The Best Grandma

The library on the second floor of the Odin Sub-Temple!

Yang Tian followed Balza inside and looked at the two rows of books. There had to be at least a hundred volumes.

"Meditation is something you only begin learning after reaching one hundred points of spiritual power."

"It mainly cultivates internal spiritual power, so I really don't want you starting meditation early!"

"Yang Tian, perhaps you could wait another six months. After that, I'll personally teach you and guide your meditation."

Balza took out an old book with a black cover and spoke to Yang Tian.

He dearly hoped that such a promising child would not suffer even the slightest setback.

"Instructor, I understand, but I also want to lay a foundation for cultivating internal spiritual power!"

Yang Tian calmly looked at the instructor, who seemed so different from his usual self.

He wore that stern expression to intimidate the children, but with a "good" child like Yang Tian, his natural kindness showed through.

Balza listened, then asked in puzzlement, "Meditation can lay a foundation? But even the Temple doesn't know about that."

Yang Tian didn't know how to explain it either. Long Haochen had been fine, so he had even less reason to fear. Wasn't it just replacing sleep with meditation?

To raise his innate internal spiritual power, he had to put in effort far beyond what ordinary people could manage.

With fewer than ten points of internal spiritual power, it was impossible to cross the threshold into a third-tier profession.

Of course, an exception like Ye Hua was another matter.

In the end, Yang Tian made up some excuse to gloss over it.

"This is the basic introductory meditation method that the Temple makes available to personnel in all Child Halls, Branch Temples, and main temples. Of course, you must reach one hundred points of external spiritual power before you can read it!"

Balza held out the thick book as he spoke to Yang Tian.

He looked at the determination on the face of this four-and-a-half-year-old child.

Long hours of training had given those slender arms beautifully defined muscles.

"Instructor, I won't rush into learning meditation either. It's just that, with my training being reduced by half, I'd like you to guide me during the time that frees up!"

"Since you're making an exception, Instructor, those skills you promised to teach me..."

Yang Tian offered his assurance, though his last sentence carried a hint of teasing.

After all, getting the meditation method already meant Balza had relaxed the rules for him.

Learning skills as well might just be possible!

"You little rascal, still thinking about those skills, are you? If you could only choose one, which would you pick?"

Balza smiled too, amused by the little brat.

Then he gave him a choice.

Skills or meditation.

Any other child would surely have chosen skills first, because skills strengthened their attacks and gave them ways to fight!

"Only little kids have to choose!" Yang Tian muttered.

He looked at Balza with a sly expression. "Instructor, you promised to make an exception, so that means you can teach me both. Haha!"

"I promised an exception, but I never said which one!"

"Yang Tian, then I'll teach you skills. I'll make an exception for meditation in another six months!"

Balza smiled faintly, then pretended to put the meditation manual away.

Yang Tian was having none of that.

"Wait, Instructor! If I have to choose, I'll still choose meditation!"

Seeing Balza about to put the book away, Yang Tian grew anxious and hurriedly spoke up.

Unfortunately, experience still won out.

Although Yang Tian had an adult's mind, he was no match for an old hand like Balza.

Cunning as an old fox-that described him perfectly.

"All right, here you go!" Balza finally chuckled and handed Yang Tian the book.

If he held on to it any longer, Yang Tian might just throw himself at him.

Yang Tian carefully took the book.

The words "Knight Meditation Primer" on the cover were written in characters Yang Tian recognized.

Having been here for more than four years, he always had to learn a little more than everyone else.

Things like reading, learning the language, and so on.

"Thank you, Instructor!"

Holding the book, Yang Tian felt that heaven still favored him.

Then he respectfully bowed to the instructor.

That gesture of courtesy did not belong to this world.

What a strange gesture! Balza watched Yang Tian. Did thanking someone require a bow?

Still, he said nothing. Perhaps it was just a child's unusual way of expressing thanks.

"All right. This is the result of your hard work."

"Yang Tian, you can leave the book here with me for now. I'll personally guide you after class!"

Balza spoke in a gentle voice.

"No, Instructor. I'd like to carry it with me to and from class every day. Once I get home, I'll make time to read it!"

Yang Tian shook his head and politely declined Balza's suggestion.

With fifty-three points of spiritual power, his strength already far exceeded that of some adults. He could certainly protect a book.

"All right!" Balza had nothing more to say.

"Instructor, since my after-class training is being cut in half today, I won't come back after dinner!"

Yang Tian waved to Balza as he spoke before leaving.

"Mm!" Balza nodded.

Then he watched the little fellow leave.

"What a sensible child. If the other children were like him, things would be so much easier!"

"Ah!"

Watching Yang Tian go, Balza finally sighed.

Still, being mischievous was a child's privilege.

It was just that well-behaved, sensible children had experienced a little more, and eventually chosen to give up their mischief.

From loving rough-and-tumble play to no longer making others worry, they suppressed that natural impulse simply to show people that they had grown up.

After class, Yang Tian resumed his training.

Dragging the stone platform, he set off...

From then on, most of his time after dinner would be spent studying meditation.

By comparison, Yang Tian needed to work hard, then harder, and harder still.

Without medicinal baths or a Divine Seal Knight to teach him personally, he could only rely on himself.

Little Yaya was there on his way home.

The elderly grandmother was there too.

They seemed to be waiting for Yang Tian to arrive so they could exchange a few words with him.

It seemed they had simply grown used to having this child around.

Yaya's mother also believed that Yang Tian could teach her child many things.

At last, he returned home.

Wisps of cooking smoke rose and gradually dispersed.

Over the past six months, this seemed to have become a well-established routine.

"Grandma, I'm home!"

Yang Tian stepped through the door of their humble home and called out, keeping his voice at a moderate volume.

"Oh, Little Tian is home. Grandma's almost finished cooking!" The old woman's kindly voice reached him. Though ordinary, it was full of warmth and affection.

Yang Tian then went into the kitchen and helped dish up the food.

With his training growing more demanding, he had added a whole bowl to his original half-bowl portion.

He was eating more of the dishes too.

That made the old woman happy to cook a little more for the little fellow.

At the dinner table.

The candle's pale yellow light flickered.

An old woman and a young boy, a simple meal, a humble little house.

At that moment, both of them were content.

The warmth of home, a well-behaved and thoughtful child, a gentle and loving grandmother.

"Mm, Grandma's cooking is the best!"

Picking up a piece of tofu and seeing the faint sheen of oil on it, Yang Tian understood the care the old woman had taken. He tasted it, then offered his praise.

Naturally, Yang Tian could tell what flavor that oil carried: the taste of meat.

"Mm, as long as Little Tian likes it, Grandma will keep cooking it for you. Someday, I'll cook for your children too..."

"Haha, that's much too far away!"

The old woman smiled kindly. The wrinkles on her face seemed to soften, no longer crowding every inch of it.

But among her disordered black-and-white strands of hair, there was far more snowy white, a sight that made his heart ache.

Yang Tian smiled contentedly and said, "You must be the best grandma in the whole world..."

Thank you to the readers for your recommendation votes, and to the editor for taking notice. Receiving a contract is an affirmation of a work. I'll keep updating consistently, and I hope this story can earn people's approval.

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