Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Inside the palace.

Isaac arrived as promised.

Upon seeing the emperor on the dragon throne, Isaac spoke up, "Father, I'm here. What brings you here?"

The emperor also saw Isaac and said, "Feifan, you've come at the right time. Let me introduce you to someone."

As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man with a resolute face walked out from the side. Isaac remembered this man as the general who had stood next to the emperor at the martial arts arena last time.

"Let me introduce you, this is General Ye Yingtian."

A general named Ye Yingtian walked up to Isaac and clasped his hands in a salute: "Your Highness Yao Feifan, I am Ye Yingtian. I will be guiding Your Highness's cultivation from now on."

"Huh? Cultivation?" Isaac turned his gaze to the emperor.

The emperor coughed twice and said, "General Ye and I watched your performance on the martial arts stage a few days ago. We felt that you had a lot of combat experience, but no skills whatsoever. So we asked General Ye to give you some special guidance."

When Isaac heard the emperor say this, he glanced at General Ye and realized that what they were saying was indeed true.

General Ye then said, "Considering Your Highness's current situation, I will instruct Your Highness on the use of 'qi' and martial arts."

The application of 'qi' is precisely Isaac's main purpose in coming to New Zealand.

"Alright, I'll leave the rest of the days to General Ye." Isaac returned the bow to General Ye.

"Not at all, Your Highness is a promising talent, and it is my honor to teach you." General Ye then changed the subject, "However, my training is extremely rigorous. I wonder if Your Highness is prepared?"

“Of course.” Isaac replied with a confident smile.

At this time, inside the Yao clan's settlement.

"Miss Violet, is it alright to address you like that?" Fu asked as he walked up to Violet.

"Yes, you can just call me Violet." With that same indifferent expression, Violet rarely showed her emotions except in front of Isaac.

“His Highness will be returning to Amestris soon. We will be staying with the Yao Clan, so even if we don’t want to, we can’t stay by His Highness’s side. But Violet, as His Highness’s subordinate, will surely be by his side.” Master Fu’s expression was unusually serious.

“Of course, I will always stay by Mr. Isaac’s side,” Violet said without hesitation.

"Well then, I wonder if Miss Violet would be willing to accept my special training?"

"Special training?" Violet didn't understand what Fu Ye meant.

“Our lineage has protected the Yao clan for generations. You are His Highness’s subordinate, so I can teach you our martial arts.” As he said this, Master Fu’s eyes were filled with determination. “I need to cultivate someone who can protect His Highness, so I will impart all the knowledge I have acquired in my life.”

Violet nodded after listening: "If it's to protect Mr. Isaac, I'm willing to accept special training."

"Very good, as expected of His Highness's handpicked subordinate." Master Fu praised, but then his expression turned serious. "However, if you do not complete the special training, I will absolutely not acknowledge you as His Highness's subordinate."

"Yes."

The special training for the two of them has begun.

Chapter 118: The Return Journey

Several months later.

In a jungle, two figures moved swiftly, their swords flashing and sparks flying as they clashed in the air.

clang!

The sword in one of the figures' hands was knocked away.

"Your Highness, your martial arts have already surpassed mine. I have nothing more to teach you," General Ye said with a smile as he picked up the sword from the ground.

The two people in the jungle were Isaac and General Ye.

For several months, General Ye had been training Isaac in all aspects. He taught Isaac everything he knew, including footwork, swordsmanship, fist and foot techniques, and even 'qi' (vital energy).

Isaac slowly closed his eyes. He sensed many things: the flow of the earth's veins, the life of plants, and the breath of the mountains and rivers. His mastery of 'qi' had reached an extremely high level.

"I thought Your Highness would need at least two years to study, but I didn't expect you to master it all in just a few months." General Ye couldn't help but admire Isaac's exceptional talent.

“Now that I’ve surpassed you, can I take your place as general?” Isaac joked.

"Your Highness is already the Crown Prince, you should go straight to be the Emperor, don't try to steal my job," General Ye said with a smile.

Over the past few months, the two have become quite familiar with each other.

"Now that the studies are over, let's go see His Majesty."

It was still that familiar palace.

The emperor remained seated on the dragon throne.

"Dad, I'm going back in a couple of days."

After a moment of silence, the emperor said, "Since that's the case, I won't stop you. However, before that, I want to settle your matter as the crown prince."

"Wait!" Isaac suddenly said.

"What's wrong? What brilliant idea do you have, Feifan?"

"Let's not talk about me being the Crown Prince now. How about we make a bet?" Isaac picked up the Philosopher's Stone.

"Oh?" The emperor looked at Isaac with a hint of interest, wondering what he was planning to do.

"I don't want to tell those princes and princesses that I'm already the crown prince. Let them continue searching for the elixir of immortality. If anyone can find this stone, then I'll ask Father to reconsider the crown prince position," Isaac suggested.

"I see. Very well, then I'll observe the situation first," the emperor agreed.

"Alright, I'll head back now." Isaac said, walking out of the palace and heading towards the Yao clan.

Watching Isaac leave, the emperor suddenly revealed a subtle smile: "Reconsider? Reconsider the crown prince position. Do you think I would change something that has already been decided by imperial decree?"

The emperor never intended for his children to find any elixir of immortality, nor did he know why they spontaneously assumed that finding it would make them crown princes.

In his eyes, only Isaac could lead the new country to prosperity and strength.

As for the others, let them make a fuss.

--------

Isaac walked on the Yao tribe's settlement, a place he had grown accustomed to living in.

Although he has been training with General Ye, he comes back every week.

"Let's go find Violet first. I wonder what she's doing now."

boom!

With a loud noise, the wall of the mansion suddenly cracked, and a dark figure flew out and crashed into the opposite wall.

It's Master Fu.

Grandpa Fu stood up, trembling: "Oh dear, my old bones!"

"Uncle Fu? What's up? Getting up for your morning exercise?" Isaac came over and greeted him.

"Your Highness, please don't joke around."

Master Fu steadied himself and stared at the person who had sent him flying, his eyes filled with admiration.

Isaac followed Fu Ye's gaze and saw Violet standing there quietly.

"Miss Violet is truly talented. She has only been teaching him for a few months, yet she has already beaten this old servant to a pulp," Master Fu exclaimed.

"Master Fu, were you really that strong before?"

"Cough cough, of course I can't compare to His Highness." Master Fu choked a little.

Violet also came out: "Uncle Fu, are you alright?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing, what could possibly happen to me?" Master Fu quickly replied.

"But there was a lot of blood on her face..."

"It's just a scratch!" Master Fu quickly replied.

"Uncle Fu should really go see a doctor. At his age, such a serious injury could be life-threatening," Violet said sincerely.

But these words unexpectedly displeased Master Fu.

"I'm not that old yet! I can still serve the Yao family!" Master Fu shouted, then sighed.

"Violet, you've passed."

After several days of training, Master Fu had no objection to Violet becoming Isaac's subordinate.

Violet bowed to Lord Fawkes and then ran toward Isaac.

"Welcome back, Mr. Isaac."

“I’m back, Violet,” Isaac said with a smile.

A few days later, it was time to say goodbye to the people here.

Mrs. Yao hugged Isaac tightly: "Feifan, Mom will miss you so much!"

"Stop joking, it's not like you're not coming back."

“If you leave, Violet will go with you, and Mom will be very bored,” Madam Yao said sadly.

"Then please continue being bored." Isaac pushed Mrs. Yao away.

"Ugh~ Feifan is getting more and more heartless." Wiping away imaginary tears with a handkerchief, she said, "Your mom has already packed your luggage~"

As he spoke, he took out a huge suitcase and placed it in front of Isaac.

I have a feeling that this suitcase is giving off an ominous aura.

Thinking this, Isaac immediately opened his suitcase and started rummaging through it.

"Mom, what are these?"

Isaac took out a pile of women's clothing and placed it in front of his mother, asking with dead fish eyes.

“This… well… it’s for Violet.” Madam Yao looked away.

"Don't you think the clothes are a bit too big for Violet's twelve-year-old body?"

“Um… isn’t Feifan an alchemist? The size and stuff… should be adjustable, right?” Madam Yao argued.

"Take them back." Isaac presented the clothes to Madam Yao.

"Honestly, Feifan is becoming less and less lovable." Madam Yao said angrily.