Time passed quickly, and the migrating Turtle Swallows had stayed twice.
Just like that, a year went by.
Heh.
Koda let out a muffled grunt.
A block of ice ten times his size condensed and floated in the air.
Then, at the gesture of his hands, it flew straight out.
It smashed into the opposite rock, and the ice block instantly shattered into pieces.
“Why is it still like this?” he said somewhat helplessly.
A year had passed since the last duel.
Since the result was a draw, Father naturally wouldn’t agree to let him go out, but he gave him another path.
“Study Ice Manipulation Art under A Fu.
If he approves of your learning progress, you can go out.”
This was a bit difficult.
When he told A Fu about it (automatically omitting the part about getting permission to leave), A Fu’s originally happy face was instantly covered in a gloomy expression.
“What!
I have to fight you for another year?
I’m just a bag of old bones.
Can’t you let me rest?
Little ancestor, go torture someone else.”
Even though he put on that face, A Fu still dutifully taught him for a year.
“It’s not a matter of how you exert force,” A Fu’s voice came as Koda was fretting over the hardness of his ice spheres.
“Your current power isn’t enough.
If you want ice spheres to be both large and hard, it requires years of honing your skills.
This isn’t a problem that can be solved in a short time, so don’t think about it for now.”
Fine.
With A Fu’s explanation, he stopped thinking about the issue for the time being.
“You kid are really something, to have practiced to this level already.”
A Fu recalled that a year ago, when they dueled, he was just a little rookie who could only use simple ice spheres.
Now, he could hold his own against A Fu using only what he had learned this year, without needing other moves.
Truly, comparing oneself to others is enough to drive one mad.
“I’ve cultivated for most of my life, yet I’m almost about to be surpassed by a child not even ten years old.”
“Don’t say that.
I still can’t beat you at all right now.
Of course, that’s without using any underhanded tricks.
Hehe.”
After a year of devilish training, the process was unspeakably bitter.
Koda even suspected A Fu was intentionally messing with him as revenge for making him lose face during the duel.
Uh.
Losing to a kid is indeed quite embarrassing.
However, Koda also got his revenge, like adding some “wonderful seasonings” when grilling fish for him.
…
“How is my current level of practice?”
He looked over with hopeful eyes.
This time, Koda hadn’t told A Fu anything about his agreement with Father.
If he told him, he would surely make things difficult in every way, and who knows how long his wish to go out would have to wait.
“Your practice is just so-so.”
Facing such an intense gaze, A Fu said reluctantly.
He had to admit that Koda’s progress was extremely fast.
After studying with him for only one year, there was already nothing left to teach him.
“But you must remember.” A Fu suddenly became serious as he said this.
“When you’re outside, you must run whenever you can.
You’re not strong yet.
Because…”
“Because what?” Koda asked curiously.
“Because I’m not…
not strong either,” he said with a blush, his voice very small.
“Hahaha!”
Koda clutched his stomach and laughed on the ground.
He didn’t often see A Fu looking like this.
“You brat, do you want a beating?!!!!”
Koda knew when to quit.
Staying here might actually lead to a beating.
He had already gotten the answer he wanted.
Leaving the Great Swamp was just around the corner.
Now that he had nothing to do, he took a walk along the jungle path, his thoughts wandering.
The results of a year’s hard work had been recognized, but he suddenly felt as if he had lost something.
It was a feeling he couldn’t quite describe or explain.
Since that was the case, he wouldn’t think about it.
Why add to his troubles?
He needed to share this good news with Father quickly.
He could leave tomorrow, and his mood brightened again.
Vines, swampland, trees, rivers.
Everything receded frantically in Koda’s eyes.
His current sprinting speed was truly no joke.
A powerful physical constitution was a necessary condition for becoming a strong Water Control Divine Art user.
Running around the forest every day in such a harsh swamp environment was a great boost to one’s stamina.
The effort required to run on flat ground versus muddy ground was completely different.
Today, he just wanted to give himself a good break.
After sprinting for a while, he stopped and changed to a slow walk.
Even the scenery he was tired of looking at, he began to appreciate now.
He might not see the beauty here for many years.
Just then, a girl wearing strange clothing suddenly appeared on a huge tree branch.
A bell hung by her foot, its sound extremely piercing in the silent forest.
The girl also revealed a mysterious smile.
“Come here, come over here.”
The girl’s crisp and pleasant voice, accompanied by the tinkling of the bell, jumped down from the tree and ran towards the distance of the forest.
Koda was already used to this.
He didn’t follow the girl’s words to give chase.
This wasn’t a ghost incident, but an illusion created by the Giant Tree, which only Koda could see.
The Giant Tree would create illusions of different people based on your memories.
If you hadn’t seen the person it manifested, then that person would be someone you’d meet in the near future, and someone very close to you.
When he first saw the figure, he had foolishly chased after it, constantly asking her who she was.
Thinking back, it was a bit funny.
After Father explained it to him, he wasn’t so excited when he saw the illusion again.
Koda had once asked Father if he had ever seen an illusion.
Father just smiled without speaking, looking at him with gentle eyes.
This scene left him confused.
Later, seeing that Father had no intention of answering again, he left.
To this day, there was no answer as to who Father had seen.
…
Every time he tried to remember the girl’s face, he could only recall that wicked smile.
He had no impression of anything else.
After this happened more than ten times, he gave up on trying. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
During this day, he walked through every corner of the forest.
Before leaving, he wanted to remember every fallen leaf, every tree, and every piece of the swamp here.
This was his home.
No matter how long he wandered outside, he would still remember this forest that birthed and raised him, and the family who, though not related by blood, were closer than kin.
In the evening, he returned to the Giant Tree and saw Father, who had been waiting for a long time.
“Father!”
Koda didn’t even think and pounced straight on him.
In his previous life, he hadn’t felt the companionship of love, and in this life, he had been abandoned by his parents.
Only Father was willing to sacrifice his future to save him and treat him as well as his own child.
He had no way to repay him except to make himself stronger so they could live outside.
He didn’t know how many years this wish would take, but he would definitely achieve it.
Father stroked his head and said with relief, “I’ve already heard about your learning progress from A Fu.
You now have the ability to protect yourself outside.
I hope you don’t blame me for setting those agreements.”
At this point, A Shou’s eyes were a bit sore.
His child of ten years was leaving to pursue his ambitions and fulfill his dreams.
As a father, these agreements were the last thing he could do.
“How could I?
I know you did all this for my own good.
I won’t blame you.
Also, there’s one more thing: I plan to leave the Swamp Forest tomorrow.
Is that okay?”
“It’s okay.
After all, this has been your wish for several years.
Go to sleep early.
We’ll set off tomorrow morning.
I’ll have the whole village come to see you off.
You must stay safe while you’re away.”
“I know, I know.
How many times have you said it?
My ears are getting callouses.”
“You brat, now you’re complaining that I’m nagging.
In a few days, you’ll want to hear me talk and won’t be able to.”
“Heehee.”
Only with Father would Koda show this childlike side.
To the outside world, all he could show was strength.
…
📢 Author’s Note
The full completed version of Avatar:
✅ Part 1 Complete — 110+ Chapters
Follow Koda’s incredible journey as he leaves the mysterious Foggy Swamp, masters the art of waterbending, uncovers ancient secrets, and grows stronger while changing the fate of the world.
🔥 I also have additional 18+ fanfics available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories.
😉
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