I Refused To Be Reincarnated
Chapter 579: The Absorption

Chapter 579: The Absorption

Their stomachs grumbled the moment they entered Shen Wu’s garden. Like hungry wolves, they wrinkled their noses, their sparkling eyes darting to a set of plates. Despite the metallic bells covering them, the smell of steaming food caused their mouths to water and their steps to hasten after this long day.

Adam saw Shen Wu’s gaze linger on them as they sat across him at the gazebo’s table. Beyond a simple glance, he noticed concealed traces of disbelief, confusion, and hope as his lips parted.

"Who would have thought you disappeared before sunrise to complete a mission this soon?" He sighed. "I’m relieved to see you back in one piece."

He retrieved six murky stones from his intricate spatial ring and placed them on the table with a soft clink.

"Here are your weekly cultivation resources, plus an extra for completing your first mission."

He paused and observed the kids’ genuine smiles and eager nods as he pushed the plates toward them. Yet, his fingers twitched with hesitation for a split second before he continued.

"You must be famished, so eat while I speak."

They uncovered the plates, the savourous scents of magical beast meat and rare vegetables bursting into their nostrils. Without bothering to answer, they dug in, each bite a blessing to their empty stomachs.

Meanwhile, Shen Wu raised his brow.

"Word of what you did yesterday has reached me. A two-star alchemist, huh?"

He ignited his pipe and brought it to his lips, the herb fragrance rushing to his lungs before he exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Do you mind explaining where you got that knowledge from and how your control of Qi is so high?"

Misha poked Adam’s puffed cheeks, chuckling at his squirrel-like face. Then, she shrugged.

"Adam has always enjoyed crafting. We have little Qi at our age, but he compensated by focusing on mastering its flow and manipulation. As for the knowledge, do you remember the recommendation letter? A powerful serpent educated us, so it’s natural that he knows about pills and poisons."

Shen nodded despite the common sense-stretching explanation and scrutinised Adam as food disappeared into his black-hole-like mouth. An amazing teacher wasn’t enough to birth a competent alchemist, much less a seven-year-old one. Still, exceptions existed, and perhaps the special physique Fei mentioned yesterday played a part in the knowledge application.

He tucked his fingers around his chin, his fingers drumming a rhythmic beat on the table.

"I see. Anything else you’d like to share? It’s not that I doubt you, but some news shook the elder circle this afternoon." His tone darkened and his eyes narrowed into slits. "Baldur, this odious criminal, died. But not at our core disciples’ hands. I know it’s a coincidence you were gone when it happened, but suspicion will follow if you keep showing mastery unusual for your age."

He frowned when Adam swallowed all the food filling his cheeks and rolled his shoulders without care.

"You and elder Xu Fei are making it bigger than it is." He gripped a cup of tea and smiled over the soothing fumes. "Anyone suspecting new disciples who haven’t even received their cultivation techniques yet is out of their mind."

"You don’t understand, Adam. Xian Yunxu led the core disciples. She’s as powerful and elegant as she’s ruthless. She’ll hunt down anyone she suspects like a hound out for blood until she gets to the bottom of this story. And... She’s stronger than me."

He bit his lip and took a deep inhale of smoke to calm down. Then, he retrieved two thin booklets wafting a fresh scent of ink, placed them on the table, and raised his finger to emphasise his warning.

"I don’t want trouble to distract you from cultivation. Avoid those people at any cost, you hear me?"

A strange feeling of unease settled over Adam as Shen Wu spoke. Xian Yunxu? The name sounded oddly familiar. Why couldn’t he remember anything about her then?

He shook his head and answered Shen Wu.

"I have no plan in indulging in their suspicions. I won’t increase my alchemy rank, but I’ll tell you this: I’m much better than you can imagine."

Shen Wu scrutinised him, his heel subtly drumming on the ground as he understood why Adam mentioned that.

Before his voice echoed in a warning, Adam raised his palm and continued.

"No one will know I’m producing pills if I use a third party to sell them." His eyes narrowed as annoyance twisted the corner of his lips. "I’m grateful for your care, but I’d like you not to interfere with my way of doing things."

With his piece said, he rose to his feet and patted Misha’s head. He also slipped his spatial ring into her hands.

"See you later, sister."

Mishas nodded and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Good luck with the Qi forging registration."

At the mention of Qi forging, Shen Wu’s eyes widened as he raised his hand to stop Adam. After all, he had just told him not to show off too much!

However, only the kid’s blur and Misha’s supportive yell remained when he sprang on his cursed leg.

"Trust him," Misha said, raising her thumb with a brilliant smile. "He’s smart enough to give a subpar performance to score the average on their test."

"I hope..." Shen Wu’s voice trailed off before he exhaled. "Tell me about the beast who raised you. I can’t continue to worry without knowing what to expect."

Misha gripped his callused hand and helped him sit back on the comfortable chair.

"A fierce cow, an elegant crane, a prideful snake, and... a wine-loving spider, all in the soul transformation realm, taught us how to train our muscles, move swiftly, alchemy and Qi forging."

She chuckled at Shen Wu’s wide eyes, poured him a fragrant cup of tea, and raised her palm.

"I have no interest in the last two. It’s just so boring, right? But he loves them almost more than cultivation itself." Her voice dripped with pride as if his achievements brought her genuine happiness. "I hope you’ll see how skilled he is soon. I bet you won’t believe your eyes!"

A shudder ran down Shen Wu’s spine while he gazed at Misha as if she were a monster. Four beasts that surpassed him in strength raised two kids? How in the realm did it happen? Worst, didn’t it mean Adam’s unshakable confidence was more than mere youthful arrogance?

About to ask more, Misha’s gentle patting met his back before she took the booklets and pocketed the spiritual stones.

"Rest well, elder. I will strive to meet your expectations and begin cultivating."

He watched her disappear through the door with a sigh.

"They might really become the sect leader’s disciples. Should I offer them more support?"

He rested his face on the back of his hand, smoking leisurely as he watched the spot where he had placed the spiritual stones.

"Adam didn’t even gaze at them. I guess my help isn’t desirable for now."

Despite his sharp observations, he had missed a crucial detail. Perhaps because Adam had cleaned the plates until they sparkled, or maybe the discussion took too much of his focus. But the one who eats the most, Misha, hadn’t eaten more than a bite.

Meanwhile, Misha’s bloody hands trembled in her room, the last evidence tying them to Baldur’s death gone into her stomach.

A low, bestial growl escaped her lips next as her legs buckled. With a muffled noise, her knees met the ground. Veins bulging, body groaning, she suppressed her voice as her chimaera’s system absorbed Baldur’s abundant life force. But a searing pain followed.

Taken off guard, her sharp fangs bit on her knuckles to keep the scream clawing at her throat in.

Deep within her, her DNA rumbled as it broke down, analysed, and optimised Baldur’s magic circuits. Ethereal veins spread like roots from her heart and reached for her limbs. A mana strand flowed through them first, then a second, until magic flooded her new circuits, and a soothing sensation replaced the pain.

The setting sun reflected on her sweat-covered forehead as she sighed on the ground. Yet, her lips curved into a soft smile.

"Will Adam call me Miss Magic now that I have magic circuits, too?"

Pushing herself off the ground, she groaned.

"But it’s the last time I eat a human. It feels... wrong."

With a sigh, she stretched her palm above her eyes and channelled the new energy coursing through her.

It emerged in dancing green wisps as she felt her circuits thrum in answer. More than just Baldur’s, they were now her own. And like her, they could evolve to reach the pinnacle of magic.

However, she clenched her palm the next second, the mana disappearing in a puff of smoke.

"I can’t let anyone see me use mana. Qi is enough until we visit the Western Island." She reminded herself, a steely glint flashing in her eyes.

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An: Another long Chapter!