After Chief Jack left, Wu Lan finished his final stretches. His breathing was steady, his muscles warm from the morning's routine.
He stood quietly in the clearing, looking toward the rising sun. Tomorrow was the Awakening Ceremony. It would change everything, but today was still his. And today, he wanted something special.
"I'll have fish," he murmured to himself. "Good protein… better recovery."
He had read somewhere, in a book from his old world, that proper nutrition could affect the growth of a child's meridians and soul roots. Maybe it was superstition, maybe not. But after two lives, Wu Lan knew one thing: preparation never hurt.
He washed his hands, packed a small net and bamboo spear, then set out toward the river that curled gently behind the village, its waters cool and full of life.
As Wu Lan passed a rocky bend, he paused.
There, above him, sitting perfectly still atop the mountain ridge, was a boy.
Tang San. The protagonist of Douluo Continent.
His legs were crossed, back straight, hands resting lightly on his knees. His eyes were half-closed, but not asleep. His expression was serene. Focused.
Wu Lan recognized the posture immediately.
Purple Demon Eye. Xuan Tian Record.
The most powerful cultivation method from his past life's memories of this world. Ancient. Refined. Ruthless. With it, even a child could break through the limits of ordinary talent and reach innate full soul power.
Tang San had No rich meals. No rare herbs. Yet there he was, training before dawn while others still slept.
Wu Lan stood quietly in the grass, watching.
"So that's how," he thought. "The Xuan Tian Record transcends physical limitations, ignoring nutrition, physique, and even bloodline, by harnessing the purest essence of nature itself for cultivation."
Tang San's cultivation was methodical, almost meditative. The boy's brow furrowed slightly, a silver gleam flashing through his pupils.
At that moment, Tang San opened his eyes.
Sharp. Focused. The purple light faded quickly, but the alertness in his gaze remained.
He turned his head slightly, eyes locking onto Wu Lan's position.
A moment of tension. Measured silence.
Then, recognition.
Tang San's expression softened, just a little. He stood and made his way down the slope with quiet steps.
"What are you doing here, Brother Wu Lan?" Tang San asked, his tone polite, his expression innocent, but a flicker of wariness lingered in his eyes.
It didn't escape Wu Lan's notice.
"Felt like having fish today. Good morning, Little San," Wu Lan replied with a gentle smile.
"Morning, Brother Wu Lan," Tang San said, smiling back.
There was a pause.
Wu Lan studied the boy's face, noting the faint tension in his shoulders, the subtle way his fingers curled at his side, like a blade half-drawn.
He was cautious. Too cautious.
"Have you completed your training?" Wu Lan asked casually.
Tang San nodded. "Just watching the sunrise," he said.
Another pause. Then he added, "Thank you for the rice, Brother Wu Lan. They help."
"You're welcome," Wu Lan replied, as soft and steady as always.
Inside, his thoughts moved quickly.
He's wary of me. A six-year-old orphan with no spirit power yet. And still, he stands like a soldier watching a battlefield.
Wu Lan smiled inwardly.
I still can't believe the boy in front of me will one day destroy Slaughter City, shake the foundations of Spirit Hall, and walk over the corpses of saints and sinners alike.
"What were you training on?" Wu Lan asked, tilting his head slightly. "I thought I saw mist coming out of your mouth."
"You must've imagined it," Tang San replied lightly, his vigilance rising another notch. "Just breathing. Watching the sunrise. Nothing more."
Wu Lan listened to his tone—calm, rehearsed, polite.
And completely false.
If I press him... he might kill me to silence me.I tried a few things in the past, befriending him, giving him rice to gain his Gratitude, but he never mentioned the Xuan Tian Record. Still keeps that same little wariness in his eyes. Classic double standard guy.
Chief Jack helped him so many times and got nothing in return. Ungrateful.
As Wu Lan's stomach growled, his thoughts drifted back to fish.
"I should hurry to the river," he said with an embarrassed laugh.
Tang San gave a nod. "Bye, Brother Wu Lan."
Wu Lan continued toward the river.
The water was clear and cool beneath the shade of tall trees. Wu Lan crouched on a flat stone, watching the fish swim lazily beneath the surface. He waited patiently, breathing slowly.
With one quick motion, he speared a fat, silver-scaled fish, pulled it from the stream, and placed it in his basket.
He caught two more, cleaned them, then roasted them over a small fire by the bank. The scent of fresh herbs and fish rose with the steam, curling into the afternoon breeze.
He ate slowly, enjoying the warmth in his stomach.
The protein helped. He could feel it already.
After the meal, he stretched once more, performed a second round of body training, then walked home under the soft light of dusk.
The village was quiet when he returned.
Tomorrow morning, everything would change.
He closed his eyes.
And slept.
The night passed in silence.
When Wu Lan woke, the sky outside was still dim.
He washed his face with cold water, tied his long white hair behind his back with a strip of cloth, and stepped outside.
The village was still asleep.
He liked it this way.
The silence before the day began. The stillness before things changed.
He did not train that morning.
His muscles were still sore from yesterday, but that wasn't the reason. Today wasn't for building strength. Today was for seeing what fate had given him.
He sat by the window for a while, eating a small bowl of rice and greens. Nothing heavy. Just enough to settle his stomach.
Then he stood and walked toward the center of the village.
As he passed familiar homes, a few doors opened. Villagers peeked out, smiling softly at him.
"Good luck, Wu Lan," one woman said, arms full of laundry.
"You'll do fine," said an old man with a cane.
He greeted each of them politely, a gentle smile on his face and gratitude in his voice.
When he reached the village square, he saw a few other children already gathered. Most of them around his age, their faces a mix of nerves and excitement. Some wore new clothes. Others clung to their parents' hands.
Chief Jack stood near the front, speaking with a tall man in light silver robes.
The man wore the badge of Spirit Hall.
His expression was cold, but not cruel. His posture, straight as a blade. He held a scroll in one hand and a crystal orb in the other.
Wu Lan stood at the edge of the group, silent.
Tang San was there too, standing off to the side. Alone. As always.
Their eyes met briefly. Tang San gave a small nod. Wu Lan returned it.
Chief Jack clapped his hands to gather attention.
"All right, little ones. Today is the day you've been waiting for. The Spirit Hall representative will begin the Awakening soon. Just line up, and don't be afraid. No matter what kind of spirit you awaken, the village will be proud of you."
The children murmured, adjusting their clothes, whispering to each other.
Wu Lan's heart beat calmly in his chest.
It wasn't fear. More like… quiet curiosity. A closed door about to open.
He had waited two years for this.
The Spirit Hall man glanced over the group with mild interest, then unfurled the scroll.
"One by one," he said. "Name, then step forward."
The ceremony was about to begin.
And Wu Lan was ready.