The Elders
"Teacher Li! I spotted Disciple Shane Wang coming up the road with three companions!" a disciple announced.
Teacher Li, one of the remaining instructors of Infernal Spirit Sect, slammed his hand down on the table and sprung out of his seat. He swept back his black and red robes and stepped out the door with his hands behind his back.
"That brat finally comes back? And he dares to bring outsiders?" he rumbled angrily and he rushed to the sect gates.
Teacher Li arrived at the gates with two top disciples flanking both his sides.
The guards had not permitted entrance to Shane as he was with three outsiders.
The teacher frowned as he saw Shane had needed support to stand, each of his arms being held up by his friends. He seemed pale and weak, something unlike his usual proud and arrogant personality.
"Master," he wheezed upon seeing his teacher. "You must avenge me..."
Teacher Li nodded at the guards and they withdrew, letting all four of them step inside. "Thank you for bringing him back," he acknowledged to his friends.
"Er, you're- you're welcome, Martial Master," they said uncertainly.
He waved his hand and the two disciples behind him stepped forward, reaching to relieve the boys' from their job to hold their fellow disciple up instead.
The three friends backed away.
Teacher Li then seized Shane by his chin and lifted his head, moving his head left and right, examining his injuries.
There seemed to be a huge bruise around his neck, but there was nothing else.
Strange. Who could bring one of their top disciples to this poor state, seemingly with only one attack? Was the enemy now within the country?
"What happened?" he asked, suddenly agitated. "Speak the whole truth, we must know exactly what happened. Who was it?"
Shane took in a shaky breath and coughed. "I...I was at a party," he confessed.
His master scowled, fairly disappointed. "Hmph! You ditch your sect in such a fatal time, and you even dare to sneak into a party? Continue speaking, I will decide your punishment later!"
Shane cowered. "It- it was a boy, he looks my age," he continued. "I don't know who he is, but Wayne Xia is close to him! He even defended him in front of me!"
Teacher Li sighed. So it was like that... He worried too much for no reason. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He was still curious, who was able to take on Shane Wang, who is considered a top disciple in their sect?
"So," the teacher said. "Who started it, was it him or you? Hearing that you said Wayne Xia defended him, I supposed you were the one who provoked him."
Shane dropped his head. "Ye- yeah, it was me," he admitted, knowing that even if he lied, he would be found out. "I approached him first and stole his pendant...then I- I called him a loser and then threw it into the pond. Then all of a sudden, Wayne Xia just ran up and tried to calm the boy down, he almost looked scared of him."
"And then...?"
Shane avoided his eyes. "And then I still didn't go away, and before I know it, he was strangling me...I thought I was going to die. He was so f*cking strong, I couldn't even move!"
Teacher Li whacked him across the head. "Who told you you can curse?" he barked. "Tell me, how did you get away in the end?"
"Wayne...he burned his sleeve. But even then he didn't seem bothered by the fact that he was on fire."
Teacher Li rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Wayne Xia wasn't a bad kid, he knew there was something more to this. This boy he's talking about must be extremely powerful...and Shane also mentioned a...pendant?
"Pendant," he murmured out loud. "Shane, describe his attitude for me."
"Attitude?" Shane repeated. "Oh, come on! He was just standing there like a sissy until I threw the pendant in the pond and Wayne Xia came to back him up!"
Teacher Li bared his teeth, his veins starting to pop. This kid... "Brat! How come I got a disciple like you? Take him away!" he ordered.
The two disciples carried him away, back into the sect.
He turned to Shane's three friends, who stood there like complete idiots, not knowing what to do. "You, tell me about the pendant," he said, pointing at the short one in the front.
The boy pointed at himself. "M- me?"
"Who else?"
"O- okay...well, it was black, the stone was black and it hung on a thin silver string. Shane said it was quite heavy and was probably very valuable..."
Teacher Li grumbled and shook his head.
And then he threw it in the pond...what a mindless disciple.
"What about the boy? Tell me about the boy."
"Eh, he- he was tall...er, Wayne Xia's height, I think. He has super long black hair and- and I think I heard him say his name was...E- Elias?"
Teacher Li nodded. "Okay, thank you for your cooperation. You may leave now," he said.
The three bowed and scurried out the gates.
The teacher whirled back around and returned to the sect's pavilion, deep in thoughts.
A boy, his name is Elias, is so powerful that even Wayne Xia is scared of him? he thought, running all the information he just gathered in his head. And he even has a pendant that he values...
Could this be Mystic Sky Sect's Grandmaster Feng's hero and his mark that he left behind?
He shook his head.
No, not possible, we barely have any evidence.
Nevertheless, if he really is as strong as Shane says, we need him. A stronger man on our side may bring much fortune on the next attack...
Teacher Li changed his direction and went towards the Grand Hall.
I have to report this to the Grandmaster.
However, once he reached the Grand Hall, he found their Grandmaster Qin already having a conversation with a guest.
He entered the hall and bowed. "Grandmaster Qin," he said.
The Head of the Infernal Spirit Sect looked up from his conversation, and the guest turned around as well.
Teacher Li's eyes widened. "Oh, greetings, Elder Sima," he said to the guest. Apparently, he was probably here with another batch of supplies.
Elder Sima smiled. "Hello, long time no see, Teacher Li."
Grandmaster Qin gestured at Teacher Li. "What brings you here? We were just chatting."
Teacher Li bowed slightly. "Well, I'm sorry to intrude, but this is about my disciple, Shane Wang, and it seems, to my fortune, Elder Sima from Mystic Sky Sect is here today as well."
"Oh? Please elaborate."
"So, it's like this. Shane Wang snuck out to a party to cause trouble again and just came back. However, this time, it seems the situation has been reversed. He came back in a poor condition, weak, I must say."
Elder Sima nodded slightly. "And, where do I come in?" he asked.
Teacher Li stepped forward. "Well, you see, Shane Wang is a top disciple in our sect," he explained. "He shouldn't be brought down so easily."
Elder Sima was suddenly interested. "Did you receive any more information about this?"
"Yes. In fact, he told me his name was Elias, and he is close to Wayne Xia. For some reason, he said Wayne Xia was also afraid of him, to some extent. He is so powerful, young Mister Xia had to result to setting his sleeve on fire to get him to let go of Shane."
Elder Sima's eyes widened. "So you've heard of him too! In fact, I was planning to find that boy myself after I was done here!" he exclaimed.
Grandmaster Qin was confused. "Who is this boy, Elias?" he asked.
Elder Sima darted his eyes between them. "I've gone to the yearly trials in Pheonix City about two weeks back. Have you heard of those trials?"
They both nodded.
"Well, you expect Wayne Xia to win, as he had won three years in a row now."
They nodded again.
"But this year, a mysterious boy came to challenge him on the last day, and the reason you say Wayne Xia looked afraid of him is that that boy, who later was revealed to be Elias, defeated him that day and came out unscathed."
"What?" Teacher Li exclaimed. He couldn't believe his ears. "This is the truth?"
Elder Sima didn't look offended. "Why should I lie?"
Teacher Li bowed his head in apology. "Then, have you also heard, he carries around a black pendant with him? It seems he values it quite a lot."
Elder Sima frowned. "A pendant, you say? No, I didn't hear about this."
Teacher Li nodded. "I came here...on the suspicion that he might be the man you're looking for, Grandmaster Feng's chosen one."
Elder Sima agreed. "I suspected that as well. But I wasn't completely sure. Grandmaster Wei has permitted me to find him and bring him back."
"What if he isn't?" Grandmaster Qin asked.
Elder Sima shook his head. "If he is strong, we will take him. But then, we will have to search harder."
"Grandmaster Feng was the phoenix of his generation. Each generation can only have one person with the Phoenix spirit. He already has passed. The next generation's spirit has already died from an illness. If we can't find his hero, we must find the Pheonix from the youngest generation. That way, he or she can help us," he said.
Teacher Li pursed his lips. "Time is limited. Will you allow me to go with you when you leave to search for him?"
Elder Sima smiled. "Of course! But I don't plan to take him by force..."
Teacher Li nodded his head. "Alright. When will you leave?"
They both looked at Grandmaster Qin, who stared back, confused. "What? Do you think you still need my permission? Just go! I hope you find what you are looking for."
The teacher and the elder bowed. "We take our leave, then."
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