บท 4: Nuoding Academy
Grandpa Jack suddenly shook himself from his stupor. With a sigh, he said, "It will be hard to send both the children with innate full spirit power to the academy. The village only has one student quota and the village can't afford to pay the academy fees for another child to attend."
Both Tang San and Durand's eyes dimmed when they heard the news. (Uh oh) thought Durand. (I hadn't even considered that the village would only have one spot for the academy when I chose to be reborn here.
Noticing how both Durand and Tang San became disappointed, he asked in astonishment, "It couldn't be that the two of you are the children the grandmaster was talking about, could it?"
"It's us," said Tang San with a nod. "I have the blue silver grass and Durand has the fifteen ton ant."
Grandpa Jack crouched down to face the two of them. "Little San, Durand, I did not expect your talents to be so remarkable. It's too bad that the both of you have inherited such poor quality spirits from your parents. Otherwise, perhaps our village would have the honor of fostering two spirit saints. "
To the side, Durand coughed in surprise at the irony. (If only he knew how far Tang San would go with just the blue silver grass spirit) he thought. Suddenly, he realized, (Wait! Didn't Su Yuntao mention that there were six other villages that didn't have any children that could cultivate this year?)
"Grandpa, didn't the Spirit Hall attendant say that he had already held six other awakening ceremonies at other villages without any potential spirit masters? Could we borrow or buy a working student quota spot from one of those villages instead?" asked Durand. Tang San seemed to perk up when Durand asked this. Durand and Tang San stared at Grandpa Jack in anticipation and hope.
Grandpa Jack froze. Then he started laughing, "You're right Durand!" Looking at both Durand and Tang San, he asked, "Tell me children. Do you want to go to a special school to study the spirit master cultivation method? Only that place has access to the most accurate knowledge about spirits."
Tang San and Durand gave different answers. Durand screamed out, "Yes!" while Tang San hesitated before saying, "Grandpa Jack, not until I ask dad."
The three of them had nearly reached their homes now. Grandpa Jack told Durand, "Go ahead first. I will bring Tang San home and talk to his father."
"Alright. See you Grandpa," said Durand. Turning to Tang San, Durand also said his goodbyes, "Tang San, I hope you'll come to the academy with me!" As they gave each other a man hug, Durand whispered into Tang San's ear, "Don't forget, there are no trash spirits, only trash spirit masters."
Tang San gave Durand a warm look as he left with Grandpa Jack.
When Durand arrived home, he held out his left hand and summon his Tree of Life. A beautiful miniature tree with bright blue leaves appeared. When he summoned it, the air around him seemed to fill with an abundance of life energy and he could visibly see some of the vegetables in Grandpa Jack's garden grow a little. Dispelling the spirit, Durand was shocked by how powerful his spirit was. (No wonder Elder Zhuang was able to cultivate to a Titled Douluo with this spirit!)
Durand turned his attentions toward his status page. (I wonder how my status page has changed.)
[Status]
Name: Durand Emrys
Age: 6
Title: Spirit Scholar
Soul Power Rank: 10
Martial Spirits:
Tree of Life (Cosmetic Appearance: Glowing Blue leaves)
Fifteen Ton Ant Emperor (Mutation Requirements: 1/2 Completed)
Class: Not Available
Stats:
Strength: 5 (+1)
Agility: 4
Endurance: 7 (+1)
Intelligence: 21
Looking over his status, Durand noticed that his Class was still empty. (I guess this will only appear once I get a soul ring or begin fighting other soul masters) he thought. Furrowing his brows, Durand searched his memories (I think… Tang Hao will tell Tang San go to Nuoding in two weeks. I'll just wait until then to go. It's going to take Grandpa Jack some time to get another student quota for Nuoding Academy.)
…
Two weeks passed quite quickly. Each day Durand would go out with Tang San to exercise. When he returned, he began researching how to get a soul ring. Though he could simply follow Grandmaster and Tang San to the Spirit Hunting Forest, it would be difficult to absorb a 600 year old ring under Grandmaster's careful watch. Carefully, he would acquire maps of the continent from the travelling merchants from Nuoding city. Unfortunately, most of the forests that had spirit beasts either were guarded and regulated by Spirit Hall or too dangerous like Star Dou Forest.
After dinner, he would meditate to accumulate more soul power. He knew that he could still accumulate his spirit power before he got his soul ring and he hoped to get as far ahead of Tang San as possible. Though he had twin spirits, he had not purchased any talents that helped improve his cultivating speed. More importantly, he had very little experience cultivating and would only be able to get instruction when he arrived at the academy.
It was early when Tang Hao arrived at Grandpa Jack and Durand's home. As it happened, Grandpa Jack had returned the night before from a nearby village. Fortunately, he had been able to secure a student quota spot at Nuoding Academy from them for Durand. When Tang Hao arrived, Grandpa Jack began berating him for keeping Tang San from attending Nuoding Academy.
"Tang Hao, you degenerate, don't you know you are destroying Little San's future?! He is capable of becoming a spirit master and bring honor to the village! Just imagine the glory and power he could earn for —," shouted Grandpa Jack.
Tang Hao interrupted, "That's what I'm here for."
Grandpa Jack revealed a shocked expression. Suspiciously, he asked, "Did you forget to drink this morning?"
"Old man, just bring Tang San to the academy. Didn't you say it yourself? Let him go earn some glory for the village," said Tang Hao with some exasperation. Durand understood. Grandpa Jack had this tendency to stray off topic and ramble at times.
"Hmmph! Well at least you've sobered up. Good timing too! I was planning to bring Durand to Nuoding Academy tomorrow as well," said Grandpa Jack.
"Then it's settled," said Tang Hao as he left.
The next day, Durand woke early as he usually did to cultivate with Tang San atop the hill. Before he left though, Grandpa Jack said to meet at Tang San's place so Durand wouldn't need to make an extra trip. After cultivating, Durand watched Tang San carefully prepare a serving of congee for his father.
Soon Grandpa Jack arrived. Grandpa Jack and Durand waited for Tang San to write a short message for his father before leaving for Nuoding city. As they walked along the road, Tang San frequently turned his head back to look at the village. Durand felt a trace of sympathy; he understood that Tang San had accepted Tang Hao as a parent and was sad to part from him. Clasping Tang San's shoulder, he said, "Don't worry, you'll see him again."
Tang San nodded and he quickly recovered from his blue mood. Soon he began asking Old Jack questions about the academy and how working students earned their tuition. Durand listened quietly, but exclaimed in shock when Grandpa Jack mentioned that intermediate academies did not have working student quotas, "How long until we graduate from the elementary academy?"
"You'll graduate after six years. If you have a good enough latent talent, then you can opt to go take advanced studies at an intermediate spirit master academy until you are eighteen years old. The standards for intermediate academies are much higher than elementary academies so you will have to work hard to earn the tuition fees and to reach their enrollment standards," replied Grandpa Jack.
Durand nodded as he furiously thought, (I'll only get one gold spirit coin a month once I get my first ring but I'll have to clamp down on my food and clothing expenses so that I can save up the necessary gold coins for Shrek Academy's tuition.)
The three of them walked for nearly six hours. All the while, Tang San asked many questions about spirit beasts, spirit rings, and other spirit master related things. It was early afternoon when they finally saw the city walls of Nuoding. As they passed through the city guard inspection, Grandpa Jack told the children, "Tang San ah! Durand ah! In a moment, I will take you to the academy and then return. When you are alone, you must listen to your teachers and not leave the academy without permission. When the semester ends, Grandpa Jack will again come to meet you. That time will be almost at the New Year."
Tang San and Durand's expressions dropped. "So soon?" they ask.
"Your grandpa is too poor to stay at a hotel. Try your best at the academy. When I see you next time, I hope you will already have become a spirit master that our village can be proud of," replied Grandpa Jack with a wry smile.
After asking for directions, Grandpa Jack, Durand, and Tang San walked towards Nuoding Primary Spirit Master Academy in the western section of Nuoding city. Walking up to the front gate, they were stopped by a young gatekeeper, "What on earth? Is this a place where you country bumpkins can enter?"
Old Jack said with an apologetic smile, "Little brother, we have come from Holy Spirit village and Village A. These children are our villages' working student for this year, you see? We need to go through."
The gatekeeper frowned, and somewhat queerly said, "So a tiny village also has people with spirit power? But the academy has not had a working student for a good many years. You cannot fake it."
A trace of anger flashed in old Jack's eyes, but he still swallowed the insult and held out the certificates written by that spirit hall attendant Su Yuntao, handing it to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper took the proffered certificates, and looked them over from top to bottom, "The spirits are blue silver grass and an ant? And both have innate full spirit power? This is completely ridiculous! I have worked as gatekeeper at the academy for four years and even I haven't heard of a student with innate full spirit power. I think these spirit hall certificates are definitely forgeries."
Angrily, Grandpa Jack threatened to find a Spirit hall attendant as he turned to leave. Frightened, the gatekeeper insulted Holy Spirit village which completely pissed Grandpa Jack off. Fiercely turning around, Old Jack yelled, "What did you say!?!"
Durand sighed. He knew how proud Grandpa Jack was of the village and the spirit master it had produced. The argument escalated quickly and the gatekeeper lifted his left hand and shoved Jack's chest, about to drive him away forcefully.
At that moment, two figures jumped in between Jack and the gatekeeper. Tang San had blocked the gatekeeper's left arm with his left hand, then stepping on the gatekeeper's foot, pinned the arm with both hands. To his left, Durand had taken hold of the gatekeeper's right wrist with his right hand. His left arm was drawn back, ready to slam down onto the gatekeeper's elbow and shatter it if the gatekeeper dared to continue his aggressive actions toward Grandpa Jack.
Again, Tang San and Durand shared a brief glance. Tang San moved extremely fast, swinging the gatekeeper's left hand forward into the lower abdomen. At the same time, Durand pushed the gatekeeper's right arm upwards and slammed his left foot in a fierce kick onto the back of the gatekeeper's right knee. The gatekeeper's body seemed to attempt a back flip, floating momentarily in the air before slamming down on his back.
"Little San, Little Durand, you guys….." stammered Grandpa Jack, looking dumbstruck at the two children in front of him blocking him from harm.
Tang San and Durand hadn't cultivated every morning together for nothing. They had practiced martial arts together and showed strong teamwork despite never having fought together against a common foe.
"Stinking brats, you're both looking to die!" The gatekeeper was violently furious at how he had been toppled by two children.
"Alright, stay your hands!" a hoarse sounding voice came from behind the gatekeeper.
At first, the gatekeeper was dazed for a moment. Then, the anger across his entire face immediately transformed into fawning. The change was so quick, it was hard to imagine. Bowing and scraping towards the speaker he said, "Grandmaster, you have returned."
Durand and Tang San turned their heads to look. An average figure, somewhat thin looking man had at some point already arrived to their side. He seemed forty to fifty years old, with short black hair with three seven separation, very ordinary looks, both hands held behind his back. His body possessed a kind of peculiar manner, with both eyes half open he seemed a bit sluggish and dispirited.
Durand's eyes flashed in excitement and he looked down to hide it. (This must be Grandmaster, Tang San's teacher!)
Grandmaster only glanced at the gatekeeper, without taking any notice of him, saying towards Old Jack, "Old gentleman, is it possible for me to have a look at the spirit hall certificate?"
Old Jack was a village elder after all and could still read a person's mood. From the gatekeeper's expression he could see that this middle aged person had some status at this academy, and more importantly, held the title of grandmaster there.
The grandmaster looked over the certificates. His gaze shifted between Durand and Tang San, measuring them up and down. For some reason, although the grandmaster's gaze certainly was not sharp, both the boys had a feeling as if they had been seen through completely.
"There is nothing wrong with the certificate. Old gentleman, for this matter just now, let me apologize on behalf of the academy. Deliver these children to me, ok?"
Grandpa Jack seemed to swell like a balloon in pride after hearing a spirit master apologize to him. Turning the children, he said, "Tang San, Durand, go ahead and follow Grandmaster inside. Make sure to be obedient!"
Tang San and Durand nodded. However, Durand quickly glanced at Tang San's left sleeve. The gatekeeper was fortunate that Grandmaster had interrupted their conflict. Otherwise, Tang San would have already used his hidden weapon on a vital point.
Grandpa Jack exhorted a few more warnings and instructions to Durand and Tang San on their behavior at the academy before leaving.
Grandmaster coldly reprimanded the gatekeeper for his violence and threatened him with the consequences for a repeat offense. Then, he lowered his head to look at Tang San and Durand with a slight smile. Grabbing their hands, he said, "Come. Let's enter."
"Teacher, thank you," said Tang San to Grandmaster.
"Teacher? I'm not an academy teacher," Grandmaster said coolly.
"Not a teacher? Just now did you not speak on behalf of the academy?"
Grandmaster shook his head, patiently explaining, "Who said one must be an academy teacher to represent the academy?"
Tang San said with sudden realization, "I understand. You are an academy principal, or a leader, right?"
Grandmaster could not help laughing, and said, "For a six year old child, you are very clever. However, you still guessed wrong."
Tang San uncertainly said, "Then you are?"
Grandmaster said, "I am only a freeloading tenant at this place, that's all. Everyone addresses me as Grandmaster to the extent that I have already forgotten my own name. On the Spirit Hall certificate, it was written that you are called Tang San and Durand, right? Tang San, you must understand, the meanings of grandmaster and teacher are entirely different, and hereafter must not address me incorrectly. Unless..."
Saying this, his words slowed, in his eyes glimmered a burning light, "Unless you two are genuinely willing to make me your teacher."
"You want to teach me spirit cultivation?" asked Tang San.
Grandmaster halted his steps, stood calmly, faced Tang San, and said, "Are you willing to do that?"
Tang San and Durand naturally also stopped, raising their heads to look at Grandmaster before them, now observing at close range. Before Grandmaster could speak though, Durand said, "If Tang San is willing to take you as a teacher, I will too."
Grandmaster saw Tang San's both eyes continue to stare at him blankly, and a stiff smiling expression emerged, "Good, Tang San, you really are a clever child."
Turning to Durand, he said, "Why do you depend on Tang San to form an opinion of me?"
Durand shrugged as boyishly as possible, "He's my friend. I'd rather we do things together than apart."
To Tang San and Grandmaster, not speaking had two meanings. First, it was not being impatient to refuse, so as to not offend Grandmaster. Second, to use this action as an opportunity to inquire from Grandmaster, 'why should I acknowledge you as master?'
Grandmaster, resembling old Jack, raised his hand to tousle Tang San's head.
"Both of you are naturally gifted in cultivation. One is clever and the other is loyal. It seems even I must persistently try again. How should I say this? Tang San is the third twin spirit master in the last hundred years and Durand probably has stronger spirit than was thought and a second spirit."
Hearing Grandmaster's words, Tang San and Durand were greatly startled. Their gazes looking at Grandmaster suddenly changed. Tang San seemed apprehensive, recalling his father's warnings to keep his twin spirits hidden from others. He was already preparing his hidden weapon in case he needed to fight his way out of the situation.
On the other hand, Durand was shocked that Grandmaster had figured out that he had a stronger spirit and a second one. Even though the Fifteen Ton Ant Emperor was much more powerful than a regular Fifteen Ton Ant, it wasn't yet a powerful enough spirit to have innate full spirit power. Durand felt he had underestimated Grandmaster's knowledge. (The novel didn't go into depth on how extensive Grandmaster's knowledge is. I have to take the time to learn as much as possible from him.)
Smiling, Grandmaster said, "Don't the two of you want to know how I could know so quickly about your twin spirits?"
As he spoke, he flicked open the certificates in his hand that Old Jack had given him, "It is precisely because of these certificates. Perhaps another person looking could not find the flaw, but if I also could not see it, then I could not be called Grandmaster."
"I have investigated six hundred forty seven people with blue silver grass spirits. Among them were sixteen with spirit power, so the odds are less than three in a hundred. And even these sixteen people possessing spirit power did not have spirit power ability exceeding the first rank, and yet your innate full spirit power is of the tenth rank. According to my research in the first of the ten great core spirit competencies, innate spirit power size is in direct ratio with the quality of the spirit. Blue silver grass is obviously unable to measure up, therefore I can conclude that you should still have another spirit, and also that it is an extraordinarily powerful spirit."
"Similarly, the Fifteen Ton Ant is unable to measure up to your spirit power. Therefore, you could have a much more powerful spirit but that would have been quite apparent to the awakening attendant. So you should have a stronger spirit and a second spirit to measure up to your spirit power."
The expression in Tang San's eyes gradually calmed down, and he argued, "Everything has exceptions, why couldn't I be a special case?"
Grandmaster nodded seriously, and said, "That's right, everything has exceptions. But, your spirit is blue silver grass and therefore, you clearly are not that exception. In the last hundred years in Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire, although twin spirits have only appeared twice, innate full spirit power has appeared nineteen times. I have carefully studied each of those spirits, and not one wasn't formidable. The youngest one has now already reached the spirit grandmaster level. Other than fourteen who inherited formidable spirits from clan blood lineage, there were five exceptions."
Grandmaster continued his explanation of variant spirits and how twin spirits exist to Tang San. Tang San seemed convinced and suddenly moved back a step. Immediately after, he fell to his knees and respectfully kowtowed three times towards Grandmaster. The moment Tang San stepped back, Durand followed suit and also kneeled and kowtowed to Grandmaster.
Dumbfounded, Grandmaster asked, "What are you doing?"
"Teacher," Tang San and Durand respectfully requested, "Please accept us as students."
Grandmaster smiled with satisfaction, stooping to pull Tang San and Durand back up, "Muddleheaded boys, why kowtow to formally become a pupil? Don't you know this courtesy is only necessary when acknowledging the emperor and parents? You only need to bow for this."
Douluo Continent customs were much less strict than Tang San's old life. In contrast, it was stricter than Durand's old life but he felt it was only right to follow in Tang San's footsteps. After all, Tang San was his sect master ever since he had begun instructing Durand in cultivation and martial arts. Durand had learned many of these customs from Tang San and they both replied, "A teacher for a day is a father for life. You should receive our kowtows."
Grandmaster was moved and looked at the two boys, repeating, "Teacher for a day, father for life, good, good, it appears that as expected, I have not chosen incorrectly."
Though they had not been master and disciples for long, Grandmaster had already gained a significant understanding of the two children before him.
"Let's go, I will bring the two of you to get registered at the dean's office."
They were quickly registered, despite the mocking comments towards Grandmaster. Tang San was assigned to room 7 and Durand to room 8 in the dormitory. Tang San and Durand shared a disdainful look as they left for their rooms. Grandmaster had grasped significant information simply looking at their certificates but none of the teachers near the registrar had noticed any abnormalities.
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darkqi
darkqi Word Count: 3748
I noticed from some comments that readers want Durand to adventure by himself. I also want to do that but I really want to establish Durand as a Shrek Devil which means that he'll be staying with the original plotline for some time.
I promise that Durand won't be a side-character pasted into the original novel. I just need some time to establish the 8 Shrek Devils instead of 7. That isn't to say that I won't be changing a few plot points up until the major split.
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