Walking The Path of Wu Zhe

Brother Gui patiently waited for Xiao Zhou's decision, watching the determination slowly ignite in the young boy's eyes.

"I will do it."

Xiao Zhou finally declared, a new fire burning brightly within him. "It may defy my father's wishes, but it's the only way. I need to grow stronger, to walk out of this place alive, and return to my family."

He understood that clinging to his old moral compass wouldn't ensure his survival. He also remembered his father's words, echoing in his mind: "Adapt, Xiao Zhou. A stubborn mind will only obstruct your path. Don't be the fish that only knows how to swim; be the fish that leaps from the ocean, transforming into a dragon that soars through the vast sky. Don't be like me..."

"Well said!" Brother Gui beamed with pride, nodding his approval.

"So, what do I need to do? I'm ready, even if it means killing or stealing!" Xiao Zhou proclaimed, his voice trembling slightly. The thought of indiscriminate violence still sat uneasily with him.

Brother Gui sighed deeply, shaking his tiny head at the vast misunderstanding Xiao Zhou held about Wu Zhe. "What image did your father plant in your head?" he murmured. "You have a deeply skewed perception of what Wu Zhe truly is."

"Just what kind of image that your father had planted in you about Wu Zhe," Brother Gui murmured, he continued, "You really had a huge misunderstanding about Wu Zhe, you know that." Brother Gui lets out a sigh again.

"You mean I don't have to do bad things to become a Wu Zhe?" Xiao Zhou asked, genuinely surprised. This wasn't what he had been expecting.

Brother Gui erupted in laughter, clutching his shell as he rolled on the ground. "Oh my goodness! Hahaha! This is terrible! Truly terrible! Your father instilled the worst possible image of Wu Zhe in your mind, didn't he?"

Xiao Zhou stared at Brother Gui, dumbfounded, as the tortoise regained his composure and cleared his throat. "As I mentioned earlier, Wu Zhe is a title. It refers to someone who has opened their internal qi path, allowing them to wield incredible feats beyond the capabilities of ordinary humans."

Brother Gui hopped onto a nearby moss-covered stone, extending three of his claws. "While your father is correct about some Wu Zhe using their power for violence, there are also those who use it for healing."

He paused, observing Xiao Zhou's growing interest as the boy sat intently on the grass, absorbing every word. "And finally," Brother Gui continued, "there's a rare breed of Wu Zhe known as 'Spell Weavers.' However, explaining them now wouldn't be helpful. Just know that they exist."

"The point is," he emphasized, "while the power of a Wu Zhe is indeed great and can often lead to destruction, it's ultimately a tool. Becoming a Wu Zhe doesn't inherently make you violent or change your personality. You remain you. A Wu Zhe simply possesses greater power." 

Xiao Zhou fell deep into thought, Brother Gui's explanation washing away his misconceptions. Becoming a Wu Zhe didn't transform him into someone he wasn't. 

He was still Xiao Zhou, and Wu Zhe was merely a power he could choose to wield differently.

"I see," Xiao Zhou finally said, relief washing over his face. 

"Alright, I understand now. If what you say is true, then I'm more than happy to become a Wu Zhe." He clenched his fist, his resolve solidifying. 

"Instead of using this power for harm, I will use it to protect my family. I swear! I will never be like those scumbag Wu Zhe who used their power on me." Images of the three Wu Zhe abandoning him to die flashed through his mind, further reinforcing his vow on how he would wield his power. 

Suddenly dropping to his knees, Xiao Zhou bowed deeply three times, his forehead hitting the ground with each bow. "Forgive me," he pleaded. "I should have listened to your advice and never interacted with Wu Zhe. My decision led me to this dangerous land. I broke my promise to return home for dinner, and now, I'm even becoming the one thing you hated most. But to survive, to see you and mother again, and Xue Rong, I have to become a Wu Zhe." 

"However, I swear that I will never wield this power for evil. It will solely be used for my own survival and to protect our family. This I swear." Xiao Zhou bowed one last time, his head hitting the ground even harder. 

Brother Gui watched in astonishment, having never encountered such unwavering loyalty in a child towards his father. 

"Well," he finally said, "I can only help you become a Wu Zhe. How you choose to use your power is entirely up to you." 

"So, what should I do now?" Xiao Zhou asked, rising from his position, his eyes burning with determination and his voice brimming with eagerness.

Brother Gui couldn't help but chuckle at Xiao Zhou's newfound eagerness. The hesitation that had clouded his face earlier had completely vanished, replaced by a burning determination. 

"Alright, alright, settle down, kid," Brother Gui said, closing his already small eyes as if in deep thought. 

Xiao Zhou waited patiently for the tortoise to speak, anticipation bubbling in his chest. 

"First things first," Brother Gui finally announced, "we need to find a place to sleep." 

A hint of disappointment flickered across Xiao Zhou's face as he glanced up at the sky, already turning a fiery orange. 

Following Brother Gui's instructions, Xiao Zhou gathered dry wood, leaves, and materials for a makeshift bed. 

While he was busy, the tortoise seemed to vanish. Moments later, Brother Gui reappeared, dragging a dead wild boar ten times his size. 

(Where in the world did his strength come from?)

As Xiao Zhou busied himself gathering dry wood, leaves, and materials for a makeshift bed, Brother Gui seemed to vanish into thin air. Moments later, he reappeared, dragging a dead wild boar ten times his size.

Xiao Zhou's jaw dropped in disbelief as he watched Brother Gui effortlessly maneuver the massive carcass onto a mossy stone. "Where in the world did his strength come from?" he wondered, bewildered.

"Ah, this will be our dinner," Brother Gui declared, nonchalantly indicating the boar.

Following Brother Gui's lead, Xiao Zhou accompanied him to a small cave nearby. Despite its shallow depth and scant decoration of moss and twigs, the cave was surprisingly empty and small, just enough for Xiao Zhou and Brother Gui to spend the night comfortably.

As night fell, the rustling of leaves and the distant howls of beasts filled the air, creating an unsettling atmosphere. Xiao Zhou couldn't help but voice his concerns, "Do you think we will get attacked by any beasts lurking around the area?"

Brother Gui, seemingly unfazed, casually replied, "Oh, yeah, right, almost forgot."

He then stepped out of the cave, with Xiao Zhou following suit. Brother Gui focused for a moment before stomping the ground with his tiny leg, unleashing a powerful wave of energy that expanded outward in a spherical form. The howling and roaring ceased instantly, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

"That should take care of it," Brother Gui stated, turning his attention back to Xiao Zhou, who was still amazed by what he had witnessed. "What was that?" Xiao Zhou asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Ah, just think of it as a repellent to keep those fools from disturbing our dinner and sleep," Brother Gui explained, signaling for Xiao Zhou to return to the cave.

As they made their way back to their newly set camp, Xiao Zhou offered to cook the wild boar that Brother Gui had hunted. With his experience as a butcher and the cooking skills taught by his mother, Xiao Zhou successfully roasted the pork meat.

Brother Gui couldn't help but show a satisfying smile at the enticing aroma emanating from the cooked meat.

"Now, let's eat!" The boy and the tortoise feasted happily, devouring the pork as if they hadn't eaten in days. 

When they finished eating, Xiao Zhou lay down on his makeshift bed, exhaustion finally catching up to him. Perhaps it was because Brother Gui had saved him so many times, causing him to completely let his guard down around the tortoise. He no longer felt the need to be on edge.

Moreover, the days filled with running, fear, and near-death experiences had taken their toll. For the first time in a long while, he felt safe and free from the constant threat of danger. With a sense of security enveloping him, he drifted off to sleep almost instantly.

The sun rose, painting the sky with vibrant hues.

Xiao Zhou emerged from the cave, eagerly awaiting Brother Gui's next instructions. 

The tortoise inspected him thoroughly, muttering "not good, not good" repeatedly, causing a knot of worry to tighten in Xiao Zhou's stomach. 

(Maybe I don't have what it takes to be a Wu Zhe?) 

The thought gnawed at him. 

After a few minutes, Brother Gui finally stepped back and sighed. "Looks like we have our work cut out for us," he muttered. 

"So...I'm not good enough?" Xiao Zhou asked, his voice laced with disappointment. 

"What? No, you blockhead! Who do you think I am?" Brother Gui bellowed, momentarily breaking his calm demeanor. 

"A talking tortoise?" Xiao Zhou replied, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. 

"Well, you got me there," Brother Gui conceded with a chuckle. 

"No, that's not what I meant. Your body simply isn't in optimal condition to open your qi path." 

"What does that mean?" Xiao Zhou inquired, his curiosity piqued. "

It means," Brother Gui explained, a mischievous glint in his eye, "that starting from today, you'll be building some muscle." 

"So, I need to become a muscle-bound brute?" Xiao Zhou asked, picturing a bulked-up version of himself. 

Brother Gui chuckled, shaking his head. "Not quite, my boy. You're going to train your body until you can easily knock a bear out cold and break a boulder to pieces!"