Brother Tran, something big has happened, run quickly!

The common folk of the Great Song Dynasty were very superstitious, and even more so revered ghosts and gods. Even the emperors of successive dynasties would offer sacrifices to Heaven almost every year, praying for heavenly blessings, favorable rain, and gentle winds.

And at this moment, seeing Tran Mac's appearance, the first thought that popped into Truong Ha's mind was that Brother Mac had been possessed by an immortal. Thereafter, thoughts like "Brother Mac is a reincarnated immortal" or "an immortal descended to the mortal realm" swirled in his head, lingering for a long time, and he even became firmly convinced of it.

He recalled that Brother Mac, just a few months ago, was merely a weak scholar. But how much time had passed for such earth-shattering changes to occur? First, he became a martial artist master, then he was on brotherly terms with the constables in the yamen. Only an immortal could achieve such things.

Tran Mac told Truong Ha to go into the courtyard and wait first.

Then he closed the window tightly, got out of bed, put on an outer robe, and came out of the house.

"Brother Mac," Truong Ha called out respectfully.

"Brother Thuy, I will first teach you a set of movements. You must watch carefully; this is the foundation of cultivation," Tran Mac said. (Translator's Note: "Thuy ca" seems to be a nickname for Truong Ha, or a typo for Truong Ha. Assuming it's Truong Ha being addressed.)

The Purple Sun Origin Refining Art would operate and absorb on its own, so when Tran Mac taught Truong Ha, it wouldn't delay his own cultivation. As for the lingering purple qi behind him, Tran Mac didn't intend to hide it from Truong Ha, feeling it was completely unnecessary. On the contrary, this kind of "displaying divinity" beforehand would only increase Truong Ha's reverence for him.

And people, they needed to harbor reverence.

"Watch carefully, your stance must be stable, your exertion must be sufficient..."

The set of movements Tran Mac demonstrated were the basic stances of the Nourishing Blood Technique. While Truong Ha was learning these stances, Tran Mac would teach him to read, and then impart the Nourishing Blood Technique's heart method.

Truong Ha's eyes shone brightly; he watched with great concentration.

Soon, Tong Man and Han An Nuong also started to arrive one after another. Seeing Tran Mac's appearance at this moment, they were both astounded.

The thoughts in their minds were quite similar to Truong Ha's.

It was just that Han An Nuong truly believed her uncle was the Van Khuc Star (Star of Literature) descended to the mortal realm.

However, Tran Mac's situation didn't last too long; he soon could no longer sense the sun's purple qi.

[ Name: Tran Mac. ] [ Age: 17. ] [ Cultivation Art: Purple Sun Origin Refining Art (Initiate 52/3000). ] [ Realm: Organ Tempering (Seventh Grade). ] [ Strength: 135. ] [ Skill: Demon Subduing Saber Technique (Perfection 99241/1000000). ]

Tran Mac looked at the rising sun high in the sky and suddenly felt it was a bit dazzling.

He had originally thought it could continue indefinitely, but it turned out he had overthought it.

It seemed it was only available for a period after sunrise.

"Brother Mac, Brother Thuy, breakfast is ready. Sister Han asked you to stop for a bit, eat breakfast, and then cultivate."

At this moment, Tong Man stood at the kitchen doorway and called out.

"Coming."

...

In the living room.

Tran Mac, Han An Nuong, Truong Ha, and Tong Man sat around a square table.

Today's breakfast: meat congee, a plate of pickled vegetables, a plate of tiger meat.

[ Number of times eating nourishing meat +0.05, Purple Sun Origin Refining Art experience +0.05. ]

After taking a bite of tiger meat, Tran Mac's eyebrows twitched, and he suddenly said, "Sister-in-law, these past two days of light meals are enough. Starting from noon, let's go back to how it was before."

"...Alright."

...

In the following days.

Before dawn, Tran Mac would wake up, then wait for the sun to rise in the east, absorbing the sun's purple qi while teaching Truong Ha the Nourishing Blood Technique.

After breakfast, he would teach Truong Ha saber practice.

In the afternoon, Tran Mac himself would practice the saber.

Time flew by, and it was now the sixth day of the third month.

In these past few days, Tran Mac had gained a clear understanding of the sun's purple qi.

Firstly, the sun's purple qi was only available for a period when the sun had just risen. It didn't last long, less than one watch (two hours).

Every morning, Tran Mac could absorb between 40 to 60 strands of the sun's purple qi, varying each day.

However, during this period, there were two days when the sun didn't rise (cloudy), so he didn't absorb a single strand.

Furthermore, under his guidance, Truong Ha could already cultivate the Nourishing Blood Technique on his own.

Of course, he had only mastered the method and had not yet officially stepped into cultivation.

Tran Mac also learned that because he had been absorbing the sun's purple qi for cultivation these past few days, rumors had spread in the village that he was an "immortal descended to the mortal realm," and people believed it.

In recent days, many village aunts had come to peek at him secretly.

Regarding this, Tran Mac didn't offer any explanation.

...

Another four days passed.

These four days were continuously sunny for four days.

Tran Mac's cultivation progress was quite smooth.

[ Name: Tran Mac. ] [ Age: 17. ] [ Cultivation Art: Purple Sun Origin Refining Art (Initiate 912.5/3000). ] [ Realm: Organ Tempering (Seventh Grade). ] [ Strength: 135. ] [ Skill: Demon Subduing Saber Technique (Perfection 312564/1000000). ]

Just as Tran Mac was looking at his attribute panel, Truong Ha, who was cultivating the Nourishing Blood Technique in the courtyard, suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Mac, Brother Mac, I did it, I think I did it..."

Tran Mac's gaze swept over and found Truong Ha breathing like an ox. He grabbed his wrist, carefully sensed it, and said, "Not bad, this is the sign of officially stepping into cultivation."

Truong Ha swallowed: "Then Brother Mac, have I also become a martial artist master?"

"Far from it. You've only just stepped onto the path of cultivation. To enter the ranks, you still need to work hard," Tran Mac patted Truong Ha's shoulder.

"Brother Mac, I will definitely not disappoint your expectations," Truong Ha said.

Tran Mac nodded, then said, "By the way, how is the matter I entrusted to you?"

"Don't worry, my wife has a big mouth. Never mind our Phuc Trach Village, even the neighboring villages probably all know that you, Brother Mac, are a reincarnated immortal." Saying this, Truong Ha worried Tran Mac might misunderstand and quickly added, "Rest assured Brother Mac, my wife will absolutely not say anything she shouldn't."

Tran Mac patted Truong Ha's shoulder: "If you doubt someone, don't use them. If you use someone, don't doubt them. Since I've entrusted this to you, I naturally trust you."

"Oh right, Brother Mac, my wife said that a group of refugees came to Thanh Dinh County from outside, then they were chased by soldiers and fled into the mountains," Truong Ha said.

"Mm."

...

When it was late afternoon, Tran Mac was practicing his saber in the courtyard when a man in black arrived. This person was concealed extremely tightly, only revealing a pair of eyes.

Tran Mac frowned.

"Brother Tran, it's me." The man in black took off his hat, revealing his true face.

"Brother Ngo."

Seeing the man in black was Ngo Son, Tran Mac was stunned. He quickly went forward to greet him, saying, "Brother Ngo, what happened? Why are you disguised like this?"

Ngo Son leaned against the courtyard gate, panting heavily: "Brother Tran, something big... has happened... Run quickly, run fast!"

Hearing this, Tran Mac was slightly startled: "Brother Ngo, speak slowly. What big thing has happened?"

At this moment, Ngo Son finally caught his breath. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Truong Ha in the courtyard and couldn't help but pause.

Truong Ha was very perceptive and went out.

Tran Mac's expression became serious: "Brother Ngo, let's talk inside."

"No, I have to leave quickly after telling you." Ngo Son put his hat back on, then said, "Brother Tran, you know Han Tam Lang from Dai Han Village in Thanh Dinh County, right? He's your sister-in-law's third uncle. He was conscripted this time. After a few days of training, he was dispatched on the road to Phuong Duong. He and several people from our county caused trouble, collaborated to kill a centurion and several soldiers, and then led people to flee into the deep mountains.

Brother Tran, this is a capital crime. As his relative, you will also be implicated. The yamen will probably send people to arrest you in these two days. Take advantage of the time you still have, and run quickly." ...