Chapter 15: Chapter 14: Thorn Society
The outside of the Thorn Society was nothing more than a small, nondescript alleyway. As Fa Ma approached, two Battle Practitioners standing guard immediately tensed.
"Halt! What's your business?" one of them barked.
Fa Ma's voice remained calm as he replied, "I'm from Canaan Academy. I'm here about two missing girls. The orphanage said they were seen here."
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the token of Canaan Academy to the guards. Their eyes widened in recognition, and they stepped aside, revealing a hidden entrance to the underground complex.
The stairs leading down were dimly lit and crudely carved, the walls covered with patches of moss. As Fa Ma descended into the Thorn Society's domain, he couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the crude structures and the unexpectedly lively atmosphere. To his surprise, children darted between the makeshift houses, their laughter echoing off the stone walls. The people here, while clearly struggling, seemed far happier than those in the slums above.
As he made his way down the main thoroughfare, a young girl approached him. "The boss is waiting for you in the main hall," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Follow me."
They walked in silence until they reached a slightly more ornate wooden door. The girl stepped aside, motioning for Fa Ma to enter.
The moment Fa Ma pushed open the door, he felt fifty murderous gazes fall upon him. Unfazed, he simply snorted and unleashed his momentum and soul power. The effect was immediate; all the officers in the hall paled, nearly buckling under the pressure before slowly regaining their composure. Fa Ma noted with interest that their quality was much higher than that of the students at the academy.
His gaze drifted to the center of the room, where an ordinary-looking woman with a scar across her left eye sat on a chair that could barely be called a throne.
"What's a spoiled brat like you doing here?" she asked with a yawn.
Fa Ma's lips quirked into a smirk. "Aren't you going to offer your guest a chair? Your hospitality leaves much to be desired."
The woman, clearly at the peak of Battle Grandmaster, gestured to one of her followers. Within moments, a chair was brought for Fa Ma.
As he sat down, Fa Ma explained his purpose. "I'm searching for two missing girls. The orphanage director mentioned they used to frequent this place."
The woman's scarred eye narrowed slightly. "Ah, yes. They were potential recruits. We didn't bring them here ourselves, but they often spent time with some of our members at the tavern across the street. That's part of our territory." She paused, considering her next words carefully. "You won't find much about what happened there, though. Your best bet is the Fly's Eye. They're a reliable information network in these parts."
She tossed him a metal token adorned with a rose and its thorns. "Take this. It'll get you in the door."
In return, Fa Ma produced one of his new pills—a third-grade spear-breaking barrier. "This is designed to help Battle Masters breakthrough to Battle Grandmaster," he explained. "It uses the Sun's energy as a balancing force, protecting the meridians in case of a failed breakthrough and even tempering the Qi."
He added, "Find a way to get the information yourself and slip it into the bird box at the patrol house. Do well, and there's more where this came from. You can also send materials for any pills you need—no fee, just two sets of materials."
With the effects of his disguise pill fading, Fa Ma bid farewell and hurried back to the academy. As he left, he failed to notice an inconspicuous raven watching his departure with unnatural intensity.
Back in his room at Canaan Academy, Fa Ma lay on his bed, his mind a whirlpool of thoughts. The depressing scenes from the orphanage haunted him, a stark contrast to the joyful memories of his previous life—memories that seemed to be fading with each passing day. He reached for his journal, a habit born from his fear of forgetting his roots, and began to write about his time on Earth.
As his pen scratched across the paper, Fa Ma couldn't shake the feeling that this world was slowly consuming him. The constant pressure to maintain dignity, cultivate strength, and practice relentlessly weighed heavily on his soul. While he enjoyed the grind and the novelty of his new existence, the lonely hours were taking their toll.
He longed for someone to confide in, someone who could understand the bizarre duality of his existence. But the fear of discovery, of being captured or locked away, kept him from opening up to anyone. It was this very fear that had driven his transformation from an average teenager to the "hard-working" genius of this world.
Seeking distraction from his melancholy, Fa Ma decided to visit Chen Xin's practice spot. As he entered, he saw him practicing the new broadsword techniques he had taught him. Without warning, Fa Ma threw a stone, which Chen Xin instinctively sliced in half.
What followed was an intense sparring session, with Fa Ma gradually increasing the intensity. Chen Xin held on desperately, his determination shining through even as he struggled against Fa Ma's superior strength.
"Vampire's Final Bite!" Chen Xin roared, unleashing his ultimate technique.
Fa Ma countered with a calm, "Explosive Sun Fist," effortlessly overpowering Chen Xin's attack.
As Chen Xin collapsed, chest heaving, Fa Ma helped him to his feet and led him to the courtyard. Still grappling with his inner turmoil, Fa Ma asked, "What do you do for fun?"
"Swing my sword," Chen Xin replied without hesitation.
The simplicity and seriousness of the answer caught Fa Ma off guard, and he couldn't help but laugh. "What a world," he muttered, a bittersweet smile playing on his lips.
In that moment, Fa Ma realized that just like in his previous life, everyone's path was different. Some found their passion early and pursued it single-mindedly, while others spent a lifetime searching for their purpose. As long as he stayed true to himself and could face the man in the mirror with pride, the rest would fall into place.
With renewed determination, Fa Ma returned to his practice that night, pushing himself harder than ever before.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of the slums, two cloaked figures met under the cover of darkness.
"Raven, why have you summoned me?" the taller of the two asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"Cat, someone from Canaan Academy is investigating the missing girls," Raven replied, tension evident in their voice.
Cat's frown was hidden by the darkness, but the edge in their voice was unmistakable. "Understood. I'll take care of it."
As quickly as they had appeared, the two figures melted back into the night, leaving only questions and the promise of danger in their wake.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone