...like being Superman.

"I see. So cultivators can live very long."

Inside a small and flimsy room, the child bobbed his head understandingly. With the slight lighting of the room, that wide smile of his can be seen. We are now seated on unadorned small wooden chairs gathered around a table of utmost simplicity.

"But, Uncle? Why do people want to live longer?"

'That's a rather profound question.' Drops of cold sweat dripped down my back. Thoughts raced through my head. Completing my ideas, I finally spoke.

"When you live long enough, you will experience many things."

"Many things? Like what, Uncle?"

Various things popped out of my head. My training, journey, first love, failures and accomplishments; all of them resurfaced from the depths of my memories. With a small sigh, I patted the lil' one's head.

"You're too young to know."

"Huh?"

"Besides... Being a cultivator is not all about being able to live long. Cultivators posses special abilities just like the fire ball you saw earlier. Stronger one posses the ability to summon floods, abolish mountains, call upon the storms. They possess superhuman strength and even fly up high in the wide sky."

"Just like Superman!"

"Superman?", I asked.

"Wait here."

He stood up from his seat and slid the door in a brash fashion as he scooted off to who knows where. Moments later, unhurried footsteps sounded along the hall outside.

"Ara, that child seems to be in a hurry."

A beautiful young woman appeared in my doorsteps. She has flowing blue hair reaching down on her hips. Dazzling long eyelashes cover her deep blue eyes while her chest shows bountiful harvest. Her slender hand shows what seems to be a small bowl of snacks.

"Where's the maid? I thought I asked her to bring snacks?"

"I made her do something else. That's why I brought the snacks myself.", she replied smilingly.

She took it upon herself to take the open seat beside me while putting down the small bowl of snacks on the table. The atmosphere turned quiet. Not peaceful, but tense.

"...I heard."

She gently bit her soft lips. She looked down on the bowl of snacks while hesitating to continue.

"He wants to be a cultivator?"

I looked at her frail figure as she cowered on her side of the table.

"I don't know. I believe he wants to be."

She shivered the moment the words came out my mouth. With my gaze lingering no longer, I sigh as I lowered my head.

"Uncle, you know the child can't-"

"Ayra. I know. I know that he can't. But, do believe me. He will."

She shivered more vigorously than before. Looking up, she gave me a somewhat dejected face.

"Uncle, are you going through with it? You know it's risky. There's no guarantee that it would succeed. Even if it did..."

"...Are you prepared to pay the price?"

Her voice diminished to the point that only she would've heard her last sentence but alas, I heard. Even if I didn't, I knew what she wanted to say.

"For that child, I can. For the son of both my beloved students, I am willing."

My face was filled with austereness. It was my own resolution. My unshakable will.

"Master I-"

I gave her a light chop to the head. My face gradually regained its gentle features as I looked at her with sincerity.

"I told you. Call me, Uncle."

Her eyes turned red as tears form from each corner of her eyes.

-Thump, thump, thump-

Sounds of running were heard. With sweat heavily dripping from his forehead, a child with a foolish smile came back while holding onto a book with his right arm.

"Oh, you're back."

"Hm? Mom? What are you doing here?"

Stealthily wiping her tears, she sheepishly smiled and said.

"Is it wrong for me to bring my two hungry fellows some snacks?"

"You brought snacks?"

His gaze hurriedly searched the table and found the small bowl of snacks. Pieces of cookies and assorted chocolates was prepared.

"Anyways, lil' one. What have you brought back?"

I gaze upon the book the has the same length as his thin arms.

"This? It's a picture book. Blue, let me borrow it. Here, I wanted to show you this."

He opened the book and there we saw a muscular young man with peculiar blue robes. The young man in the picture is flying in the sky while lifting a boulder up many times larger than him.

"A cultivator is like this right, Uncle?"

His eyes were shining as he held the book forward to let us get a closer look.

"Hohoho. Arguably, yes."

"Cool. So a cultivator is like being Superman."