One year and six months have passed, and Ren was still behaving like a normal child of his age. He was reluctant to shoulder his parents' exceptional expectations. In this time, he had fully mastered the language and understood that supernatural powers originated from vessels. The cultivators had to cultivate themselves and these vessels to harness their powers; this was the extent of his knowledge about supernatural powers at this point.

Ren's clan, the Kai, specialized in elemental vessels, with wood being their signature element. There were also other vessels attuned to different elements, such as shadow, water, and they also have some beast related vessels. The Kai clan had a neighboring village, the Strongborn, who excelled in strength-type vessels and beast-type vessels, renowned for their formidable defense. Ren had a faint understanding that the Strongborn clan didn't have amicable relations with his own, having overheard some of his neighbors disparaging them. He had even witnessed his father expressing contempt towards them on occasion.

It was two months ago when his father returned with a somber expression, and he explained to Aria what had transpired that day. In his account, he revealed that his team had a dispute over a valuable resource discovered at the border of the Kai clan, and the Strongborn members had attempted to seize it from them. This led to a brutal skirmish, resulting in several casualties, and his father himself had slain two members of the Strongborn clan. After secretly eavesdropping on their conversation, Ren thought that the resource must have been exceedingly precious if it had led to such bloodshed. His father spoke of killing with a nonchalance that was unsettling, as if he were merely discussing the chopping of vegetables.

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Now two years old, Ren's mother would often regale him with tales of her adventures, recounting how she and his father had battled fearsome beasts or formidable Strongborn clan members. Listening to her stories, Ren's eyes would light up with excitement, fascinated by the peculiar and mysterious powers wielded by his parents. He would eagerly ask for more information about the vessels, but his parents would skillfully deflect his questions, changing the subject to something more mundane.

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Three more years passed, and Aria gave birth to another child, a boy named Axel. Ren, now five years old, and Axel, three years old, would spend hours playing outside their home, reveling in the joy of childhood. However, Axel's penchant for eating soil would sometimes get him into trouble, and Ren would have to force him to spit it out, occasionally resorting to gentle beatings to drive the point home. After a few instances, Axel learned his lesson and never ate soil again. It was a carefree life, one that Ren savored, free from the tensions that had once plagued him, like the constant fear of being discovered by the authorities and locked up for his 'heinous crimes'

Ren's father began teaching him how to read and write, and he was remarkably focused on learning. However, he deliberately concealed his rapid progress from his father, fearing that if he showed his true abilities, his father would proclaim him a genius.

In his previous life, someone had once said, "The title of genius is an eternal curse." Ren genuinely believed it was a curse, and he had no desire to be burdened with such a label.

Within three months, Ren had memorized all the words perfectly, but he would occasionally pretend to forget them and recite them imperfectly. His parents would sometimes show disappointment, but Ren didn't let it bother him. On the other hand, his brother Axel was demonstrating early signs of intelligence. At just three years old, Axel could recite words flawlessly and even write, albeit not perfectly, but impressive for a child of his age. Ren's parents would occasionally compare him to Axel, hoping to spark a competitive spirit in him.

Ren's deception was an delicate balancing act. He had to appear struggling enough to avoid suspicion, yet not so much that his parents became overly concerned.

During lessons, he pretended to be distracted or daydreaming, making it seem like he wasn't paying attention.

As the days passed, Ren's parents remained oblivious to his true abilities. They compared him to Axel, who was exceling in his studies. Ren felt a little of guilt, but he was determined to keep his secret safe.