Later that night, when everyone fell asleep, Derek again submerged himself in cultivation. That same Void Realm Breathing technique. Inhale. Hold. Exhale.
Qi surged through his whole body.
His focus grew deeper. No sound, no warmth, no weight of blankets over his body. He could only feel the rhythm of his own pulse. The steady flow of blood through his veins. The faint warmth of Qi that trickled inside, loosening his meridians bit by bit, opening and expanding them.
Time passed slowly. First seconds, then minutes, which turned into hours.
Finally, after a long time, he opened his eyes.
The room was quiet. Moonlight slipped in through the window, silver on the wooden floor. His tiny body was covered in a thin layer of sweat. He exhaled slowly. A misty vapor left his nose, curling upward before fading.
"The last three months have paid off really well." He was whispering in his mind. "I can move all my limbs freely now. That wooden sword today was still a bit heavy, though. But one more month and...." He clenched his tiny little fist. "I am sure I can pick that sword up."
He lifted his arm and twisted it sideways. It was clumsy, but it was something. It brought a small smile to his lips.
He soon fell asleep. His newborn body had grown strong, but still not enough to even avoid the exhaustion from just doing breathing techniques.
Soon a new dawn arrived.
The smell of porridge drifted in from the kitchen where Martha was cooking. Arthur's voice echoed in the yard, practicing with the wooden sword again. Daisy hummed softly, carrying Derek in her arms.
"Good morning, little brother," she whispered, brushing his hair with her fingers. "You look so happy today! Won't you share your little secret with me?!" She asked in a playful tone.
Derek blinked innocently. "Damn! Is it that obvious? I wish I could share my progress with her. But if I even utter a single word now, she will surely freak out."
Daisy, meanwhile, carried him outside while still humming in her soft, lovely voice. It's not like she really expected an answer.
Outside, Arthur was sweating under the morning sun.
Arthur swung the wooden sword over and over, small arms trembling but stubborn. His hair was messy, sticking to his forehead. Every time he swung, he shouted, "Haaah!"
Rudeous stood nearby, his arms crossed, watching silently. His eyes were sharp, like a hawk measuring prey. Every time Arthur's grip loosened or his stance wavered, he corrected with a short command.
"Feet apart."
"Don't let your shoulder rise."
"Again."
Arthur gritted his teeth and obeyed.
From Daisy's arms, Derek stared at the sight with shining eyes. He was quickly swallowing every detail and pointer Rudeous was shouting as if he too was training. He was already very experienced with a sword in his past life. But still.....
He had always longed to train under his father, to learn directly from him. He never had a true master or teacher to guide his steps. Every achievement he earned was forged through his own hard work and the countless dangers he faced along the way.
Arthur finished another set and dropped to his knees, panting heavily. His chest rose and fell. Sweat dripped onto the dirt.
"Good. You are improving. Continue at this pace, and you can very well pass the hunter academy test after five years."
Rudeous was strict in training, but he knew how to bring out someone's true potential. Harsh drills and pressure alone were never enough. A word of praise, recognition for effort—no matter how small—was just as important. That was how the fire within a person was truly ignited.
Arthur forced himself up, determination blazing in his eyes. "Thank you, Father. I will work hard. And don't forget. Soon I will land a hit during our sparring." He was dog tired but a chuckle still painted his lips.
Derek's lips curved into a faint smile. "That's my brother. Still the same stubborn soul I remember. Even in my past life, you never gave up."
Rudeous, meanwhile, smirked. "Yeah. Don't make me wait too long, though. Now go and freshen up."
____________
Later, Daisy laid Derek on a mat inside the house. She gave him a little toy carved from wood. Derek stared at it, but his attention wasn't on the toy.
Instead, he was focusing on his limbs.
Slowly, he pushed his palms against the mat. His arms trembled. His tiny legs wriggled. He gritted his teeth, as though he still had them.
Bit by bit, his body lifted.
"A little display shouldn't surprise them too much. If I want to move around and practice on my own, I'll have to reveal a bit—just enough so they'll feel at ease and leave me alone sometimes."
Since he could already move his limbs, he needed to do more than just breathing techniques—he had to move now and then to speed up his progress. But he couldn't simply stand up and start walking all of a sudden. So he planned this.
But while staring at him... "Eh?" Daisy gasped, eyes widening. "Mother! Come look! Derek is standing!"
Martha rushed over, her hands covered in flour from cooking. Her eyes softened instantly. "Oh, honey… you're growing so quickly."
Arthur came running too, still dripping with sweat. "Whoa! He's only a few months old, and he can already stand?!"
Derek somehow stood clumsily, barely managing to stay upright, as if he might topple at any moment. He wanted to push his progress faster, but without drawing any suspicion. He didn't forget to add a baby-giggle at the end as well.
They all gathered around, clapping and laughing. Daisy held her hands out, ready to catch him if he fell.
He bent his knees and let himself sink back onto the mat with a soft thump. "It should be convincing enough, right?" He thought.
Martha quickly picked him up, kissing his forehead. "Don't push yourself too hard, little one."
Derek rested against her, hiding his smile. He still felt quite guilty, though, playing with their emotions. But it was the only way, better than staying weak and losing everyone at the end.
That night, when the house grew quiet again, Derek resumed his training.
Void Realm Breathing. Inhale. Hold. Exhale.
Time passed like this. Training at night, enjoying his second life during the day. Soon another two months passed.
One fine morning, Daisy was getting ready. She looked nervous for some reason. Lying in bed, Derek watched her.
"Why is she so nervous? I wish I could ask her.
But....
Whatever it is… this time, I'll be here for her."