I have been raised as a future soldier since my birth and am the youngest of all the trainees making me the target of ridicule and violence, but despite that I have held on to my goal of serving the Baron family that had taken him in and trained him.

As my sixteenth birthday hits, I am proud to have formed my core barely two days ago, I know I barely passed requirements, but I have always been disadvantaged due to being younger.

As I stand on ceremony with the other 6, we all bow on our knees to our master the Baron, beside the Baron is 5 children all boys of varying ages the oldest being nineteen and the youngest only 7. They are the Barons sons from amongst his 3 wives, the eldest and third eldest are his first and proper wife, while the fourth and second are his second wives' children, the youngest from his concubine he bought from a pleasure house after she fell pregnant.

I know we are likely to be assigned our master's now as we have all finished basics, I know I will be assigned to the youngest due to my low aptitude and ability.

Unsurprised as the top two are assigned to the eldest, the third and fourth best to the third child, and the rest divided based off skill to the other three each getting only one of us as is proper for lower children.

Bowing to the boy who was starting cultivation recently and was already showing incapability, I feel sympathy as I know that feeling of worry all to well.

I am gifted a grey and green robe, although it could mean nature and calmness it was a clear hint at his prostitute mother and meant to give him a dose of humility, as his guard I will be expected to wear his colors.

I put on the robe that is clearly only of basic quality and the hair pin that is plain except for the words of Bo Chang for his master.

I lacks a name as I am only known by my number designation from training, but I understand that the name the boy has been given is probably one picked by his father as a second thought, I stand beside the boy as he flutters around his room barely better then a servant in clothes barely fitting of one of his stations.

"What is your name, since you are now my servant, I need to know how to call you."

"Qi, my liege." I can see his surprise at my response as having a number as a name represents slaves usually, but I am not one, simply I have never been given a name.

"That isn't a fitting name for my servant, hmmm I know Qi can be change for fine jade instead it may be more feminine but you have softer features so people will excuse it." I am now Qi and will remain so until my new liege decides otherwise.

Seemingly pleased with himself he finally sits on his mat and begins to meditate; I stand watch as I sense the energy around me being absorbed but instead of from all over his body it is only being absorbed at his dantian area. I feel a need to correct him as it is no wonder, he is so bad, he has been using the wrong technique.

I sit behind my lord and send pull energy too him and push it into his other absorption points while keeping my eyes on his face to see if there are any problems, he begins to sweat and pants, so I stop as he is unable to handle the extra energy, I am giving him.

Once he calms down, he opens his eyes and looks at me with shock as I am still sat behind him, I bow and apologize for intervening but saw him going slow and intervened.

He seemed confused and asked what I meant by slow, I explained he only absorbed from one point rather than other ones which is why he is so slow, he seemed shocked by this but seemed to contemplate it and said he would ask his sensei tomorrow about this.

Finally, he gets into his sleep robes after a rinse off and fell asleep as I stood watch all night using my energy to make up for the lack of sleep.

Come tomorrow morning I am released from duties while he is in the classes so for the morning I can rest and cultivate, which is what I do as my master is gone. I clean the room then take a nap to recharge energy before beginning my cultivation gathering energy to advance is a longer process then core forming and succeeding under the age of thirty is only for the greatest talents with incredible cultivation techniques.

I will be lucky to advance by the age of fifty with my cultivation technique and talent, but I must try as hard as I can.

When midafternoon hit the young master is released from the study and I am there to pick him up like the other guards, once he leaves the room we head back to his chambers where he looks up with admiration too me.

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"Sensei says that the ability to absorb from multiple points is a matter of talent and capabilities, that one that can use all is the greatest of talents."

I am shocked as I am clearly lacking in talent, but I remain quiet as the boy request, I teach him everything I can in order for him to grow faster, I offer to do the thing from last night tonight as well if he permits me to cultivate alongside him.

He nods his head like a hen pecking the ground and so our schedules are set, I spend the mornings doing household chores, practicing martial arts, and napping while the afternoon is spent with master either practicing or cultivating.

The first month passes with me having succeeded in the first martial arts attack of energy wrapping, where one wraps their energy around a object like a rock or a branch and throw it causing it too to go much further and faster while being far more lethal. Although in martial arts it is only a distraction, if one is powerful enough it can be deadly even to other cultivators who can use barriers.

Once more within the young master's room helping him cultivate when I hear pitter pats outside, the sound of footsteps.

I immediately pull back and place my hand over the young master's mouth to prevent him from inhaling any potential toxins they may use, I let the young master settle his energy and then put him in the protected barrier chest while activating the array to protect the young master while I fought off any potential attackers.

I have the sword provided too guards and wait for the people too get closer and once they where right outside the door I held my breath and remained perfectly still waiting for the opportune moment too strike.

The door opens and I remain behind a pillar hidden but it is for naught as a rock is thrown using high cultivation energy at my hiding location, I jump out of the way but am now exposed. I stay crouched and in ready position as even though the man clearly outranks me I will not go down without death itself dragging me too the nine gates.

I am attacked with a kick that I dodge, and I do not counterattack instead staying on the defensive, as long as they are distracted with me they will not touch the young master and guards of the manor can be called.

Keeping watch on both of the men here one dressed in plain clothe and his face clear as day, while the other following the one attacking me has a face cover and slightly better clothing.

Remaining on the defensive but make sure the other wasn't heading for the young master, although I lack cultivation techniques I have far more energy and control then most do allow me to last far longer than others in my position would.

Dodge left, roll under that hit, barely block and scoot away from this swing, one by one I am beginning to tire after nearly an hour of battling using my energy to barely keep up with the man's much faster speed and greater strength. I can feel my arm break when I block the next hit unable to bear it with my energy nearly completely depleted, and another hit right after on my left leg as I can't keep up either.

I look up but get back into combat position as if they wish to get to the young master, they must do so through me.

The man in the mask finally stops the fight by holding up his hands and speaking, "I am the patriarch of the Duke family in charge of the imperial family and we have been sent to see if the youngest master of this family is a child of his majesty as the wife of the man here also once served his majesty at the time of the boys conception."

Feeling my leg shaking and arm throbbing but I refuse to stand down until identification has been given, the man in the masks sighs but pulls out a golden token with the word general on it.

Collapsing after that and tell him the young master is currently in the array protection chest blended into the floorboard at the foot of his bed.

The masked man nods and I follow limping as he enters the room and opens the chest with no problems despite the array being a lower middle grade one, he is a very powerful person no doubt as he has proven, and more then capable of having ended the fight quickly if he wished.

I bow in respect at the clear message sent with this action, 'I chose not to get involved, I chose to let you gain experience against a harsher opponent.'

I see the young master look too me in question, but I remain bowing to the masked one as I signal with my hand for him to do the same, he bows and apologizes for not greeting them properly, but he had not been aware of such a late visit and had been wary.

The man in the mask waves his hand and shows the golden token while saying, "I am here on orders for a blood test as your mother slept with the emperor around the time of your conception and a blood test is needed. This is a complicated matter and so should remain quiet which is why no alert was sent, though I must say you have very loyal guard willing to go as far as he has for you and quiet the energy reserves, he will make a fine attendant with some training so he will follow you should your blood come from his majesty."

I see blood drain from the young master as he knows he already barely passing as a lowly Barons bastard child, much less the son of the emperor.

It will be certain doom for someone like me as even if he is the emperor's child he is a low born with no backing or power, nothing more than a pebble thrown into a raging stream with little protection and much to weak and talentless to grow.

I will never progress from this point on and can even easily loose my head if an accusation is made by another of the emperors' children.

All I can do is watch and hope he is merely a Barons son as he will not survive as the emperor's son with his current abilities and status, but fate is a cruel woman as a drop of blood from the prick of a needle falls into the array graving lights up gold, the man in the mask hums and says the dreaded words.

"Congratulations your 56th royal highness for your discovery and addition to the family, may you bring prosperous times with you." And so, our fates are sealed, pebbles to be kicked around by giants.