Be that as it may, Longyuan did not sleep soundly because of his inner turmoil, and woke up after just two hours.
Keeping his blanket over himself, he opened his dark round eyes to look around. When he found a few books placed on the floor, he picked them up and read them seriously.
However, there were many parts which he could not understand, and remembered Elder Meng right then.
Eventually, he sighed—he would have to ask Elder Meng when he got home.
That was when the big man in the next cell called out to him.
"Come here, kid!"
Surprised, Longyuan quickly sat up and looked at the big man sitting on his bed. His beard was too thick and hid his facial features, but the flash in his eyes did not allow anyone to be at ease, not to mention that his clothing was clean and tidy.
"W-Why should I?"
Longyuan asked in confusion, his big round eyes widening.
The big man merely extended his hand in response, and a gust of air pulled Longyuan towards him.
"W-What do you want?!"
Longyuan was stuck tightly to the iron bars right then. He was just two feet away from the big man, who reached out with both palms and touched the child's, pouring his rich inner breath into Longyuan.
In that moment, Longyuan's dantian which had been calm and flat suddenly began to churn, as if something was endlessly crashing inwards.
"You… Stop! It hurts…"
The two guards were stunned, and quickly opened the big man's cell, pulling him firmly, "W-What are you doing!? Let that boy go!"
But in the next instant, both guards were sent flying to the iron bars, and they won't be able to get up soon.
Meanwhile, Longyuan's whose body became exceedingly unbearable. An abundant presence was thrashing wildly in his dantian, as if it wanted to flow somewhere else.
Half a beat later, the big man coldly said, "If you want to live, do as I tell you."
"Tell me… I don't want to die… Boo-hoo…" Longyuan sobbed.
The big man put both of Longyuan's hands together, and told him, "Breathe in."
Longyuan inhaled as hard as he could.
"Breathe out!"
Longyuan did as he was told again.
"Do that a few more times to calm yourself. Understand?"
Longyuan nodded as much as he could, and he calmed down after breathing in and out a few times. "What now?" He then asked tearfully.
"Do you feel the flow of qi in your dantian?"
Longyuan nodded.
"Close your eyes and control your breathing. Guide the flow of qi all over your body and then to your dantian—repeat that a few times, and it won't hurt anymore."
Longyuan's hands clenched as he closed his eyes, controlling his breathing and slowly guiding that flow of qi throughout his body.
His body suddenly became light, and it didn't hurt after he breathed in and out multiple times.
Hence, he opened his eyes and asked in confusion, "Why do I feel my body lighten up? I could also clearly feel that flow of qi in my body!"
The big man nodded in satisfaction. "You really are a genius!"
Just as he finished, he hacked loudly and coughed out a huge puddle of blood, his breath hence weakening considerably. "I have contracted a serious illness in the first place, but only lasted until now thanks to my martial arts. I tried to find my poor son who died when he was your age in death, killed by the remnants of the last dynasty… You remind me of him, which is why I passed my internal martial arts to you. I hope you can live on in peace… Cough, cough…"
Even before the big man could finish, he fell back on his bed, and no longer breathed.