Night of the Broken Gliph

Now that he was no longer on the Sallow Continent, where he was familiar with most of the minerals, he had to start learning all over again.

He could only come up with his inventions after understanding the properties of the minerals in this world.

“It’s often mistaken by many that as a metalsmith, forging is your most important technique. It’s definitely important. But if you aren’t familiar with your materials, no matter how good your skills are, it’s impossible to be a good smith. Think about it. How can someone be a chef if they can’t differentiate between sugar and salt?” That was something that Chui Yim’s master from the Swallow Continent always said. 

Thus, besides a simple stone work table, there were no tools or anvil in the workshop. 

In the workshop, Chui Yim was researching many different minerals while simultaneously jotting down their traits.

Rumble. Chui Yim’s stomach growled. He fished the buns out of his pocket and quickly stuffed them into his mouth.

Chui Yim quickly lost track of time as he worked. In no time, a pitch-black night had fallen. He wrapped up his research and left the cave, staring into the dark velvet sky. 

He might only currently be five years old, but Chui Yim still had his indomitable spirit. 

God has given me a second chance; I’m definitely going to cherish it. 

I’ll live my life well, and there won’t be anyone who can control my life this time. 

In the past, Chui Yim was renowned as the best metalsmith of the Sallow Continent. He was so good at metalsmithing that even the most powerful fighters came to him for weapons. However, due to his burning passion for it, he spent his life creating weapons and artefacts, neglecting his strength.

Thus there was nothing that he could do other than to surrender to fate and leave his weeping brothers behind when his life was in danger.

That was a massive blow to Chui Yim, and he was determined to prevent history from repeating itself.

As soon as he knew how to walk, Chui Yim began his plan to become invincible in this world.

Every second was precious in order to become stronger. 

Not only did he want to learn skills to fight, knowledge was also equally important. 

Chui Yim shook his head, throwing those thoughts to the back of his head as he ran back to the village.

However, he failed to notice a figure standing amongst some trees a distance away, watching him silently.

“I’m back!”

“You’re back? Dinner’s ready,” Chui Tin said softly. After five years, the father and son pair had great chemistry. Whenever Chui Yim came home, dinner was always ready just in time for him to have a steaming hot meal.

Chui Yim nodded as he dug in. 

Chui Tin watched him eat with a motherly smile and added more food to his plate from time to time.

“Erm…” All of a sudden, Chui Yim looked up. “How do we get stronger?” 

“Ahh?” Chui Tin blinked. He was taken aback by Chui Yim’s question. “Being obedient and eating well is how you get bigger and stronger, silly.” He laughed.

Chui Yim shook his head in reply. He shook it so furiously that it made even Chui Tin dizzy.  “I mean… in terms of fighting, you know?

“Don’t play dumb. I always see people come to you to ask for help while drenched in blood.” 

Despite Chui Yim not using honorifics, Chui Tin wasn’t angry. He smiled at Chui Yim happily instead. “What’s with the sudden urge to become stronger?” 

“Because I’m already five,” Chui Yim wiped his mouth and answered seriously. “It’s time for me to learn some skills. By this, I mean skills useful for my life, not those useless skills you learn from books.”

“What’s the use of learning all these?” Hearing his son, Chui Tin’s face fell. “To live a life of ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’, spending your days killing others? Learn to be a doctor from dad instead. We could become a famous pair of doctors, going around saving lives and doing good deeds. Isn’t that better?”

Chui Yim stared at Chui Tin. He was only five, but seriousness and determination burned in his eyes. It wasn’t something you’d usually see in a child. “If I know nothing about it, what do I do when others want to kill my family or me?

“To me, this is for self-defence.

“I will be kind to those who are kind to me, and vice versa.

“That’s all.”

Chui Tin looked at Chui Yim blankly.

He knew that his son was much more mature than others his age, but he couldn’t help but be dumbfounded. Chui Tin couldn’t believe that this was something a five-year-old said. 

“Let me think about it.” 

Chui Tin put his chopsticks down and returned to his room.

Watching Chui Tin leave, Chui Yim shrugged and cleared the table. He went back to the yard after he finished washing the dishes.

During these five years, he had been training his body whenever he got the chance.

Due to his heart condition, Chui Yim wasn’t able to perform strenuous activity for long periods. After testing it many times, he knew now that working out twice a day was his limit. 

Once in the morning.

And once now, in the night. 

No matter how exhausting it was, Chui Yim always tried to push his limit. Just like the difference between an ordinary person and a marathon runner. An average person would be completely exhausted after a half-hour run, but it was just a piece of cake for a marathon runner.

Two years ago, Chui Yim could only last two minutes during his intense workouts and five minutes of normal exercises until he collapsed. If not for Chui Tin’s superb skills, Chui Yim would have already left this world when he tested his limits back then.

After that, Chui Yim learned his limits, which was working out twice per day, once in the morning and the other at night. He could also last for ten minutes now, eight minutes more than two years ago. However, he dared not test the number of sets he could do again.

Just like what happened in the morning, Chui Yim trained hard until he couldn’t continue and laid down on the ground, bearing the burning pain in his heart.

When he felt better, Chui Yim then slowly walked back to his room to sleep.

As Chui Yim was training, Chui Tin was watching him through the window. His son had kept this up for the past two years. Rain or shine, he wouldn’t miss his workout. It was as if he was in a hurry.

But for what?

The next day, Chui Yim got up with a sore body.

Feeling his muscles ache made him happy.

The soreness in his body symbolised growth after his training, and it showed that his body had become stronger. To Chui Yim, the soreness and pain meant becoming more powerful, which was just what he wanted. The thought of it made him smile in satisfaction.

After washing up, he was making his way to the yard when Chui Tin stopped him. 

“I can’t teach you how to fight,” Chui Tin said, looking at his son. 

“Huh?” Chui Yim asked, not understanding him.

“I don’t know how to fight, nor do I know how to defend myself. But as your father, I can teach you other skills.

“Do you want to become a gliphist?”