Mac and the Elder left the latter's house and walked a little further.
Midway along the path, Mac saw a stone road divide into right and left directions.
The right direction led to the outskirts of the Sect, where the ruined house was located, and the left direction led past the House of Education and ended just at the entrance to the library, where Elder Toth was hurrying to go.
Mac stopped. He bowed to Elder Toth, "The disciple bids farewell to the Elder."
The Elder did not understand and asked him again, "Disciple Mac, weren't you going to the library with me to help with the analysis?"
Although Mac had wanted to go with the Elder to analyse the ancient book that had only a few days ago come into the hands of the Sect's library, Mac wanted to practice the Sutra much more, and so he had to refuse to help the Elder.
Mac smiled wryly and said, "Elder Toth, I found an interesting book recently and was just about to read it, so I'm sorry, but I won't be able to go with you today." His tone of voice was not arrogant or haughty, and his eagerness to read the Sutra and his good attitude towards Elder Thoth were sincere.
"Hmm!" the Elder tapped his finger on the book in his hand.
"My young friend, tell me, does this 'interesting book' of yours have anything to do with the fact that you have rarely been in the Sect Library for the past two weeks? Is that why you've been skipping classes?", a suspicious look in his eyes and a sly smile quickly lit up Elder Toth's face.
Mac was a little embarrassed and said, "Nothing can be hidden from Elder Toth. That is true! But I promise you that as soon as I finish read book, I will return to the Library!", Mac said kindly.
The Elder nodded his head in agreement and added, "Okay, but don't forget to keep your promise as soon as you finish! We've got a lot of work to do, and these new adept only know how to wipe their trousers!", the Elder's voice sounded displeased, but it was not caused by Mac's actions.
Mac shouted, "Okay," and ran off at a breakneck pace in the right direction, which led to the forest where the ruined house was located.
The elder stood calmly. He watched Mac's footsteps and thought, "He reads books with such zeal!"
Joy lit up Elder Toth's face and he walked in a high spirited mood towards the Library.
At this time Trevor was already walking down the sloping stone road towards the house of his teacher, Elder Re.
Although he had suffered internal injuries only yesterday, the combination of cultivation, marsh primrose and yellow leaves had already had an effect, perhaps not as great as desired, but at this point Trevor's life was no longer in danger.
But at the same time, as he walked along the road, he involuntarily covered the internal wounds in his chest with his right hand, and his step was slow and heavy, but his face was no longer pale.
When he reached the house of his teacher, Re Trevor saw a one-storey house nestled in a quiet grove.
There were no other houses or passers-by in the vicinity.
The exterior of the house was the embodiment of simplicity and elegance, radiating a sense of calm.
It was built of old cedar. The house exuded a timeless elegance, its wooden facade bearing the marks of time and countless hours of training, for it had once belonged to Elder Re's teacher, Supreme Elder Remo, who was Elder Re's own uncle.
Trevor approached the house.
The entrance of the house, framed by tall wooden columns with intricate carvings, offered a glimpse into the world beyond.
Crossing the threshold, Trevor's nose immediately sensed a symphony of smells and sights. The air was filled with the faint scent of incense, a ritual offering to the founding ancestors of the Silver Blade Sect.
Sunlight streamed in through the windows in the room, casting soft, subdued rays that danced on the wooden flooring of the house's entrance room.
Trevor took off his shoes and walked to the central room. As he walked, he could see the many doors to the rooms in the house. Some of them led to the kitchen, others to the living room, and there were some that were used by teacher Re's servants.
As he entered the central room, Trevor noticed that the other students of teacher Re were already humbly waiting for their teacher to arrive. So he sped up his pace and joined the line of students.
The central room of the house was spacious, with high ceilings, and looked more like a training ground than a room in the house.
The inner walls surrounding the training area were decorated with calligraphy and ancient wisdom, serving as a constant source of inspiration and a reminder of what the students should strive for.
The symbols, carefully drawn in bold strokes, conveyed profound teachings passed down from generation to generation, as if to encourage students to reach their full potential and strive for excellence.
Phrases such as "perseverance", "balance", and "harmony" adorned the walls, and their meaning was deeply imprinted in the hearts of teacher Re's students.
The floor of the training ground consisted of training mats woven from long straws and carefully laid, providing an ideal canvas for physical expression and practice of various martial techniques.
The soft, bouncy texture of the training mats absorbed the impact of countless falls and blows, protecting the students from unnecessary harm. It was on this sacred ground that the students carried out rigorous training, honing their skills and putting their teacher's teachings into practice.
Around the perimeter of the room, wooden training swords stood on polished wooden racks, a silent reminder of the discipline and respect that permeated the space. The training swords were of various shapes and lengths, for practising a variety of sword techniques.
In several corners of the room were sturdy wooden training dummies, made from special types of wood that were in high demand for cultivators.The surfaces of the training dummies were scarred by countless blows, standing as faithful companions, witnessing the trials and triumphs of the tireless students.
As Trevor continued to stare at the dummies, a man entered the room.
He was tall and balanced. Teacher Re had an imperious posture that seemed to merge seamlessly with the very essence of the training ground.
His physique, honed by years of disciplined training, was a testament to the countless battles and victories he had fought. With every step, his movements resonated with grace and purpose, unconstrained by his great strength.
He had short black hair, a serious expression and an aura of calm determination, like a sharp sword in a sheath, ready to fight his enemy at any moment.
The disciples bowed and he said, "The disciples salute teacher Re."
The teacher himself just nodded his head and began to explain the plan for today's training. After giving each specific task, the teacher ordered them to start doing it. And when the students were about to start, Trevor raised his hand and said in a guilty tone, "Teacher, can I talk to you in private?"
The students were surprised, they looked at each other and began to whisper about the reason for this behaviour. Teacher Re looked at Trevor carefully and told everyone to get on with their work, while he went to talk to Trevor.
The students began warm-up exercises and stretches that filled the air with energy, preparing their bodies and minds for the rigours of today's training.
As Trevor explained how he had accidentally used "Swallow's Swing" during training, how his mouth had bled, how he had been able to avoid dangerous consequences thanks to Mac's advice and the healing properties of the herbs, and how he had meditated all night, his internal wounds had healed as quickly as possible.
The teacher was angry. Even though he had given Trevor the leaves of the marsh primrose, he still hoped that it would not come to the point of using them.
The teacher put his hand on Trevor's chest and slowly began to spread a small amount of his spiritual energy through Trevor's body. He did this in order to understand the state of Trevor's mind.
The energy went full circle. The teacher took his hand away and exhaled calmly because he realised that although Trevor's internal injuries were quite serious, his life was not in danger now, and in a few days Trevor would be completely free of them.
At this point, the other students on the training ground had already finished warming up and started training.
Some of them were practising sword techniques to harmonise the mind, body and spiritual energy within the sword. Others focused on perfecting their sword techniques.
Their bodies moved with precision and purpose. The rhythmic thud of strikes on the training dummies and the distinct sound of swords meeting in controlled combat echoed throughout the house, filling the space with an energy that was both electrifying and serene.
Meanwhile, Teacher Re decided to deal with his clueless student.
Again, his expression turned serious.
"You mean you 'accidentally' used "Swallow Wing" technique during training and caused internal injuries?!" Teacher Re's eyes were intense and his face was twisted with anger.
Unfortunately for Trevor, he didn't notice the teacher's reaction and said with a big smile.
"Yes, Teacher Re. You got it right! Yesterday..."
Before Trevor could finish, the teacher slapped him.
The blow made Trevor's head dropped.
It was a dull sound to the ear, but even so, it attracted the attention of all the students and distracted them from their training.
Their faces expressed surprise and their eyes were wide open to see and therefore understand what was happening.
Teacher Re saw this and ordered everyone to continue training. The students silently did so.
Trevor exclaimed in surprise, "Teacher, you can't hit me! I have internal injuries!"
The teacher looked at him coldly.
"I understood everything perfectly well. But you don't seem to have understood!"
And so began an unpleasant lecture from Teacher Re to his clueless student on the dangers of internal injuries and Trevor's irresponsibility.
Trevor just lowered his head guiltily and listened to the teacher's reproaches without making the slightest noise.
The teacher concluded by saying, "...and to help you remember yesterday's situation better, go and think about your actions," pointing to one of the corners of the training ground.
Trevor walked to the corner with heavy steps without the slightest complaint.
In that corner was a low wooden platform decorated with plush cushions, inviting practitioners to find a good place to meditate or take solace in peace.
But for Trevor, it was a punishment. He crossed his legs and sat down with his back to the students, looking towards the corner of the training area, where a single calligraphic scroll, elegantly mounted on the wall, conveyed ancient wisdom and the quest for enlightenment.
This symbol meant "humility".
And although this punishment was not considered severe, it was extremely successful given Trevor's condition.
First and foremost, teacher Re wanted to show Trevor that an irresponsible person was not worthy of training with his other personal students on his training ground.
And so Trevor sat there for the next 4 hours, staring at the wall with the calligraphy of "humility"
While on the training ground, discipline reigned supreme.
Teacher Re, like a beacon of knowledge and guidance, imparting his wisdom with a firm but compassionate hand.
Which created an environment that fostered development, instilling the values of respect, humility and perseverance in every student on the site. This training ground was more than just a place for the students to train.
It became a haven for self-improvement, where students not only honed their physical abilities, but also deepened their understanding of martial arts as a holistic way of life.
Also for teacher Re's students, this training ground was the beginning of their long journey, for most of them had been chosen by teacher Re before they began practising the sword techniques, and so it was in this city that they first began to learn the Sect's sword techniques.
Their bodies and souls were intertwined in a tapestry of discipline and self-discovery. The echoes of loyalty and passion resonated and carried on the whispers of the wind, signifying their own life's journey to greatness.
Sweat glistened on their foreheads, their muscles tensed with every effort. However, despite the intensity, a spirit of camaraderie prevailed, and all the students were relaxed and focused at the same time, knowing that they were among their own and were not in danger.
For four hard hours of unwavering concentration, Trevor's gaze remained fixed on the wall, as if trying to unravel its deepest secrets.
The burden of expectation hung in the air until finally teacher Re acknowledged his perseverance and gave him permission to begin cultivating spiritual energy. He cultivated until lunchtime.
After completing his morning training, Trevor said goodbye to the shelter of Elder Re's monastery and set out on a journey to meet his aspirations.
As the afternoon sun wrapped its warm embrace around the world, Trevor set out on his journey, his steps filled with determination.
Meanwhile, in the ruined house, Mac emerged from the world of words and contemplation. The ancient wisdom of the Sutra had become woven into his being, bringing him one step closer to his true power.
Now he stepped onto the stone road that had seen the footsteps of countless seekers, and there, in the midst of the passage of time, he saw Trevor.
As he walked along the stone road, he saw Trevor, who was walking to the Sect's Library, just like him. The road leading to the vast repository of knowledge ran through the consecrated territory of the House of Education.
In the morning, its halls had been teeming with the inquisitive minds of the Sect's disciples, but now they were echoing with the whispers of noisy students leaving the building.
Continuing along the stone road, they reached the Central Square.
The site pulsated with energy that reflected the vitality of the youth and the determination of those who sought to comprehend the essence of their chosen path.
In the embrace of nature, the stone road ran through a living gallery of wooden wonders.
Countless trees, the guardians of the path, stood tall and proud, each unique in its majesty. They formed an unearthly corridor, the branches of which intertwined overhead, creating a green canopy that filtered the gentle sunlight.
The leaves, the artist's colour palette, swayed in harmony with the breeze, casting playful shadows on the path.
The play of light and shadow, the gentle rustle of the leaves and the soothing scent of flowers on the ground intertwined to create a deep feeling.
Amidst this magical landscape, Trevor and Mac continued on their way, their footsteps resonating with determination and hope, to gain new knowledge in the Sect's Library, a sanctuary of infinite wisdom stored in its sacred halls.
