17 Chapter 17: Crimson Iron

Xiu Ye, sitting upright on his bed, raised both his arms up to stretch.

'Ugh, I'm exhausted.'

Yesterday, he, Na'er and Tang Wulin had all go to the latter's home and met his parents. Sadly his father wasn't there yet, as he was still working.

So Xiu Ye and Na'er had only encountered, and warmly welcomed, by Lang Yue, Tang Wulin's mom. She's a charming woman, with a very curvaceous and voluptuous body hidden underneath her baggy comfortable clothes.

That day wasn't anything interesting. Although Xiu Ye had came along with Tang Wulin because he'd teach him how to fight, it just ended into a normal children hang out as they gorged themselves in food because he didn't want his cousin to take a bath twice under a couple of hours of doing so.

So, after Na'er was taken by Lang Yue to the administrative office to inquire about her family, Xiu Ye decided to leave Tang Wulin's house, though not before telling him to meditate and cultivate his soul power.

Xiu Ye returned home and he came across his foster father, who asked if he wanted to start his blacksmithing lessons, and which he complied as there wasn't anything he'll be doing that time.

Yesterday, he was taught the basics: knowledge of metals and how to properly pound them. Xiu Ye's foundation as a blacksmith is almost non-existent. He had only miraculously forged a thousand refined iron dagger by some bullshit instincts, he was still needed to be taught about the basics of metals and blacksmithing so he could properly be a blacksmith.

Although the lesson had only lasted for 4 hours, Xiu Ye felt like he had learned a lot yesterday, especially since he was capable of hundred refining a metal called Crimson Iron. It earned it's name from its appearance and dispositions. A crimson-black metal that could only be found 1.5 kilometers deep in extremely dangerous volcanoes and other hot melting locations. Also, this metal is a good conductor for soul power and fire element, in fact, it's so good that it amplifies one's soul power by ten to fifteen percent and amplifies one's fire energy by twenty-five to thirty percent.

This metal is one of the most sought after metals for soul masters who has a fire type martial soul.

However, it also comes with flaws. For the metal to survive in deep hot lava for so long without melting: it has a very high fire resistance both its external and internal structure, making it to calcine it enough to forge it is extremely hard. Also, the fire energy seeped into its internal compositions from being constantly exposed to lava, makes it further heat up to almost incomprehensible level when it is heated to a certain level. Exposing the blacksmith into a fiery hell, no, almost like being bathed in lava!

Only someone with a fire type martial soul with almost perfect control of their fire to properly calcine the metal, and have fire resistance to resist its heat, could hope to refine the metal.

A blacksmith once did tried refining the metal. It was a three-ringed soul master with a high ranked fire type martial soul and above average control of their fire. He was only able hundred refined it, before fainting from overexposure to the heat.

Not a lot of blacksmiths wanted to forge such a demanding metal, as it needed a blacksmith with almost perfect control of their fire type martial soul, so, although a lot of soul masters wanted to use Crimson Iron, it was almost impossible to get it as refined metal. Making the market price for Crimson Iron to be lower than even low-rank metals, but the refined version of it sells for a hundred times its price.

Though, Xiu Ye was able to hundred refined in his first try. Mang Tian had to bit his lower lips, enough that blood dropped, to not let out a ear piercing envy filled scream.

My god! He's so talented that it's obscene! Instead of making me feel proud, it feels like my entire life of being and working as a blacksmith was all worth for shit under his foster son's brilliance!

Mang Tian had Xiu Ye try out Crimson Iron, as he's someone who has a fire type martial soul the metal should be compatible with him. Though there are certain risks, as a Soul Ancestor, he would be able to save his foster son from harm of being burn, which is ironic.

Xiu Ye was also surprise that he was able to refined the metal himself. However, thinking it over for few moments, he felt like facepalming.

He has Ryūjin Jakka, albeit the fake version currently to use, the sword that has the firepower of a literal sun. Though it currently couldn't display it's true powers, as he still hasn't gain its acknowledgement, the flames it produces is still powerful enough to even affect a soul ancestor with soul power protecting him. So as someone whose only a one-ringed soul master, it was a miracle he didn't burned to death by his flames.

However, unlike soul society or even Xiu Ye's previous world, logic and common sense here is bull. It seems that, as Ryūjin Jakka became his martial soul, his body is fire resistant enough to the point of it being fire immunity. The old man himself, though grunted in displeasure as his previous user hadn't received this kind of side effect, hadn't disagreed with this. Which made him hundred refined the Crimson Iron much more easily than other blacksmiths.

Though he could have tried thousand refining it, but decided not to as he wanted to build a steady and firm foundation as a blacksmith before tackling the thousand refinement. His previous first thousand refinement was only a mere fluke, miraculous as it were.

And what's more, if Xiu Ye would finally get Ryūjin Jakka's acknowledgement, he would get a couple of surprises other than being more resistant to the fire element.

"Haa... Though to think Mang Tian would have been so intense in teaching, really, hundred refining five more metals?" Xiu Ye grumbled as he showered in his bathroom connected to his room. Thankfully, it wasn't too taxing on him that he wouldn't be able to move.

*Ring~* *Ring~* *Ringtone~*

"Hm?" Xiu Ye quirked an eyebrow, now clothed with his school uniform, his hands were on a white towel rubbing to dry his short red fiery slightly spiky hair. His attention, however, turned to his soul communicator on his bed, ringing a default ringtone.

'Gotta change that later on, hmm, do they even have singers here? Last I checked, before I died, Tang Wulin in DD4 was a famous pop singer. Is the current him good in singing as well?' He shrugged, dropping his towel on his bedside table, he picked up his soul communicator.

"What's up sis?" Xiu Ye it was Yu Fei, as she was the only person who knew his contact information.

"Ye, skip school today. We gotta talk." Yu Fei's familiar voice rang in his ears, though, for some reason it sounded kinda strange. Like she was holding back her voice.

Xiu Ye frowned. Yu Fei never calls him by his name, unless it's urgent or she needs something from him. From how strange she sounded, it must be the former.

"Alright. Where do we meet?" He nodded in agreement. He mostly already know about the lessons they were about to teach him anyway and he's going to use the cultivation method devised by Ryūjin Jakka when the damage to his soul, spirit and mind are fixed in a few days.

"The park. One hour." After saying that, she hung up.

....

Xiu Ye slowly popped his head over the side of a building, looking around to see that there was no one around, he quickly walked towards his destination. His school uniform was changed into casual clothes: a white T-shirt and green cargo pants.

He was afraid he'd come across some responsible adults to take him back to school. Thankfully, Mang Tian was reasonable to let him go ditch school after he explained Yu Fei wanted to talk to him about something important. Though he did say something about someone coming into the workshop later on.

The morning sun slowly shone brightly down the earth, warmth and vitamin D hitting all the creatures of the world. Slightly chilly breeze swimming around, making Xiu Ye slightly shivered.

Glorybound City's only park was rather small, being only all 41 meters length square size, blue silver grass filled the ground in the park with sidewalks, benches and street lamps.

Xiu Ye spotted Yu Fei sitting on a bench under a tree's shade, his eyebrows raised in surprise, as the latter hadn't worn her nun outfit. Instead, she wore a two piece suit; a long sleeved black suit over a buttoned black and white striped shirt, the sleeves on her two arms folded to her forearms, and long black pants. Her long luscious golden hair was tied up into a ponytail.

"Hello, Ye." Yu Fei greeted him, now standing right in front of her, with a small smile. Her serene teal colored eyes trembled for a moment before returning to calm.

"Hey sis." Xiu Ye casually greeted her in return, walking to the side, he unceremoniously took a seat besides her.

Silence reign. The two had been sitting for a few minutes now but they hardly ever said a thing to each other. Despite Yu Fei asking Xiu Ye over to talk, she just found it hard to speak.

Finally, after thirty whole minutes of silence between each other, Yu Fei let out a long exaggerated sigh.

"Let's just get this over with..." Closing her eyes, while simultaneously taking a deep breath in, Yu Fei turned towards Xiu Ye. Her eyes focused on his and her expression serious.

"Ye, I'm leaving." Xiu Ye's face and mind blanked.

What?

"What?!" He said it out loud, almost like a scream, with a completely shocked expression. What does she mean by that? She's leaving the orphanage? The city? But why?!

They might seem like their always in conflict with each other, which is totally true, but they viewed themselves as family; close siblings to be exact. Though, at some point, Xiu Ye had thought of Yu Fei as his own mother when he was younger; when he was two years old.

"What do you mean you're leaving?!"

"It is what it is, I'm leaving this city."

"Why?"

Yu Fei hesitated, her lips pursed, but she talked.

"Two reasons. One is that I have something very important to do that I've been putting off for too long. The second, is because I need to help your family right now." Xiu Ye's eyes widened.

Family? The misunderstood evil soul masters being hunted down by the Federation and Spirit Pagoda? His parents?

Xiu Ye frowned. He might not have met them before but they are still people who birthed him into the world. Yu Fei has only told vague details about them a couple of days ago, and the reason why they sent him here was to hide him away from the organizations after them.

The Federation is the continent's government, with a vast connection with other organizations and soul masters. Only people who are Titled Douluos, or has certain statues that makes them untouchable, would be able to escape from their arrest. Which is why Xiu Ye wouldn't be really concern of because his parents are said to be powerful soul masters, probably even Titled Douluos. The problem is Spirit Pagoda.

The Spirit Pagoda has a ten thousand year history. Due to their importance to Soul Masters and their groundbreaking research into artificial spirit souls, their status had risen dramatically to its current state. Throughout the three continents, they were the strongest powerhouse. With a more greater network connection, and connection with a certain cult, only Limit Douluos with Four-word battle armor would have the certainty that they are untouchable from them.

His parents being Limit Douluos? Xiu Ye could believe it. They were Evil Soul Masters after all, they are known to have the fastest cultivation speed but uses dark and vile methods, though Yu Fei did say they only gathered the negative energy of humanity to advance. But having a Four-word battle armor? Yeah. That's impossible. Unless they have a close relationship with a Divine Blacksmith, his parents would certainly be facing great trouble.

"...Are they in trouble?" Xiu Ye asked in slight worry. Frankly, he was feeling slightly indifferent to them. Until he meets them himself and reveal their true colors, he'll just held off his feelings for them.

Yu Fei grimaced.

"No, not yet at least. Your parents are very strong soul masters, ranked in the top ten of the Douluo Continent, and have certain connections that can make the other organizations after them to back off, once in a while. But the problem is that, these organizations hunting your parents, would one day find and kidnap you. Milady and Master are both afraid of what will happen if they get their hands on you. Torture, brainwash and death. These three, are what the most likely scenario of you being kidnapped."

"Ye, I want to go to your parents, to try and help them. But most importantly, trying to protect you." Yu Fei held Xiu Ye's hand slightly tight. "I know, after three years and you're ready to enter a intermediate academy, you will go to a mid-sized city. In that place, I wouldn't be able to protect you as my real identity would be discovered and it would endanger you."

"Then why can't you leave in three years later? Why now?" Xiu Ye's watered, tears started to form in the corner of his eyes.

Yu Fei, her eyes watered and puffy, lips trembling.

"Because it'll be hard for me to let you go."

Xiu Ye choked back a sob.

Sis...

"When I go now, I can divert our enemies attention to my return. Making it so your identity would further remain hidden from them. You can live a more comfortable life."

No...

Tears streamed down Xiu Ye's face. This wasn't fair, the only person he has ever consider as his family in this life is about to leave him. Despite having the mind of a teen, he wasn't able to control his emotions. After all, having an entire life of not having one person to consider as family, she was about leave him.

He closed his eyes, missing the action of Yu Fei stuffing something in his hand she held.

"Why can't you, or my parents, help me get stronger? Aren't you guys super powerful soul masters?" He asked, opening his reddened eyes.

Yu Fei smiled, closes her eyes, and brought Xiu Ye onto her chest. The latter was too emotional to care about a pair of soft heavenly pillows enveloping his head.

"We could, we can, but not always. As much as we would love to, a person's life is their own. Their choices, their path, and their way is their own making. Do you want to be spoiled, pampered and not be you're own person your entire life? Or be someone reliable, strong, responsible, independent and live your life without any regrets?"

Silence.

The wind breezed around, the light from the sun slowly dimmed from passing clouds. The blue silver grass around the area swayed softly and quietly.

The entire area was completely quiet.

Xiu Ye didn't know this now, not until a few years later, but a soul power barrier was created around them to make them go unnoticed.

*Sigh*

Xiu Ye let out a sigh within Yu Fei's large chest, almost biting into them, and slowly back up.

His eyes looked straight into Yu Fei's. No hesitation, no chaos.

Just acceptance.

"Alright. I'll let you go, but, please, take care of yourself for me as well. Oh and say to my parents that I said: "Hey, what's up?", for me would you?"

The sudden shift in atmosphere made Yu Fei blanked for a moment before laughing.

"Okay. Take care of yourself as well."

"I promise. Oh wait, when do you leave?"

"Tomorrow, why?"

"How about one last walk around the entire city?"

Yu Fei lips upturned into a beautiful, grateful, smile.

"Sure. I would love that."

....

The next day, three certain organizations: Federation, Spirit Pagoda and Holy Spirit Cult, went into an uproar.

For the ruler of storms, light and darkness, has returned.