Ying Xiong, the exiled Crown Prince, finally left the warm embrace of the OuYang siblings' home after a long period of recuperation. His initial attempts at integrating into village life were, to put it mildly, disastrous. He nearly tripped over a clucking hen, narrowly avoided a collision with a cart overflowing with freshly churned butter and stepped in a puddle of pig slop – all within the first hour.

  "Watch your step, city boy!" an old farmer chuckled, shaking his head.

  His attempts to be helpful were, shall we say, not quite up to standard. He tried to assist with drawing water from the well, his frail physique barely able to withstand the weight of the bucket. He swayed precariously, his face turning a shade of green as he imagined himself plunging headfirst into the icy depths.

  "Perhaps a different approach is needed," Ying Xiong muttered, his voice a mixture of embarrassment and determination.

  He spent the next few days observing the villagers, noticing how much effort it took to haul water from the well. Remembering his lessons in court mechanics, he spent the next few days sketching out a design for a pulley system. With KuiFong's help, a surprisingly capable young man despite his initial clumsiness, they constructed a rudimentary pulley using a sturdy branch and some rope. The villagers, initially sceptical, were amazed at how much easier it was to draw water.

  "I'll be darned," the old farmer said, scratching his head. "That there contraption's a real time-saver!"

  Ying Xiong also discovered a knack for teaching. He began tutoring the village children, using twigs and pebbles instead of the expensive ink and paper he was accustomed to. He taught them the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, his court-honed intellect making complex concepts surprisingly easy to grasp. The children, initially hesitant, warmed to his eccentric teaching methods and soon eagerly awaited his lessons.

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  "Why does the sun rise in the east?" a curious girl asked.

  "Because," Ying Xiong explained, "the sun follows a path set by the gods, just like we follow our own paths in life."

  His evenings were often spent with the OuYang siblings, discussing the intricate theories of 5-element magic. He spoke of the interplay of wood and fire, the subtle dance of water and earth, and the elusive power of metal. MeiEr, usually quiet and observant, listened intently.

  One evening, as Ying Xiong was elaborating on the principles of water magic, explaining how it could be manipulated to heal, to nourish, to even control the flow of a river, MeiEr's eyes widened. A strange tingling sensation spread through her, and to her own astonishment, a small, hesitant stream of water erupted from her fingertips, sprinkling onto the ground.

  "By the spirits!" KuiFong exclaimed, dropping his jaw. "Did… did she just do that?"

  MeiEr, bewildered and frightened by her own unexpected power, could only stare at her trembling hands. Ying Xiong, his carefully constructed worldview shattered, could only stare back in disbelief.

  "But… but only nobles can wield magic! Are you also nobles?" he stammered.

  KuiFong scoffed. "Nobles? Please. Our parents were killed by a rogue boar while hunting. Hardly noble, were they?"

  Intrigued, Ying Xiong began experimenting with the villagers. He guided them through simple meditation exercises, focusing their minds on the elements around them. To his astonishment, KuiFong, after much concentration, managed to raise a small mound of earth from the ground, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

  "Look at me! I'm a mage!" KuiFong laughed, flexing his newfound power.

  News of these events spread through the village like wildfire. People began experimenting, some with more success than others. Then there was Chen Yi, the gruff, experienced hunter, who, while meditating under the cover of a dense forest, unexpectedly awakened a talent for shadow magic, a rare and elusive form of magic rarely seen outside the hallowed halls of the Imperial Court. The villagers, once resigned to a life without magic, were now buzzing with excitement, their world forever changed.