C7 Body Refining(last part)

Slipping into the outfit crafted by his master, Aotian immediately felt the suit's heft—it made running an arduous task! Before long, he was drained of all his strength, his body unbearably heavy. Yet, he understood the necessity to persevere and adapt to his rigorous training.

After completing twenty back-and-forth sprints, the afternoon had crept by. Utterly spent, Aotian collapsed onto the grass, nibbling on the lunch he had packed, the relentless sun overhead mirroring his internal weariness. With effort, he rose, donned his shoes, and jogged to the lake's edge. The plunge into the cool water was a balm, washing away the heat and fatigue. Reveling in the refreshing chill, Aotian began his aquatic training.

The initial laps felt manageable, but soon the water's resistance made each step a struggle, the undulating waves challenging his balance. He had to fight to stay upright while pushing forward against the drag, and in deeper waters, he had to master swimming through. This, Aotian realized, was far more exhausting than his earlier run.

After a strenuous ten laps, Aotian hauled himself onto the shore. His skin was pruned and pale from the prolonged immersion, the sight of the wrinkles evoking sympathy.

As dusk fell, marking the end of his water workout, Aotian was too spent to think about dinner. He rested briefly, then climbed a sturdy tree to secure his rope. Back on solid ground, he slipped into the heavy garments and shoes once more and began his pull-ups.

With each lift, he felt the full weight of his body and the throbbing pain in his hands. Thankfully, his gloves and the rope's softness spared him further agony. One by one, he persevered, his face turning crimson from the effort and the pain, his body screaming with fatigue.

Two hundred! Upon completing the set, Aotian tumbled from the tree, crashing to the earth. The impact left him numb, too exhausted to register pain. Lying there, he felt as though his body had completely come undone.

Aotian hadn't come home for dinner again tonight. Ever since that day, she sensed a change in him. He was always off to the back mountain, and she had no idea what he was up to. He'd leave early each morning with his lunch in tow and wouldn't return for noon. Sometimes, he wouldn't even make it back for dinner! Now it was late, and he still hadn't returned. She sat in his room, waiting for him, realizing it was time they had a talk.

Upon returning to the small courtyard, Aotian headed straight to his room. But as he opened his door, he found Aunt Maria sitting there waiting for him.

"Aunt Maria, what brings you here? Is something wrong?" Aotian asked, his voice lacking its usual strength.

Maria had intended to scold him but, seeing his state, softened her approach. "Aotian, why are you coming back so late? Where have you been?"

"I was at the back mountain today."

"I know that. But I'm asking what you've been doing there every day recently?"

"I've been working on my fitness. Even though I can't practice martial arts, I need to keep my body in shape. You're aware of my Nine Yin Meridian condition; my health isn't great, so I have to work on getting stronger—that's why I train every day," Aotian explained.

Maria sighed, a mix of frustration and concern in her voice. "You don't need to rise so early every day just to exercise. And you shouldn't skip meals like lunch and dinner!"

"Don't worry, Auntie. I'm okay. The morning air is fresh, perfect for a hike to read some books. And I do take my lunch and dinner with me."

"But what about when the food gets cold by noon? It could be bad for your health!"

"It's really not a problem! With the weather being so hot, a little cold food won't hurt. And honestly, there's not much else for me to do when I get back, right?" Aotian argued, trying to justify his actions.

"Look, you could come back and rest a bit. If you finish your workout in the morning, just come home. Reading up on the mountain is no different from reading in the yard, and you'd avoid the harsh sun too!"

"No need to worry, Auntie. Look at me, I'm way stronger now than I was a month ago, and there's nothing wrong with that. The mountain is peaceful. Please, let me stay up there!" Aotian flexed his recently toned muscles with pride as he spoke to Maria.

Maria examined Aotian's physique and, seeing the improvement from a month prior, nodded in reassurance.

"Okay, that's fine. But I do want you to make an effort to come home for meals, and don't stay out late every night on the mountain. Try to join your grandfather and the others for dinner more often."

"I'll try, but they hardly notice me when I'm there. I might as well stay on the mountain," Aotian muttered under his breath.

Maria was at a loss for words upon hearing Aotian's complaint. Indeed, as Aotian had said, the family paid him little mind, treating him as if he were invisible. As a servant, she felt powerless to change that, resolving instead to help her sister care for him as best she could.

"Just don't overdo it with the training. Look how exhausted you are now!"

"I'll take it easy, I promise!" Aotian quickly responded when he heard Maria relent.

"Good. Now go and eat something. I've kept your food warm in the pot. After you've eaten, take a bath and get some rest."

After Auntie Maria left, Aotian ate something, took a bath, and immediately went to bed. And, of course, he couldn't miss out on the healing from the Dark Night War as he slept.

Day by day, Aotian's training and adaptation continued. Over the past three months, he had become accustomed to his regimen, completing his exercises by the afternoon. Six months in, the tasks that once challenged him were now trivial. He had increased the weight of his clothing by fifty kilograms, doubled his runs in the water to twenty, and could now do four hundred pull-ups. Despite the intensity, he still managed to finish before dinner.

Three more months went by, and Aotian's routine was unyielding. Each morning, he would start his training and wouldn't stop until nightfall, his workouts growing ever more strenuous. Every day, Maria watched as Aotian rose with the dawn, donned a mysterious set of clothes, and sprinted towards the mountain behind the house. His silhouette became a fixture by the lake and the tree on the mountain, the ground there soaked with his sweat.

Today, Aotian made his way back to the small courtyard after finishing his practice. Nearly a year of rigorous training had sculpted his physique, with muscles now hinting at their emerging form, and he had even experienced a noticeable growth spurt. To anyone observing, he resembled an eleven or twelve-year-old boy—a transformation that greatly bolstered his confidence. Maria, witnessing the remarkable changes in Aotian, no longer attempted to dissuade him from his workouts. Indeed, the past six months had been a time of great enrichment and enjoyment for Aotian.