I felt sad writing this... Was soooo weird.
Anyways.... enjoy!
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Soaring Dragon Continent
After introducing everyone to his family, everyone got settled in. The schools were placed in certain areas with rooms to sleep in, while some went to eat food. Others mingled with different cultivators from other schools to check out the competition. It already started to get dark out, but the place was still lively.
A young male with black hair is walking down a hall. The hall is a light brown color, but it gives this feeling of purity. He continues walking until he enters a fairly large room that has a long table. The lighting is perfect, but the mood is not. In the air he can feel the sourness. At the long table is a woman with a black veil over her face.
When he came in, she didn’t even give him a glance. It pained him in his heart, because he knew why. Whenever she looked at him, she was reminded of her true love. His father, Chang Mu. He gritted his teeth and strolled over to where his mother was sitting.
He couldn’t see what face she was making under her veil, but he already knew it wasn’t a good one. When he was younger she would cry for no reason, and it was only when he got older than he understood. Seeing such a beautiful woman crying and continuing to mourn over someone who will never appear again. Such a fate, why did it have to happen to her?
‘Damn you father! How could you not see the pain she is going through, how could you watch as she suffers!? Is this the kind of man you were!? You go off and leave the one who loves you all alone in the world. Me, your own son. You weren’t even there when I was born. Every time I see mother, she never smiles or laughs. I don’t know what type of person you were before, but it doesn’t matter! I hate you! I’ll never be like you! I’ll never leave mother, or the woman I love! Not even in the face of death will I fail to return to them!’ He told himself while cursing his father who wasn’t in this world anymore.
Approaching the woman, he placed his hand on top her hers. She looked up at him, but didn’t remove her hand from his. “Mother, I… I will never leave you like father did. During this tournament I shall bring honor to our family!” He told her in a confident tone.
The woman didn’t have to say anything, he removed his hand and walked out of the room. He already knew she was sad and didn’t want to come to this tournament. She only came because he was here and so was his bride to be. If it weren’t for that, she would have stayed home.
Home. He wonders where he truly belongs if he doesn’t belong with her. His mother continues to live in the Yan clan even after his father died. The only time she stepped foot into the palace again was for his father's funeral. His uncle tried to tell her that she could stay, but she continued to refuse his offer.
His uncle Chang Chi was like a father to him. He’s the one who took care of him after he was four years old. He’s the one who taught him everything he knows, and told him more about his father and mother. Sure, he could always ask his mother about his father, but he couldn’t bring himself to make her remember.
He still remembers the day when he first met his uncle. He came into the Yan Clan four years after he was born. He was surprised at first when his uncle met him, but he said he looked just like his father. The boy was happy of such praise. When his uncle tested him for talent, the boy was surprised just like his uncle. His meridians were different than that of others, and it seemed like the qi in the air naturally went his way. His uncle told him even if he didn’t meditate like others, he would soon break into the first realm of cultivation.
Of course at the age of three he didn’t understand what that meant. However he knew that he was special. Later that same day after he learned what cultivation meant, he found out how strong his father was. It was the same day that he parted from his mother and was taken in by his uncle.
He didn’t understand why he was leaving his home. He didn’t know why his mother didn’t stop his uncle from taking him away. It was only later after hearing more about his father that he understood. The words that his uncle said that day stun him in the heart. He would trade anything in this word as long as he didn’t look like his father.
If he didn’t, maybe he could have had more motherly love. Maybe his mother wouldn’t be so sad all the time. Maybe then she wouldn’t have let him leave. Then he would have a place to call home.
His mother Yan Xiang sends him gifts for his birthday, and sometimes he returns to her telling her about his progress. In all of his time, no matter how much he achieved. She has never given him a smile that was truly meant from the heart. She only gave that smile filled with no emotion.
He couldn’t take it anymore, he couldn’t see her sad. He blamed his father for everything that has happened. If he didn’t go out and die, then his mother would still be happy and he would have a place to call home. The emperor? He didn’t care about that, it was just a title, nothing more. Wealth? He didn’t need that. The only thing he needs is strength. Enough strength to surpass his father and make his mother proud.
He’s read stories that started if one reached the peak in their cultivation, they could overthrow the heavens and have one wish. If he had a wish, it would be to have his dad back so he could beat him up and tell him how his mother is feeling. When he asked his uncle about it, he told him that it was just that. A story.
However he didn’t believe his uncle. To overthrow the heavens and gain a wish. To let his mother be truly happy again. Even if he had to give up his cultivation, he would do it. One night, while he was alone. He told himself, and the heavens his goal: Never in a thousand lifetimes would I do what he did. Even if the heavens tried to punish me themselves would I give in. To leave my family, the woman I love. Never. I will overturn the heavens and find a way to make her happy again.
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That is his goal, that is the reason he purses strength. If he can gain enough strength he’ll overturn the heavens no matter the cost. If it’ll make his mother happy in the end, he’ll do it.
He didn’t hear it after he stepped out of the room, but his mother faintly said some words. It was soft, and hardly hearable. She said: There is no need for honor, no need for strength. Why can’t you just be normal and not leave.
Those words were her true feelings. She didn’t care at all about honor or strength. She only wanted her son to grow up normal. Not like his father. If he went on that path, one day she feared he would end up dead. Although she felt like she was drained of all her emotions, she still loved him. Her one and only child. If she ever got news that he died too, she would break.
The young man went to his room. Unlike the room where the schools are staying in, his is quite nice. There was a cool chill coming in, and no one to disturb him. The young man sat down on the bed and started meditating. He was a genius under the heavens, but if other people knew his secret they would surely kill for it.
He closed his eyes and his mind drifted off. The qi in the air started gathering around his body, as if it were being sucked in. Inside his mind, he took a glance at his soul. His soul was not normal, and he knew it. In all the books he read, and everyone he asked. They always told him, there is only one soul in a human's body, and it is always white.
When he first started meditating, he thought he was strange. His soul was not white like others, instead it was blue. The first thing he thought was that he was damaged, and that he would soon die. Time went on, but he didn’t die. Instead he got stronger and stronger. If being blue was the only weird thing about it, then he would leave it alone.
That was not the case! In his body were two souls. One was small, and the other one was big. The big one seemed to be slowly eating the smaller soul, or so it seemed. He would have asked someone to look into it, but looking or tampering with someone's soul is dangerous so he couldn’t take the chance. Over time, he found that the souls were actually increasing his strength. He didn’t know how or why, but he was grateful.
He didn’t tell anyone about it because he feared others would call him strange, or try to look into his soul. Sure he could find out what was actually happening to him, but what if he turned out to be soulless in the end? It was better to make sure no one understood what was going on in his body.
All the qi in the air continued to gather around his body, making his cultivation speed fast. He already knew that he was faster than most other people he met, but he still wasn’t strong enough. Sadly even with this fast cultivation speed, he cannot learn any martial skills. No matter how hard he tried, no matter what skill. He couldn’t learn it.
Chang Chi found that highly strange and told him not to tell anyone. He couldn’t other cultivators because that would show his own weakness. Sure, his cultivation talent my be high, but it’s no use if he cannot protect himself. Chang Chi told him not to worry, as long as he found a suitable bride then all would be fine. Their kids could live his dream for him.
He almost coughed blood when Chang Chi told him that. He would have to live under the protection of his wife! What man would want such a thing? He already knew that his uncle set up this tournament as a means to find his daughter a suitable husband. His uncle told him that the strongest female shall also be his.
Chang Chi would not let him join in this tournament no matter what. However by announcing him as Chang Mu’s son and his cultivation, that got the crowd stirred up. This means that countless females are going to be aiming for him no matter if he shows his talent or not. However Chang Chi isn’t going to tell them that he can’t use any material skills. If others knew that, they naturally wouldn’t marry him.
What Chang Chi doesn’t know is that he has already applied for this tournament. Even if his uncle doesn’t wish for him to join, he will still do it. No matter the cost, he has to know how strong he is. How does he match up against the others? Can he really not go up against someone who knows martial skills?
The young male opened his eyes. He heard footsteps approaching and then a knocking sound was heard on his door. “Young master, the emperor has summoned you.” A elderly voice called out to him.
‘Did he find out?’ He asked himself. If Chang Chi found out that he applied for this tournament, what would he do? He shook his head, there is no way he would find out. He did it under a fake name. “Ok, tell him i’ll be there soon.” He told the man.
Soon he heard footsteps walking away as he calmed himself down. He got up off his bed and walked to the door. ‘I will prove that I am strong.’ He told himself as he opened the door. He started walking towards where Chang Chi’s room was.
Swoosh!
A figure appeared in front of him. It was insanely fast. Faster than anything he has seen. He grabbed for his weapon only to remember he left it in his room. ‘Damnit! Is this an assassin?’ He asked himself.
Soon the figure approached him and his eyes grew wide. This person, this young man in front of him. That hair, that appearance. Why. Why does he look so much like himself. It’s like he’s seeing himself in a mirror, except this young man's eyes are red. He probed him for his cultivation, if it was lower than his own he might be able to take him. However he couldn’t sense it, it was as if the person in front of him wasn’t even there. He seemed like a mortal, a normal person.
“Who are you?” He asked the figure.