Are You Trying To Get Yourself Killed?!

Ji Min had also noticed the phenomenon the day before and could utterly relate to what she was currently experiencing.

Not only did the chains constrict further once their joints and muscles adapt to the strain, but the force with which it constricted also increased with time.

Then just like that, the sun rose and set upon them repeatedly for six straight days, and before they both knew it, two weeks had passed.

---

During this period, Ji Min continued to consume the medicinal herbs raw once Ji Qing and his grandfather retires to their tents.

Also, within this period, Ji Wang and Ji Fang had also appeared a couple of times, with Ji Fang updating Ji Tang on the progress of the Southern Family's progress in training and Ji Wang updating him on the situation of the outside world.

Ji Tang on the other hand, would leave them at the mountaintop and descend into the forest surrounding it; except for the several agonizing roars of some beasts, Ji Min was unable to tell what his grandfather was doing within the forest.

But today, the duo was released from their confines, and strangely, they were also separated as Ji Qing left with Ji Wang whilst Ji Min was left alone with his grandfather.

"Grandpa?" Ji Min called out once Ji Qing and Ji Wang left.

"She's a girl; definitely her routine would differ from yours at some point. But worry not, your girlfriend would return at some point." Ji Tang answered with a meaningful smirk that left Ji Min confused.

"Girlfriend?" Ji Min blurted as Ji Tang left him looking stunned on the spot.

"Your training routine for this week is to run down this mountain and back to that area twice in the morning and afternoon." Ji Tang ignored Ji Min's interrogative gaze as he pointed towards a clear level ground at the top of the mountain.

There in the distance were two steel balls the size of gym fitness balls and several flat, rectangular steel bars that were about half his height.

"Those are the materials you listed, they arrived yesterday." Ji Tang spoke with a curious expression as he wondered what Ji Min might need the steel bars and balls for.

Ji Min simply walked over to the steel ball which had a small ring attached to its top; he then loosed a little part of the chain on his right arm, passed it through the ring, and tied it securely.

He then tried to lift the steel ball with the chain, but the ball didn't budge causing Ji Tang's curious frown to deepen a bit.

Then after several tries, Ji Min finally managed to lift the ball a few inches off the ground, and after feeling the estimated weight of the chain combined with the steel ball, he nodded in satisfaction.

"Thanks a lot, grandpa, they're perfect." He said with a satisfied smile whilst Ji Tang simply bottled his curiosity and headed towards the edge of the mountain top.

He knew there was no point in asking Ji Min any questions; after all, he was going to be present all through his training and would definitely see how Ji Min planned on using them.

"So, how do you plan to include this training routine into your existing routine?" Ji Tang asked as he looked into the distance where the sun had just begun to rise.

"I plan on loosening my limb, doing some lifting, running down the mountain and back, doing some lifting once again, before I finally loosen my limbs the second time." Ji Min spoke as Ji Tang frowned at the sheer rigorousness of the training.

Ji Tang felt Ji Min was trying to rush his training and he felt it might harm him if he got careless in the slightest.

But whilst he was thinking Ji Min's training was already a little bit careless, Ji Min's next statement almost made him puke blood.

"I will start this routine at sunrise, in three phases; morning, noon, and evening, and must complete it before sunset."

"You!- Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Ji Tang was incensed when he heard his grandson's outrageous statement.

"Don't worry grandpa, you can stop me whenever you feel I am about to harm myself." Ji Min added as Ji Tang was left speechless.

He had planned on cutting off some routines out of his training, but now that Ji Min had given him subtle control over the routine, he realized that he might damage Ji Min's motivation and determination if he rebutted his decision any further.

Thus, after a few calming sighs Ji Tang approved the new routine; after all, deep within himself, he wanted to know Ji Min's limits and study him a little just to have an idea about the kind of advice and instruction to give him in the future.

Ji Tang and Ji Min spent the rest of the day chatting about varying topics, from the current state of affairs within the Southern Family, the situation with the main clan, the entire kingdom, and his experience at Old Lao's domain.

During their chat, Ji Tang refused to ask about what occurred in the forest back then and how Ji Min and Ji Qing had managed to survive the carnage that happened.

Meanwhile; thousands of miles from their current location; somewhere within a similar landscape, but a different empire.

Two petite-looking girls could be seen waiting in front of a small hut.

If Ji Min was here, he would definitely recognize the entire setting and the waiting duo; one of them was anxiously pacing to and fro, whilst the other simply stood in front of the door with what seemed to be a scroll in hand.

Then after a few seconds, the anxious little girl seemed to lose all patience and banged on the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

One would have thought the door would break, but there was nothing her little arms could have done, and the little girl could only flinch with a red face, indicating that she might have hurt herself a little from knocking on the door so hard.

"I'm sure you both know I hate to be disturbed whenever I'm working, so whatever it is, better be very important." A calm old voice drifted out of the hut as the door to the hut creaked open.

The moment the door creaked open, a wave of intense heat washed over the little girls followed by a very sweet fragrant scent of herbs and potions.

The duo stepped in and found an old man with disheveled hair sitting in front of a large, lidded cauldron from which the sweet fragrance was spilling from.