"It's fine. The two of you can get up." Krune smiled wryly, saying, "I had only remembered my past after I woke up from my coma recently. So please, just treat me as usual."
It took quite a lot of convincing before the husband and wife were able to meet his line of sight without prostrating to the ground in reflex.
After some time passed, Krune told them, "I plan to impart all my knowledge to Hao'er and Chen'er. The two of them are smart. So, I'm sure they'll absorb everything."
He then looked at the village head, saying after a sigh, "I feel like I don't have long to live. So, before that happens, I want to train them into honorable people. Will you give me this opportunity?"
"It's my family's boon to obtain this opportunity," the village head stood up and bowed as he replied, soon prostrating on the floor. "It is our honor to have Chen'er learn your ways."
"Thank you." He got up before patting Chen Xue's head, asking, "Will you be willing to accompany grandpa on a journey?"
"Will I be able to pat fishy if I do that?" Chen Xue asked. Even though she had also matured for her age like Wang Hao, she still retained some innocence, wishing to play with the Cloud Whale.
"Just don't touch its horn. It's pretty sharp." Krune smiled as he motioned for the Cloud Whale to gently hover before her face, laughing as he watched the little girl's eyes widen in response.
She then gently touched the Cloud Whale, exclaiming in shock, "It's so soft!"
Upon her shout, Wang Hao was also unable to rein in his curiosity, touching the Cloud Whale as his face brightened up immediately. Upon seeing the troubled child's face relax and beam with a smile for the first time in years, Krune felt that it was worth the effort.
As the two continued to play with the Cloud Whale, Krune motioned for the Cloud Whale to slowly move away. The children followed it, heading into the nearby room.
Krune then looked at the three adults, saying, "There had been three Yin Beasts that have targeted our village. Old Leaf was the recent victim."
The village head nodded in response, already aware while the other two exclaimed in fear. Chuckling, Krune dropped another bomb on them. "Now, all three Yin Beasts, including all the bandits, have been killed. So, at least, for the time being, this village would be safe."
"Thank goodness!" The village head patted his chest, calming his thumping heart.
"However, I cannot give any guarantees." Krune shook his head, sighing as he continued, "It seems there are other Yin Beasts living in the Barren Range. So, no matter what, be on your guard. Try to unite all the villages here as much as possible and band together. That way, the chances of being targeted by the Yin Beasts would reduce a little. At least, you'll have a chance to defend yourselves."
"That'll be difficult," the village head replied before asking, "But, what about your"
"There's too much risk in disclosing my identity. There's a good chance everyone here would be killed to prevent any seeds from remaining alive while Wang Hao would be kidnapped by the aristocratic families. I'm too old, so killing me is easy. One arrow is enough to end my life."
As the village head turned silent, Krune patted his shoulder once, getting up as he beckoned for the Cloud Whale to return.
As the two children followed after it, Krune said to Chen Xue, "Chen'er, it'll take you a long time before you see your family again. So, make sure you say your farewell to them."
Saying so, he brought Wang Hao and waited outside the house, picking up faint sobbing from within the house.
"Grandpa." Wang Hao looked at the desolate silence in the village, asking, "Will you vanish after leaving me alone?"
Krune's eyes widened as he hugged his grandson, "Of course not! I'll be staying with you until you become old."
"Liar!" Wang Hao teared up as Krune patted his back, gently rubbing it.
'He's a perceptive child.' Sighing, Krune continued to lie for almost an hour before Wang Hao was convinced. He then brought Wang Hao and Chen Xue with him towards the bandit hideout, saying, "This'll be our home for the next two years."
Upon seeing the massive space, the two kids became excited and began to run around everywhere.
"Hahaha." Seeing such a scene brought energy to his weary body. He then brought the both of them to the room where the bandit boss stayed. That was the most lavish and cleanest room in the place, quickly putting them to sleep.
After that, he sighed, picking a nearby room to rest.
In the morning of the next day, Krune began to instruct them on the basics. In the morning was the language where he taught them the alphabet and other basic knowledge. During the afternoon was knowledge related to Yin Beasts, Nightmares, Imperial Meisters, and Imperial Arms.
The evening consisted of training where he trained them in the art of hand-to-hand combat, sword fight, and other weapons. With his experience, he was able to impart the necessary knowledge easily, ensuring he first gave them a solid foundation before building up the rest.
Even though the two children were overwhelmed by what he taught at the beginning, they quickly adapted to the training regime after a couple of weeks. Other than that, they were perceptive individuals, understanding that Krune seemed to be in a hurry.
Unfortunately, that was indeed true. As the days passed by, Krune was able to feel his body slowly beginning to fail. He was aware that his death was close by and hence decided to create two warriors out of the children so that they would help in solving the world's suffering in the future.
He would be continuing with the same mission in his future reincarnations as well, so Krune was planning for everything in advance. Moreover, he now had possession of the required materials to do so: The Nightmare Core and the bandit boss's research results.
So, Krune had been working on it to produce something to fulfill his wishes. For the bandit boss, completing the research would have taken him a decade or even longer. Even then, there was no guarantee of succeeding.
But for Krune, it was different. As an old monster, he had a plethora of knowledge and experience. Not to mention the fact that he had Su Zixin's memories, someone that was part of the four great families of the Daxia Empire.
With that, his plans began to fall in place.