Another Disciple

"What? Are you sure? Didn't you say you were the only one?"

"I did", I nodded, "I just couldn't figure it out since she was inactive all this time"

This was not a total lie, guessing by the title I got, I could guess that I was probably the only cultivator here. Not to mention, it would be a phenomenal feat to survive entering the first realm without the support of another cultivator since I had created it so that the stronger you are, the harder it will be for you to become a cultivator and from what I heard, she was exceptionally strong.

"What does that mean?"

I turned to Uncle Sumiro.

"I will explain after I wake her up"

They audience present reluctantly nodded. I couldn't blame them, after all, just a '14-year-old' kid that appeared just yesterday told them that she would be cured, something all their previous efforts could not.

Repeating what I did earlier, I injected my Yi into her again, exploring every part of her body and soul, checking for anything that I could do. Even if I could not, I can just kill her and then bring her back. 

Hmm?! So that's how it is.

Examining her, I found that her Dantian was a little incomplete near her soul and had enveloped it, forming a layer around her soul that trapped her consciousness inside. She could likely feel and hear everything around her, but she had no power to do anything other than that.

An amateur mistake that Cultivators often make, forming their Dantian with little Yi could make you end up dead. She was lucky that it was only a step away from being complete or else she might have exploded, literally.

I relocated my hand, placing it on her naked collarbone and injected my Yi, while sucking out hers and replacing it with my own. I couldn't make mistakes, so I isolated myself and her with the Daos and worked to rebuild her dantian. 

…

Spanning almost an hour, I carefully reconstructed and repaired her dantian, as the rest of the people watched in complete silence. 

Now that that's done, let's move on to the main problem.

Carefully working on her Yi core, I slowly removed the layers of Yi formed over her soul, revealing a weak but alive consciousness that was barely holding on. Quickly, I took a part of my own essence and combined them, healing her in the process. 

I would have used the Dragon's soul to give her an upgrade but seeing how weak her soul was, I wasn't possible at the moment.

"Dad, water"

As quickly as he could, Dad formed a ball of water over him hand. I took it over Artoria's head with the Dao of Space and then let it drop.

SPLASH…

"Aah, that's old", She jolted up, before turning to me, "Who are you?"

My eye twitched at this, and I slapped the back of her head.

"Aren't you supposed to say thank you? And don't even try to fool me, I know what was happening to you"

She gulped, before I stepped aside, letting the full view of her… our family come into her eyes.

"D-Dad"

Uncle Sumiro quickly engulfed her in a hug, sobbing as his tears soaked in his daughter's dress, who also reciprocated in kind. One by one, the others also joined, as I watched this with a soft smile before leaving the room.

.

.

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Chatter…

I looked down, hearing the lively streets at the bottom while I watched from the roof of the castle. A smile made its way to my face, as my mind went back to the moment I was reborn here. 

It was uncomfortable at first, but soon I grew into it. 

I sighed, as I lay on my back watching the sky. 

"What are you doing Vel? Athena?"

I muttered, as I closed my eyes and embraced the feeling of the breeze blowing on my face.

…

"It's lovely isn't it?"

"A bit, yes" 

I opened my eyes, looking at the figure that I instantly recognize as my grandfather. 

"You don't seem to fond of it"

"Well, apart from those I consider dear, I hold similar opinions about everything else"

He sat beside me, before replying.

"Hmm. So what do you think of my Kingdom?"

"To be honest, it's alright but a bit too lax"

"And what do you mean by that?"

"The ruler is a bit too thoughtful, making the subjects forget what they shouldn't"

"And what would that be?"

"Heh, I think you know the answer to that already"

He smiled, looking into the sky as he too laid down like myself.

"Thank you"

"For what?"

"For healing my granddaughter"

I could see the tiny and almost unnoticeable bags under his eyes, so I decided to not press the matter further. 

"Your welcome"

"And Sorry… for your parents"

"…"

I couldn't make up my mind to give an answer to that question. So we just let our ears hear the silence in the air. 

…

"So what do you think about the World?"

I surprised, look at him due to his poor choice of questions to quench the awkwardness. From his expression, he himself was a bit embarrassed.

"It's acceptable"

He seemed intrigued. 

"While I do not agree with many things, it is what it is. It can't be a utopia since that would deprive us of our free will, and even if it were, it can never be permanent"

"I see. What do you not like anyways?"

"Now that would be a truly long list"

"AHAHAHA", He laughed a bit boisterously, "I guess we got that in common"

"Yeah," a smile crept up my face, "I guess we do"

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"Explain" 

I found myself and my cousin Artoria, sitting on the opposite side of the rest of the family. 

Shortly after a sentimental dinner where they couldn't help but tear up due to Artoria's presence, they decided that it was time to get the answers about Artoria and about cultivation.

Artoria shuddered, unable to form words so I decided to take the lead.

"As you know, the World has Skills, Magic, Arts, and many other things", they nodded, "There is another system, that is what we call, or rather I call, the cultivation system"

Then proceeded a whole round of questioning, where I explained the cultivation system, though in a less that brief manner and also that it held enormous potential, and that their daughter could stand toe to toe against them to the future. 

Of course, they couldn't believe it, so I told them that I can actually defeat the Dragon Lord that they fought in the past, and after a bit of convincing, they agreed to let my cousin be a cultivator, though the most appealing thing that was for them was our lifespan and the fact that one can't revert from a cultivator to a normal human again.

However, one thing caught my attention from their conversation.

"Ma, what do you mean 3 True Dragons? Aren't there only 2?"

She looked at me as if I had just asked a stupid question.

"Which 2 do you know about?"

"Umm, Veldanava and Velzard"

"Oh, there's one other, the Scorch Dragon Velgrynd"

Hearing that, a smile crept on my face as I unintentionally mutter.

"I should give Velgrynd a visit, though I hope she isn't like the bratty Velzard"

I look up to see everyone looking at me, or rather staring at me. Only then did I realize what I had done.

Oh Shit.

…

Now, the scene was slightly different, and the complete focus was my muttering self.

No words were spoken, but I could clearly see the word 'Explain' on their faces. 

There also one thing that I considered, that Grandfather had a lie detection skill that my current self could not fool, so I decided to speak half-truths.

"So um, one day I snuck out without anyone's notice and noticed her, I guess"

That is all I could come up with, without opening the train of question that would undoubtedly expose my lie.

I was met with unimpressed faces, showing not a single trace of believing what I just said, but not speaking since they probably realized that I was not going to share my full experience. 

After a silence that lasted a brief moment, Uncle Sumiro spoke up.

"So what about Artoria?"

"I was thinking maybe I could be her teacher, or maybe a guide for Cultivation"

His eyes remained still for a bit, as if contemplating something. Soon after, he nodded.

"Alright"

I turned to the person in question.

"Artoria, Are 'YOU' okay with this?"

I seemed surprised at my serious tone, but meekly replied anyway.

"Y-yes"

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.

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I lay on my bed, eyes closed as I wonder about the numerous things that happened today.

So, to summarize what I had done after coming here.

I had met my family from the paternal side and killed a little bitch who thought that he could call my mother a ####.

I got a Dragon Lord as my shadow beast. Then naming the 3 shadow beasts I had, which gave them some abilities and also learned how to use their abilities as my own.

I got a bit of more intel about this world and Yoriichi.

Discovered that there was a new True Dragon and another Cultivator apart from myself.

And probably the biggest was me accepting a disciple.

I sighed, while thinking of one last thought as I drifted into sleep.

I hope she is a fast learner like Noir.

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Ugh…

I open my eyes to the orange sun halfway visible behind the mountains.

YAWN…

I should get up, probably hunt a few monsters outside and then coming back sometime later.

!!!

Ugh, why can't I get up?

I discovered 2 flimsy sticks that locked onto me, and then felt a presence behind me. 

I rolled over to meet who it was, and sweat dropped upon seeing the person who began to open her eyes as soon as I eyes landed on her. 

"What are you doing, Artoria?"