Cultivation is Hard.

With the sun rising up, its brilliant but gentle rays of light poured down the ground blessing all vegetation strange beauty with glistening dew. A small figure can be found in the open courtyard. The small figure has short light blue hair with some shade of white at end. With his thin limbs, he could be seen doing various sets of exercises.

"Lil' one! Once you're done do three laps around the entire house."

"Eh!"

"You want to be a cultivator right?"

I smiled while hearing the small grumbling of the child. I shook my head and turned my head behind. I saw Ayra smitten by the figure of her hardworking son.

"Don't worry. He's going to be a fine young man."

"Mmm."

She gently nodded her head. Her gaze lingered a bit at the figure before turning towards me.

"I already sent him a message. I believe he'll be coming back in a few days."

"Why the rush? It's just a small matter."

"Uncle. It's not a small matter to us. You know that."

I look at her steady eyes. I knew what was going to happen. I knew why she was like this and I believe he would react the same way too.

"You've grown strong. I know. I just don't want you two to worry." I sighed.

"Uncle, I'm just pretending to stay strong. If you fail, it's not just us, two, who's going to worry. Even lil' Green would be sad."

"Don't worry. I contemplated about it in the last few years. I believe it's going to work. No, I know it's going to work."

I said every word without batting my eyelids. Though my voice was soft, it was deep and reassuring.

"I know you're busy. You should get going. I'll be handling the lil' one's training. Also, please call somebody to prepare a medicinal bath. It has to have a thousand year old ginseng, three five hundred year old leaves from the Five Bladed Leaf Tree, and two drops of Yang Tiger's blood. The recipe has to be exact."

"I'll do as you say, Uncle."

The clock hour hand turned and now it was noon. The sun blazes the earth in its fiery passion. Drops of sweat could be seen pouring down on the face the a young child. Even though he was panting hard, his foolish smile could never be hidden.

"Uncle, I did it! I did everything you told me."

"Mmm. You did everything. But! You were too slow."

"Eh! Uncle. You know that what you asked for was too many and too hard."

"Exactly!"

I smiled at the young child's bewildered expression.

"Was it too hard to comprehend, lil' one?"

"I don't exactly get it but... You're telling me cultivation is hard right?"

"Good. You understand. The Road of Cultivation is not only a long but also hard journey. Cultivation, itself, is disobeying the natural law of heaven. This is why it is hard. But, because it is hard that we journey through it. Through hardships would cultivators grow and learn."

"Just like the Phoenix! Once the Phoenix thoroughly burns its body, it would've a chance to be reborn anew."

"Oh. And, where did you learn about something like that?"

"Hehe. I've been reading some dad's book everyday."

"You like books, huh? Oh. Does anyone knows about this? You know you're not supposed to go in to your father's study."

"I-I..."

"Hoho. Don't worry about it. It will be our secret."

Feeling content, I rubbed his head. Sensing the wet sensation on my hands, I stopped. I took out a towel and handed it out to him.

"Here. Have a rest and dry yourself. We're making a bath ready so just wait for it."

"A bath? Aren't you spoiling me too much Uncle? I thought cultivation was a road of hardship?"

"Ho... You don't have to worry about that. It would be anything but spoiling you."

I accidentally let out a huge grin. Instinctively sensing danger, the child shivered as fear is shown in his eyes. Dryly laughing, I shook my head. I turned away and headed out to where the bath was being made.