Chapter 1 of the day.

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Chapter 5: Decision after three months

 In the blink of an eye, three months had passed, and Curo had learned a lot about the Shadow clan and the world. He lived in the Lanun Empire and the Empire is located on a massive island. In this world if people want to get strong, they cultivate their body in a Qi Technique. Since a person can only cultivate in one technique in their whole lives, it had to be chosen carefully because there would be no way back.

   It was also because of this that the Elders, who were teaching Curo how to eat properly, write, read, did not shove a mediocre Qi Technique in Curo's hands as a "token of goodwill". They instead focused more on training his body and teaching him how to fight. The progress Curo made in these three months, left even the Elders, who had seen geniuses of all shapes and sizes, speechless. He progressed and picked everything up in an astonishing pace. He could eat like a noble in half an hour, it took him a week to start reading fluently and two weeks to start writing legibly.

   His progress in fighting however, was even more astonishing, he could hold his own against the Elder who was teaching him how to fight. Even though the Elder wasn't using any of his techniques and was fighting him without using any of his Qi, the gap between experience and body strength was still huge. Curo however made up for it with nimbleness and attacking from tricky and unexpected angles. There were a few times when he almost won a sparring match but the Elder used Qi to dodge him and ensured his victory.

   During these three months, he had also traveled outside the Clan Masters mansion. When he did, he was always greeted as if he had been living here for his entire life. In the beginning, it made Curo feel awkward but he soon got used to it. He had learned that even though this town wasn't big, it only had about 10 000 people living here in total, the town had a unique sense of unity. 

  There were no children on the streets here because if someones parents died, others took the child in and raised the child as if he/she was their own. This made Curo feel respect towards the people here. He had also learned that the Shadow clan lived by a simple saying, "Blood is thicker than water. Family will never turn their back to you."

   Usually, clans would not hesitate to sell off their clan masters most beautiful daughter if it meant, they could live a few days longer. But the Shadow clan was different, they would fight to the bitter end if someone were to force, even the lowest ranking woman of their clan, into a forced marriage or just as concubine or something along the lines. This unity made Curo see this world in a better light, he realized that not all the clans only care about themselves but some clans care more about their clan members than their face. 

  Curo had already made up his mind about succeeding Jack, when he saw that this clan would accept it without raising a huge fuzz about it.  His mindset had changed a lot from the time he was brought here. He felt a sense of belonging here, he couldn't explain it himself but it was more like a gut feeling. 

  Currently you could see a small child with snow white hair fighting against an elder who had a smile on his face. No matter what style of attack the boy used, the elder dodged with ease. "Your movements have improved by leaps and bounds from the time we started. I can't even spar against you in a relaxed manner anymore." The elder sighed, since before he could practically cultivate as he sparred against Curo but now he had to pay attention because even the slightest mistake won't escape Curo's eyes. It would be an idiotic thought to think that he wouldn't capitalize on that mistake. The servants all around were ready to treat Curo at a moments notice should he get injured.

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   Injuries walk hand in hand with training because if he didn't experience pain, how would he face against someone, who wounds him in a life and death match. 

  During the time Curo and the Elder were sparring in the courtyard, Jack could be seen in the shadow of a building, leaning against it's wall. A silver haired woman, who looked around the same age as him, walked next to him. She clearly had an irritated face on as she started questioning Jack, "Ivar, why did you lie to him? You told him our son died 15 years ago but he only died 7 years ago. You saw the necklace as well and there is no doubt that it is "his". He is his son, why have you not told him that yet? Why keep him in the dark?"

  Jack only  took in a deep breath before saying with resolute eyes, "Even if I had told him that he was our grandchild before, he wouldn't have believed me. Would you believe someone, when they suddenly pop out and say they are your grandparents? And besides, today is the day he makes his decision and I promised him, that whatever he chooses, he would always have my support. If he decides to leave, I will give him some weapons and money and have some of our clansmen guard him from the shadows." When the woman heard him, she stared at Jack and asked, "If he stays, will you then tell him that he truly is our grandchild?" 

  "If he truly decides to stay, then I will naturally tell him everything about him, his parents, us and the flame all of our bloodline hold." As Jack said that with a hollow smile, he opened his clenched fist and a black flame manifested on his palm. It danced around as if it were alive.

   Hearing what Jack had just said, the lady could only grit her teeth and accept it. With that, she turned around and left the same way she came from, seeing that, Jack could only let out a wry smile. The day passed like any other and it was time for Curo to decide. 

  In the evening, he went to the hall again, where he could see the 24 Elders sitting at the table and Jack sitting at the head of the table. When Curo arrived, uncertainty was evident in every ones eyes, they eagerly waited to hear, what his decision was. Curo nonchalantly walked to the end of the table, exactly the opposite of where Jack was sitting. As Curo stood there, at the end of the table, Jack opened his mouth, "Now then, three months have passed and it is time to let us all know of your decision." As Jack finished his sentence, everyone leaned closer and had their gazes fixed on Curo. On Curo's faces a light smile formed and he said, "My decision is to stay here. During the three months that I have been here, everyone treated me like I was family. As a person, who has never trusted anyone, this place has made me feel safe for the first time in my life." 

  When everyone heard that, they felt relief. They had grown attached to the little guy in the past three months and everyone had decided that even if he decided to not succeed Jack, they would make sure that he wouldn't end up as a street rat again. Everyone looked at Curo with kind eyes and congratulated him on becoming the young master of the clan. They also started working out a more detailed schedule of training for Curo, it took around half an hour to have the old plan improved. When everything was decided upon, everyone started quietly leaving their seats and exiting the door. 

  When Curo was about to leave Jack opened his mouth, "Curo, mind staying for a while? I have someone I want you to meet and also some things to tell you." 

  When the Elders heard that, they immediately understood, what they were going to talk about and one of the Elders went to call the Jacks wife. When Jacks wife arrived the Elders all exited the room and closed the door, only the three of them were left in the room.