While the hall was filled with the sounds of celebration, Jin's focus was entirely practical. He knew he would be cultivating through the night, a process that would burn energy like a furnace. For him, this feast was not a celebration; it was a crucial opportunity to gather fuel.
He sat at the children's table, a small, quiet figure. At first, he ate slowly, mimicking the hesitation of a traumatized child.
But as the soldiers grew louder in their revelry, his eating became more focused and efficient. He piled his wooden plate high with thick slices of roasted boar, the skin crisp and salty, and several greasy, spiced sausages.
He tore off chunks of dense, dark bread to sop up the rich gravy from a hearty beef and vegetable stew.
While the other children chattered and played, Jin ate with a silent, relentless purpose, breaking down every piece of meat and bread into the raw energy his body would soon require.
He consumed far more than a boy his size should have, but his gaunt frame and the story of his rescue made his ravenous appetite seem natural. By the time the feast began to wind down, he was ready. His body had the nourishment it needed to withstand another night of forging power.
A very drunk Gilga stumbled over to the children's table. "Hey, Jin," he slurred, clapping a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder. "Will you be able to find your way back to your room?"
Jin simply nodded and, seeing his opportunity, slipped away from the boisterous hall.
He arrived back at his chamber and closed the door, the sounds of the feast instantly fading. Without a moment's hesitation, he sat in a lotus position in the center of the room.
He had forcefully suppressed his cultivation on the training field earlier, but now, in the guaranteed peace of the night, he could finally break through to the second layer.
"By the end of this month, I will break through to the Silver Stage," he vowed to the silent room, his voice a low whisper filled with unshakable confidence.
A child who would soon be stronger than most seasoned warriors in the Dukedom. He was, he acknowledged with a cold satisfaction, a truly terrifying existence in the making.
Over the long years of his former life, Jin had cultivated countless techniques, be it demonic or spiritual arts. But none could compare to the profound power of the "Book of Heaven and Earth."
It was a supreme technique that described the fundamental rules of existence, containing five chapters that corresponded to the Five Realms.
In his past life, Jin had only managed to master the first three. The countless other arts he had learned, both righteous and demonic, had already "tainted" his spiritual foundation, making it impossible for him to grasp the purer principles required for the final two chapters.
But now, he had been given a clean slate. This new, untainted body presented the possibility of learning the "Book of Heaven and Earth" in its entirety.
To test this theory, he first needed to advance to the Gold stage to properly stabilize his physical vessel. Only then could he attempt to comprehend the fourth chapter.
He had no time to spare. Every free minute would be dedicated to cultivation, and he would use any means necessary to accelerate his ascent.
Three days passed since the feast, and Jin's life fell into a ruthlessly efficient rhythm. Each night was dedicated to deep cultivation in the privacy of his chamber.
Each morning, he would eat breakfast with the soldiers, maintaining his harmless facade.
Each day, he would sit within the hidden array on the training field, absorbing the concentrated spiritual energy.
His progress was relentless.
"Third layer of the Bronze Stage," he noted internally, feeling the power within him. "Almost at the fourth."
His body, now tempered by his cultivation, was already as strong as that of a normal adult.
He had been in the castle for almost a week, and the some children, seeing him always alone, had begun to pity him from a distance. On this day, however, after following his usual routine, something changed.
He was on his way to the training grounds after eating the same bitter soup he had every morning, but today, a small voice called out after him.
"Jin!"
He turned and saw a blonde girl with striking blue eyes, no older than eight, dressed in the fine silks of a noble house.
"Don't you want to play with us?" she asked, her expression earnest.
A flicker of annoyance crossed Jin's face; this was a distraction he did not need. "Who are you?" he asked, his tone flat.
"I'm her younger sister," the girl replied.
"Younger sister?" Jin repeated, feigning confusion.
"Of my big sister," she said, her bright expression dimming with a touch of sadness. "The one who died."
Jin's mind raced. "I don't know who you mean."
"I heard that you were with my big sister when... when she was killed," the girl said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And I heard she was kind to you."
Jin was momentarily baffled, realizing his calculated lie at the castle gates had created this unforeseen complication.
"Yes," he said cautiously. "What of it?"
"The other children are mean to you," she stated simply. "But... if my sister liked you, then I should like you, too."
"You don't have to do that," Jin answered, genuinely caught off guard by her simple, earnest logic.
"I insist!" she said, a bright smile returning to her face as a slight blush colored her cheeks. She stretched her hand out to him. "So please, come with me."
Jin found himself in a predicament, his mind rapidly searching for a way out of the situation. Now that the children were inviting him to play, his excuse for being alone was gone. But do I still need one? he asked himself.
What adult would suspect a traumatized little boy of anything sinister? Was he being overly cautious? Couldn't he simply say he preferred to be alone and walk away?
He considered his options. He was already at the peak of the third layer, and his cultivation would be more efficient in the privacy of his room anyway. This social interaction was a waste of time, but forcefully rejecting the Duke's surviving niece might draw unwanted attention.
"Okay," he finally agreed, deciding that blending in was the most logical path for now.