"Your father," Adrian said solemnly, "was known as the Midnight Sage."


    The name struck me like lightning. I stood there, blood trickling from my wounds, barely registering the pain as the words echoed in my mind.


    "The Midnight Sage," I repeated slowly, testing the name of the man who had given me life. "What kind of person was he?"


    Adrian''s eyes grew distant. "A man beyond measure. His power... I''ve never witnessed anything like it, before or since."


    My heart hammered in my chest. Finally, after years of emptiness, I was getting answers about my origins.


    "Did he—" I began, but Adrian raised his hand.


    "You''re agitated. Let''s sit." He gestured to a nearby log. "I''ll tell you what I know."


    I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts, and limped over to the makeshift seat. My body ached from our battle, but the physical pain paledpared to the storm of emotions raging inside me.


    "Your father appeared in my life when I was at my lowest," Adrian began once we were seated. "He said he saw potential in me—potential others had missed. He gave me a choice and an opportunity."


    "What opportunity?" I asked, leaning forward eagerly.


    Adrian reached into his robes and produced a small wooden box. "This."


    He opened it to reveal three dried leaves, dark green with golden veins running through them. They emanated a faint, otherworldly aura.


    "Enlightenment Tea," he exined. "Your father gave me ten leaves. Three were meant for you."


    I stared at the unassuming leaves. "What does it do?"


    "It transformed me," Adrian said, his voice hushed with reverence. "I was stuck at the Master Realm for decades. After drinking tea made from a single leaf, I broke through to the Grandmaster Realm within a month."


    My eyes widened. The implications were staggering. "A single leaf did that?"


    Adrian nodded. "Your father said they were cultivated in a realm beyond our understanding. He called them ''fragments of enlightenment.''" <i ss="in-imprint-a">Thanks for reading—brought to you by *.</i>


    I reached toward the box, but Adrian gently closed it before I could touch the leaves.


    "Where is he now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.


    "I don''t know," Adrian admitted. "After giving me the leaves and training me for three years, he disappeared. That was nearly twenty years ago."


    Disappointment crushed through me like a wave. So close, yet still so far from answers.


    "Did he ever mention a woman? My mother?" I pressed.


    Adrian shook his head. "He was intensely private about his personal life. All I know is that he spoke once of leaving behind a legacy greater than himself. I believe he meant you."


    I clenched my fists, frustrated by the cryptic nature of it all. "And the tea? When can I have it?"


    "Tomorrow," Adrian replied. "The leaves must be handled with specific rituals. They''re currently stored in a secure location in River North. I''ll take you there."


    I nodded, eager for any connection to my father, however tenuous.


    "There''s something else you should know," Adrian added, his expression grave. "The technique you used—the Absolute Beginning Sacred Fist—it''s only the firstyer of a nineyer technique. Your father mastered all nine."


    Nineyers? I had struggled for months to even activate the firstyer correctly. The gap between my father and me suddenly seemed insurmountable.


    "Can you teach me the otheryers?" I asked.


    "No. I only mastered the first three," Adrian admitted. "The remainingyers were beyond my capability. Your father said only those with his bloodline could truly master all nine."


    A bloodline technique. Something uniquely mine by birthright. I felt a strange mix of pride and pressure weighing on my shoulders.


    "I''m still weak," I said bitterly, remembering how easily Adrian had overwhelmed me. "Against fast opponents or distance fighters, I''m practically helpless."


    Adrian rose to his feet. "That''s because you''ve focused solely on your strengths without addressing your weaknesses. The Enlightenment Tea will help, but it''s not a substitute for proper training."


    He extended his hand. "Tomorrow, River North. I''lle for you at dawn."


    I sped his hand firmly. "I''ll be ready."


    After Adrian left, I remained seated, my mind churning with revtions. The Midnight Sage. A name without a face, yet it filled a void in my heart I hadn''t fully acknowledged.


    Amotion near the inn''s entrance disrupted my thoughts. Several people with cameras and recording devices were trying to get past the guards. The afternoon''s events had apparently drawn attention.


    "Mr. Knight! Just a few questions about the tournament!" a woman called out, waving frantically.


    I sighed and walked over, maintaining a polite but firm demeanor. "No interviews today. Please respect my privacy."


    Most of them grumbled but dispersed. The woman who had called out lingered, her determined expression suggesting she wouldn''t give up easily.


    "Another time," I told her before heading back inside.


    I had just started meditating to recover from my injuries when a familiar voice called from outside my door.


    "Liam! You won''t believe what happened today!"


    Eamon Greene burst into my room, his face flushed with excitement. His training clothes were covered in dirt and sweat, but his eyes sparkled with vitality.


    "What is it?" I asked, somewhat amused by his enthusiasm.


    "I found this amazing spot in the forest where qi is so concentrated you can practically see it!" Eamon eximed, gesturing wildly. "My cultivation speed doubled! You have toe see it!"


    Despite my preupation with thoughts of my father and tomorrow''s journey, I couldn''t help but smile at Eamon''s boundless energy.


    "That''s impressive," I acknowledged. "How''s your techniqueing along?"


    "Better! I can maintain the energy flow for nearly ten minutes now without—"


    A sharp knock at the door interrupted him. Eamon, being closest, opened it without asking.


    "Mr. Smith, there''s a busty girl looking for you!" he shouted over his shoulder, grinning mischievously.


    I looked up to see the persistent female reporter standing in the doorway, her face flushing red at Eamon''s blunt description.