Two weeks passed and Hai Jingyi had already set up a pleasant routine for himself,

At six o'clock, he'd be woken up by Yan Yang or Wen Xia taking this opportunity to learn as much as they could from Hai Jingyi in the fifteen-minute walk to the food hall.

Hai Jingyi liked this enthusiasm and fiddled around with their stats raising them just by a little bit, enough for them to notice and believe their new Shizun's advice truly was helping them, Yan Yang, he could even properly form an energy ball now, and Wen Xia was slowly but definitely getting control of water-based elements such feats were reserved for those who'd been practising for decades to achieve such in their teens was truly remarkable, at least in their eyes, the other juniors were so jealous pestering them for knowledge from the great young master.

After breakfast, he'd meet with Tai Shu Qiu as no one else would give him chores to do and after diligently completing them he would begin his favourite part of the day pestering Tai Qiang till he agreed to teach him how to use a sword.

Taking the path up the mountain where he often went to train alone it always took him a while to find Tai Qiang, this activity of his always took about six hours because the man always changed his location but by then Hai Jingyi had narrowed it down to four favourites: the peach tree overlooking the village down the mountain, the freezing springs where he liked to meditate by a massive oak tree at the edge of a cliff he liked sitting there and the caves in the mountain where everyone went for seclusion.

"Tai Qiang!" he called out, "You could just shorten this whole hide and seek game and come out to teach me!" Hai Jingyi yelled knowing he was nearby having now learned how to read and locate aura's today he was by the peach tree, well actually he was pretty high up in the tree, glaring down at him...¯_(ツ)_/¯

"What's with that look, have you finally agreed to teach me how to fight? I did promise I wouldn't break your sword again."

the man rolled his eyes at him

"Oh, come off of it and just teach me already I can't be the only person who doesn't know how to fight around here."

Tai Qiang tired to ignore him but that only made Hai Jingyi more persistent, it was annoying very very annoying.

"Why do you want to learn how to fight your cultivation pretty powerful as it is," he stated knowing how strong his spiritual energy was

Hai Jingyi couldn't say it was a chance to spar with his dearest creation so he went for the angst route,

"I want to use a sword to kill the man that burned down my sect," he said in a low voice but loud enough for Tai Qiang to hear,

his voice was as cold as a winter morning still, you could feel the sadness that burned behind those words,

Great acting! he deserved an Oscar!

"Are you coming down?"

"No,"

"Fine," Hai Jingyi was prepared today placing his hand on the tree shifting its build to match his will the branches began to shift like a waking beast startling Tai Qiang

"What are you doing?"

"Creation," he said  focusing on a quick code

<

Hai Jingyi removed his hand from the tree and clapped three times, "bring him down,"

At those words, the entire tree came alive branches became elongated tentacles reaching out to Tai Qiang he narrowly avoided the grabbing vines dodging and weaving the monstrous construct leaping down in one bound landing before a smiling Hai Jingyi

"are you insane?"

"Quit whining how about a trade I'll teach you that vine trick and you teach me how to use a sword,"

Tai Qiang realized that if he did not agree this would be his life an overeager over powerful dog yapping at his heels till the end of his days

(_ _|||)

"Fine," he agreed at last, "We'll start tomorrow."

Hai Jingyi beamed following Tai Qiang as he walked away the latter was irritated,

"Why are you still here?"

"Where else would I go? this whole thing with you usually takes longer," he stated falling into step with him, Tai Qiang let him follow and they walked in silence for a while it was a peaceful day the weather wasn't too warm not too cold birds were singing a pleasantly boring day.

"Where are we going anyway,"

"Patrol."

"This early?"

"Its almost a full moon demons and evil spirits will soon start running rampant, even during the day."

"You're quite vigilant aren't you?"

"...."

"So we're going to the border?"

"Yes,"

"I don't have a weapon."

"I really don't think you need one,"

Hai Jingyi beamed at the compliment, it was so bright Tai Qiang wanted to shield his eyes

"Hmm...whats this? Tai Qiang complemented me, a lowly being this is such a great day."

"Please just be quiet."

"No way this day will go down in history, this moment immortalized in the stars, I will write songs abo- ouch!"

Hai Jingyi grimaced as a blinding pain spread across his forehead he frowned at the smug looking Tai Qiang who was holding a pebble

"You hit me with a rock?!"

"Had to be done."

Hai Jingyi was silenced this character really was annoying, ever sour face, always so serious... Would it kill you to crack a smile?

Would the world suddenly end if a laugh left your lips? (」ﾟﾛﾟ)｣

Then again it was in his nature...come to think of it Hai Jingyi realized he'd never seen Tai Qiang smiling even when he was just a 3d model on a screen… maybe he really couldn't smile but this was an actual world he was a man of flesh and bones surely he could smile.

They neared the border of their sect.

Hai Jingyi paused, this location looked just like a battle instance from the campaign mode where the players were ambushed by three low-level demons, they were meant to be taken out with ease in the game, unless you really sucked but it was just meant to simply serve as an in-game tutorial on game-play and controls, he started looking around

Tai Qiang noticed, "What's wrong?"

"Do you sense something?" Hai Jingyi asked glancing around it should be around here somewhere the trigger for the event where was it he was excited he really wanted to see a 4D demon, he could die happy afterwards he neared the fire Lilly bush it was the brightest thing there so I was likely the trigger he walked around it looking this way and that waving his hands about like a lunatic

"What are you doing?"

Trying to trigger a hidden demon because I want to see it, would not be a good answer so he remained silent.

"Guess I was wro-"

"Look out!"

he was thrown back against a really hard chest as a swirling mass of ink-black smoke coalesced into a creature that reeked of malicious intent

A demon! An actual demon! dear lord I was right this is so awesome look at it it's hideous I love it, my future pet, my future pet!

Tai Qiang didn't quite notice the looks of sheer glee on Hai Jingyi's face rather he drew his sword he would make short work of such a low-level demon, eyes bright his sword rang as it cut through the wispy flesh, the demon uttered a scream Hai Jingyi silently cheered, Fight fight fight fight!

The demon roared thin wisps of flesh that struck out like whips launched from his back Hai Jingyi was overjoyed!

the ten thousand whip attack!!!

he never really liked the idea seeing that there were enough tentacle scenarios in the game and frankly he didn't want to feed the perverted side of their fandom with any more ideas but seeing it now he would give that intern a raise when he got back.

It was awesome awe-inspiring incredible! The sheer fear he felt was exhilarating and watching Tai Qiang cut through the creature like it was butter made him wish he had a set of pompoms to cheer him on as he battled the Demon like the Legendary Swordsman he was.

Tai Qiang sliced through them all, watching him was like watching a dance weaving and slicing through ribbons of black nearing the demon and at the peak of the performance his sword buried itself in its neck its pure blade silencing the demon as scattering it into smoke and ink.

Hai Jingyi was over the moon!

Eyes gleaming in absolute adoration made Tai Qiang uncomfortable so he turned away starting to head back,

"Wait, what about the others?"

"What others?"

"these types wander in packs if one is here the others can't be too far behind,"

That was the system they set up, lower strength beasts hunt in packs it was fair that way no need to make the game too easy.

If you could overpower one you might not be able to battle ten so rely on your friends or die!

"Ah, forced teamwork is there a sweeter thing?"

As if to punctuate his words a loud bang was heard down the mountain and screams of terror rang out Tai Qiang's gaze grew cold

"get back to the sect I'll handle this,"

he got on his sword gearing up to fly when a cold hand grabbed his

"I'm faster," was all he heard before they were swallowed by a whirl of colours for a split second he felt torn apart then reassembled so quickly it felt like it didn't happen one second they were almost at the mountains peak the next they were in the village with Hai Jingyi keeling over some barrels retching,

"Are you okay?"

"What kind of a question is that? go fight the monsters and let me be sick in peace..." Hai Jingyi shuddered,

 

"ugh, I'm never doing that again..."

Well at least he's alive whatever he'd done really took its toll on him but they were here and oh what a sight it was…
blood covered walls the air filled with demonic energy scattered limbs lying strewn everywhere cries of despair ringing in his ears he cut through the demon pack in seconds

Having successfully thrown up the mornings breakfast and everything else he ever ate in his miserable life (_ _|||) Hai Jingyi made a vow he would never teleport again!

It was cool as fuck but this feeling wasn't worth it. he'd rather run everywhere or bang his head against a rock till his brains splattered because that's exactly how he felt

leaning against a wall hoping the world would stop spinning he heard slow steps approaching turning his head he met the eyes of the other person he'd been hoping to meet,

in the Story Mode, the key villain attacked the village before heading off to find a hidden treasure that would grant him dominion over all the world, again the story really could be worked better but still that wasn't important.

Hai Jingyi stood straight a tired smile on his face, "Hua Fang why are you here?"