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{3rd Pov}
Grandma Yu eventually decided that it would be good for the children if she took them outside, not only to the city's main park but also up to the small hill located within the city, so that they could enjoy a picnic together in a different environment.
There was a clear and practical reason why the kindergarten classes for the children were always conducted within the orphanage building itself rather than outside.
First of all, they were orphans, and because of that, it was much easier for the caretakers and teachers to look after them properly if everything was done inside the orphanage premises.
Keeping them together in one place reduced complications and allowed the staff to manage them more efficiently.
Secondly, holding the classes inside also greatly improved their safety, since small children like them could easily face risks or dangers if they were constantly taken outside.
By staying inside the orphanage for their early lessons, the chances of accidents or problems were minimized, and it gave everyone peace of mind.
However, once these children reached the proper age, usually around seven or eight years old, they would have to leave the orphanage daily in order to attend primary education.
At that stage, they would need to go to one of the many primary schools available in the city, since the orphanage itself could not provide that level of formal education.
Grandma Yu, who cared deeply for their future, wanted them to gradually develop a sense of self-confidence and independence.
She did not want them to cry or become overly nervous when the time came for them to go out of the orphanage to study in a regular school.
In her view, taking them outside occasionally for small trips and picnics would help prepare them mentally and emotionally for this important transition.
Therefore, she made the decision to take them out whenever possible. Astreo, however, was obviously dissatisfied with this arrangement because every time they went outside, it reduced the amount of training time he had for himself.
Nevertheless, there was nothing he could do to change it, since Grandma Yu's decision was final.
He reluctantly agreed to go out for the first few occasions, but in his mind, he had already decided that after some time he would request Grandma Yu to allow him to remain in the orphanage so that he could focus on his training instead of spending too much time outside.
Astreo was already very well aware that his reputation as a study freak and a highly intelligent kid had spread throughout the entire orphanage.
Everyone, from the caretakers to the children, already knew him as the one who always focused on books, not knowing it was actually him practising magic secretly.
Because of this, he thought to himself that if he went outside a few times with the rest of the group and showed Grandma Yu that he was clearly very different when compared to the other children, then perhaps she might eventually allow him to stay back in the orphanage during future trips instead of forcing him to join every single outing.
Soon enough, the children, along with Grandma Yu, boarded a bus.
The transportation itself had been arranged and funded by the government after Grandma Yu submitted a request for support.
With the funding approved, the bus was provided specifically for the orphans, and so, after everyone was seated, they departed together for the park.
When they finally reached the park, Astreo immediately noticed the atmosphere around the place. There were many children already running around and playing in the open areas.
Among the sights that caught his attention was a black car parked not too far away.
Standing near the car were several bodyguards, all dressed in sharp black suits, and their presence was quite noticeable compared to the playful children nearby.
Astreo's expression turned confused when his eyes shifted to a small group of children, among whom there was a girl with striking black hair.
Before he could fully process what he was seeing, his ears picked up a loud and boisterous voice calling out.
"Ningxue, let's play hide and seek!" the energetic voice shouted.
Turning his head toward the source, Astreo saw that the one who spoke was a kid with sandy brown hair and unusual purple eyes.
'System, is he Mo Fan?' Astreo couldn't help but ask in his mind, feeling an unexpected sense of curiosity.
[Yes, he is Mo Fan], the system immediately replied without hesitation.
Astreo was taken aback.
He was genuinely surprised, because he had not expected such a thing to happen so quickly.
To actually meet the main character, and that too during his very first outing outside the orphanage, was far beyond what he had imagined.
'System, are you absolutely certain that I don't have any kind of Protagonist Aura?' Astreo questioned again, his suspicion rising.
In his view, there could only be so many coincidences before it became questionable.
[Master, you do not possess any Protagonist Aura. Rather, the truth is that Grandma Yu deliberately scheduled the children's outing to coincide with the playtime of Young Miss Ningxue. By doing this, she ensured that there would naturally be additional security in the area, which the orphans could benefit from without having to pay for it.]
Hearing this explanation, Astreo could not help but glance at Grandma Yu.
She was at that moment busy guiding the children, introducing them to other groups of children, and gently nudging them to play together in order to socialize.
'Indeed, with age a person gains wisdom, but at the same time, they also become senile in certain ways,' Astreo muttered inwardly.
He even nodded to himself while doing so and raised his hand to stroke his imaginary beard, imitating the demeanor of a great cultivator lost in profound thought.
"Brat, what are you daydreaming about? The others have already run off to play. Hurry up and go join them," Grandma Yu said after noticing Astreo standing in place and behaving rather strangely.
In truth, Grandma Yu actually felt a sense of relief upon seeing Astreo act in this odd manner.
The reason for that was simple: with how much of a study freak he usually was, spending nearly all of his time reading and training, she often worried that he was like an old man trapped inside a small child's body.
That thought had always unsettled her.
But now, when she saw him zoning out, making strange expressions, and looking as if he was lost in deep imagination, it gave her reassurance.
Because if he behaved like that, then it proved he was still very much a child. Perhaps a weird child who thought too much, but a child nonetheless.
That fact alone eased her concerns.
Astreo, however, had no interest in following the other children.
His sharp eyes scanned the group of snotty brats who were busily running around while playing some strange game they called "train train."
His eyebrows twitched slightly as he watched them.
It was not that he was completely against playing games—he did not actually resist the idea of playing—but he had no intention of joining kids whose brains, in his opinion, were the size of peas.
Instead, something else immediately caught his attention.
His gaze locked onto the sand pit situated near the playground.
The sight of it made his eyes light up.
There was no such thing as a sand pit back in the orphanage, and throughout his entire past life, he had never once experienced playing in one either.
The novelty of it made his heart stir with a childlike curiosity he could not suppress.
With a grin stretching across his face, Astreo hurried over.
He quickly grabbed a toy shovel and a small bucket from the pile of children's supplies that had been set out for playtime.
Without wasting a single moment, he charged straight towards the sand pit as though he had discovered a treasure trove.
When he reached it, he crouched down and began observing the texture of the sand carefully.
The sensation of running it through his fingers fascinated him, and the grin on his face grew even wider until it reached ear to ear.
Grandma Yu, who had been keeping a watchful eye on him, noticed this and walked over to his side.
She let out a small sigh as she looked down at him playing so seriously.
After a brief pause, she asked softly, "Kid, you really won't play with the others?"
Astreo did not even hesitate before answering.
"Nope! I am going to become the greatest sand sculptor that has ever lived!" he declared boldly, his eyes shining with pure excitement as he immediately began working on his self-declared building project.
Grandma Yu's eyebrows twitched at his words.
In her mind, she thought about how not long ago this same child had been saying he would become the greatest mage to ever live.
Now, without missing a beat, he had already shifted to proclaiming himself as the future greatest sand sculptor the world had ever seen.
She couldn't help but shake her head in resignation as she watched him, thinking to herself, 'In the end, he really is still a child after all.'
So while Astreo busied himself in the sand pit, happily testing what he jokingly considered to be his "level 1 Civil Engineering skills," the rest of the children scattered around the park and played together in groups.
Their laughter and shouting filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.
Among them, Mo Fan naturally took the lead.
He gathered several of the children and even included Mu Ningxue in their group, guiding them into a game.
The scene looked ordinary enough until it was suddenly interrupted.
A typical Chinese young master figure, Mu Bai, arrived alongside a few of his usual followers who acted like loyal goons.
His appearance immediately brought an air of arrogance to the peaceful playtime.
"Bah! Playing hide and seek instead of focusing on studying magic—are you all donkeys?" Mu Bai sneered loudly, his words directed at Mo Fan and the other children who were following his lead.
His mocking tone carried clear disdain.
After insulting them, his gaze shifted, and he turned his attention specifically toward Mu Ningxue.
Straightening his posture in an attempt to look more dignified, he spoke again.
"Young Miss, if you continue staying with these commoners, your way of thinking will eventually become as low and foolish as theirs. It would be far better for you to spend your time playing with us, those of higher social standing!"
Mu Ningxue, however, did not flinch or show anger.
Instead, she responded calmly and evenly, her voice steady.
"Mu Bai, what is this nonsense about high standing and low standing? At the end of the day, aren't all of us just children?"
Her words, spoken with simplicity, did not sit well with Mu Bai.
His expression instantly soured, his lips curling downward.
He retorted sharply, his tone full of disdain, "Young Miss, if you insist on staying with them, then you will eventually become a donkey as well!"
The unexpected insult startled Mu Ningxue.
Her eyes widened slightly, and she froze for a moment, clearly hurt by his words.
Slowly, a faint trace of moisture began to gather in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
Seeing this, Mo Fan immediately stepped forward.
Without hesitation, he moved in front of Mu Ningxue, placing himself between her and Mu Bai like a small but determined shield.
With a fierce look on his young face, he shouted back, "Mu Ningxue is a swan! On the other hand, you are nothing more than a pig!"
His sharp words struck home. In an instant, Mu Bai's face twisted into an angry pout, his pride wounded deeply.
The atmosphere around the children shifted as what could only be described as a great battle between two kids suddenly erupted right there in the park.
They threw themselves at each other with the full energy and stubbornness of children unwilling to back down.
In the end, the natural winner was, of course, Mo Fan.
His stubbornness and spirit overwhelmed Mu Bai, leaving the so-called young master defeated in front of the others.
Turning back after his small but triumphant victory, Mo Fan looked at Mu Ningxue with a grin and declared proudly, "Ningxue, I got revenge for you!"
Hearing his words, Mu Ningxue nodded gently, her eyes shining with a soft twinkle that betrayed her gratitude and relief.
The bodyguards, who were standing near the black car, exchanged glances with each other, completely speechless at what they were witnessing.
What exactly were they supposed to do in this situation?
After all, it was nothing more than a squabble between five-year-old children. It was hardly something they could intervene in without looking ridiculous.
In the end, they silently agreed it was not their problem.
Interfering in such childish arguments was unnecessary, and it was not as if their employer or their boss would actually punish them for failing to stop a fight between children who barely reached their knees.
With that conclusion, they decided to simply stay where they were and keep watching from a distance.
Meanwhile, Mu Bai, who had just suffered defeat at the hands of Mo Fan, stood off to the side.
His lips curled downward, and he pouted in frustration, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.
Muttering under his breath, he said to himself, "Hmph! She will soon understand the difference between the poor and the rich!"
His voice carried spite, even though no one seemed to be paying much attention to him anymore.
As his frustration simmered, Mu Bai began glancing around the park, looking for something else to distract him.
His eyes soon landed on a lone figure—a child who was sitting in the sand pit and carefully working on a sandcastle.
The sight immediately caught his attention.
A mischievous gleam lit up in his eyes, and his foul mood seemed to turn into malicious excitement.
Without hesitation, he rushed toward the sand pit, and his small group of loyal goons quickly followed behind him.
Together, they stopped right in front of the boy.
Astreo, who had been completely focused on his sandcastle, noticed a sudden shadow fall over him.
He lifted his head and looked up, only to see Mu Bai standing there with a wide grin plastered across his face. The smug expression immediately told him that trouble was coming.
"Brat, you should show respect to the esteemed young master of the Mu family!" one of Mu Bai's goons barked arrogantly, puffing his chest as if he were far more important than he actually was.
Mu Bai smirked confidently, clearly enjoying the attention.
Astreo, however, simply stared at him for a moment, utterly speechless.
Then, without saying a word, he shifted his gaze back down to his sandcastle, choosing to ignore the provocation and continue with his work.
This deliberate dismissal enraged Mu Bai.
Being ignored by someone he considered beneath him instantly made his temper flare.
His small body trembled with anger as he shouted, then raised his foot.
With all the strength his tiny legs could muster, he kicked forward violently, smashing the sandcastle into pieces.
The sand scattered everywhere, and a cloud of it flew directly into Astreo's face.
Astreo coughed repeatedly as the gritty sand got into his mouth and nose, forcing him to stand up abruptly, his eyes narrowing with irritation.
But before he could even steady himself, one of Mu Bai's goons stepped forward and kicked him in the leg, causing him to lose balance and fall back down into the dirt.
The three children immediately burst out laughing, their mocking voices echoing through the park as they pointed at him.
The cruelty in their tone was unmistakable.
At that exact moment, Grandma Yu, who had just noticed the sudden commotion from a distance, turned her head sharply.
When she saw Astreo lying on the ground with the other children standing over him, she quickly rushed forward in alarm.
Her voice was filled with concern as she asked, "What is happening here?"
The two goons who had been laughing a moment earlier instantly froze.
Seeing Grandma Yu's stern face as she approached, they immediately cowered and shrank back in fear.
Mu Bai, however, did not show the slightest trace of fear. Instead, he raised his chin slightly, maintaining an arrogant look on his face as if he believed he had done nothing wrong.
"Just telling this brat why he shouldn't dare to ignore the great Young Master of the Mu family," Mu Bai declared arrogantly, his small face full of pride as he stood with his hands on his hips.
The moment Grandma Yu heard those words and realized that this child was a member of the Mu family, her expression immediately turned unpleasant.
A frown appeared on her face as she instinctively glanced toward the bodyguards standing nearby.
The bodyguards, who had been quietly observing until now, also glanced back at her, their eyes sharp and alert.
It was clear to Grandma Yu what that look meant.
The bodyguards had no intention of interfering earlier, because in their eyes both Mu Bai and Mu Ningxue were direct members of the Mu family.
As for Mo Fan, he was merely acting like a servant or follower to Mu Ningxue, so the minor conflict between him and Mu Bai had not been worth their concern.
But if anyone dared to raise their voice or act harshly against their Young Master or their Young Miss, then those bodyguards would definitely step in without hesitation.
Grandma Yu cursed her own luck in her heart.
Originally, her plan to arrange the children's picnic at the same time as the Mu family's outing had been meant to provide additional protection at no cost.
She knew very well that the young miss of the Mu family, Mu Ningxue, had a gentle temperament, and she assumed that her presence would only bring benefits.
However, what she had not expected was that along with Ningxue came such an insufferable brat like Mu Bai, who was already stirring up trouble.
Suppressing her frustration, she turned her gaze toward Astreo.
She quickly crouched down and began brushing the sand off his clothes, her hands working carefully to remove the dirt from his small body.
Astreo, meanwhile, raised his eyes and glanced first at Mu Bai and then at Grandma Yu.
His look carried a clear meaning, silently asking her how they were going to respond to this situation.
But Grandma Yu hesitated.
She was not some powerful figure in hiding, not some secret big shot with influence or magic of her own.
She was simply an ordinary human, one without even a trace of magical ability, and her only advantage was having a few small connections with certain government officers.
That was the extent of her strength.
Although she fully understood that this incident was, on the surface, nothing more than a small matter between children, she also knew the risks.
If the Mu family decided to interpret her reprimanding Mu Bai as an insult to their authority, they could easily retaliate by cutting off government funding to the orphanage.
That thought alone made her chest tighten with worry.
In the end, after a brief but painful struggle within herself, she clenched her teeth and made a decision.
Without saying anything further, she firmly grabbed Astreo's hand, pulled him gently but decisively to his feet, and began leading him away from the scene.
(A/N: Expectations V/S Reality)
Mo Fan, who had been watching everything unfold from nearby, clenched his fists and was just about to step forward.
He wanted nothing more than to give Mu Bai a solid piece of his mind.
However, before he could act, he suddenly felt a small hand gently rest on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw that it was Mu Ningxue.
She looked at him silently and shook her head, signaling him not to intervene.
Mu Ningxue understood the situation far better than Mo Fan did at that moment.
She knew very clearly that if Mo Fan tried to help the boy from the orphanage, then Mu Bai's father would certainly not let it go.
He would create trouble for both Mo Fan's family and even for the orphanage itself.
The consequences would ripple far beyond just a simple children's quarrel.
The only reason the bodyguards and the Mu family didn't bother interfering in the skirmishes between her and Mu Bai was because both she and Mu Bai were from the Mu family. In their eyes, their disputes were just childish quarrels within the same clan.
As for Mo Fan, they didn't even view him as an equal participant—he was simply considered a servant or follower of Mu Ningxue, nothing more, nothing less.
That status protected him to a degree, but only within very narrow limits.
And Astreo?
He was just another outsider, and worse in their eyes, a male child without any real background. (Yes, that was apparently a very important detail in these situations! LMAO.)
(A/n: Couldn't resist adding that touch of utmost Chinese flavour 😈. My grin is practically splitting my face right now.)
In the end, Grandma Yu made her choice.
Faced with the reality of the situation, she prioritized the safety and continued funding of the orphanage over her own self-respect.
She tightened her grip on Astreo's hand and firmly pulled him back toward the bus without looking back.
Once she had secured him, she wasted no time.
She quickly rounded up the other children, cut short their playtime in the park, and redirected the entire group toward the next part of the outing.
Their schedule shifted, and she led them onward toward the hill where the picnic was planned.
During the ride on the bus, Astreo remained completely silent.
Not a single word left his lips. His expression was calm on the surface, but it carried a seriousness unusual for a child his age.
When they finally arrived at the base of the hill, Grandma Yu encouraged everyone to step down.
But Astreo refused.
He simply shook his head and said firmly, "I will study. I want to become a magician."
Hearing his words, Grandma Yu's heart trembled.
Her eyes grew moist, and she had to blink several times to stop the tears from flowing.
She blamed herself entirely for what had happened. In her mind, the fault was hers—her lack of ability, her lack of power.
She silently cursed her fate, asking herself why she had not been born with magic, why she could not protect the children under her care better.
But in the end, she did not argue with him.
She forced herself to smile gently, nodded, and chose not to disturb his decision.
Instead, she carefully handed him his share of snacks, making sure he would not go hungry, before turning to leave with the other children.
Together, she led them up the hill to reach the designated picnic spot, while Astreo remained behind on the bus.
Meanwhile, Astreo leaned back in his seat as he ate his snacks quietly.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
'Damn, Mu Bai, you really are my lucky star!' he thought to himself, his mood brightening considerably.
And why was he so happy instead of being angry or feeling insulted by what had happened earlier?
The answer was simple.
Because now he had a perfectly valid excuse to avoid these tiresome outings in the future.
To him, that was a victory worth celebrating.
Although Astreo felt a small pang of sadness for Grandma Yu, he knew deep down that her guilt ensured she would not go against his wishes anymore.
Her conscience had clearly been affected by the earlier incident, and he realized that now she would respect his decisions, no matter how stubborn or unusual they seemed.
He also found himself forgiving Mu Bai.
After all, Mu Bai was just a brat—a spoiled, arrogant child who had acted out of immaturity rather than malice.
Astreo understood that if the older version of Mu Bai had done the same thing, he would have likely beaten him to a pulp without hesitation.
However, he was not so petty as to seek revenge on a small child for such a minor offense.
The matter was insignificant, and holding a grudge over it would be a waste of time and energy.
Content with his own reasoning, Astreo returned to his meditation in his system's Dimensional Space.
He sat quietly, focusing his mind, while the other children continued with their playtime or picnicking activities.
When the outing was nearing its end and it was time to return to the orphanage, he cleverly feigned sleeping on the bus.
In reality, his consciousness had already entered the Virtual Dimension, where he continued his intense combat training and mental exercises.
Meanwhile, Grandma Yu, who had returned from the picnic with the other children, noticed Astreo sitting quietly.
She let out a soft sigh, her mind burdened with worry and reflection.
"Is it my fault that he had to endure such injustice?" she thought to herself, feeling the weight of responsibility for the young boy in her care.
Approaching him gently, she softly patted his head, a small gesture of comfort and reassurance.
After the bus ride, they finally returned to the orphanage.
From that point on, Astreo skipped all subsequent outings entirely, and Grandma Yu never forced him to participate in any of them.
Her sole concern now was his development and safety.
She quietly wished for him to grow into the kind of mage he aspired to become, nurturing his potential in her own careful, protective way.
Over the next fifteen days, Astreo devoted himself to continuous meditation.
He trained diligently for 15 to 16 hours each day, pushing his body and mind to their limits.
As a result, he easily broke through the intermediate tier, achieving a level of mastery that would have taken most people far longer to reach.
Before reaching this new stage, he could only meditate 9 to 10 hours per day.
However, by using certain herbs—herbs traditionally reserved for spiritual attainment—he could artificially extend his meditation sessions, increasing their effectiveness.
Astreo understood exactly why these herbs were rarely used for this purpose by others.
Each herb was incredibly valuable, typically employed to achieve a higher level of spiritual attainment, and each one cost thousands of dollars—or hundreds of thousands in RMB.
Using such a resource merely to extend meditation time for a single day would be considered extravagant and wasteful by almost anyone else.
Nevertheless, with careful management, the method proved effective.
In the span of the next fifteen days, Astreo fully consolidated his progress and solidified his breakthrough into the intermediate tier.
(A/n: Time map 78 days)
To be continued...
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