The morning air smelled faintly of rain, carrying the scent of damp earth and blossoming flowers. Hirun strolled through the city's old market district, hands in his pockets, a carefree smile playing on his lips.
Kael's first lesson was still fresh in his mind, but Hirun had no time to linger. There was another fated individual waiting—someone whose destiny was far more… complicated.
"Ah… Liora Sun," he murmured. The system pinged softly in his awareness:
Candidate detected. High danger potential. Past life: villain. Alignment: chaotic. Probability of greatness: 97%. Approach with caution.
Hirun's grin widened. "Perfect. I love a challenge."
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Meeting the Fated Villain
He found her on the rooftop of an abandoned tea house, her silver hair glinting in the sunlight. She moved with predatory grace, eyes sharp, body coiled like a spring ready to strike. Around her, faint dark energy swirled—a warning to anyone who dared approach.
Hirun didn't flinch. He simply called out, voice calm and teasing.
"Hello there, villainous young lady. Care to meet your future master?"
Liora's eyes narrowed. "Master? Who are you to call yourself that?"
"I'm the one who decides who gets a head start in life," Hirun said casually, hands in his pockets. "And fate says you belong to me."
Her lips curled into a bitter smirk. "Fate? I don't believe in fate. I believe in power… and chaos."
Hirun's smile widened. "Good. Then you and I will get along perfectly."
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Tailoring the Dao
Unlike Kael, who thrived under structured guidance, Liora needed freedom and challenge. Hirun understood immediately. He didn't force her into Qi gathering or mundane exercises. Instead, he created tests and games designed to awaken her innate destructive talent without crushing her spirit.
"Liora," he said, stepping lightly onto the rooftop, "look at the world. It bends to power—but only if you understand it. Your Dao… is not in restraint. It's in the chaos within you."
Her eyes flickered with interest, despite herself.
Hirun waved a hand, and the rooftop transformed into a swirling arena of golden and black energy—light clashing with shadow, chaos with order. "Control it, bend it, or be consumed by it. This is your first lesson."
---
Awakening Through Challenge
At first, Liora resisted. Her energy erupted wildly, threatening to tear the arena apart. Hirun didn't interfere—he let her unleash everything. The system pinged:
Potential unlocked: Destruction Dao, Chaos Alignment. Compatibility with master: Excellent.
Then, with a small, precise gesture, Hirun directed a fraction of his own Qi into her chaos. The energy tempered slightly, not suppressing her, but guiding her. Her wild storm of power began to take shape—a controlled hurricane of destruction.
Liora gasped, shocked at her own ability. "I… I can control it?!"
Hirun shrugged lazily. "Not fully yet. But you've taken your first step. Remember this: Power without control is self-destruction. Control without power is weakness. You're learning both at once."
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Trust Through Understanding
Unlike Kael, Liora's path required patience and challenge, not gentle guidance. Hirun leaned against the arena wall, casually sipping a cup of tea he'd produced from thin air.
"You'll find that I don't teach like ordinary masters," he said. "I don't lecture. I don't restrict. I push. I challenge. I amuse myself—and in doing so, I make sure my disciples become legends."
Liora studied him, eyes wary but intrigued. "You… seem dangerous."
Hirun grinned. "Dangerous? Perhaps. Fun? Absolutely. Stick with me, and you'll learn more than you ever imagined. Fail, and… well, that's your own lesson."
The system pinged again, silently noting:
Candidate recruited successfully. Alignment with master: ideal. Path begins.
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Closing the Lesson
By evening, Liora's chaotic energy had begun to bend into form. The rooftop was a mess of scorched tiles and swirling Qi, but she was smiling—fierce, proud, alive.
Hirun watched, satisfied. "Two disciples down, one more to go. And then… we begin the Dao of Ten Thousand Masters in earnest."
Outside, the city carried on, unaware that a Heavenly Immortal walked among them, shaping destiny and awakening fated talents—one mischievous lesson at a time.
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💥 End of Chapter 5