บท 62: Young Master
You know that feeling when you are thinking about someone for a long time, and they are constantly on your mind when suddenly you discover they have already completely forgotten about your existence, and don't care about you at all?
Yeah, it kinda sucks.
Heck, even when we split with my first girl I didn't feel as emotionally hurt. And we were really close to each other for quite a while.
But to be so completely disregarded to be completely forgotten in like what, two weeks? That… That hurt.
Was I just a number to the White Minks? Just a statistic they could ignore? Discard without a second thought? I was worth so little that my face wasn't worth remembering for more than a few days?
That was kind of depressing, honestly. How can you have an enemy, if your enemy doesn't even care if you exist, and doesn't bother even remembering your face or name?
I walked along the cobblestone road, cold wind blowing my clothes around, head lowered, eyes unfocused. Maybe I should just end it all. End my suffering in this cursed world. I could just focus inward, inflate my Soul to its limits, and let it blow. It would be so easy. With but a thought I could shatter my core, sending the Qi into a chaotic spiral until it violently detonated inside my chest.
I knew how to do it. Heck, even if I didn't know how to do it I could figure it out in a few minutes.
I sighed a long and depressing sigh.
No.
No… No! They forgot about me? Well, fuck them! I don't need them! I'll find another stone to sharpen my claws on! They think they can just ignore me?! I have been ignoring most of the world for nearly my entire life!
They don't need me? I don't need them! Fuck those guys, extorting money from weaklings! Like that's something to brag about! Try extorting money from the strong! Now that's an achievement!
I would show them! I would show them all! They don't remember my face?! I'll force them to remember it forever! I'll spread my influence far and wide, across the Sect, across the continent, across the world! Heck, I'll spread it across the galaxy and then across the universe! Nobody will stop me!
But first, I need to start small. World domination should be just right. But for those, I'll need a group of warriors to do my bidding, and I just discovered where to find them…
***
Well, maybe that was a bit… rash.
It's scary how quickly can emotions spiral out of control. And to think I would be oblivious to it… From chilling depression to boiling rage right after. How couldn't I see it coming? I thought I was ready for it, but apparently not.
Well, anyway, in my maddening lust for conquest, don't know where that came from, I did something stupid. I joined a hunting team of seasoned hunters.
Well, joined might be the wrong word. I put my name on the list of candidates, and I'm supposed to meet them in a few hours for an audition. I wanted to smash my head into a wall for the stupidity. I was supposed to be keeping a low profile, not joining the most prestigious team on a fucking hunting expedition!
Oh, yeah… Did I mention that they were Core Disciples? Yeah, I messed up badly.
I can either go and who knows what will happen. They'll probably think I'm making a joke, or they'll try to teach me a lesson not to fool around anymore. Their time is precious.
And if I don't go… Imagine having a meeting with some bigshots and you just don't show up, making them wait for no reason. The arrogance, the disrespect. Fuck me...
Basically, I can't afford to do either of those. At least I don't think so.
My best choice is to just go and roll with the punches as they come. I can't lie, so my conviction has to be firm. I wish to join them! I wish to fight! I wish to kill strong beasts! And most of all, I wish to learn from them, from their experience!
These things are all mostly true, so I should be fine. Still, I can't help but worry. Those guys could crush me with one hand so I need to be on my best behavior.
***
"Seriously?! You joined a hunting team of Core Disciples?!" Chity exclaimed.
[Sssh! Not so loud. And no, I didn't, not yet at least.] I mentioned my mistake to Chity, and the guy almost exploded. I think it was a mix of surprise, excitement, and fear.
[They probably won't accept me, but it's worth a try, right? Wanna join them with me?]
"And get beaten up for wasting their time? No thanks. But I'll accompany you there so I can laugh at you after they toss you out."
This guy… What I great friend I had. Already planning to laugh at my expense. I was ready to shed a tear.
But that was enough fooling around, it was nearly time. [Alright, let's go! We don't wanna be late for the meeting.]
"Haha, certainly not! Lead the way."
***
The meeting place was in an expensive-looking building. It reminded me of a high-end old-school restaurant or a lounge. A few people were waiting in a line in front of the door, seemingly waiting for something. I asked one of them what they were doing there, and he told me they were there to join the Predator's Bane and were waiting to be called in.
Predator's Bane was the name of the hunting group I was trying to join, and as far as I could remember, I was pretty far down the list. We had some time so Chity and I decided to explore our surroundings. We were at the border to the Core Sect, and so we couldn't help but be slightly curious.
Like naughty kids, we sneaked closer to the divide, and I could feel a repulsing force on me as I walked forward.
"Ugh, Gerald, I don't think we should be going there…" Chity said, his entire body sweating and his face pale. "I think I'm going to be sick…"
It seemed whatever the resistance there was, it affected him much more than me. A difference in Realm, I guess. I only felt slightly nervous and anxious while he was nearly at the point of collapsing.
[What a peculiar Formation…] I murmured, admiring how an invisible force could change the way I felt.
We didn't go forward and instead took a few steps back so Chity could breathe normally again. Then we walked along the border between the Inner and Core Sect.
The grass there was vibrantly green and lush, and the trees and bushes were too. The mountain landscape looked like it was taken straight out of a painting, and by that, I mean a real painting, none of that modern garbage.
The cobblestone path snaked higher on the mountain where colorful pagodas and small villas dotted the landscape. Nicely trimmed lawns were still full of late summer flowers, and with the emerald trees giving them shade, they made the place look like a paradise.
A small waterfall ran down a rocky cliff, coming straight out of the mountain, and creating a beautiful eternal rainbow.
"Wow… This place is amazing…" Chity gasped, overwhelmed, completely forgetting about the nausea he was experiencing.
[Sure is…] I took a deep breath, smelling the dense Qi coming from the Core Sect. [I wonder when we'll be able to step inside.]
"How about never? The Core Sect is not for the likes of you. Freaking outsiders."
[What?] I turned around to see a young guy standing inside the nausea-inducing Formation with his hands on his hips, staring at us with disdain.
A step behind him stood another young lad, maybe a few years older, dressed in gray like the rest of us, similarly holding his head up high and pointing his nose at the sky. "They are not worthy of your words, master Sum."
"You are right, but I can't just stand here, letting them pollute our air with their breath. They should leave and go back to their little villages and play in the mud. Our prestigious Myriad Beast Sect is not for the likes of them. The Elders must need a lot of new servants to allow even the likes of them to join."
I was rendered speechless. Who the fuck was that kid?!
"Who are you to question the Elders?!" Chity shouted from afar. He couldn't stand too close or he would start feeling sick. I could resist, however, and so I just looked at the newcomer with an expressionless face.
"Hah, having your dog bark for you, eh?" The guy came close and got in my face. "Can't even resist the little Formation, can he? Weakling!"
He was talking about Chity, but staring into my eyes the entire time. And the fact that he was giving out an aura of superiority from his actions, really ticked me off. Especially since he couldn't be older than us, and only wore a simple gray robe. With a light blue sash.
[What do you want, kid? You got lost? Should I help you find your mother?] I grinned slightly in response, my face showing barely any emotion. [Why don't you lead the way so we can feast our eyes on the mansion I'm sure you have built?]
"Bah! You think I'm one of you lowly rats? Hahaha! Just because we wear the same colored clothing does not make us equal, Mortal! Feast your blind eyes on this insignia, it means I'm part of one of the established families here!" He pointed at a golden mark on his chest with his thumb, but I honestly had no clue what it meant.
"I am Sum Ting, son of Shi Ting, son of Ge Ting! I am barely 15 years old and already reached Spirit Accumulation Realm II, while you lowly animals are still Mortals! Garbage people breed garbage talent, what else can I say? And to think you had the gall to join the Sect, and even come here! Pathetic! A disgrace to our proud community!" Sum Ting proudly announced. I really couldn't care less about his insults, but I could see Chity lower his head in shame from the corner of my eye.
He was probably feeling inferior to this kid since they were both of similar age and yet he was already far behind. Insulting me was one thing, but insulting my friends for no reason was something completely different. It made me want to give them a lesson.
"I should demand reparations just for seeing you here. Actually, that might not be a bad idea…" Sum Ting murmured, and then his eyes flickered with greed.
"Ma, come here."
"Yes, young master!"
"See what heavy load they carry and help them with it." Sum Ting said with a grin as he held his hands behind his back like some old expert.
"Gladly!" The Guy named Ma said and cracked his knuckles. "Alright boys, empty your pockets, let's see what you got!"
I slowly sighed and placed my hands inside the empty pockets of my clothes. [Alright, but be warned, I don't have much. Just give me a moment and let me see if I got some lint for you beggars.]
The two got stunned by my words, and Sum Ting became red in the face at the blatant mockery.
"Do you think this is a joke?! Show him what it means to make a fool out of me, Ma! No mercy!"
[Wait, I was just kidding!] I quickly said, lifting my hands up to guard myself against Ma's raised fist. [Can I just ask you one question first?]
"Speak!"
And with that one word, he sealed his fate. I lowered my head and grinned, before looking Sum Ting straight in the eyes.
[Say, were you ever punched in the face?]
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