're not here to be just a maid," he said.

"You're also my disciple. And that means your path won't stop here. I want you to grow strong. Strong enough to follow me. To protect others the way I protect you."

Azira blinked. Then she nodded slowly, eyes wide.

"You… you mean martial arts training?" she asked, suddenly shy.

Riven ruffled her hair gently.

"That's exactly what I mean. But not just throwing punches or swinging blades.

Real training. Understanding what martial arts really are. What does cultivation mean? How the body changes, how the spirit is molded."

Selene brushed a hand across Azira's shoulder. "You have potential, little sister. So much of it. But power without guidance is just wasted energy. We're going to teach you. Bit by bit."

Azira looked up at both of them.

Riven, her big brother. Her lord. Her master.

Selene, her goddess. Her sister.

And something inside her warmed.

"I'll work really hard," she said. "I promise."

"We know," Riven replied, and sat down cross-legged. Now's the time to explain her training.

The wind rustled softly through the great branches above, carrying the scent of roasted meat and spice from the courtyard, where laughter still echoed and oil still sizzled.

Beneath the shade of the ancient banyan tree, the world was a tad more peaceful.

Riven sat with his legs folded, back straight, arms relaxed on his knees. His posture was calm, but his eyes were focused, intent.

Selene sat beside him, elegant and poised, her gaze gentle but sharp, like a mother tiger watching her cub take its first steps toward the wild.

Azira sat in front of them, her small body straight as a spear. Her eyes were wide. Curious. Innocent. And eager.

She was trying to hide it, but her fingers nervously twisted the ends of her sleeves.

Riven looked at her for a long moment without speaking. He sorted out what he had to tell her in his mind and then spoke.

"Azira." Riven said.

"This training regimen will last for three years. You're eleven years old now. So, your real martial arts training will start when you're fourteen. Most people start at the age of ten… but don't think you're late."

He paused for a moment and continued, "The training regimen I have created is extremely important in building the body of a martial artist. Once this is done… if you can endure, you will be strong. That is my promise. Okay?"

Her mouth parted slightly. But nodded with trust.

Riven continued.

"This isn't because I want a bodyguard. It's not because I want a combat maid or a shadow hound at my heels.

You might hear things like that one day. People will assume it. Even I, in my weakest thoughts, have thought it once or twice. I'm not proud of that. But I'm human after all."

He paused.

"And even with that darkness in me… this is not why I'm doing this."

He leaned forward slightly, and his voice lowered.

"I simply want to make sure that everyone who puts their trust in me is rewarded manifold.

I want to uncover every drop of brilliance hidden in your bones. I want to make sure that no matter where you go in this life, no one, not fate, not bloodline, not men with power, can tell you what you can or can't be."

Azira's lips trembled slightly. She didn't know what to say. So she didn't say anything.

She was only 11 years old. How would she know the weight of those words?

"You have three years," Riven said. "In those three years, you are going to learn and master ten disciplines. These ten pillars will form the unshakable root of your future path."

This training regimen was inspired by the initial martial arts experience the system had put him through and by the information from his time on earth. He held up one finger.

"One. Serpent Coil Pulse work – Breath work and tendon expansion. This helps expand tendons, strengthen ligaments, and initiate bone marrow nourishment. Strengthens spine and root."

Two. Storm Hide Ritual Tempering – Enhances skin and pain tolerance. It teaches you how to endure. Most importantly, it trains the most surface-level meridians under the skin."

Three. World-Spine Harmony Drill – Your posture and body alignment. If you're crooked inside, your power will always leak out. This training will make sure you hold body stability even in the worst conditions.

Four. Dragon Lung Sealing Method – Breathing. Expands lung capacity, strengthens the diaphragm, and begins internal breath-to-energy sensitivity.

Five. The Thirty-Six Flame Strikes – The art of striking. You will learn how to connect your strikes in the form of a chain, from every angle, under every form of pressure.

Six. Heaven Rebounds Below foot – Falling, rolling, and rising. Because no matter how strong you become, you will fall. And you must know how to rise and never fear falling.

Seven. Steel-Heart Lotus Vigil – Stillness under pressure. Holding full mental focus. Facing discomfort without breaking your focus.

Eight. Mountain-Root Tension Form – Performing slow strikes and movements while contracting every muscle in sequence.

Nine. Shadow Listening Protocol – Sensing the world without sight. Feeling intent. Feeling hostility. Even if all your senses are lost, you're still not helpless."

Then he raised both hands and rested them on his knees.

"And ten. The most… MOST important of all. Inner Flame Script."

He said it slowly. Carefully.

Azira tilted her head. "What's… that?"

Riven looked her directly in the eyes. "A diary."

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