Chapter 18.

(POV Han Tengoku)

After I left that great hidden master I realized over four days had already passed. I made my way back to my cave to reinforce my foundation after my rapid advancement.

It is only natural that I'm a paper tiger at the moment after breaking through barriers like water through a dam.

Once I reached my cave I went into the depths and I sat down to enter a deep meditation.

Right when I was about to begin fortifying my foundation, a loud knocking came from the entrance of my cave.

What the hell? I just got back! Was I always this popular? Can I at least have an hour to myself?

I reluctantly got up and went back to the entrance. I was slightly expecting for it to be another beautiful fairy, but once I saw who was waiting for me I couldn't help but want to punch them in the face.

A voice filled with arrogance and disdain sounded out. "It is about time little Han. You've been curled up within that cave of yours for the past four days. Were you afraid to see your senior brother Sai?"

I could only roll my eyes while looking at this so called senior brother of mine. It looks like he broke through and became a 6th realm mortal which bolstered his confidence to come and make trouble for me.

Little senior, I'm now a 1st realm semi transcendent. Are you sure you want to come and make trouble?

If this was four days ago I would have probably fought you to the death, but after I received repeated sessions of enlightenment from that great master, I feel like the position of young patriarch really isn't such a big deal after all.

Maybe to get rid of this annoying fly buzzing about me all the time I'll throw him a bone.

"Senior brother Sai, I no longer have any interest in the position of young patriarch. You can have it."

"Ha, you may have won the competition earlier, but don't get cocky… wait… what did you just say?"

"Young patriarch Sai, you can have that title."

"WHAT? That easy? We've been fighting for the past four years over the position and you just want to suddenly give it to me?"

"Yes."

"Little Han, did you suddenly hit your head somewhere? Are you sure you want to just give it up like that?"

"Yes."

"You're really sure?"

"Yes."

"Really, really?"

"Yes..." It was getting tiring responding over and over so it started to become an automated process.

"No take backs, okay?"

"Yes..."

"Wait! This is too fishy! Are you just saying this so you can lower my guard to stab me in the back later on?"

"Yes! Wait, what? I mean no!"

"HA! I knew it! It was way too good to be true!"

"You won't escape this time little Han. We're going to have a nice long chat about life. Hehehe."

He cracked his knuckles while looking towards my lower abdominal region.

For some reason, even though I knew he was weaker than me, that gaze sent shivers down my back.

It was like a ravenous wolf eyeing the grand prize that laid bare before him.

"Senior brother Sai, your gaze is… feels... a bit strange. Can you please look at my face instead?"

I heard a slurp escape from his lips while he wiped his lips. A spine tingling feeling overcame me like I was looking at my worst nightmare.

I could only curse my young mind as I could not piece together the events that were occurring before my eyes.

This senior brother Sai that I fought against for all these years, is this really the same person?

"Senior brother Sai, I am serious. You can have the position of young patriarch, I really, REALLY don't want it!"

"Little Han, I really don't care for that position either. It is merely my father's wishes. I couldn't give a damn about that dumb title, you can have it if you want."

Where has my arrogant and disdainful senior brother gone to?

Why is he showing such a passionate gaze towards me?

Why am I sweating so much?

Am I about to die?

This senior brother is ten times scarier than any version of senior brother I have seen before.

Thinking up to this point I steeled my determination. If this was the normal senior brother Sai, I would no doubt send him flying after having attained my present level of strength. However, looking at this version… for some reason I don't even want to touch him.

"Senior brother Sai, look behind you, elder Hitu is making his way over."

"What?!?" Senior brother was so startled that his face turned stone cold once again as he turned around to look behind with a stern expression on his face. Once he looked behind him he was dumbfounded to find that no one was there.

He felt slightly relieved and his expression turned to mush once again. He turned back around only to see that I was no longer there.

Yes, that is right… I ran.

I ran as fast as my legs could take me. I ran like my life was truly threatened by a predator on the loose.

I still had a tinge of fear as I looked behind me towards this bizarre senior brother of mine.

Senior brother had turned in the direction I was fleeing and a captivated look was planted on his face.

Is he enjoying this? Is he? Really? What the hell? Senior brother, I like the old disdainful you better. Can we just go back to being sworn enemies again?

I felt if I went to see my adopted father I would be found in no time at all.

Thinking up to there I ran down the mountain to hide away in the nearby forest for a few days.

What the hell? I'm just a simple child who has endured countless hardships, struggled against adversity and the loneliness in the world. In the past four years I have fought with my life on the line against several enemies already. Yet it really is strange, isn't it. Can a child as young as I really escape death time and time again?

Now that I think about it. Looking at senior brother Sai's sudden change in attitude. Could everything that has happened over the years merely been an act? What is with this sudden twist of fate? I hate it! I want my normal life back.

My panicked thoughts continued on like this for two days before I finally calmed down.

Scrutinizing everything over the last two days it seems like those life and death struggles were orchestrated by elder Hitu and senior brother Sai always just happened to be involved. He never actually made any vicious moves towards me. It was always the minions that did. I may get slightly injured every now and then but in the end it was never severe.

He would also spout vicious lines and send glares towards me. But were those really glares? Or were those glares a mere disguise to hide an intense passion beneath?

Wait… why did his attitude suddenly change so abruptly anyways? What made him impatient to suddenly act this way? What has changed in the last few days?

I was suddenly hit by realization. Never has he ever glared at anyone else before. But just six days ago… he actually shot a glare towards that hidden master.

Could it be jealousy?

No, no, no, no, no. Such a feeling should not exist between two men. I like women. Please don't suddenly throw me a screwball goddess of fate.

Due to my naivety I did not realize what it meant initially, but after having thought everything through I have finally come to realize what everything meant. I am not an idiot after all. He is not a straight shooter.

What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

Why do the heavens seem to be lacking eyes at the most convenient of times?

To kill someone simply because they have feelings towards you would weigh on my conscience too much. It could even develop into an inner demon that hinders my cultivation. I must find a way to resolve this issue in the shortest time frame possible.

Perhaps that great master will have an idea. Maybe I can seek his wisdom once again… only this time it would be on matters of the heart.

With such a great beauty for a wife, he must definitely have an abundance of experience.

As I naively thought as such, I could only place that great master on a higher pedestal in my heart.

Please great venerable master, shed some guidance on this pitiful lost soul once more!