Along the way, his friends begged him to teach them the technique he created, but this time - though it was rare for him to keep his techniques from even his brothers - he declined.

“This skill requires a fire rune within your body to activate. I could teach you but, without it to help you control the power, you’ll end up looking like that tree,” he pointed.

And the runes within my body seemed… unique.

Kairos did not know why but he feels that no matter the Starfire Array or the Nine Heavens Frost Array that is resting in his Dantian is not something another person could develop.

It was not the existence of runes in one’s Dantian that is unique but something about the arrays itself.

When he taught the Starfire rune to his friends previously, there were no dragons of pure Ki that appeared, nor did it do anything for them except circulating their Ki.

The others shuddered when they heard his reply. It is one thing when the target of his attack is a tree but imagining the gore when a being of flesh and blood implodes sends chills down their spines. Even still, their curiosity did not fade in the least and they asked how he created it.

Perhaps learning how Kairos creates combat arts would give them their own revelation in the future. Except, of course, at that time they will create something less horrifying.

“At the start, I toyed around with the fire’s nature to consume things, but without a medium, the power is lacklustre. So… I directed another source to feed the flames, the tree itself.

For that, I kind of tried using the gravity-orientated concept from Jim’s Secret Art, but the effect was much more than what I expected, as you’ve seen.”

Well, technically energy fields instead of magnetic fields… but the concepts are the same.

“T…tried… using my Secret Art?! You mean you can use it?!!”

Kairos returned with a sheepish smile, but he never answered. Technically, he dabbled in the logic behind each Secret Art. Once he can understand it, creating similar techniques becomes possible. Unfortunately, it is hard to explain his ability to formulate new combat arts and cultivation methods. Kairos knows that this is far more astounding than to be able to use someone else’s Secret Art and it is better to change the conversation topic.

“I just experimented with things. Unexpectedly, the result was pretty good, and the Ki consumption is pretty efficient.”

Although the great oak was turned into dust, the energy he used was in fact only a small pocket of Ki used as catalyst.

Vouno who was listening carefully from the side, promptly stepped in. With crossed arms, he sternly warned the boys, “I advise you boys not to attempt something foolish like this. Unless you are very certain what you are doing creating new techniques is playing with fire. Even one wrong move in the process, your Ki will backflow and cause permanent damage to your Ki Centre.”

“Uncle, then how are combat arts and cultivation methods created?”

The confused boys asked. They always thought these things are made from trial and error, and although that is not wrong, they underestimated just how perilous the process was. If their predecessors were not forced to a corner or had sufficient certainty of success, they would not have dabbled into making a new martial technique. Moreover, the creation process is a lifetime of study and tests, unlike what Kairos did that can only be called a reckless abandon.

Vouno explained all these to the lads, especially sternly to his son. Only after Kairos insisted repeatedly that he had an instinctual direction on making the combat art did Vouno turn silent. The father was not so easily convinced, but he vaguely remembered that his son had modified the Origin Cultivation Method for all of them and then he credited all this to talent.

His son is indeed exceptional!

The little group continued two weeks of their hell march, only thrown onto the back of the wyrm like lifeless corpses whenever they reached their brink.

The great beast itself proved capable of moving all of them on its back without need for rest, its draconic bloodlines gave it an endurance that far surpassed a normal mount.

Aisa once said that however diluted are the blood of those that descended from true dragons, they would still show a glimpse of the might belonging to the sovereign of all divine beasts. The wisest among all known species with a natural lifespan that never ends, and the physical strength that allows it to go toe to toe with the mightiest titans. Though dragons could be either benevolent or malevolent, they are widely believed to be natural calamity given flesh.

…..

Entering the border town after a long and tiring journey, they marvelled at the change of scene and the large difference in culture. Each residence in the place seemed to be made from the same mould, using dusty coloured blocks that turned everything orange. The town people, even young children, wore the same knit of clothes but with different colour codes.

The boys had heard in class how different Silent Lamb Empire is but laying their eyes upon this place gave them a feeling of suffocation.

They suddenly felt fortunate. At least in Saint Empire, no matter what is your station a person could live without being tagged or labelled.

It wasn’t long, before they saw an example of how things work in this foreign land.

Right in the middle of the street, an old gentleman with greying hair and wearing a yellowish-brown tunic were kicked violently to the floor by an arrogant-looking middle age man in a blue tunic. The others watched in helpless silence at this common occurrence, as the old gentleman clenched his fists and held his stomach in pain.

None showed any indication to intervene, while the other man show no intention to relent and instead he started stepping on the elderly’s face with Ki infused kicks. The street they wear on turned silent, except for the grunts of pain and the constant begs for mercy.

When Kairos was considering whether to get involved, Vouno walked forward and with a scowl on his face and rather politely told the man before him to cease.

“Who the hell are you to order me around?!” The one in blue growled, turning away from the old gentleman whose face has already swollen beyond recognition. The blue colour of his tunic indicates he is a nobleman, yet these outsiders still dared to interfere his right to punish a commoner?

Vouno, however, merely flicked a finger at the man and instantly he froze, looking much like a painting.

In that short moment, he strolled forward, kneed the man in the groin and then walked back to where he was. He had kept his outrage within him for long enough.

The ‘paralysis’ ended at that moment, and suddenly the man widen his eyes perplexedly as he felt an intense pain like never before. He did not understand what happened to him, but Vouno, the obvious culprit, started talking as if nothing odd happened.

“I beseech you, for the sake of teaching these young ones behind me of some passion, to hold your hand. I am but a simple traveller… hold on… are you in pain?”

Before he could finish, the man has already lowered himself on the ground, curling into a ball and holding his swollen nuts dearly. Vouno immediately ran forward with a pretence of concern and offered him aid.

The others stared oddly at the scene. They clearly saw what happened before, yet this ‘traveller’ is now acting like an innocent.

Vouno supported the man and proceeded to pat the dust off his blue tunic. And strangely enough, the victim thanked the perpetrator of his pain.

Now that he is limping, the noble forgot about the old man he had bashed up, and only wished to make his way home, but not before thanking Vouno again.

“Stranger… No… my friend, you are a k..kind.. soul to aid me. I do not know who a..a..assaulted me, but it is rare nowadays to have such…such..such… wwwarmheart people. W..would you walk me to my house, so that I m..may offer you some tea when I...feel healthier?”

With a warm smile that touched that nobleman’s heart, Vouno gently shook his head, “I’m sorry my friend, these young students behind me are late for their… uh….. registration.. for school, and we best not tarry”

“I..it..it..it’s fine… My house is close by anyway. T..thanks for helping me up. Come visit me if you have time later”

When the man turned to leave, Vouno flicked a finger towards him once again and like before, he froze up. He calmly walked over then kneed him in the nuts once more before returning back to Kairos’ side.

The others looked in horror but a tinge of amusement could be seen on their faces if one looks carefully, as the man cried loudly and rolled on the ground in pain. This time as well, Vouno came hurriedly to the nobleman’s side and acted the angel with a beautiful show of concern.

“WHAT’S WRONG MY MAN! Quick, get’up, get’up. You best leave swiftly; these streets might be haunted!”

With tears in his eyes, and face scrunched up with pain, he nodded fearfully and scrambled away as quickly as his limping would take him. The sound of his sobbing could be heard all the way down the street where he exited.

The spectators had to stifle their laughter, though they already guessed that Vouno must be a practitioner of the rare time-space art. And after the victim disappeared from sight, they applauded him.

“Father, was that your time-space orb?”

“Nah, I just used a bit of the artefact’s energy that I absorbed. It was rather fun isn’t it?”

“Uhh, yes but, father wouldn’t we get into trouble?”

“My boy… You’re too focused on the thing before your eyes and failed to see how everyone was gleeful at his suffering. And even if not, that nobleman was of no high station that we needed to be mindful of his retaliation; having not a single guard to his person.

Bwahaha!!

Come, let us see to the old gentleman”

Kairos shook his head in speechlessness, his father is still unreasonable as he remembered. Only perhaps, more so, after the 6 months he spent at the academy.

They helped the stranger up to his feet, and infused a bit of life force into him. A tinge that would not expose their Origin Energy, yet enough to encourage healing.

“Old sir, are you alright?” Kairos asked while holding him up. He continued to send a trickle of his soul energy, undetected.

“Hmmm, munch taaaankss yong mon” He tried unsuccessfully to thank them with his swollen lips.

“Here’s a healing salve. It works a miracle for recovery” He took an herbal paste and offered it.

When the man gratefully applied it to his face, Kairos started infusing a stronger amount of Origin Energy into him and after a short moment, the man’s face has recovered enough to speak properly.

He touched his face gingerly, amazed by the effect of the medicine, “This salve is a miracle like you said! It would be worth a shiny coin, wasted on this old person! How can I thank you both, young master and old master?”

“Just tell us why were you beaten?” Vouno waved off the thanks and asked. He had done what he thought was right, but it was without knowing their strife.

The old gentleman looked eager to share his tale, he grip onto Vouno’s hand like a lifeline and told him, “That man crashed into my son’s wedding and invoked his ‘right for first night’, just because he hired my son just two months ago”

“Father, what is the… rights of first night?”

“Boy… you… sigh… okay, you’re already 12 and ought to learn of these things. In Silent Lambs Empire, a nobleman can have his way with a subordinate’s wife for the first night, legally”

“Unforgivable! Why would people come up with such … atrocities?”

“It is frequent that those in power often make up rules that are convenient for themselves. You should know that by now”

The old gentleman patted Kairos on his shoulder before continuing his story. “You’re a kind boy, and you may not know as travellers to our empire. But it is how it is. A binding custom.

Trouble came after when I hid my daughter-in-law from him, but traditions be damned! My son is my only living kin, and I solely wish for his happiness. Even taking the life of this old one would not deter me!”

Vouno sighed with relief. It might not be accurate, by hearing only from one side, but he could hear the resolve and fully believed the man.

“That’s how you ended up eating dirt today?” He said in a brutally honest way.

The old gentleman blushed with embarrassment but nodded his head, “Y…yes… I had been avoiding him so far. When my daughter-in-law become obviously pregnant with child, he will lose his legal right of first night. But he spotted me and gave me a beating to find her”

“Well, if he comes around again, I’ll give him another ‘haunting’. That ought to deter him, or better yet, take away his need. Permanently”

“Hahaha. You’re a good man. A rarity. Are those here truly your students?”

“This one is my son, and the rest are his friends”

“What an odd assortment for a trip. Is it okay to ask your business in our town?”

“Well, we are looking for one of my son’s friend. Due to a kidnapping, we guess. Do you know where we can gather information?”

“Hmmm. There would be two places with dependable sources. Gracing our lovely town is a hidden branch of the ‘king of thieves’. It might be your best bet if you want to trace the shadows and can offer a pretty coin. Your other option, which I don’t recommend, is to ask the merchant guilds. They have an unmatched network and an unsavoury reputation, but as long as you can pay for it, they can get you anything.”