Chapter 115: The Shady Roadside Shop

The journey toward the capital was undertaken by a group of five: Gu Feng, Gu Xueyuan, Zhu Han, Long Xue'er, and Wen Xingguo.

When they met at the Earth City, Gu Feng had privately gifted Gu Xueyuan a "Source-Enhancing Pill," which significantly boosted his cultivation. The task assigned to Gu Xueyuan—to locate the maternal grandparents of Zhu Han—remained ongoing; Gu Xueyuan had introduced their contact to Miao Yun, ensuring they would be notified immediately upon any discovery. The group was in no rush to reach the capital, traveling instead at Zhu Han’s pace, effectively centering the journey around her.

News of Gu Feng and his companions had already reached the capital. The Imperial House had made thorough preparations, waiting for Gu Feng to walk into their trap. Furthermore, the royals, unwilling to let the group have a peaceful journey, had hired assassins to intercept them. While the assassins were tasked with eliminating everyone, Gu Feng’s head carried the highest bounty.

As they walked along the wide imperial road, Gu Feng explained his reasoning. He had chosen to travel on foot to temper Hanhan’s constitution. Even for a mage, a powerful physical foundation was essential, and Gu Feng hoped to cultivate Hanhan into a "Magic-Warrior," proficient in both disciplines. In Gu Feng's view, since he and Gu Yan were both formidable, his apprentice could not afford to be weak.

Hanhan pouted, aggrieved. "Master, are you sure you aren't just torturing your precious student?"

"Of course I am. If I don't torture you, how will you ever achieve greatness?" Gu Feng replied. "Enough chatter. Are you ready, Hanhan? The first item is a limit-testing run. Do not stop until you reach your absolute limit and collapse. You aren’t a fool, are you? Surely you can do this?"

"Who says I can't? I run every morning, unlike you, Master—you're just a lazy pig who loves to sleep in!"

"Go, Hanhan! Your senior master supports you!"

"Go, Hanhan! Your bad-guy uncle supports you, too!"

"Go, Hanhan! Your martial uncle supports you!" Gu Xueyuan added, claiming the title for himself.

Gu Feng looked at Gu Xueyuan with a sly smile. "Brother Xueyuan, Hanhan is only five and already a sixth-level warrior, while you are only a fifth-level Spirit Master. If you don't work hard, she will surpass you soon. I have a little treasure here; take it and train alongside her. Hanhan, how about having your martial uncle join your training?"

"Yay! Martial Uncle will train with me!"

Gu Xueyuan’s face fell. "Big Brother, is it really necessary to sabotage your little brother like this?"

"If you still call me brother, you must show effort," Gu Feng said sternly. "I am already a Great Spirit Master. You? If you don't strive, the gap between us will only widen. When that time comes, will you even have the face to call me brother? Just do as I say. Poor innate talent is no excuse; you can still become powerful."

"Fine! I, Gu Xueyuan, will go all out. Come on, Big Brother!"

Gu Feng rolled his eyes. "It’s not like I’m asking you to die; don't act like it's the end of the world."

"Hehe! I’m just afraid of your 'devil training'!"

Gu Feng produced a set of weighted gear suitable for a fifth-level Spirit Master and fully equipped Gu Xueyuan. Once strapped in, Gu Xueyuan found it difficult even to walk, let alone run.

"Big Brother, are you sure this is training and not torture?"

"I am absolutely, positively sure. Ready, Hanhan?"

"Ready!" Hanhan looked at Gu Xueyuan. "Good luck, Martial Uncle. I’ll go easy on you."

"What? You think your martial uncle needs you to go easy on him? You little brat, don't go crying when you get tired!"

"Hmph! Hanhan won't cry!"

"Enough talk, both of you. Start running."

Hanhan and Gu Xueyuan began to run, while the other three followed at a brisk pace. An hour passed, and the midday sun grew scorching. Gu Feng produced three umbrellas and iced drinks, the trio chatting and laughing as they followed.

Gu Xueyuan and Hanhan were exhausted but persisted, locked in a silent competition.

"Martial Uncle, you can't outrun me! Just give up!"

"Outrun you? You little brat, watch closely—I’m about to overtake you!"

They pushed themselves to the limit, Gu Xueyuan refusing to lose to a five-year-old. Hanhan, imagining the thrill of teasing her uncle later if she won, felt a surge of excitement that helped her ignore her fatigue. They ran as if their lives depended on it.

Suddenly, Gu Feng put away his umbrella and popsicle, pulling out his bow: *Scorching Sun*.

Ahead lay a stretch of dense, tall weeds. Assassins had been lying in wait there for half a day. Under the sweltering sun, just as their patience was wearing thin, Hanhan and Gu Xueyuan came running over, drenched in sweat. After four hours of continuous running, the two were so exhausted that their vision was blurred, and they could barely discern the road.

"A perfect opportunity." The two assassins were ecstatic. One swift strike, and the bounties would be theirs.

Gu Feng smiled. Long Xue'er and Wen Xingguo, who had noticed nothing, were confused by his demeanor. Suddenly, the two assassins lunged silently toward Hanhan and Gu Xueyuan. Long Xue'er and Wen Xingguo’s expressions shifted instantly as they realized what Gu Feng had been preparing for.

*Swish! Swish!*

Two flaming arrows were released in rapid succession, striking the assassins. Under the sudden, lethal threat, the assassins were horrified. "Impossible! We were discovered!" They were bewildered; they had hidden so perfectly that even a Great Spirit Master should not have detected them.

*Thump! Thump!* Two crisp sounds echoed. Hanhan and Gu Xueyuan, too numb to even realize the danger, stepped over the corpses at their feet and continued their run.

Long Xue'er looked at the two children and asked Gu Feng, "Will they be alright? Especially Hanhan—she’s so young."

Gu Feng smiled. "They will be fine, but don't worry. I’ve made preparations. If they keep this up, they will achieve results much sooner than I anticipated."

"Hanhan, you... you lose... you can't outrun your... martial uncle... you're out of steam, aren't you?" With a heavy thud, Gu Xueyuan collapsed.

Gu Feng immediately produced a medicinal barrel he had prepared, lifted Gu Xueyuan into it, added heating crystals, covered it, and signaled for Wen Xingguo to carry the barrel. Being a Great Spirit Master, Wen Xingguo lifted the heavy container with one hand and carried it away with ease.

Hanhan kept going, muttering to herself, "I can't lose to Martial Uncle... I can't let Master look down on me... Hanhan must persist... persist..."

She persisted for another ten minutes, her steps growing shorter and her small body swaying violently. She looked ready to fall at any moment. After ten more minutes of sheer willpower, she finally collapsed, exhausted.

*Ding! Apprentice Hanhan has reached Heavenly-grade innate talent and Heavenly-grade willpower. Reward: Heavenly-grade soul cultivation technique: Soul Ascension Art.*

A mage's power is inseparable from the soul. Through her own efforts, Hanhan had earned the Heavenly-grade technique: *Soul Ascension Art*.