Dawn

Zhao Fan sat at the table relishing the rare moment he had with his father.

His father was named Zhao Yang, he was a thin man with dark brown eyes and short black hair. Zhao Fan was the splitting image of his father except that he had a hair bun behind his head and was a bit taller. Zhao Yang worked at a golden lettuce farm among many others who were hired to attend to the huge field owned by a wealthy man in the city, Sun Yin. Golden lettuce was the main cash crop of the city, resulting in the name of Gold Leaf City. It was important mainly because of the nourishing and refreshing qualities of the golden leaves from the lettuce.

Golden lettuce was planted during the end of autumn which was rapidly approaching and was picked at the end of winter. Rumors stated that the reason behind the golden luster and superior qualities of the lettuce was because of it being planted during autumn and absorbing the essence of golden leaves which fell from trees and onto the ground. Workers like Zhao Yang were instructed to incorporate golden leaves into the ground as they plowed it in preparation for the crop.

Procurement of leaves and farm work created job opportunities for poorer people, however once the winter harvest was over, the fields were not used because of some strange soil condition which made only the Golden lettuce plantable. This was one of the reasons why Zhao Fan was so determined to win the competition because once the harvest was over his father would likely not be able to find a job with his weak body and poor education. He would have to resort to difficult and dangerous jobs.

Currently, Zhao Fan was talking with his father while they both sat at the small wooden table and ate hot porridge. While intensively training from day to night everyday, Zhao Fan only ever felt determination. He persevered because he couldn’t fail and it was only in moments like this where his heart was truly serene and his smile was genuine.

After chatting happily for a bit, his father hesitated for a moment before asking, “So, Fan’er how did the competition go?”

“Haha, I am your son, how could I not place first?” Zhao Fan spoke with a confident voice which placed a large smile on his father’s face.

His father stopped eating and looked at his son in disbelief “Good, good! Remember, Golden Leaf city is but a small place in this grand world and should not confine someone like you. Don’t worry too much about the competition, even if you can’t get recruited, you could venture out and try to join a sect, only then can you show the world your true potential!”

“Father, I understand however you don’t have to be worried, after I place number one in the Academy competition, I will join the strongest sect in our Immortal Flame Empire and bring you to live with me!” That had been Zhao Fan’s dream ever since he was a child. After hearing his son’s ramblings, Zhao Yang shook his head lightly and focused on the breakfast.

How impossible was that? Even a rich son of the large clans in the city would not dare to say that! Zhao Yang dismissed the thought completely, even if his son’s attitude was already extremely good, the disparity between social classes was truly too large and during the competition he would understand. Unlike Zhao Fan, his father had seen one of the previous competitions and wasn’t relying on just his imagination. Withstanding ten moves was already extremely praiseworthy which is why sects usually didn’t recruit based on just strength alone so Zhao Fan had some hope of getting into a top tier sect, but placing number one? Impossible.

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After a moment of silence, Zhao Fan thought of something “By the way, me and my friends in the Academy are going on a mission in the forest for a couple of days”

Zhao Yang’s earlier good mood was spoiled and he nearly spit out the food he was eating, “The forest next to our city, the one filled with demonic beasts? Fan’er you know it’s too dangerous!”

Zhao Fan somewhat expected his surprise and smiled confidently “Father I am not weak anymore and neither are my group mates. Also we already received the mission from the Hunters Union.”

“Fan’er I know you aren’t weak but with your temperament you truly will be lucky to live until adulthood! Many people much stronger than you die every year to demonic beasts and you are thinking of going to fight them with just your strength?” His father resisted the urge to throw the porridge at his son. Number one in the classroom tournament makes him strong? What a joke!

“Father, I know that I am not strong by myself but that is why I gathered a group of five others which each have strength similar or even stronger than mine!” Zhao Fan protested, not willing to give up on the idea.

Hearing this, the veins on Zhao Yang’s forehead flared as he stared at his stupid son, “You are at the first qi condensation realm so the others you mentioned are probably at most in the second, if you randomly encounter a demonic beast at even the fourth level you wouldn’t be able to run!”

“But father, we’ll stay in the outer area of the forest and hunt the low level beasts-” His voice was already considerably lower than before.

“Outer area?! Do you think beasts are like cattle who just stay in one place and graze? Even one beast can annihilate your whole group and leave six families without children, could it be that your life is worth less than the cancellation fee for the Hunters Union mission?” At this point Zhao Fan wore a dejected expression at being scolded however a trace of determination still flickered through his eyes.

Zhao Yang did not miss this detail and calmed down, “Listen Fan’er, I know we do not live a good life and even if you cannot change that, I am already proud of you. Even if we cannot pay for the cancellation charges and you are unwilling to change your mind, do not carelessly throw your life away.”

After that, he ate one last mouthful before standing up and leaving the house. However, Zhao Fan did not leave for a while, continuing to sit at the table and contemplating with a pensive expression.

Eventually, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and went out. Cold autumn air hit him in the face as he was greeted to the familiar sight of the busy streets. As always, they were filled with laborers passing by not paying attention to him. He gripped his fists tightly, he was given a chance to cultivate by his hard-working father and he must definitely succeed this time and change their life.

*****

Zhao Yang arrived at the fields ready to begin work when suddenly he turned and went up to talk to another worker “Chen Zhan, your son is in the same class as my Fan’er right?”

Surprised, the worker turned to face him “Yes, my son Chen Cai is indeed in the same class, why do you ask?”

“My son didn’t tell me yet, would you happen to know how he placed in the tournament yesterday?” Zhao Yang wasn’t too convinced by his son’s confidence in the morning.

“Yes, to be honest I was a bit surprised, my son told me about what happened yesterday. In his class a total of eight people are at the second Qi Condensation realm, but even though your son is only in the first, he was able to beat one of them barely and placed second” Chen Zhan laughed lightly. Although he was a bit disappointed at his son’s performance, Zhao Yang always treated him well and he wasn’t a person who was jealous of other’s success.

Hearing this, Zhao Yang’s friendly smile froze and he felt a pang in his heart.

Chen Zhan shook his head and smiled “Don’t be disappointed, even if he didn’t come first he has a chance of placing in the top fifty in the competition and might be recruited by a sect, even if he doesn’t, he can always serve in the military. No matter what, both of our retirements are secured haha!”

Zhao Yang’s grave expression softened. After thanking him, he got back to his spot and started plowing the field. His eyes however, were looking in a different direction as he smiled gently and spoke under his breath “When the hell did that brat learn how to be filial?!”.