บท 59: Trust issues, injustice and trouble

Outside of the Treasure Hall.

"Thank you for your help, I will be leaving then," Yuan spoke.

"Uhm... Thank you for your gift too... So are we friends now?" Mu Li spoke hopefully. She didn't have a real friend in the sect so far... So she was hopeful...

"Friend?" Yuan asked and some memories flooded into his mind again. A person whom he considered a friend betrayed him in those memories... Remembering that his eyes turned cold for a moment. {Friend, huh?}

"Sorry, I can't be your friend... yet..." Yuan spoke with a slightly cold voice.

"Thank-Huh? Oh? Is that so? Well... Ok... Who would want to be friends with me..." Hearing Yuan, Mu Li was gonna thank him for agreeing but ended up her hopes getting shattered. Her expression changed into a sad and painful but she tried to hide it immediately.

{Huh? Why did she become sad? Did I say something rude? Wait! I said it...}

"Hey, don't be sad... I didn't mean it that way. Of course, I want to have friends too... But, you see... My past and the current situation doesn't allow me to do so."

"Huh? So you didn't want a friend because of the rumors you heard or being with me?" Mu Li asked with hesitation.

"Yeah... There is nothing wrong with you, you could be a good friend... The problem is me..." {My trust issue...}

"Oh! In-n that case... Can we be close acquaintances?" Mu Li proposed an alternate idea.

"Close acquaintances? Yeah, that will work. Till we meet again acquaintance!" Yuan agreed to her idea.

"Yeah. Till we meet again..." Mu Li spoke with a little joy. She was happy with this relationship. At least she can be his friend, he said 'yet' at the end too, so she still has a chance, she thought.

Then the two of them left in opposite directions, one toward the outer sect, while the other in the direction of unknown...

* ** *** ****

Rong Yuan entered the outer sect area and passed through many buildings.

He was going to find Huan and then Xu Luli, his 'adoptive' sister.

He had passed the Outer Sect Training Grounds, the outer sect disciples were busy practicing their techniques as usual. He felt nostalgic seeing them. Five years ago he was like this too, always training...

Then he passed the Outer Sect Library, there were fewer disciples than in the other places maybe because the theories, history, and literature were boring.

When he came across the Outer Sect Fighting Grounds, he saw an unusually large crowd around one fighting arena. The Fighting Grounds were usually for disciples to spar with each other and rise their combat experience along with their proficiency in techniques...

Here would also certain battles be held. They were named life-and-death battles...

Life and Death battles were designated for the purpose of solving the grudge between two individuals. The winner would have the chance to kill his opponent, however, it was just a title, in many situations the winners would choose to spare the loser's life as they were from the same sect.

There were cases where they would kill too, but then their life would change for the worse. They would be discriminated against by their fellow sect members. However, even this discrimination was related to the killer's status in the sect. If he was just a disciple and had no backing, they would be far worse than receiving discrimination...

While if he was some elder's son or daughter, or someone famous in the sect with a little backing, and the loser's status was lower than theirs. What would happen then? They would receive glory! They would be called 'strong' and be flattered.

What is this? Where was justice? Everyone would think like this, so Rong Yuan.

He hated this side of the sects and the clans, families... So when he rebuild the sect he destroyed this and made some other rules where there was no left unfairness... He wanted to solve this in this life too and much earlier...

Rong Yuan was passing by the arena thinking about these, and suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks while in shock.

He was looking at something with a wry smile...

He was looking at the system notification that appeared out of the blue. Reading its contents he shook his head and turned his back, walking toward the Fighting Arena where people were still gathering.

He reached the arena, stood behind the crowd, and saw someone he was searching for, standing right side of the arena. He then disappeared from his place before appearing in front of the figure, in the arena.

_ _ _ _ _ __ _ _

The crowd was gathering after hearing news about a battle... A life and death battle at that, so the number of people exceeded hundreds.

"What is happening?"

"Who is challenging who?"

"I heard two new outer sect disciples are challenging each other!"

"What? New disciples? Why? They became disciples just yesterday."

"Right! And a life and death battle hasn't happened for four years!"

"You are right!"

"Do you agree?!"

Suddenly the crowd became quiet as they heard the two people in the arena talking. They wanted to hear it too.

In the arena, three people were standing. A boy with blue hair on the right side, while a dark black-haired boy on the left side with a man who was wearing an elder's robe stood beside him. The two boys were more handsome than others while the supposed elder was slightly above the average.

"Take it back!" The blue-haired boy shouted at his opponent.

"Why? Or am wrong?" Replied the dark-haired boy in a playful manner.

"..." The blue-haired boy became quiet. "You are right... I may have lost to you before... But don't think I will just let it slide... I may have endured if you insulted only me... But you have crossed the line..."

"So, do you agree with the life and death battle? An elder is already here?" The dark-haired boy asked with a cold voice. He was asking a question that was difficult to answer in such a manner.

"Don't worry I won't kill you if you lose... hahaha!" He laughed a little, he wanted the blue-haired boy who seemed hesitant to take the bait. {I will just humiliate you so much that it would be far worse than death...}

"I w-" Before the blue-haired boy would end his words someone appeared beside him out of nowhere.

"Whoa!"

"Who is he?"

"He didn't accept did he?"

"No, he hasn't... yet!"

The crowd began to speak after the appearance of the new figure. They didn't quite recognize the figure yet, and the ones who recognized had yet to speak as they were shocked to see him here.