Chapter 103 Forked Paths (1/2)

In the blink of an eye, a week passed by. They were making good progress and Hua Tuo noticed the significant changes in his young student.

Firstly, it was Zero's physical growth. Yes, it came as a huge surprise because the physician didn't think that Zero's body was capable of growing. The boy had been short before even though Gaia said that he was physically twelve years of human age. Zero had grown five centimetres within the week of their travels and Hua Tuo immediately reported the astonishing discovery.

At once, the Great Gods called for an emergency meeting. Many theories surfaced but nobody could confirm the reason or Zero's sudden accelerated growth. Hua Tuo also noticed how Zero's meridians and chakra channels were almost ready. In a few more days, Zero would be able to start absorbing mana from the surroundings and start learning how to cultivate the qi in him. It was both good news and bad news for the Gods - especially the Goddesses who couldn't bear to see Zero grow up.

Secondly, Hua Tuo noticed how the young boy became calmer. He was silent for longer periods of time now as compared to before. With the meditation process becoming easier, Zero often entered a strange state of trance. There was an unfocused look in his eyes whenever it happened and Hua Tuo observed how Zero was walking on autopilot. He didn't seem to breathe during his trance and sometimes things around Zero became strange.

How strange? So far, Hua Tuo had witnessed animals gathering around Zero. That happened once when Hua Tuo left the boy to meditate while he refilled their water skins. The physician came back to see birds sitting on the boy and some small squirrels curled up in his lap. They seemed reluctant to part with Zero and Hua Tuo had to chase them off before the boy became buried under the pile of cute animals.

Also, Hua Tuo noticed how Zero didn't need sleep whenever he meditated for long periods of time. In fact, Zero looked healthier. Gaia was similarly puzzled by this. They decided to continue observing Zero for further changes.

Next, whenever Zero meditated, he would speak in a strange language unknown to Hua Tuo. The old doctor recorded Zero's mumbling during the state of trance and sent it to the Great Gods for identification. Last he heard, they were still working on it. Freya thought the language sounded familiar but couldn't pinpoint where she heard it. Merlin didn't know the language much to everyone's surprise. As a wizard, he had to be the most well-read Sage God but for him to not know it... Hua Tuo didn't know what to think. Where had Zero learnt such an ancient language? Merlin knew many languages, even those of the ancients. For Zero to speak in a language that only Freya knew and could barely recall, where did he learn that from?

Lastly, the strangest of all observations... Zero's eye colour changed when he entered the trance. Yes, only a single eye. Zero's left eye would flicker a different colour during meditation sessions. Sometimes it was green, sometimes it was black. Other times, it could be icy blue or even yellow but Hua Tuo was sure there were more colours than those mentioned. Sometimes it would only be a split of a second. Other times, the change lasted for as long as hours. It didn't always happen but it occurred enough times for Hua Tuo to be concerned.

Nobody could figure out what was happening to Zero while he meditated. They were worried, puzzled and slightly frightened but Zero seemed to be happier after the sessions so Hua Tuo didn't stop the boy.

”Zero,” Hua Tuo began. He wasn't sure how to phrase it but it has been bothering him for a while.

”Yes?”

”Why are there birds and animals following behind you?”

It was the first time that Hua Tuo had interrupted his student during a trance. Usually, Hua Tuo observed silently and waited until Zero stopped meditating to speak to him. However, he couldn't do that today.

Zero blinked. His green left eye returned to hazel and the trance broke. He looked behind him and blinked at the sight of twenty pairs of eyes looking at him.

”When did they appear?” Zero asked, much to Hua Tuo's lament. He'd been trying to understand why Zero was such an animal charmer when he meditated. However, from Zero's reaction, it looked like he had no clue how he did it either.