Chapter 29: Brotherhood (Part 1)


    In this world, the elements of wind, wood, water, fire, and earth permeate the heavens and the earth. Mages are those who perceive and harness these elements to fight. Lower-level mages rely on meditation to accumulate magical energy, which they then use to cast small-scale spells. Those with greater resources can directly absorb the energy from magic crystals to enhance their power, though such individuals are rare.


    Higher-level mages, however, can use their own magic to draw upon the elements of the world, enabling them to cast larger and more powerful spells. After all, no matter how much magic a person stores within their body, it is ultimately limited.


    The Water God’s Art, however, is fundamentally different from these methods. It directly controls the water elements in the world to cast spells. There is a vast difference between merely utilizing and outright controlling an element. For instance, an ordinary water magician can sense the presence of water elements and use them to create ice arrows, ice shields, or even heal minor injuries. A more advanced water magician may even draw upon the waters of a river to flood an entire city. However, the requirements for cultivating the Water God’s Art are even higher—it involves altering, even overturning, the very nature of water elements. For example, it can change the structure of water to form incredibly dense, nearly indestructible ice. It can forcibly extract water elements from a person’s body, turning them into a desiccated corpse. It can even defy the fundamental rules of water, reversing its properties to create an astonishingly lethal fusion of ice and fire. In the later stages, it can push the water elements out of an entire area, transforming it into a barren desert.


    If you were to tell a powerful magician that you intended to control or even overturn the elemental forces of the world, they would surely deem you insane. Every magician knows that they can, at best, manipulate and utilize elemental forces—but only those who reach the pinnacle of magic and become Elemental Masters can truly control the elements. Otherwise, such a notion is nothing more than a fool’s dream. Yet, the Water God’s Art is precisely such a miraculous technique, allowing its wielder to command water elements without having reached the legendary realm of Elemental Mastery. This also means that anyone training in this art must possess an extraordinary sensitivity to elemental forces.


    To put it simply, a mage’s abilities can be understood like this: the world operates on various rules. A mindless creature lives its life blindly following instinct until death. Humans, however, possess intelligence and understand basic laws of nature—they know to seek shade under a tree when the sun is too hot, or to learn to swim because they cannot breathe underwater. This is the stage of understanding rules. Mages are like highly intelligent beings who not only understand these rules but also manipulate them. For example, humans invented the steam engine, the compass, and machinery—these are classic examples of utilizing rules. This is a simplified comparison between ordinary people and mages.


    Han Ming’s body is fundamentally different from other mages. To use an imperfect analogy, he is like a leaky water jug, unable to retain much magical energy. Other mages are like intact jugs, far better at storing magic. At first glance, this seems like a significant disadvantage for Han Ming.


    However, as the saying goes, nothing is absolute. While this unique constitution is a drawback, it is also an unparalleled advantage. Because Han Ming struggles to retain magic, he must constantly absorb and release it. This constant flow of magical energy exposes his body to far greater amounts of magic than most people, significantly enhancing his sensitivity to the elements. To use a simple analogy, it’s like someone who drinks alcohol but absorbs very little of it. They don’t get drunk easily and can drink more, which in turn helps them develop a refined palate for alcohol. Over time, they can identify the type and even the vintage of a wine just by smelling it.


    In contrast, ordinary people absorb alcohol quickly, making them prone to getting drunk. They drink less and struggle to appreciate the taste, often finding it bitter and unpleasant. If they try to drink more, they risk alcohol poisoning.


    The difference is clear. Han Ming can continuously absorb water elemental energy from crystals without fear of overloading his body. While his magic storage grows slowly, his sensitivity to the elements is unmatched. If other mages tried to emulate him, they would likely explode from the excess energy.


    Han Ming, however, was unaware of this advantage. He only saw the challenges of his magical path, not realizing he possessed a unique gift. If anyone else had obtained the Water God’s Art, they likely wouldn’t have been able to practice it. This was both a remarkable coincidence and a stroke of incredible fortune.


    After a good night’s sleep, Han Ming sat in his room, staring at a small, dull, and cracked magic crystal in his hand.


    Feeling the pitiful amount of magic energy within him, Han Ming sighed. At his current rate, he consumed a small magic crystal every day. This was an extravagant habit, considering that an ordinary person’s annual earnings could barely afford one such crystal. Fortunately, Han Ming had a stockpile that would make many mages envious.


    Brushing off the crystal’s residue, Han Ming took out another crystal, tied it to a string, and hung it around his neck. This way, the crystal rested against his chest, allowing him to absorb its energy continuously without holding it. It was far more convenient.


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    The night in Wildlands was far from quiet. Located near the Wildlands Forest, the city was a hub of activity, filled with merchants and mercenaries who rarely kept regular hours.


    Han Ming climbed out of his window, his hands gripping the crevices in the stone wall as he scaled the 200-meter-tall mercenary inn to reach the rooftop.


    Lying on the roof under a sky full of stars, Han Ming tightened his collar against the cool night breeze. The stars were beautiful, but none were familiar. No constellations he recognized.


    *The ancients never saw today’s moon, but the same moon once shone upon them.*


    Was this world a completely different plane of existence, or simply a planet far from Earth?


    A wave of loneliness washed over Han Ming. Everything here was so unfamiliar. What was happening in his hometown now? Was it the joyous Spring Festival, or the family reunion of the Mid-Autumn Festival?


    Taking a small sip of wine, Han Ming swirled the flask, savoring the aroma. But his heart was heavy. Here, every cherished memory of a festival was his alone. The people of this world knew nothing of the Spring Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival. No one could share his memories, and that was the loneliest feeling of all.


    At least he knew that somewhere in this world—or perhaps in another dimension—there were people who shared his memories and experiences. They might never meet, but they celebrated the same festivals. This thought, which he had never considered before, now became his only comfort. If that world were to disappear, even this small solace would vanish.


    The night deepened, but Han Ming remained awake. How many others were as sleepless as he?


    The next day, Han Ming left Rikil’s auction house amidst a flurry of apologies. Passersby on the street glanced curiously, wondering who this young man was to warrant such deference from the auction house.


    Han Ming didn’t even glance back at the people behind him. He now carried a thousand gold coins, but he felt no joy. Suddenly, everything seemed meaningless. What did it matter if he had a mountain of gold? Who in this world knew who Han Ming was? Did his parents know he was rich? Did his friends? No one knew. No one…


    As soon as he returned to the mercenary inn, he heard someone calling his name. It was Li Chengfeng, waiting for him in the lobby.


    A faint smile crossed Han Ming’s lips. He realized he wasn’t entirely alone in this world. There were still things that could warm his heart. This big guy, Li Chengfeng, had only known him for a day, but when Han Ming was in trouble, Li Chengfeng had stood by him without hesitation. In that moment, Han Ming had felt that he wasn’t alone. Someone was willing to share his burden. He genuinely admired Li Chengfeng.


    Sitting down at the table filled with untouched food and wine, Han Ming felt a warmth in his heart.


    “So, what brings you here so early? Something up?” Han Ming asked with a smile.


    Li Chengfeng’s eyes widened, his mouth opening so wide it could fit a wine flask.


    “Can’t I just come see you? Aren’t we friends?” Li Chengfeng said with mock indignation.


    Han Ming laughed even harder. “Cut the melodrama. You’re not a woman, so knock it off.”


    Li Chengfeng chuckled. “Han Ming, I came for two reasons. First, I want to swear brotherhood with you.”


    “Brotherhood?”


    “Yeah! Brotherhood. I’ve only known you for a short time, but I really admire you. Last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Not in that way, though! It’s friendship, you know? A deep, passionate, thrilling kind of friendship! So I want to swear brotherhood with you. I feel like I can’t miss out on someone like you. It’s like seeing a beautiful woman and knowing right away that she has to be your wife. If you don’t act, you might never see her again. But if you try, she could be your lifelong partner. And you’re that kind of person for me.”


    “Ugh, that’s so cheesy! I didn’t expect such sappy talk from a big guy like you,” Han Ming said, feigning disgust and scooting away as if Li Chengfeng had something dirty on him. But inside, he was pleased.


    Li Chengfeng scratched his head, embarrassed by his own analogy. “So, do you agree?”


    Han Ming smiled. “Of course! It’s rare to find a true friend in life. Missing out would be a shame. Let’s do it now!” Han Ming was never one to delay. If they were going to swear brotherhood, why wait?


    Li Chengfeng admired Han Ming’s straightforward, bold nature. He stood up and announced loudly, “Today, I swear brotherhood with Han Ming! I hope everyone here can bear witness!”


    The mercenaries in the lobby, drawn by the commotion, cheered enthusiastically. These were people who valued brotherhood above all else, and they respected Han Ming and Li Chengfeng for their actions the previous day. Whether they knew the details or not, they wholeheartedly supported the two young men.


    Li Chengfeng led Han Ming to the center of the lobby, where they placed two wine bowls. Biting his finger, Li Chengfeng let a drop of blood fall into each bowl before kneeling.


    Han Ming followed suit, adding his blood to the bowls and kneeling beside Li Chengfeng.


    Li Chengfeng raised a bowl and declared, “I, Li Chengfeng, twenty-three years old, swear brotherhood with Han Ming today. We will share joys and sorrows, stand together through hardship, and never betray each other!” He drank the wine in one gulp and smashed the bowl on the ground.


    Han Ming raised his bowl and said, “I, Han Ming, twenty-two years old, swear brotherhood with Li Chengfeng today. We will share joys and sorrows, stand together through hardship, and never betray each other!” He drank the wine and smashed the bowl.


    “Big brother!”


    “Second brother!”


    They clasped hands tightly, each seeing the sincerity and emotion in the other’s eyes. The onlookers erupted in cheers, raising their glasses in celebration.


    Suddenly, Han Ming remembered something. He motioned for Li Chengfeng to wait and brought another bowl of wine. His expression turned somber as he added a drop of his blood to the bowl, gesturing for Li Chengfeng to do the same. Though puzzled, Li Chengfeng complied without question.


    Han Ming raised the bowl and said, “Big brother, we have a younger sister named Wei’er. Her whereabouts are unknown, and her fate is uncertain. As we swear brotherhood, let’s include her as our third sister. What do you say?”


    Seeing the change in Han Ming’s expression, Li Chengfeng sensed there was a story behind this. But since Han Ming was now his brother, Wei’er was naturally his sister too. He trusted Han Ming’s judgment completely. “Of course!” he exclaimed.


    Han Ming poured the wine onto the ground and said, “Wei’er, I’ve taken the liberty of including you in our brotherhood. Whether you’re alive or not, Han Ming and Li Chengfeng, who has never met you, are your brothers!”