The Task

'Mu Yue has been working hard.' Zhi Li thought when he saw Mu Yue standing still in the middle of the pond.

"Mu Yue, I need to talk with you and Xiao Yan." Zhi Li yelled saw that he will be noticed.

"H-huh?" Mu Yue lost her focus. She was continuously strengthening the ice, and when she got distracted, it started to break apart.

Zhi Li saw it and quickly jumped towards Mu Yue and grabbed her before she fell to the water.

"I thought you have already mastered it." Zhi Li muttered while he was walking towards the shore.

"It's only the fifth day since I started practicing."

When they arrived at the shore, Zhi Li glanced at the pond and asked, "What problem are you currently facing?"

"The ice isn't strong enough to let me stand on top of it without it breaking apart. Earlier, I can stand in the middle without it cracking, but I have to continuously provide energy for it. Then I got startled and lost control." Mu Yue explained.

Zhi Li then suggested, "You will eventually get it right, just keep practicing. Also, I remember that you get stronger at night. I recommend to do it at that time and see if there are any improvements. Then remember the feeling and that could be your direction when practicing by the day."

"Thank you, father. I never knew I could practice like that. What do you need to talk with me and Xiao Yan?"

"I will tell you when you two are together."

They then went to the garden where Xiao Yan has been relaxing. Earlier, she was together with Mu Yue. She decided to take a rest and even invited Mu Yue. However, Mu Yue will only rest when she was at her limit and so she declined.

"Xiao Yan, my father is here and wants to talk about something with us." Mu Yue said.

Xiao Yan opened her eyes, "About what?"

"I don't know." Mu Yue then asked, "I have noticed you are always relaxing here, can't you just cultivate as is also a way to rest?"

"Hmm? Hehe, since you haven't noticed I might as well tell you. Sense the spiritual energy in the surrounding, do you notice something?"

Mu Yue then felt that the energy seems to flow towards Xiao Yan. "It's going towards you?"

"Yeah! It means I'm currently cultivating."

"B-but... you are not in the correct position. How?"

Xiao Yan grinned, "I'm a gifted person. I can sleep or do something else and can still cultivate at the same time, although it would be slower. I have been doing it since you started to practice. I thought you already noticed."

"I never noticed. You said that you will cultivate at the same time as me and thought that's the time you cultivate. What you are doing is kinda unfair..."

"I cultivate at the same time as you so I have more time to spend with you! However, I do not have the same cultivation speed as you when it's night. I have to cultivate at other times but that will decrease the time I have together with you. Then I found out I can cultivate like this and was happy. But you, on the other hand, started to practice till your limit... I can only be with you when you are tired, sleeping, or cultivating! Where's the fun on that?!"

"I'm sorry... Next time, I'll make sure to spend some time for you."

"Thank you then. Since you are here, come sit beside me and let us take a rest."

"Okay."

Zhi Li felt that he was ignored and forgotten. These girls really have a world of their own when they are together. Now he was hesitating if its the correct time to say what he was going to tell them.

The two were now leaning beside each other, enjoying each other's company. Zhi Li decided to wait until the two separates so he would not disturb them.

He went some distance from them and lie down on the ground for a nap. 'This is actually that relaxing huh.'

Yet before he could go to sleep, the two girls woke him up.

"Father, you were going to tell us something right?"

"Hm? Oh... It's about a task I will give to you, Mu Yue. I thought about it for a lot of time and decided it will be the best course of action. You will have to go on an adventure outside the school for a year. I or Xiao Yan will not accompany you."

"What?!?!?!" Xiao Yan shouted.