In the morning, in the herbal garden located in the backyard of Gu Dandan's house, two women, Vheena and Gu Dandan, were standing facing each other in an open space without any plants.

"Yawn..."

"Are you still sleepy, Little Dandan? It's rare to see you yawning in the morning. Were you up late last night making medicine?"

"No, sister, I never stay up late. Besides, the reason I'm a bit sleepy is because I had trouble sleeping last night."

“Having trouble sleeping? Why are you having trouble sleeping? Wait a minute, if I remember correctly, you ate a plant that you picked up on the side of the road yesterday when we went to the misty village. Could it be that you accidentally ignored one of the effects that made you have trouble sleeping in the plant you ate?”

“No, sister, besides, Dandan has seen with Dandan’s eye ability that the effect of the plant that Dandan ate yesterday did not have the effect of having trouble sleeping. The reason Dandan has trouble sleeping is because Dandan can’t close her eyes, even though Dandan’s eyes are closed, Dandan can still see so Dandan can’t sleep.”

"Pfft, haha—uhum, I knew you would have trouble sleeping. So how did you manage to fall asleep?"

"W-were you just about to laugh, Sister? How mean of you to laugh at me for not being able to sleep," Gu Dandan replied with a pout.

"Eh? You must have heard wrong… sister made that sound because a tiny bug from the garden flew into my mouth. When sister was trying to get it out, it may have accidentally sounded like laughter."

“Really?”

“Of course, little Dandan~” Vheena replied, smiling as she patted Dandan’s head.

'Dandan is sure she really heard Sister laugh just now. She must have been lying again, right? Sister really is a mischievous cultivator. Should Dandan try adding a spicy medicine mixture to her food so she won’t lie to me anymore? It seems like Dandan should try it to stop her from doing anything bad by lying.'

“Hmm? Little Dandan, did you just feel a chill near us?”

"A chill? Do you mean a breeze? There hasn’t been any wind blowing, Sister, so it’s impossible that Dandan felt a breeze. Besides, I’ve been wanting to ask—why did you bring Dandan to the garden so early in the morning, right after breakfast?"

"I brought you here to teach you how to cultivate. Besides, we both agreed that I’d teach you today, especially since yesterday we couldn’t because you were busy treating your patients."

"Oh, I see. So how do I cultivate? Please teach me, Sister."

"Of course, but before that, I want to correct the way you address me. Since I’m now your master, you can no longer call me 'Sister.' You must call me 'Master.'"

"Alright, Sist—Master Sister!"

"Not 'Master Sister' just 'Master.'"

"Alright, Sist—Master!"

"Hmm, whatever. Let's get started. It's time for Sis—Master to teach you. First, I’ll explain the levels and stages of cultivation. The first level in cultivation is Martial Practicing, where you..." Vheena began, explaining the levels and stages of cultivation to her new student, Gu Dandan.

"...Do you remember everything your Master has said?"

"I do, Sist—Master."

"Good. Now let's start training your body. You will do exercises like your senior sister: 100 Push-Ups, 100 Sit-Ups, 100 Squat Jumps, and run for 20 li. If you don’t know how to do the exercises, just watch how your Master demonstrates them," Vheena said, performing the push-ups, sit-ups, and squat jumps.

"After watching me demonstrate those exercises, you should be able to do them, right?"

"Of course, I can do it, Sist—Master! Even though I don’t know exactly what Sist—Master is doing, I will definitely complete the exercises you gave me."

“I-I see, before you train, is there anything you want to ask master?”

“Yes, Sist—Master. Dandan wants to know who your other students are besides me.”

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“Besides you, I have two more students: your senior sister named Ruan Xiaoyue, who is my first student, and Luo Xianxiu, my second student. Now that you know, you can start training.”

“Alright!”

With Gu Dandan’s enthusiastic response, her training began under her Master’s guidance. However, it wasn’t long before Gu Dandan complained to her Master about the exercises she was doing.

"S-sixteen—ugh, Sister, this training is so hard. Dandan can’t keep up with the exercises you’re making me do."

"Not 'Sister'—call me 'Master.' Also, the reason you find these exercises difficult is because you’re not used to them yet. Just keep pushing yourself until you finish, and eventually, you’ll get used to it. Besides, your Master won’t let you stop training until you complete all the exercises I’ve assigned."

"Ugh, Sist—Master, i-if I keep pushing myself, I’m sure my arms will break. C-couldn’t we make the training a bit easier, Sist—Master?"

"Stop complaining. Even your senior sister, who’s younger than you, managed to finish her training in one day. Just do it, Little Dandan—if you're determined, you’ll succeed."

"Ugh, alright," Gu Dandan replied sadly.

She continued her push-ups, picking up from sixteen. But before she even reached twenty-five, she collapsed on the ground, her arms trembling, and began complaining to her Master again.

"T-t-twenty-f-four, agh! Master, this is pointless! Dandan really can’t do it! My body is too weak; you can see for yourself how my hands are shaking after only twenty-four. Master, please, I beg you to change the training."

Dandan thought her Master would grant her request after seeing her struggle, especially as she noticed her Master approaching her with a smile, gently patting her head. But her expectations were quickly dashed when her Master finally spoke.

"Sweet Dandan~, the reason you’re struggling is because your determination is lacking. Didn’t you say yesterday that you were determined to become a cultivator so you could become an alchemist capable of healing everyone, and make your grandfather proud of you? Where is that determination now? If you keep complaining, you’ll never become a cultivator. So, it’s better if you just push your body to its limits this early in the day.

Master will tell you one more time: I will not stop your training until you finish all the exercises I’ve given you."

‘S-so mean! M-my Master really is a terribly cruel cultivator, tricking Dandan with a smile while saying such harsh things. W-what should I do? Should I just make up an excuse and say I’m busy with patients today? But that would be wrong… ugh, it seems I’ll just have to finish this after all.’

With a lifeless look in her eyes, Gu Dandan resigned herself to her fate and tried to complete all the exercises her Master had given her. However, after reaching her sixtieth push-up, she collapsed onto the ground, refusing to get up despite her Master’s insistence. She had completely surrendered, her body aching and exhausted after trying to push herself to her physical limits as her Master had instructed.

"Little Dandan, come on, keep going! You can do it—your Master supports you."

"…"

"Move, sweet Dandan~ Don’t just lie there. Don’t be shy; let me help you stand up," Vheena said as she tried to help Dandan back on her feet, but Dandan resisted, refusing to get up.

"…"

"Hmm, since you look so exhausted, maybe we should end training here for today—"

"Really, Master?!" Gu Dandan interrupted, springing to her feet with renewed enthusiasm.

"Oh? Hehe, seeing you stand up again in front of me convinces me that you still have plenty of energy. So, it seems we’ll continue the training until you finish everything. I might even double your exercises so you can get stronger faster."

"Ungah! You’re so mean, Sister! A trickster, a liar, a terrible person! You said the training was over, but now you’re continuing it! And now you even want to double the exercises! You’re such a liar, Sister!"

“Ouch, ouch, Dandan-chan, stop hitting Master’s chest, stop hitting me. Besides, I was only joking.”

“No! Dandan won’t stop until you change the training you assigned to me!”

“Ouch, stop hitting me for a moment, little Dandan. I gave you this training for your own good. So don’t be spoiled and try to finish it.”

Hearing her Master’s reason—that the technique was for her own good—Gu Dandan stopped hitting her Master’s chest, realizing she might have been in the wrong. Even so, she still insisted on asking her Master to change the technique, feeling it was too exhausting and disruptive for her.

"Uh… Isn’t there another way besides completing the training you gave? The exercises you assigned take up so much of Dandan’s time, and even if Dandan manages to finish, I’m sure my body won’t be able to move from all the exhaustion and soreness. That means I wouldn’t be able to make medicine for the patients who come to me for help. So, I’m begging you, Sister, please change the training. I promise I won’t complain if you do."

"Don’t call me 'Sister,' call me 'Master.' Besides… hmm… well… there is actually an easier way to train your body without having to work so hard."

"S-so there really is another way! C-can you tell me, Master?"

"Of course… the method is to use your eyesight to find herbal plants that have the effect of strengthening the body or something similar. If you consume them by either eating them directly or making a potion out of them, and they actually help strengthen your body, then I won’t require you to complete all the exercises I assigned."

"Alright, Dandan will follow your instructions. But you’re not lying to me, are you, Master?"

"Of course, I’m not lying, as long as you successfully strengthen your body, that’s all that matters."

"Okay, Master!" Gu Dandan replied enthusiastically, feeling that the method her Master offered was much easier.

"It’s great that you’re excited about the method I provided, but I must also inform you that I’ll only give you until tomorrow to prove yourself. If by tomorrow, when I test you, I see an improvement in your strength, then you won’t have to continue with the training because it won’t be necessary. However, if when I test you, your strength hasn’t improved at all, even with the herbal plants, then be prepared to train three times as hard because you wasted time complaining and asking me to change your training."

"Ugh… W-well then, I’m off, Master." Gu Dandan replied in a weak tone, before heading toward the area where the herbal plants were, after her Master nodded to give her permission.