"You're saying that you two are over a hundred years old?" Tianling interrupts Wang Fei.

  She nods. "Our parents hid us in the timeless cave when they attacked. That is how we managed to survive the massacre of the Wang clan."

  Tianling can feel his anger rising. It starts out as a warmth in his Dantian which then surges outwards, creating a whirlpool of energy around his body that almost blows everything around him away. He manages to draw back the energy that has just leaked and the air settles back to calm.

  Xing'er says nothing about her master's show of anger though she is curious why he wanted to come here and why he has an interest in this mortal family.

  The siblings on the other hand just throw glances at each other, wondering if they should continue with the narration or not.

  Tianling picks up his cup and drinks everything in one gulp. "You two will be my first disciples. Are you willing?"

  Wang Wei's mind has no conflicts whilst Wang Fei is conflicted by the mysterious aura around these two strangers. But when she sees her brother walking around the table, she follows. He is her light. She will go wherever he will just as their parents instructed her to. His ability to feel people's intentions is the only thing she can rely on as she goes down to her knees beside him.

  They both kowtow three times before chorusing; "Disciple Wang Fei greets Shifu."

  "Disciple Wang Wei greets Shifu."

  Tianling smiles accepting their worship. "Get up."

  They obey. "I will find suitable gifts for you later. Why don't you first take me to this timeless cave?"

  Wang Fei gives a small firm nod. "This way, Shifu."

  In the forsaken library which is infested by rats and other unpleasant bugs, Wang Fei leads Tianling and Xing'er along with Wang Wei toward the broken wall. She places her hand on it and a small array glows red, confirming her authenticity. Almost immediately, a deep low growl comes from the wall as it starts to move sliding to the left. It makes the library tremble due to its weight until it is fully open, giving way to a dark staircase that seems to lead into the thick darkness.

  Wang Fei brings the index and middle fingers of her right hand to her lips as a flame appears on their tips. Gently, she blows the fire energy into the darkness, instantly lighting the torches along the wall, and illuminating the path ahead.

  "This place is old. Please watch your steps, everyone." With this warning, she goes in first and then they follow.

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  The stairs lack a railing as they spiral their way to an end that is not in sight.

  Tianling wonders why such a place exists here. It gives him a strange feeling. He cannot shake off the odd tingling sensation crawling on the back of his neck. It doesn't feel like they are in their world any longer.

  The air smells as different as it feels, leaving him lost in thoughts about why he is experiencing this.

  "Zhuren?" Xing'er whispers from behind him.

  "What is it?"

  "Isn't this a small world? I can feel its core down there."

  He almost forgets how to walk as things finally start to come together. It feels different because they are no longer in the human realm. But how can the Wang family own a small world all to themselves? Could this be the reason they were executed after their strong generals died in the war?

  "Does this place have any other benefits other than stopping time?" he asks, his question directed at the girl in front of him.

  "No. Nothing ever happens when we are here. We have been staying here, only coming out when we need to eat. Sometimes a few days pass, sometimes months, and other times even years."

  "So it is impossible to know how much time is passing outside right now?"

  "M! But, we never went too far." She comes to a stop on the first landing. The wall gapes like an opening leading somewhere. Without any hesitation, Wang Fei walks through the watery barrier, letting them know that it is safe.

  Tianling follows, and then the other two.

  The moment they pass the barrier, they find themselves in a brightly lit cave that is filled with light from nowhere and everywhere. There just is no particular source of this light. It seems to exist like the air they are breathing.

  "It never goes dark, so when we fall asleep, we never know how much time passes. The more we sleep, the more time moves in the outside," Wang Fei explains as she walks towards the pile of torn clothes and a dirty futon by the flat rock in the middle of the cave.

  All around, traces of the siblings can be seen: from the broken cups and plates to the drawings on the walls made of bare rocks.

  Tianling uses his domain sensing but he cannot feel any other presence apart from theirs. It seems like this cave has no hidden spirit, beast, or any existence. It is as ordinary as an extraordinary timeless cave can be.

  "If only we can move this cave," he sighs while touching the bumpy rocky wall.

  "You can!" Xing'er beams showing up to his left. He almost jumps away at her sudden appearance but quickly pulls himself together. Just like the old him, he still cannot handle anyone sneaking up on him.

  "And how is that possible?"

  "You need to study the laws governing this small world. But it might be a little difficult since you will be studying the laws governing time."

  "Mmm..." Tianling ponders. "You're right. I may not have ever had an interest in time but I-"

  "Zhuren, have you forgotten that you have been trying to find the pearl of time? You have always had an interest in learning its laws."

  "Oh! Right. Right. My memories, they...they seem to be disoriented after waking up," he lies. The truth is that he hasn't been using the memories of this body but his former memories. But how can he merge so many memories from both the soul and the body? This body has been alive for more than five thousand years while his memories are less than a thousand years. His soul would be overwhelmed if he were to absorb all the memories. The best he can do is to select a few which are important.

  'Learn the laws of time? Isn't this against the Dao?'

  "...ifu? Shifu?" Wang Wei's gentle calls yank him out of his thoughts.

  "Yes?"

  "Can I become as powerful as Uncle Yao? I want to avenge my family."

  Tianling places his hand on Wang Wei's head saying, "You will become more powerful than he was. My sect has one major rule; fight to become stronger than you should be. Do not compare yourself to anyone, break your own limits."

  Wang Wei's eyes are suddenly filled with life, clearing half of the gloomy air that has been around him since they met.

  "M! I will become stronger than any general who has come before me!" he declares passionately, igniting his own flame to surpass the limits of life itself. "I will make all those sects pay for what they did to my family."

  Hearing Wang Wei's firm resolution, Wang Fei tears up from happiness. The stone that has been weighing heavily in her chest slowly becomes lighter after seeing the determination in her younger brother. Ever since their family died, he never seemed to have any motivation or desire to do anything.

  This little change makes her extremely happy. Maybe following their new master won't be a waste after all.