Seok Yung blinked in surprise, then laughed. "Ah! So Grandmaster Kim has a grandson now. The world truly changes when you're not looking."
Kim snorted but didn't deny it.
As they entered the courtyard, Arthur silently followed, heart beating a little faster.
He didn't know what lay ahead…
But whatever it was, it felt like the start of something far greater than he'd expected when he'd set out for a walk that morning.
---
Certainly! Here's your revised scene, enhanced for professional tone, vivid detail, and immersive storytelling—while preserving all the major plot beats and character dynamics:
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In the Mansion Hall—
"Grandmaster Kim," Seok Yung began respectfully, "may I ask the reason for your sudden visit?"
Kim shot him a sharp glance. "Do I need a reason to visit an old friend?"
His tone was laced with irritation, and Seok Yung wisely bowed his head, offering no further comment. He knew well enough not to press when the Grandmaster didn't wish to speak. Kim Sang Jee's temper was infamous—and unpredictable.
"Of course not, Grandmaster. You are always welcome here," Seok Yung replied smoothly. "You may rest within the mansion until Father returns from seclusion."
Soon after, a maid arrived to escort Arthur and Kim to their rooms. As they entered a spacious chamber adorned with a blend of ancient elegance and modern design, Kim gestured to Arthur.
"Brat, come in here."
Arthur followed obediently, the door sliding shut behind them.
"What is it, Grandpa?" Arthur asked, confused.
"I told you earlier, didn't I? I promised a reward for helping this poor, fragile old man," Kim said, grinning mischievously. "So now I'll give you a choice. Choose wisely."
Arthur's curiosity spiked.
"First option," Kim said, raising a finger. "A Crimson-rank martial arts manual."
Arthur's eyes widened in disbelief.
Crimson rank!?
That was several tiers above what even elite sects offered to outer disciples. In the hierarchy of techniques and artifacts, the ranks went from White → Blue → Gold → Purple → Crimson → Black → and finally, Golden—each tier a vast leap in power and rarity.
If he acquired a Crimson-rank technique at this stage of his cultivation…
*His future would be transformed.*
The spark in Arthur's eyes didn't escape Kim's notice, and he clicked his tongue in mild disappointment.
"Hmph. That glimmer of greed already, huh?"
Before Arthur could speak, the old man grinned again.
"Second option," he said, "become my disciple."
Arthur froze, stunned. "Me? A disciple?"
It didn't make sense. He was just an orphaned cultivator with dual-path cultivation and no background. Why would someone like *him* be offered the chance to become the disciple of someone so powerful?
"Old man," Arthur said with a slight frown, "I don't even know you properly. How can I call someone 'Master' without knowing anything about them?"
Kim smacked him lightly on the head with his staff. "You brat! Just ask directly if you want my credentials, don't play around with flowery words."
Arthur rubbed his head, annoyed but silent.
The old man straightened his back and looked Arthur dead in the eye.
"My name is Kim Sang Jee. I hail from Ember City—the capital of the Emberveil Kingdom."
He let the words hang for a moment before continuing, voice swelling with authority.
"I am the current patriarch of the Kim family—one of the ruling clans of Emberveil. And whether the world likes it or not, I am still one of the strongest men in this entire kingdom."
Arthur's eyes widened again. Ember City was a place of legends, where the strongest sects and families resided. If this old man was telling the truth—and Arthur had no reason to doubt him—then he had just casually escorted one of the most influential people in the kingdom across town like a taxi driver.
And now that man wanted to take him as a disciple?
Arthur's heart pounded in his chest.
He was standing at a crossroads—one path paved with immediate power, the other with long-term destiny.
"But Old Man, I want to join an academy, not a family," Arthur said, scratching his head awkwardly.
Kim Sang Jee only chuckled, his wrinkled face crinkling into a smug grin. "And who said the two are separate? I also happen to be a Grand Elder of **Sable Star College**—one of the most prestigious academies on the continent. It teaches every known path—cultivation, soul arts, martial techniques, even ancient mysteries."
Arthur's mouth twitched.
This old man… why does he have so many titles stacked under that crusty robe?
He kept a polite smile plastered on his face despite the inner frustration. I still don't like that smug look on your wrinkled old face, but if I show it, I'll probably get smacked again…
"You know, you really didn't need to give me the options," Arthur said with a smile. "The answer's pretty clear."
The old man's face lit up with joy. "Then from now on, you are my dis—"
"I'll take the martial arts manual," Arthur said with a grin.
There was a beat of silence.
Then a staff *cracked* down on his head.
"You *stingy* little brat!" Kim snapped, thwacking him again for good measure. "You'd pick a manual over *me*? Do you even understand what kind of opportunity you're throwing away?"
Arthur tried to duck away, raising his hands. "Wait, wait! I was just—!"
"Shut it!" the old man roared. "I've made my decision. From this moment on, you are my disciple, whether you like it or not! Now get on your knees and kowtow, or I'll beat the soul out of your body!"
Arthur sighed dramatically but knelt on the smooth stone floor. *I was joking, obviously. Like I'd really choose a book over a living monster with more connections than the capital's web of spies. This opportunity only comes once in a lifetime.*
He bowed his head and pressed his forehead to the floor.
"Disciple Arthur greets Master!"
A sudden ripple of energy filled the room, ancient and binding. A golden seal, shaped like a crescent flame, materialized briefly on Arthur's back before vanishing into his skin. The air trembled, resonating with the unspoken laws of heaven—the recognition of a formal master-disciple bond.
Kim Sang Jee's face shifted from comical rage to solemn pride.
"From today onward, you are the sole direct disciple of Kim Sang Jee," he said, his voice carrying a rare seriousness. "Your honor is my honor. Your enemies, my enemies. Your future… I will forge alongside you."
Arthur felt a strange warmth in his chest—not just from the energy settling into his body, but something deeper. A sense of belonging… of being seen.
Kim cleared his throat and added, "And if you dare call me 'old man' again in front of others, I'll tan your hide until you forget your own name."
Arthur smirked. "Yes, Master."
But inwardly, he thought, Still an old man, though.
"Oh, I almost forgot to ask…" the old man said casually, settling deeper into his chair. "Where is your family, boy?"
The moment the word *family* was spoken, Arthur's face subtly shifted. His expression softened, his gaze dropped slightly, and a flicker of sorrow passed through his eyes. Though the body wasn't originally his, the memories—raw and buried deep—still stirred within him. Some feelings, he had learned, could never be silenced.
"They died when I was five," Arthur said quietly. "It was during a monster horde attack… they came out of nowhere and stormed the city where we lived."
He paused, lips parting slightly as if struggling to shape the next words.
"I… don't remember how it all began. Everything was just chaos—roars, fire, blood, and screaming. The next thing I knew, I was in an orphanage."
His voice cracked faintly near the end.
The room fell silent.
Old Man Kim didn't speak for a moment. Even he, with all his years of experience and hardened wisdom, was taken aback. His usual smirk faded, and his sharp eyes dulled with quiet reflection.
This child… he's grown so much, carrying all that pain alone. In a world where power defines worth, he survived, endured, and climbed with nothing but will. Remarkable… and heartbreaking.
The old man cleared his throat awkwardly, unsure how to handle the atmosphere. "Ahem. Who said you don't have a family now?" he said, forcing gruffness back into his tone. "You already called me Grandpa, remember? What now—you planning to leave your old grandpa behind like some stray dog? You shameless brat."
He reached out and thwacked Arthur on the head with his staff.
Arthur winced, rubbing his scalp with a faint chuckle. "Of course not. How could I leave you behind? Someone's gotta help carry that brittle old body around."
"You impudent brat!" the old man barked, though the smile curling at the corners of his mouth betrayed his pride.
Then, as the moment softened, he asked more gently, "What was the name of the city you lived in?"
"Aether City," Arthur replied without hesitation.
The old man's expression shifted—but only for a heartbeat. His eyes widened subtly, a glint of something unreadable flashing through them. It vanished almost instantly, buried beneath decades of practiced calm before Arthur could notice.
"I see…" he said simply.
But in his heart, turmoil stirred.
So it was Aether City… That changes everything. But it's not the right time yet. He's not ready to know.
He smiled faintly, masking whatever thoughts lay behind his eyes.
"Come on then, brat. Let's see if that orphanage taught you any manners. I'm still waiting on that foot massage."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Don't push your luck, old man."
.
..
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