After all the training and healing from the morning experiment, Wu Lan felt good. His body felt stronger, and his mood was light. He stretched his arms and looked up at the sky.
The sun had already moved far past noon.
As he stood on the platform outside his house, his stomach gave a loud growl.
"...Ah."
He looked down, then toward the horizon.
"Did I forget to eat?"
He blinked, a little embarrassed. After all that exercise, his body needed proper nutrients. He nodded to himself.
"Fish. I'll go catch some fish."
He started walking toward the river.
On the way, he saw someone walking toward him from the opposite direction. A boy with dark blue clothes, a calm face, and steady steps.
Tang San.
Wu Lan smiled and raised a hand.
"Hey, Little San!"
Tang San looked up. "Brother Wu Lan. Going out?"
"Yeah, going to the river for fish. You?"
"Coming back from practice."
Wu Lan took a closer look.
Tang San's face was a little pale. His arms were trembling slightly, barely noticeable, but Wu Lan caught it.
Wu Lan thought, after awakening, Tang Hao's training must have started. And knowingly, he put on a worried face and asked,
"You look tired. What happened?"
Tang San paused. Seeing the worried expression on Wu Lan's face, something inside him softened a little.
"My dad is training me... with the forging hammer."
Wu Lan nodded slowly.
"Be careful. Don't overdo it. If you push too hard, you'll damage your body."
Tang San saw that worried face again.
He smiled.
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Wu Lan."
Wu Lan, after observing Tang San's expression, was delighted. He began to trick, no, he meant help, Tang San as the best brother.
"Let me heal you. My Martial Spirit is for healing. Let me help you recover."
Tang San was surprised. "Healing?"
"Yes, it will heal your body," Wu Lan confirmed.
"Okay. Thank you, Brother Wu Lan," Tang San replied.
Wu Lan stepped forward and raised his arm.
"Stand still."
He summoned the Sacred Orchid. Pure white petals shimmered in the sunlight, glowing faintly. He moved his hand close to Tang San's body. A soft white light spread from the orchid and flowed into Tang San's body.
Tang San's eyes widened.
Warmth filled his limbs. Gentle and full of life. The soreness in his muscles slowly faded. Small wounds started closing bit by bit. His breath became smoother. It felt... peaceful.
"Amazing," he said softly. "Your Martial Spirit is really gentle."
But Wu Lan was frozen.
A voice echoed in his mind.
[Healing in progress...]
[Payment detected: Xuan Tian Records Fragment]
[Would you like to absorb it?]
His mouth fell open.
So I can get skills from this too?
Then he quickly accepted.
"Yes!"
He smiled. Brightly. Silently thanking Tang San from the bottom of his heart.
Tang San saw that bright expression and felt touched again and thought,
He's happy just because I'm feeling better... Brother Wu Lan is Best brother who cares for me.
But the healing didn't last long.
Wu Lan's soul power was almost empty from the morning. The white light faded as he let out a tired breath.
"Sorry, Little San. I ran out of soul power. Couldn't fully heal you."
Tang San shook his head.
"It already helped a lot."
"I'll come heal you every day," Wu Lan said seriously. "That way your body stays healthy."
Tang San blinked.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Tang San looked at him with shining eyes.
"If you ever need help, just ask. I'll definitely be there."
Wu Lan smiled gently and said,
"I am a healer without combat power. I will count on you to protect me, Brother. So become stronger."
I can get more rewards, Wu Lan thought silently.
Tang San straightened up.
"I will become stronger, and I'll protect you!"
Wu Lan grinned again.
After fooling Tang San... no, no, helping Tang San...
They waved goodbye. Tang San walked home. Wu Lan turned and walked faster toward the river. He needed food, but first...
He reached a quiet spot near the trees, sat down, and focused.
Concentrating on the orchid, he saw an inventory-like interface inside it. Small glowing boxes. In the first one, he saw it.
[Xuan Tian Records] (1/10)
Wu Lan stared at it.
"So it's just a part... not the full thing."
He thought about the words he had seen yesterday. Something valuable as payment from the target. For Tang San, Xuan Tian Records was the most valuable thing, so the Sacred Orchid saw it as 'payment'.
Now I can get Xuan Tian Records without asking Tang San.
"But I need nine of these... to refine the complete version."
He frowned.
Now that I got a fragment, maybe Tang San's progress will slow down... or he might forget parts of what he understood about the Xuan Tian Records. And he will take some time to understand it again, I guess.
Not sure about the result, but I'm pretty sure my second guess is correct.
Anyway, Tang San will never guess something is wrong. Maybe he will blame himself for not understanding the Xuan Tian Records properly after training for so long in past life and this life.
I need to hide Xuan Tian Records. Not use it in front of Tang San. Or else... he will try to kill me.
He scratched his cheek, feeling slightly guilty. But also excited.
"It's not stealing. It's... sharing. Yes. Healing and sharing."
He stood up and walked to the edge of the river. The fish were calm today, swimming slowly near the rocks. Wu Lan rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
After catching and cooking a few, he sat under a tree and ate slowly. The food helped. His strength returned.
When the meal was over, he wiped his mouth, stretched, and did a few more exercises. Just enough to keep the muscles active.
Then he returned home.
He lay on the bed, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling.
"First payment... not bad," he said with a smile.
From tomorrow onwards, training in the morning, breaking my limit, healing, meditating for soul power after that, healing my good brother... and if I continue like this, I can go to his house, to see if I can steal from, no, I mean heal, Tang Hao.
If I can get soul power or the full version of Xuan Tian Records, I can heal multiple times.
While thinking, his eyes closed.
Sleep came quickly.