"The vast land's natural flora has inspired and enhanced humanity for as long as time can tell."

  The pair of mother and child agreed that Qai should spend at least a month of learning from her some of the basics in rearing plants.

  While his mother is admittedly not an expert, her time with her flowers is perhaps enough to give Qai little knowledge in order for him not appear unintelligent or clueless by the time he handles Master Han’s precious herbs.

  And so for the following days, Qai divided his time discretely into training his body and helping his mother in the courtyard's flower garden.

  Despite that, he also found a bit of time to finally roam around the vicinity of the nameless village.

  He turned 4 during this time.

  Apparently, in the memory of the original Qai, he found no traces where he made friends with other children. Qai’s past 3 years seemed to be mostly spent with his parents at home.

  Children however in this world were kind of physically mature beyond their years—which practically makes whatever early physical training among them possible.

  During this time also, Qai requested his father to craft him a wooden blade and that it should be relatively a bit heavier than usual.

  Qai’s intention was, of course, to take his physical training to the next level by his self-made hacking skills. This time though, he is intent on making a thousand rounds of hacks daily with both hands each. He was hoping that even by such simple training, he would be able to breakthrough to Iron rank early.

  In his thoughts, unlike the spear play, some hacking here and there would definitely not reveal any weapon skill. Thus, it would not be conspicuous as to reveal his secret.

  When he got his wooden blade, it was almost half his size, as wide as a man’s palm and as thick as a finger. It was definitely heavy—much to Qai’s liking.

  He then proceeded to wear it on his back. When he saw that it felt good, he eventually planned to do it regularly. In some way, it became a sort of weights which could help him train his body even without exerting too much effort.

  ‘This is perfect,’ he thought.

  He even began running around the house with the large wooden blade hanging on his back.

  Soon enough, Master Han got the word that the blacksmith’s son wanted to learn to read from him and study with his books. And in return, the boy would serve in his herb garden.

  Master Han, as expected, dropped by their stone house some days later to order some tools. It was also then that the herbalist officially gave his instructions to Qai.

  The master herbalist had a dark complexion and wore a strict looking face. And from the tone of his voice, he sounded like an eccentric fellow—which apparently startled Qai a bit.

  “Boy, starting tomorrow, you will come by the garden every morning for three months. See to it that every plant and herb are properly watered while I attend to the sick. Only when I’m done shall I teach you how to read. And when I’m satisfied with your work, I’ll lend you some books.”

  Qai did not know whether to laugh or cry. But as long as he achieves his purpose, dealing with a moody elder is just a trifling matter.

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  Evidently, reading had been his life back when he was a noble; so the fact that he would have the chance to access some books is already a wonderful news to him.

  “No problem, Master Han. I’ll be sure to take care of your garden.”

  Qai did not actually sound pretty confident when he answered, after all, it was normal for children to be nervous in front of an elder; although in truth, it was just that he was still having difficulty with the language.

  He was, in truth, already itching to get his hands on the books.

  “You don’t have to worry Elder Han, I have already taught some this child of mine how to delicately handle some plants. Even if he just turned 4, he's quite the fast learner,” Qai’s mother added with a smile.

  The arrangement was in reality not difficult at all. Looking after the herbs and regularly watering them is really a child’s play. And for someone like Qai who has a 15-year old mind, such work does not worth a sweat.

  “Alright, be sure to bring my ordered tools as well.”

  Qai’s father was just watching from the sidelines when the master herbalist talked to his son. He knew fully well the latter’s demeanor having been his regular customer. So he just shook his head at the exchange.

  The herbalist and his father spoke few more words before Master Han went on his way.

  The following day, Qai took his meal early and packed his wooden blade on his back. He then run around the village and took a longer route towards Master Han’s place. He intentionally did it as part of his physical training.

  Everyone who saw him couldn’t help but smile at the laughable sight of a child running with a huge wooden blade on his back.

  It was Qai’s first day as the herbalist’s servant.

  When he reached the north gate, he easily recognized Master Han’s place. As told, it was surrounded by a garden of herbs and plants. Apparently, there were even several hunting parties lining up by the herbalist’s door—obviously trading for some healing pastes.

  It has been the practice of hunters to drop by the place first thing in the morning in order to restock their resources. In Qai’s memory, the same hunters also regularly drop by their house for tool enhancements.

  “Good day, Master Han,” Qai merrily greeted.

  He was all smiles when he arrived at the place. His eyes were beaming with eagerness to start his work. Apparently, he was already trying to imagine what he will find out once he gets to learn how to read.

  The hunters who saw him was taken aback when they saw him with a huge blade which appeared to be very disproportionate with his body. But when Master Han saw him, he didn't mind his weird get up.

  "Good!" The master herbalist exclaimed. "You're quite the enthusiastic one, eh. Get inside in the garden and my niece Nabi will tell you what do."

  'Nabi who!?'

  Qai was surprised to learn that Master Han does not work alone. His thoughts stirred. And his hunger for the books suddenly came to a stop.

  "If you spoil any precious herb, I'll kick you out immediately." The master quickly followed up before Qai managed to get in.

  When he proceeded to the inner herb garden, he saw a female youth of about 9 years of age seated in a corner of garden. She was extracting herb essences in a bowl and seemed to be making some healing pastes.

  "You must be Qai," the girl suddenly said. "I am Nabi, Uncle Han's apprentice. I am already aware of your arrangements with uncle, so bring out the garden shovels uncle ordered from your father's shop, and I'll tell you what to do."

  The two started working that morning, and Qai finished his tasks quick. It was just a matter of delicately plowing the soil around the plants with daily watering and occasional fertilizing.

  The work apparently is expectedly learnable for his age.

  But when he realized that Master Han is still busy, he pulled of his blade and started hacking at the side of the garden, far away from the herbs.

  One thousand strikes in air semi-diagonally to left with his right hand, and another thousand with his left hand.

  "Oh, are you planning to become a village soldier?" Nabi asked with a smile.

  Of course, it was more like a sarcastic remark than a question. In the eyes of Nabi, Qai should be using such strikes to train to become a blacksmith since its his family's occupation.

  It took almost two hours to finish his training.

  And when the last strike was unleashed, a slight form of energy suddenly streaked out from his entire body.

  Qai was stunned.

  'I brokethrough!'