บท 2: A Has-been Genius
-Black Fist City-
Black Fist Academy, at the center of the city, is where youngsters are currently being tested for the level of their Qi Cultivation and today is also the day when the last survivor of the Black Petal Clan's royalty will be ridiculed once more.
Sweat drops on everyone can be seen while the sun is still high and mighty. Everyone knows that Ai is the last survivor and the son of Bahura, the past Head Leader of the Famous Black Petal Clan, and yet he's also the weakest of his class who hasn't even reached the 2nd level of being a disciple. Will today be different as this will be his last chance of entering the infamous Black Fist Academy?
"You must be aware that to enter the Black Fist Academy, you have to reach at least 3rd level of disciple. Come now and touch the pedestal of this monument." An old man who seems to be one of the elders leads him the way to the monument with a smirk of ridicule showing that he expected that the youngster will be humiliated once more.
"1st Level Disciple!" And the old man was right. 10 years have passed since the slaughter of the youngster's clan by a coalition of all their sub-clans, no hint of a chance of revenge can be seen from the youngster's power, one of the reasons why he's still alive.
"If I were him, I would rather have died."
"This is a joke to his family. What a disgrace."
"No wonder they didn't kill him."
This wasn't the first time he's been ridiculed and humiliated this way but the youngster's eyes were always as bright as ever. He got the looks of his mother and cheerful aura from his father.
"Well, it looks like I failed after all! Haha!" The youngster laughed as if it wasn't a big deal for him. Though, he seems more relieved than ever while heading down with the others. The other students, on the other hand, started getting away from him because some of them believe he has a curse of some sort that's why he's been this unlucky.
"It's not like me being a weakling is contagious or anything, right?"
*Spit* A youngster with devilish face and long hair known as Kiri, firstborn of Tanti, the Head Leader of Black Fist Clan, looks displeased after hearing the voice of the weakling.
"Why the hell are you even here?!" After saying those words, Kiri looked directly at his father who's currently on the second floor as a spectator looking for promising youngsters while also rooting for his children.
"Relax, as you can see, I won't be able to be in the same place as you so wait a little bit longer." Earlier than Ai's test, Kiri proved himself after reaching 5th level disciple justifying his arrogance.
Without even a warning, the devilish face of Kiri started to worsen and the other students nearby didn't even see what happened.
"Ugh!" Ai's life is within Kiri's grasp as he's currently holding the neck of the weakling. Gasping for air, Ai tried to break free but his strength couldn't even budge Kiri's hand. Kiri is not only known for his devilish face but also with how brutal he is to his underlings. As the future successor of the Black Fist Clan, he's enjoying the supreme power he has with an iron fist.
Everyone seems to be afraid and feeling pity for the dying weakling but they can't say a word or do anything as they might be the next target of the hot-headed devil.
Silky long hair shining through the blaze of the sunshine blinded everyone. "Ugh! What?!" As strong as Kiri may be, another else grasp on Kiri's arm made him lose his grip and finally let go of the weakling Ai.
*Cough Cough* Ai sure is thankful that his head is still attached to his body. Still, that caused his fragile body a shock and taste of life and death situation.
"That's enough, brother." Sha, second born and the only daughter of the Head Leader of Black Fist Clan, finally intervened with the cruelty of the firstborn. Unlike Kiri, Sha is gifted with grace and beauty but not only that, she reached seventh level disciple surpassing everyone who was ever tested by the monument, a true one in million genius.
Kiri's hand is trembling after he experienced the power of her young innocent sister. "You, bitch! You dare to..."
"Stop! That's it for today's test. Everyone who passed the test will be instructed by the Head Teacher. Don't make any trouble, Kiri!" The voice of Tanti, Head Leader roared like thunder in the area causing everyone to tremble in fear. They know that the Head Leader's words are absolute and no one should ever disobey.
"Tsk..." Even Kiri who's eager to kill the weakling decided to listen to his father's orders. Even someone like Kiri who doesn't abide by the rules, his father is the only one this devil listens to.
Ai finally managed to get up and regain his composure.
'At the end, those endless cultivations and training I did, not even a slight of progress.' It may seem like it wasn't a big deal for him but he really wanted to even be accepted at the Academy. It should have been his stepping stone to improve and be strong for his revenge one day. Now he has lost his only hope.
It's been a long day for Ai. A weakling with no power, no wealth and no friends, The Head Leader of Black Fist Clan didn't make the wrong decision. This is worse than dying.
-South Slum-
Ai reached his shabby home.
'I'm home.' He said to himself directly going straight to his bed made of hey. The sun is still up but his body is drained due to endless nights of cultivation and training. Now, all he could think about is how pitiful his life is. Before he could know it, he fell asleep after crying to his heart's content.
*Knock Knock*
'What is it this time? Haven't I had enough today?' Scratching his head trying to think who the person behind the door may be.
The shabby door creaked while Ai slowly opened it, now scratching his armpit. To his surprise, it was Sha who visited him.
"I told you before, you can't go here anymore. What if anyone saw you coming here? They'd kill me, you know that." His words sounded worried but his heart felt happiness after seeing his childhood friend coming after all that happened.
"Can we please talk a bit? I swear I'll leave soon."
*Sighs* Ai doesn't even want to argue anymore with anyone. He let her enter and...
"I know already know that but what happened? I've given you some of my cultivation pills and even showed you some advanced training techniques but you didn't even progress at all? How is that possible?" She really tried to help Ai but it seems like whatever he does, he couldn't really improve.
"Don't ask me that. I did everything that you asked me to do but my body... does it even matter now? Now that I can't enter the academy anymore? Even if I get accepted, your brother would make my life miserable. I can't go on like this." His motivation for revenge finally collapsed.
"Before the war, at the age of 8, you are well known across our state. You've reached the fifth level of disciple and everyone thought you were a genius. Everyone was amazed by your progress back then and even my brother promised to surpass you..."
"Stop this, Sha. I had enough of everyone's pity and I'm not sure anymore why you do all these things for me. You're the daughter and a member of the clan that slaughtered my whole family. Are you doing this because of your guilt?!" His words pierced Sha's heart like a spear.
*SLAP* Before Ai could see it, Sha's tears couldn't stop from flowing after she let out a weak slap to Ai's face.
Sha ran out of his house while Ai couldn't still comprehend what happened. He lost control of his light and sank into the darkness. He pushed away his one and only last friend. He finally realized the only reasons why he's even staying in this terrible place, his memories of the past and Sha.
'I guess, it's time to leave.'
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