Soft morning fog curled along the surface of the lake, drifting like pale ribbons through the air. The first sunlight touched the waterfall, turning cascading water into threads of glowing gold.
Birds awakened one by one, their chirping faint but clear in the quiet valley.
Han Li opened his eyes.
He had no idea when he fell asleep—but he felt… different.
Calmer. Clear-headed.
He dressed quickly and stepped outside.
---
🩺 The Morning Ritual
As Han Li walked toward the main wooden platform, he paused.
Doctor Lu was already awake.
His long robe moved slightly in the morning breeze as he stood beside a large wooden tub filled with steaming herbal liquid. Several freshly ground herbs lay on a stone table nearby, their medicinal fragrance sharp and bitter.
Han Li approached and bowed.
"Master, good morning."
Doctor Lu didn't look up at first. He stirred the herbal bath slowly with a wooden rod, watching the medicinal steam rise.
Without expression, he spoke:
"Since I have taken you in… you may call yourself my disciple."
Han Li's eyes brightened—only for Doctor Lu to continue:
"But not fully."
Han Li blinked, stunned.
Doctor Lu finally met his gaze, eyes deep and unreadable.
"I will give you a cultivation mantra. If you can reach the first tier within one month… then you will truly become my final disciple."
Han Li's heart skipped.
One month?
Tier One?
That sounded impossibly short—yet something inside him burned with determination.
He lowered his head respectfully.
"…I will try my best."
Doctor Lu nodded slightly.
---
🛁 The Medicinal Bath Trial
"Undress," Doctor Lu instructed calmly. "You will memorize the mantra inside the herbal bath."
Han Li hesitated just a moment—then removed his robe and stepped toward the tub.
The moment his foot touched the water—
SZZZ—!!
A burning heat shot through his leg.
Han Li flinched.
Doctor Lu spoke sharply:
"Get in. The medicine loses effect if it cools."
Gritting his teeth, Han Li lowered himself into the tub.
The heat was overwhelming—like fire wrapping his bones.
His body trembled, breath quickening.
Doctor Lu began reciting:
> "Harmony is our nature."
Han Li repeated shakily.
"Ha-Harmony is… our nature."
> "Let the Dao flow through me."
"L-Let the Dao… flow through me…"
His skin reddened as if being boiled.
Sweat poured down his forehead.
> "Emptiness is the path to eternity."
"Emptiness… is the path… to eternity…"
> "Through non-action… we achieve eternal life."
Han Li clenched his fists underwater.
"Through… non-action… we… achieve… eternal… life…"
The heat grew fiercer—like invisible flames licking at his veins.
Finally, he couldn't hold back:
"Master—! It's too hot—it burns—!"
Doctor Lu didn't blink.
"My disciple," he said calmly, "pain is merely the barrier between the mortal body and cultivation."
Han Li gasped for breath.
"Repeat the mantra.
Focus—not on pain—
but on breath."
Han Li shut his eyes tightly.
He inhaled slowly.
Then again.
And again.
The world around him began to blur—water, heat, herbs, pain—all fading into a strange stillness.
Only the mantra remained.
His trembling lips slowly steadied:
> Harmony is our nature.
Let the Dao flow through me.
Emptiness is the path to eternity.
Through non-action, we achieve eternal life.
As the final words left his mouth…
Something faint and unseen stirred—
like a distant breeze brushing his heartbeat.
Doctor Lu's eyes flickered.
Good…
He said nothing—but in his gaze was approval… and a mysterious depth Han Li could not comprehend.
Here's the corrected, clean scene:
Time blurred.
The steam from the herbal bath thickened, the scent of crushed spirit herbs filling the small wooden room. Han Li's body trembled as he repeated the mantra, each word like tapping on a locked door inside his body.
His breathing steadied.
Then—
A sudden rush.
A warm current ignited inside his dantian, spreading through his meridians like water finally finding its path.
Doctor Lu, who had been lazily mixing herbs beside the tub, suddenly stiffened.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Wait."
He leaned forward, staring at Han Li with disbelief.
"That flow… that's—"
Han Li slowly opened his eyes.
A faint golden hue flickered within them before fading.
"Master… something feels different. My body feels… lighter."
Doctor Lu's Shock
Doctor Lu rushed forward and grabbed Han Li's wrist, almost too eagerly.
Han Li winced.
"Master—it hurts."
Doctor Lu ignored him, channeling a strand of Qi into Han Li.
His face slowly twisted—from doubt,
to amazement,
to pure excitement.
Then…
A low chuckle escaped him.
Followed by louder laughter.
And then full-blown madness.
"Hahahahaha! Heavens truly favor me!"
He released Han Li and straightened, eyes full of fire.
"My disciple—do you know what you have done?"
Han Li blinked, confused.
"…Did I fail?"
Doctor Lu barked a laugh.
"Fail? You've already reached Tier One of the Immortal Mantra!"
Han Li froze.
"…Already?"
Doctor Lu nodded proudly—yet there was something else in his gaze:
"You were supposed to take a month, child. A month of bitter suffering, medicine, and discipline."
He lifted his chin, voice trembling with excitement.
"But you—just four hours. Four. Hours."
Han Li's lips slowly curved into a smile.
"So… I can stay?"
Doctor Lu clapped a heavy hand on Han Li's shoulder.
"Not only stay—you are now officially my disciple."
Han Li bowed deeply.
"Disciple greets Master!"
For the first time, Doctor Lu's expression softened—not with kindness, but satisfaction.
"Good. Very good."
Han Li hesitated, then asked:
"Master… will you teach me medicine now?"
Doctor Lu placed both hands behind his back, cloak swaying like a scholar of great prestige.
"My good disciple… not only medicine. I will teach you cultivation, alchemy, martial arts—everything you are worthy of learning."
Han Li's eyes shone with determination.
His new path had begun.
As the warm medicinal steam still filled the dim wooden room, Han Li's body finally gave in. His breaths grew shallow, eyelids heavy, and his vision blurred until everything faded into darkness.
Doctor Lu caught him before he collapsed fully, his expression unreadable — a mix of triumph, greed, and something deeper.
"Good… very good," he murmured.
He lifted Han Li carefully — yet with a strange urgency — and carried him into a small room with a simple wooden bed. The mattress was thin, the sheets coarse, yet clean.
He laid the boy down gently.
For a moment, Doctor Lu simply stood there — watching — as though guarding a treasure rather than a disciple.
Then, with a final satisfied breath, he blew out the lamp and left.
Hours passed.
The night deepened.
Somewhere outside, frogs croaked softly near the riverbank, and the wind carried the scent of pine and wet moss.
Han Li finally stirred.
His fingers twitched first — then his eyes slowly opened.
He blinked in confusion at the wooden ceiling.
"…Where… am I?"
His body felt light — almost… refreshed — yet weak at the same time, as if energy had rushed through him too fast.
He sat up slowly.
The room was simple:
a wooden table, a small oil lamp, folded clothes placed neatly, and a window half-covered by bamboo curtains swaying in the night breeze.
Then—
creak.
The door opened.
Doctor Lu stepped inside, holding a lamp.
"You're awake."
Han Li lifted his gaze and nodded.
"Yes… Master. What… happened?"
Doctor Lu placed the lamp down and looked at him with a calm smile — one too practiced to read.
"You fainted. The medicinal bath was stronger than ordinary treatments. But it seems…"
he paused, eyes narrowing just slightly,
"…your body can handle it."
Han Li lowered his head, unsure whether to feel proud or embarrassed.
"…I'll work harder, Master."
Doctor Lu chuckled softly.
"No need to rush. Talent like yours… is rare. Rest for tonight."
Han Li nodded again.
"Yes."
Doctor Lu turned to leave — then paused at the doorway.
His voice lowered, almost gentle — yet there was an edge hidden beneath.
"Han Li… from today onward, your path will no longer belong to the ordinary world. Remember that."
He didn't wait for a reply.
He closed the door.
🌑 Alone in the Room
Silence returned.
Han Li rested his palm on his chest, feeling his heartbeat — strangely stronger, steadier.
His mind drifted back to the village, his parents, the promise of 200 silver taels.
And then…
The future.
The unknown.
He whispered softly to himself:
"…I won't disappoint anyone."
Then his thoughts fade.
Since he had no one to enjoy with he took out his three objects out and talked to them and tell, toady I reached tier 1 of imortal mantra and master acepted me completely.
After few talks han li kept the things in his robe and felt asleep.