Chapter 103
In the blink of an eye, a week passed by . They were making good progress and Hua Tuo noticed the significant changes in his young student .
Firstly, it was Zero's physical growth . Yes, it came as a huge surprise because the physician didn't think that Zero's body was capable of growing . The boy had been short before even though Gaia said that he was physically twelve years of human age . Zero had grown five centimetres within the week of their travels and Hua Tuo immediately reported the astonishing discovery .
At once, the Great Gods called for an emergency meeting . Many theories surfaced but nobody could confirm the reason or Zero's sudden accelerated growth . Hua Tuo also noticed how Zero's meridians and chakra channels were almost ready . In a few more days, Zero would be able to start absorbing mana from the surroundings and start learning how to cultivate the qi in him . It was both good news and bad news for the Gods – especially the Goddesses who couldn't bear to see Zero grow up .
Secondly, Hua Tuo noticed how the young boy became calmer . He was silent for longer periods of time now as compared to before . With the meditation process becoming easier, Zero often entered a strange state of trance . There was an unfocused look in his eyes whenever it happened and Hua Tuo observed how Zero was walking on autopilot . He didn't seem to breathe during his trance and sometimes things around Zero became strange .
How strange? So far, Hua Tuo had witnessed animals gathering around Zero . That happened once when Hua Tuo left the boy to meditate while he refilled their water skins . The physician came back to see birds sitting on the boy and some small squirrels curled up in his lap . They seemed reluctant to part with Zero and Hua Tuo had to chase them off before the boy became buried under the pile of cute animals .
Also, Hua Tuo noticed how Zero didn't need sleep whenever he meditated for long periods of time . In fact, Zero looked healthier . Gaia was similarly puzzled by this . They decided to continue observing Zero for further changes .
Next, whenever Zero meditated, he would speak in a strange language unknown to Hua Tuo . The old doctor recorded Zero's mumbling during the state of trance and sent it to the Great Gods for identification . Last he heard, they were still working on it . Freya thought the language sounded familiar but couldn't pinpoint where she heard it . Merlin didn't know the language much to everyone's surprise . As a wizard, he had to be the most well-read Sage God but for him to not know it . . . Hua Tuo didn't know what to think . Where had Zero learnt such an ancient language? Merlin knew many languages, even those of the ancients . For Zero to speak in a language that only Freya knew and could barely recall, where did he learn that from?
Lastly, the strangest of all observations . . . Zero's eye colour changed when he entered the trance . Yes, only a single eye . Zero's left eye would flicker a different colour during meditation sessions . Sometimes it was green, sometimes it was black . Other times, it could be icy blue or even yellow but Hua Tuo was sure there were more colours than those mentioned . Sometimes it would only be a split of a second . Other times, the change lasted for as long as hours . It didn't always happen but it occurred enough times for Hua Tuo to be concerned .
Nobody could figure out what was happening to Zero while he meditated . They were worried, puzzled and slightly frightened but Zero seemed to be happier after the sessions so Hua Tuo didn't stop the boy .
"Zero," Hua Tuo began . He wasn't sure how to phrase it but it has been bothering him for a while .
"Yes?"
"Why are there birds and animals following behind you?"
It was the first time that Hua Tuo had interrupted his student during a trance . Usually, Hua Tuo observed silently and waited until Zero stopped meditating to speak to him . However, he couldn't do that today .
Zero blinked . His green left eye returned to hazel and the trance broke . He looked behind him and blinked at the sight of twenty pairs of eyes looking at him .
"When did they appear?" Zero asked, much to Hua Tuo's lament . He'd been trying to understand why Zero was such an animal charmer when he meditated . However, from Zero's reaction, it looked like he had no clue how he did it either .
The animals dispersed quickly when Zero tried to touch them . They scattered so quickly that even Hua Tuo was surprised . Weren't they extremely friendly just a moment ago?
"Zero . . . could you tell me what you experienced when meditating?"
The brunet cocked his head to a side . "I didn't experience anything . It's just shutting down the mind to hibernate for a while, right?"
Hua Tuo frowned . Technically, that was correct . However, Zero's reactions weren't ordinary . Still, Hua Tuo kept it to himself . He would find out later . For now, it would be great to have Zero learn something more .
"That's good . We can start training at the next level now that you have mastered it . "
At this, Zero perked up and Hua Tuo smiled as the energetic boy returned . The physician was secretly relieved to see the old and familiar Zero back . He'd almost forgotten the reason for introducing meditation to Zero when he saw that brilliant smile and had to reel his mind back .
"Well, you should be able to feel something different about your body now . This time, I want you to feel the changes in your body as you meditate, keeping in mind to maintain that same breathing pattern from our morning exercises . "
Zero nodded and did as he was told . Initially, nothing felt different and he wondered if he was doing it correctly . Then, he felt a tug from somewhere in his stomach and the heat spiralled rapidly as he counted his breaths . Hua Tuo couldn't believe what he was seeing . Although it was incomplete, Zero was able to gather qi into his body in the first try . It wasn't weak either and the physician felt the excitement boil in his blood .
Talent in cultivation came once every few hundred years . Even so, many couldn't achieve this sort of quality . Zero was a gem, there was no doubt about it . Should he pursue the path of a pugilist, Hua Tuo would have to recommend an old friend of his to teach Zero . Unfortunately for the doctor, he only knew the basics . Qi cultivation was one thing . Combat skills were another . He could only give Zero the basics of self-defence but more than that was something beyond Hua Tuo's repertoire .
Zero felt something burn from inside of him . It wasn't painful but it wasn't pleasant either . The young boy didn't know what to do with the heat spreading throughout his body as he breathed . Walking became a difficult task and Zero almost broke the breathing pattern . By now, his feet were burning as if he was walking on hot stones without shoes . His lungs ached with the need for more air and sweat had drenched his entire shirt . Yet, Zero continued . Hua Tuo hasn't stopped him so Zero would persevere for as long he could .
Behind him, Hua Tuo observed nervously . What were Zero's limits? By now, Zero's display was enough to let him reach intermediate levels of cultivation . However, the young apprentice didn't seem to show any signs of slowing down . The qi was able to break out of the dantian and started circulating . That was an advanced level of cultivation that Zero broke through within minutes of his initialisation . Zero was trying to keep the qi from spiralling out of control and Hua Tuo prepared to step in anytime . This was one of the most dangerous stages of cultivation – the stage that separated masters and the truly gifted who could walk the road of immortality and the mortals with only ordinary talent .
Hua Tuo watched as his student battled against the yin and yang energy clashing violently against each other in Zero's fragile body . The meridians were not fully developed and any more clashing, Zero would probably be severely injured forever .
"Stop!" he told Zero who immediately dropped it like some overly heavy weights .
The moment Zero allowed his concentration over his control to break, all the strength left his body . Hua Tuo was just in time to catch Zero's falling figure and frowned . Zero was a really serious child . Sometimes he worried because Zero was just as reckless as Truen when it came to learning new things . The word impossible and unknown was non-existent in Zero's dictionary . He would keep trying until he found an answer or achieved the results he wanted . It could be considered both a strength and weakness . In this instance, it was a weakness . Zero ignored his physical signs and pushed his body almost to the brink of destruction . That was something Hua Tuo couldn't encourage . As a doctor, if Zero wanted to walk the path of medicine, he must always prioritise himself over others . The doctor cannot die first . It was the golden rule on any battlefield . After all, who will save the injured if the doctor is dead?