They arrived at their destination: a modest house with a clean courtyard.
"This..." Zhao Shi started, his voice trailing off.
"What's wrong? This will be our home for the next month," Spark said, noticing his hesitation.
Zhao Shi felt a pang of disappointment.
As the young master of the Dwight family, Spark should have resided in a lavish mansion with numerous servants. Instead, their living quarters were humble, lacking the lavishness he had anticipated. The house, though not small, was far from the grandeur expected of nobility.
"Young master, are there no other workers here besides us?" Zhao Shi asked, scanning the quiet surroundings.
"I'm in exile. Of course, they wouldn't let me bring people," Spark replied with a hint of bitterness. "At least they allowed me a proper house."
"Young Master, How long is your exile?" Zhao Shi inquired.
"Was it three months?" Spark turned to the woman for confirmation.
"Yes, young master," she nodded.
The woman led Zhao Shi to a small, sparsely furnished room at the back of the house. A single bed, a wooden chair, and a modest table occupied the space. She gestured to the room.
"This will be your quarters," she said curtly before leaving him alone.
Zhao Shi stood in the doorway for a moment, taking in his new surroundings. He walked to the window and opened it, allowing the cool night breeze to filter in. The courtyard outside was bathed in soft moonlight, casting long shadows from the surrounding trees.
He stepped outside into the courtyard, the chill of the breeze brushing against his skin. Standing there, he looked up at the moon, its pale light reflecting in his eyes.
"I've found a shelter. I'll be fine," he muttered to himself, his voice almost a whisper carried away by the wind. He clenched his fists and drew a deep breath, determination hardening his gaze. "Wait for me, Yue'er."
...
"Oh, your usual meditation," remarked Spark as he stepped into the courtyard.
Zhao Shi opened his eyes and nodded respectfully. "Good morning, Young Master."
"I've noticed you meditate every day," Spark praised. "You're quite disciplined."
"I do it to keep my body strong," replied Zhao Shi with a hint of pride.
Each night, after Spark retired to bed, Zhao Shi would remain in the courtyard, meditating beneath the moon's gentle glow, until the sun rose. It was some kind of breathing technique Zhao Shi had said when spark inquired.
"Young master, there are gifts again today," Zhao Shi pointed out, indicating the table laden with flowers, vases, and paintings.
"What can I say? I'm quite the popular guy," Spark boasted with a smirk.
It had been a week since Zhao Shi began his duties as Spark's butler. From the very first day, every morning, gifts had arrived in abundance, stacked one atop the other. Zhao Shi couldn't help but wonder at the seemingly endless stream of presents that greeted them every morning.
As it was time for Young Master Spark's breakfast, Zhao Shi headed to the kitchen to prepare.
He meticulously chopped onions, adding them to the hot oil followed by a mix of spices. The kitchen soon filled with the mouthwatering aroma, tempting anyone who caught a whiff.
Zhao Shi hailed from a humble background, where every coin counted. Growing up in a family of limited means, he learned to stretch every penny and make the most of what little he had. Dining out was a luxury he couldn't afford, so he turned to the forests for sustenance, gathering wild plants and spices to flavor his meals.
"I couldn't resist," he said, slipping them into Zhao Shi's already full hands.
The day continued in this fashion, with Spark flitting from one shop to the next, his laughter and carefree spirit contrasting sharply with Zhao Shi's silent contemplation. As they finally made their way back to the carriage, laden with the day's acquisitions, Zhao Shi couldn't shake the sense of wonder and bewilderment.
***
One early morning, a visitor arrived at the residence, bearing a sealed letter.
"Young Master, someone came to deliver this letter," Zhao Shi announced, holding out the letter for inspection.
"What does it say?" Spark inquired curiously.
Breaking the seal, Zhao Shi's brow furrowed as he studied the unfamiliar characters on the parchment.
After a moment of contemplation, he reluctantly admitted, "Young Master, I'm afraid I can't read this language."
Spark chuckled in response.
"I forgot, you're not a native here," he remarked, understanding dawning on him.
Despite having honed his spoken language skills over time, Zhao Shi still struggled with the intricacies of the local script, a fact that occasionally proved inconvenient.
"Hmm," Spark mused, taking the letter from Zhao Shi's outstretched hand.
"It's an invitation to a party," he announced with a hint of excitement.
"A party?"
"Yes, a celebration for Marquis William's awakening," Spark explained.
"Do you understand what awakening entails?" Spark asked.
"A little," Zhao Shi nodded.
There were individuals who, through relentless training and the consumption of potent elixirs, achieved extraordinary abilities beyond the grasp of ordinary folk.
They were known as ascendants, beings capable of harnessing the energy of their surroundings to attain levels of might and mastery that surpassed the realm of the ordinary.
Essence awakening
Spirit inception
Soul tempering
Astral bloom
Ethereal manifestation
These were the known levels of ascendants in the continent, each representing a profound mastery of power. A single essence-awakening expert wielded the ability to single-handedly repel thousands of soldiers with unmatched skill and strength. One could only speculate about the capabilities of even more powerful ascendants, their might transcending the limits of imagination.
"Young Master, Are we going?" Zhao Shi inquired.
"Of course, how can I resist a free meal? Besides, I could use some excitement," Spark replied with a grin.