Chapter 5: The Lei Family's Treasured Talent
"First Offense: Thundering Bite!", as a teenage girl in a seemingly azure battle suit shouted, the sword in her hand swooshed down and did not only fiercely cut down the air but also a tree a meter away, a sound of a faint thunder booming could be heard and blew the top half of the tree into ashes.
The teenage girl breathed deeply in and out before turning to the witnessing crowds behind her and bowing.
The crowds who have similar clothing had their mouths agape and seeing the spectacle, they clapped and praised the teenage girl whether they are a boy or a girl;
"That was great, Miss Mu!"
"No wonder she was chosen as the treasured talent!"
"I wonder if we can reach that level?!"
"She's the prettiest on top of that! She can even compete with Brother Zhe in terms of knowledge and understanding of applying the family's bloodline to manifest!"
In the middle of the cheering, a middle-aged man with a spiky long hair came out of the crowds, which they went silent and stared at him, and applaud:
"As expected from the family's treasure talent. By the age of fourteen, she has already learned the First Offense of the Lei Family."
The teenage girl, Lei Mu who was flustered of all the praise said in sincerity, "Thank you, Uncl-.. I mean, Teacher Xiu!"
"Ahahah!", Teacher Xiu laughed at this sincere girl and clasped his hands, "Okay, okay, today's enough! You all may now leave!"
The students wore bright faces as they heard their teacher say this and responded, "Yes! Thank you, Teacher Xiu!", as they looked for their group of friends.
"Don't forget to your nightly meditation, okay?!", Teacher Xiu reminded with a smile.
"Yes~~!!", the students replied in a chorus lightly.
Teacher Xiu looked at them and shook his head, "Such carefree students, when I was at their age, I don't have friends and put all my time into cultivation. But I guess they're still doing their practices diligently, having steady cultivation, so that's okay."
While murmuring to himself, he didn't notice Little Mu pulling his sleeve, "Uncle Xiu!"
"Ah?!", Teacher Xiu then looked with a puzzled expression and saw Mu trying to call him.
"Earlier, you said that you have something to tell me after class.", she said with her unblinking eyes.
Teacher Xiu looked at her and blinked a few times before patting her head, 'What a cute child.', he thought.
"Oh yeah, I didn't forget about that."
Mu was already accustomed to her head being patted by her Uncle Xiu since her father left her to him as her guardian, Teacher Xiu had been treating her like his own very child and sometimes, even spoiling her.
As he removed his hand, he continued, "Actually, it is not me who wants something to tell you."
"Eh? Who?", Mu slightly tilted her head, her red ponytail waved along.
"Ehehe, it seemed that Elder Min has something to tell you.", Teacher Xiu touched his bearded chin.
Mu's eyes and mouth widened as she doubted his words, "A-an Elder?!", her body stiffened at the same time, "What does he want to tell me?!"
"Well, I don't know, that's why I'm going to lead you to him.",
"Ugh...", her face became pale, obvious that she was getting nervous.
"Hmm?", Teacher Xiu noticed this and asked, "What are you getting nervous for? Aren't you supposed to be happy?"
"... I'm happy but, but it's an Elder! An Elder!", she put her left five fingers forward and pointed at her second finger, "While I'm here, an Elder is here!", she then pointed to her middle finger in her right hand, "What do I do if I mess up?"
"Aren't you strong? Do strong people react like that when all they have to do was meet a higher-up?", Teacher Xiu then pointed at her left fourth finger, "And you are already considered as a treasured talent of the family."
Mu stared at him for a while and breathed deeply before calming herself and saying, "Of course I'm a strong person. I mean, I need to!"
"Good, good", Teacher Xiu slowly nodded with a smile, "And you won't mess up.", he then turned his back.
Mu also nodded and followed Teacher Xiu out from the temple's backyard just right beside the forest. The seemingly old and fragile but clean temple was used as a form of a classroom for the young members of the family.
Exiting the temple's front gate, the teacher-student or the uncle-nephew pair went up to stairs of stone beside a flowing river, a few houses away from the temple.
On top of the stairs was a nine-storied pagoda lying on top of the cliff. Finally, the two reached the top and met the pagoda. Around the pagoda were untrimmed grasses and only the path to the entrance door was paved.
The pagoda was nothing special. It was made out of stone walls and wooden pillars and roofs. It made the building looked old but a speck of dust was nowhere to be found when Teacher Xiu opened the wooden door.
In the first floor, there was nothing there except a statue. It was a statue of a large wolf. The wolf emitted a fierce glare that it seemed to be felt alive.
As Mu saw this wolf statue, the long history of the family flooded her head. Her breathing became slightly rapid when she saw this solemn wolf statue as if it was guarding the family.
Teacher Xiu stepped forward and bowed to the wolf statue. He did not bow to the wolf but bowed to the family it represents, the Lei Clan.
One of the Seven Legacy Families, having the Bloodline of the Thundering Wolf. It has a steady position as one of the major families in the whole that even their Patriarchs belonged to the thirty-five powerhouses.
Mu knew this and imitated Teacher Xiu.
After a short while, Teacher Xiu stood straight and without saying anything, he climbed up to the stairs.
Mu followed without a word. Except for the first floor, the rest of the floor did have nothing inside of them.
The two were cultivators so climbing a few hundred stairs was nothing to them. Not even a bead of sweat can be found formed on their faces.
In the ninth floor, on top of a mat, an old man in azure robes was sitting in a meditative position and looking outside the open door with the balcony outside. Beyond the balcony was the evergreen of the forest with the mountains in the horizons. On top of the mountain was the sun slowly sinking and making the skies redder as time passes.
"Elder Min...", Teacher Xiu did not say anything else.
Since it was in the afternoon, the sunlight was gentle enough not to hinder their eyesight as clearly saw the slender back of the Elder.
"Xiu?", Elder Min spoke in a heavy but gentle voice despite his look of age.
"Yes", Teacher Xiu responded in a very polite manner.
"Did you bring the family's treasured talent?"
Teacher Xiu gave Mu who was in a daze a meaningful looked.
Mu snapped out of her daze and stepped forward too, she breathed deeply before introducing herself, "Respectable Elder Min, I, Lei Mu am here."
When Elder Min heard that, he stood up and surprised Mu with his tall stature. He then turned to her.
His face was full of stern and wrinkles, showing how old he actually was. It seemed that his eyes were closed but it was only narrowed. Elder Min then observed Mu from head to toe.
"Hmm, I see now why you are called the treasured talent.", Elder Min smiled and nodded, "You are already in the Eight Step of the Mortal Realm."
Mu's face showed a delighted expression when she heard praise from an Elder right from the bat that her confidence slightly increased.
Even Teacher Xiu had a pleasant face since Mu was basically his child.
"However,", Elder Min pointed out that made a drastic change of his expression, "Only in the family's branch.", he was being straightforward.
Although a bit harsh, the Elder's words were the truth.
"I governed this branch of the Lei Family in Region 3 of the Western Continent. Although a bit small, it already produced a talent, which is you.", Elder Min said slowly to let the fact slowly sunk in Mu's head, "But if compared to the main branch of the family, you are only considered normal."
That one sentence swept all the praises that Mu received her entire life.
Teacher Xiu's chest ached when he saw how Mu's face darkened. However, he can not question the Elder for doing this, he could only wait for the Elder's real intention.
"That is to say that it is because you are in the branch family.", Elder Min slightly smiled.
Mu's darkened face lightened as she looked at the Elder.
"The Patriarch had announced that there will be a test for a genius like you to have a chance to enter the branch."
Her eyes brightened and shine when she heard about entering the main branch. Mu hadn't once had a week where she hasn't dreamt about entering the main branch.
Teacher Xiu looked at Mu and felt hope. He already knew that having to stay in a family's branch will obstruct Mu's true talent and potential. He knew that this child wanted to get stronger and pursue her real father who left her. Although it hurt him, he still wants her to accomplish this.
Mu was very excited about hearing the news but she didn't hurry the Elder. She is quite confident of herself whatever the other says. She not only have talent but she also has ambition.
"The test is about going to an expedition around the Sacrifice..."
"...Ah", Teacher Xiu was shocked and wanted to speak but controlled himself.
Mu looked at him with curious eyes and then looked at the Elder for an explanation.
"The Sacrifice is a massive active volcano that is surrounded by although still quite big but still smaller ones when compared to the Sacrifice.", Elder Min explained, "I know it is dangerous for letting the young ones do the expedition but we elders are included to guard them and let them witness or better, experience what to face stronger beasts.", the Elder explained indirectly to Teacher Xiu who acted as a guardian for Mu to ensure him.
Teacher Xiu could only frown but with a few moments of hesitation, he spoke, "Elder, if I may suggest, can I please go along the expedition?"
"Hmm?", Elder Min softly questioned, "You mean you don't trust this old man's power?"
The Elder did not have any intention but it put Teacher Xiu to his place, "I don't dare."
"If you are gone, then who will teach those kids who you will leave behind?"
"Elder, if it is only a short time, I believe that it poses no problem.", Teacher Xiu pushed.
Mu listened and saw how her uncle wishes to come along. She knew it was to guide and protect her so she stayed silent. In fact, she secretly wants for her uncle to come since deep inside, she felt a little scared.
"Nobody knows if it will only be a short while."
"Elder, I trust those kids.", Teacher Xiu furrowed his eyebrows with a confident smile, "I'm the one who taught them after all."
"Then even if you come along, what can you do? If we, the Elders can't even control the situation, then what you, a mere teacher who is only at the 4th step of the Earthly Realm can do?", Elder Min at that time widened his eyes for a moment.
"...", Teacher Xiu was silent for a while. His smile was changed into a solemn expression. Mu looked at him with a worried look. Worried that he may fail to persuade the Elder but at that moment, Teacher Xiu replied, "Elder, I can help her escape."
".....", for a second, the Elder's eyebrows lifted, "You mean to say that you will leave your Elders behind?"
Mu's eyes widened. If Teacher Xiu didn't deny this then it will become disrespectful to the Elder.
However, Teacher Xiu stayed silent.
Elder Min knew what Teacher Xiu's answer was, he turned around and faced the afternoon sun.
Mu's heart palpitated. With one word, the Elder could portray Teacher Xiu as disrespectful and take off his title as a teacher. If it did, it will be because of her.
She wanted to defend him but before she could speak, the Elder raised his hand, stopping her.
"Your choice to leave us, Elders, to save that young girl, it was correct.", Elder Min approved and didn't see it as disrespectful but the right decision, "We Elders don't actually have that much talent. The reason we obtained the title of an Elder is that we stayed inside the temple to cultivate, behind those with true talent, sharpening themselves firsthand. After countless years, after reaching certain cultivation, we have already reached a certain age.", the Elder looked at Teacher Xiu, "Your choice is right, saving those who have the talent to those who have not. What we are, are only sacrifice and a stepping stone to those who have talents so if you did leave us, try not only to save your child but also the others, is that alright?"
Teacher Xiu's eyes widened and didn't expect the Elder's response, "Yes! Thank you very much!"
Mu was also overjoyed that she held Teacher Xiu's sleeves.
"After three days we will set off. We will directly meet the others near before the Sacrifice. Prepare yourselves in the meantime."
Teacher Xiu and Mu looked at each other before replying, "Yes!"
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