1 The Beginning

Sun Moon Federation. Douluo Continent

Silverlight town.

Silverlight town was a small town in the near the coastal towns of the Eastern coast of the Sun Moon Federation. It housed a population of around 15000 people and had a small Spirit Pagoda in its name.

Today was an exceptionally bustling day in the city, it was the annual Awakening week and children were escorted to the Spirit Pagoda for their "awakening".

All of the people residing upon the Douluo planet possessed something called a "martial soul" upon their birth. The martial soul was a part of the spiritual body which could be awakened when a child became six years old.

Through the means of an awakening ceremony, they were able to awaken their own martial soul. This was precisely the purpose of the annual Awakening ceremony, to awaken their martial souls.

Martial souls, being the manifestation of the spiritual body, strengthened that specific aspects of the person. If someone's martial soul was a hoe, then their ability to till the fields would far exceed those of others. If instead they had an animal for a martial soul, they might possess some of the abilities of said animal. Due to this, the martial soul had long since become the most significant factor in determining someone's life since no one was the same and this showed quite clearly in the different martial souls that each person possessed.

However, the emergence of soul power was even more important. Soul power was a type of energy that nourished and upgraded the martial soul till it finally and fully manifested the spiritual body of a person. Although everyone possessed a martial soul, only one in a thousand people might possess soul power.

The soul power rank represented someone's future and power. As soon as their martial soul was awakened, they could cultivate soul power in order to nourish and upgrade their martial soul. Thus, over the 100,000 years the Douluo Continent has existed, the most noble profession has been that of a Soul Master.

Due to this, even commoners would look forward to their children becoming six years old and awakening their martial soul, in hopes that they would possess soul power. If they possessed soul power, their lives would be transformed, benefitting them and their whole family; of the various schemes and plans the government had for the Soul Masters.

The moment dawn arrived, the streets in front of the Light academy were packed. The streets were flooded with parents and their children who had come to participate in the Awakening. 

This was due to the fact that the Spirit Pagoda of the Silverlight city wasn't that big and thus the martial soul awakening ceremony had to be done in the Light academy that was just a street away from the Silverlight Spirit Pagoda.

Actually, the Awakening Day was a decisive day that decided one's life and future. Whether or not someone had soul power would decide the trajectory of their life. Fortunately, in this era those who were unable to become Soul Masters were still able to have a pretty good future. This was quite focused in the Silverlight town due to their low population and, in turn, low numbers of Soul Masters.

The Sun Moon Federation valued Soul Masters higher than the common folks and spared no resources to uplift the soul masters life.

There was an unceasing torrent of parents and children passing as they exited the academy. The overwhelming majority of them all left with sighs of disappointment, but occasionally one of them was overjoyed. There was no need to ask why; their martial soul must have given birth to soul power. This immediately attracted the envious and jealous gazes of others.

"Fan Lin." A teacher walked out from the backyard with a list in hand, calling out the next name.

"Follow me." Perhaps it was due to the excessive workload on Awakening Day or a lack of workforce, but the teacher seemed somewhat apathetic as he quickly turned around and began walking ahead.

Yinchen Lin followed behind the teacher silently until they came to a circular building and he was taken inside a circular building.

Every single elementary academy had this circular building. It was called the Awakening Chamber, and it was specifically used to aid six year old children in the awakening of their martial soul in their schools. Before the day of the awakening ceremony, the academy would invite a professional Spirit Master from the Spirit Pagoda to conduct the awakening ceremony.

Fan Lin entered the building and his sight went to the furnishing of the place. All of the floors, the walls, and even the ceiling had wonderful inscriptions carved into them to create an elegant, decorative design but that wasn't its only purpose. Those engraving were safety features that enabled a smooth and safe awakening ceremony without much trouble.

'If I could take a piece from here, how much would it sell for?'

Within the Awakening Chamber was a middle aged man wearing a simple orange robe, that featured the embroidered form of a soul beast unknown to Fan Lin.

He was an envoy from the small Spirit Pagoda in Silverlight town. These Spirit Masters from the Spirit Pagoda were powerful and mysterious existences to the commoners. They were an exceptionally special group of Soul Masters and held an extremely majestic status on the Douluo Continent. However, this was the first time he had ever seen one so close. There weren't that many Spirit Masters to be seen here.

"Go and stand in the centre there."

The Spirit Master said. Right at that moment, a gentle white light shone from the Spirit Master's hands and attracted Fan Lin's attention.

That white light, was the soul power that only Soul Masters possess(?).

While under his astonished gaze, the Spirit Master raised his right arm slightly. The white light vibrated before flying off towards the sky and blossoming into fireworks that illuminated the Awakening Chamber with its splendor.

Starting from the ceiling, the inscription lines filled with light as it moved towards the walls. It was as if it possessed a strong and revitalizing energy, as well as a life of its own. The lines kept lighting up until they converged below Fan Lin's feet.

A comfortably numbing energy crept up his legs before entering his body from his heart.

From the view of the Spirit Master, Fan Lin's body was already being enveloped in the light, and in turn, was releasing its own light. Within this ancient traditional ceremony, his martial soul had thus been awakened and more.

The Spirit Master was pleasantly surprised, this was a martial soul with soul power! Most of the time, he could conduct the ceremony for days without encountering a child with soul power. It would seem that today's luck was pretty good since he got two. The only question was: what was this one's martial soul?

The hollow of Fan Lin's palm faced upwards, and a pale blue light emitted from it. In his hands appeared a small light blue grass that quietly rotated and extended in his hand. With a delicate and soft sway, an exceptionally feeble energy fluctuated out.

"Bluesilver Grass?" The Spirit Master's voice exuded disappointment, but it was once again substituted with amazement in a moment. He had seen the Bluesilver Grass martial soul so many times before, this was a completely ordinary martial soul! Bluesilver Grass was so common that it covered the whole Douluo Continent as well as the Star Luo Continent and Sky Dou Continent. Even the lawn of the Light Academy was covered in Bluesilver Grass. It was common fodder! How could this type of trash martial soul give birth to soul power?

And it wasn't just the Spirit Master that was confused, the boy that got the Bluesilver Grass martial soul was also confused by the situation. It was as if the entire world was pranking him.

'That much unlucky?'

"Let's check your soul power."

Except the Spirit Masters ignored the soured looking face of the child and excitingly comment while checking the tab in his hand. Soul power was soul power and if he had it then he had it. Just the fact that he had it was to be celebrated upon.

"Damn!"

The Spirit Master exclaimed when his eyes peered on the number that represented the innate soul power. He was prepared for the results but not this prepared as the result just broke what few he had learnt in his life. It was practically a miracle at this point. 

The Spirit Master looked at the kid, then at the Blue silver grass on his hand, his face changed, so did he tone. 

"Child, don't be sad! You possess soul power and you won't believe how high it is."

He hastily exclaimed, as if apologizing for the use wrong words in front of a child. Fan Lin just silently looked at his change of attitude. His face still scrunched, his eyes conveying: Do I look like I care for it? 

Fan Lin was an orphan who was barely surviving by. He was also an orphan that was sent to the Silverlight town due to causing some trouble in his previous orphanage at Glorybound Town. In simple terms, he was a problem child.

Hence he was homeless instead of being in an orphanage and mooching of them. Now he lived in the forest outside the Silverlight town and made his living by selling fruits and vegetables that he either acquired in the forest or grew by himself(harvested from the trees).

Today was unfortunately his birthday, making him now 6 years old, and thus he was dragged by aunty Zhang to get his martial soul checked despite his utmost denial on this matter.

Now he was here, with a martial soul with soul power but it was Bluesilver Grass and it had soul power but it was still Bluesilver Grass.

[Is it?]

He didn't want to possess soul power and there was a reason for it as well (according to him).

He had heard the cost of the spirit souls in the Spirit Pagoda and he can't afford it. Even if he sold fruits and vegetables for the next ten years, he still wouldn't be able to afford it.

Heck even houses cost less than a tenth of a spirit soul. It was that costly!

When he saw the Bluesilver Grass, he felt like the Gods have heard his prayers, now he had a better excuse for aunty Zhang. Like what could the trash Bluesilver Grass even do for him? What was she gonna do? Change his fate or something?

As for him becoming a Spirit Master, he had inquired and found that the life of Spirit Masters was simple, they studied, cultivated, fought with each other, worked hard in different occupation which all require money to learn and then joined some group, focused on their cultivation and then rinse and repeat it till the end of their lives.

Life is a struggle!

[Really...?]

I don't want mine to be that boring and bothersome and tiring and expensive.

There were no breaks in cultivation or work in the Spirit Master's life. Everything is a fight, it was a competition filled with peer pressure, politics and tension.

[Thoughts of someone with less than two years of life experience.]

Personally I don't care. I have seen and read the terrible effects of gang wars and their aftermaths many times, be it from the newspaper or the TV.

[Those aren't as trustworthy as you think...]

He wanted an easy and carefree life. He could simply get it by attending a normal school and learning some practical craft like blacksmithing, tailoring or repairing or woodworking. Then toiling in some work, getting married, having some kids and then dying of old age.

That would be enough for him to live his life. But aunty Zhang was the persistent one, forced him to come all this way and here he was, with a martial soul with soul power but it was Bluesilver Grass!

Dear Lin thought that with a 10000 to 1 chance, his wish could have been granted if he was one of the 9999 and yet he could not help but face the reality.

He was the one, The One!

[You?]

"You have rank 5 innate soul power. Your Bluesilver Grass might be a mutation, variation or an evolved version of the Bluesilver Grass. Can you show it to me?"

The Spirit Masters said in a friendly tone as he came to Fan Lin and inspected his Bluesilver Grass martial soul on his own accord.

Mutation or evolution were no jokes and a good mutation could basically mean the birth of a pheonix or a dragon.

(It's a saying, don't delve deeper into it.)

He took out a tab and checked the pictures of other Blue Silver Grass awakenings and compared it to the one that was in Fan Lin's hand.

"Hmm."

It was the same. There were no changes. It was a normal Bluesilver Grass from all sides.

"The changes could be internal; It might be your bloodline as well, that also affects innate soul power. Are your parents Spirit Masters?"

The Spirit Master awkwardly asked as he couldn't think of a concrete answer to the Bluesilver Grass possessing rank 5 innate soul power but being common. If it was the Bluesilver king or Bluesilver Emperor then the situation would have made more sense but no matter how much he stared and examined, it was common Bluesilver Grass. 

"I am an orphan."

Fan Lin said with a deadpan expression.

"Oh." [Spirit Master]

"Yeah." [Lin]

*Silence* 

The situation continued for a few seconds before the Spirit Master coughed a little and changed the topic.

"Have you ever heard the tales of the Tang Sect? The founding patriarch of the Tang Sect's martial soul was actually the Bluesilver Grass! He relied on this martial soul that other deemed as trash to rebuke the Heavens and Earth and defeated the wicked Martial Soul Hall twenty thousand years ago."

"No.My parents never told me. Can I go now?"

Fan Lin asked. He was not angry.

"Yes... you can. Don't lose hope. ╭( ･ㅂ･)و"

The Spirit Master took the hint and escorted him to the teacher who brought Fan Lin to the awakening chamber.

"Here is your Spirit Master ID card. Don't lose it and if you become Rank 10+ Soul Master, you will get 1000 Federal credits every month. For free. So cultivate well."

The Spirit Master said the pre-prepared lines for all the awakened students with soul power and remembered Fan Lin's name.

"Everyone dreams of getting an opportunity like this but only a few can. Your destiny is in your hands now!"

The Spirit Master returned to wait inside the Circular building while rubbing salt on Fan Lin's mental wounds.

'Possessing soul power was definitely a good thing, but if his martial soul was Bluesilver Grass…'

The Spirit Master thought about the legend of the Tang San and sighed. Not everyone can be Tang San.

...

Outside the Light academy

"So what was the result! Tell me fast kid!"

A certain frail looking old woman excitedly asked Fan Lin.

"Bluesilver Grass martial soul. Rank 5 soul power."

"Eh? What did you say? Bluesilver Grass? Rank 5? You are lying with me just because you didn't want to be a Spirit Master, huh? How old are you even that you dared to lie to me!"

She said with each words increasing in sound attracting the passerbys towards them.

"Here."

Fan Lin just apathetically passed his Spirit Master ID to her and looked at the people who were looking at him direction now.

"What are you lot gathering for? You got nothing else to do! Biscuit loafers."

Although his words ignited the crowd but they didn't dare to do anything in front of the awakening chambers and Light academy.

Aunty Zhang also ignored his words as she stared at the card, trying to check its authenticity with whatever bits of knowledge she had on the subject and it seemed legit.

"I have told you thousands of times already, when you are poor, talk with others nicely. Don't make unnecessary enemies."

Aunty Zhang said to him and grabbed his hand and hurriedly dragged him to her small jewellery shop.

.....

Aunty Zhang's Jewellery shop.

"You are quite carefree to leave your shop without any supervision."

Fan Lin said after seeing the empty shop with no customers and no one at the counter.

"You talk as if you don't know. No one comes here to buy anything nowadays. Poor blokes."

Aunty Zhang said to him while taking out a chair to sit. She just took one chair for herself while Fan Lin was left standing.

"Aren't you worried about your future, kid? You can't always rely on the stuff from the forest, the forest won't be there forever. Someday it will be cut down and so will your supply. It will all return to nothing."

"You turned 6 six years old today. The awakening ceremony also happened to be today. You also awakened your martial soul and you have innate soul power! Rank 5 innate soul power at that! Doesn't it sound like fate."

Aunty Zhang mysteriously said to him.

"Fate won't feed me."

Lin said apathetically.

"Look at you, you are just a little lad. You have seen nothing. I know, I know that you have heard about different things from lots of people but that doesn't equate."

"You are naive now, thinking that the world is all about filling your stomach and having a place to sleep but as you grow up, so will your desires. You will want different things... a different life."

"As you grow older, the desires will grow, you will form relations, gain responsibilities through it and toil to no avail. You will start blaming your destiny."

"That will soon change into self-blame. How you could have done things differently, how you could have spent time more wisely, whom you could have spent your time wisely and lots and lots of different stuff. Life will just become full of regrets by then."

"Don't say things like you will never regret or never have any more desires. Everyone has desires and everyone has regrets, none can escape from it. That's life."

"But you are given a heavenly opportunity. Use it or you might regret not using it, or using your youth into something better."

Aunty Zhang turned to look at Fan Lin after saying all that but found nothing but silence.

He had left her long ago.

"Kids nowadays..."

Aunty Zhang smiled a little, her smile filled with sadness, just like her eyes.

.....

Fan Lin was wandering around the town while looking around for various shops and eateries where he could sell his fruits and vegetables.

*Sigh*

"Do something for the better future? Why? I am happy with my life. I don't need to study and I can laze around all day. I can also eat whatever I want and I don't even need to depend on the adults."

"I have a small income and an equally meager savings. If I worked like this, I will be able to afford a small place to stay in around five-six years. Then I will have a home by 10, 11. I forgot I am six years old from now on."

[What about inflation?]

"Then I will set a small shop in front of my house and sell stuff right there. I wouldn't have to run over and deliver stuff to various places."

"And they want me to destroy this perfect future of mine for a measly status job whose whole motto is diligence, hardwork and perseverance while spending money."

"Do they think money grow on trees? Or do they think their motivational words produce money for my future? It is like if I do as they say and money will automatically fall for me? Stupid morons."

"What's the point of cultivation and all, when you can't cultivate more due to not buying a freaking expensive ball? Where everything requires money, blood, sweat and tears? Isn't a peaceful life where you don't have to converse with a lot of people, do whatever you like, live however you want and with no one to breath down your neck and exclaim 'I am the one who feeds you so listen to me' good."

"Isn't freedom great? Then why did everyone suggest me to choose a path where I have to spend my hard-earned money, work myself to the bone and then continue to do the same till... I actually don't know but it must be a lot; and then they have the gall to say I am lucky?"

"How? Not everyone likes tomatoes, not everyone wants sweets. Just like that, I don't want to become a soul master or study advanced mathematics. I am plenty smart myself."

"I know how to read. I know how to write. I know how to speak and I know how to count. What's the need to make things complicated and learn about the things people did 10000 years ago or the process of evolution of mankind has anything to do with my life."

"They don't depend on me!"

"Then just why? Stupid adults!"

He came to the forest outside Silverlight town while fuming about the unreasonable adults.

....

According to the regulations set by the Sun Moon Federation, elementary and intermediate academies had free tuition and were compulsory. Elementary academy was three years while the intermediate academy was six years long. There were several ways to enter an advanced academy: outstanding achievements, paying an exceedingly expensive tuition, or entering an academy of science and specializing in a field of study.

"Thankfully I can choose to not enter the soul master branch, although I would still need to attend the normal classes now that I have been awakened."

"That's why I didn't plan on going there."

*Sigh*

"Aunty Zhang is really taking advantage of my inability to retaliate on older woman to the max. Should I leave Silverlight town?"

"But I only have savings for around two weeks of survival and if I couldn't find something financial to do in those two weeks, I might just die of starvation. I am not begging again."

"And I can't deny the danger that I might face due to my age and orphan status, little kids like me are often the preys of Evil Soul Masters and gangsters."

"This town is too small and I can safely roam around it. I also have a stable income source for now, at least till the forest remains. This town is also nearby coastal towns so the temperature is just perfect that I can sleep outside without the fear of freezing to death or hotness. The insects are a problem but insect repellant will do."

"I really don't want to attend school. Just thinking about the fact that I would be surrounded by stupid kids who will flaunt their wealth and I would have no choice but to get along with them repulses me to the bone. There's also the hidden danger of angering or retaliation against some kid who has a background, that would make things troublesome."

*Sigh*

"Why Aunty Zhang? Why?"

He wondered as he climbed a tree to sleep on.

He was an orphan in the Glorybound Town's orphanage but due to a single anger tantrum that he caused, he was sent here to the Silverlight town.

He wasn't completely in the wrong but they still kicked him out.

He felt betrayed by them and hence left the Orphanage of the Silverlight town while forming a distrust of humans.

[Stupid]

"I know that I am a straightforward fool and acts recklessly without thinking but I wasn't in the wrong!"

After escaping from the orphanage, he began living at the various places, be it the back of the restaurants, public parks, rooftops and even train stations.

He either stole money for the various places or just did some simple beggars act and be a beggar.

That was until he was found by aunty Zhang a few months ago.

She brought him to her shop forcefully and washed him. She then patiently asked him about his past and gave him the idea to use the forest to earn a simple livelihood.

He won't be rich, heck he won't even be frugal but he could still fill his meal, earn a little bit of money to buy some clothes and other necessities.

He adhered to her words and did as she told him. Soon he was able to have a place to sleep, a small vegetable garden whose vegetables he currently sold and a simple livelihood of a small time fruits and vegetables vendor. 

His daily earnings were around 10 to 20 Federal credits, since he could only carry a small amount of fruits and vegetables with him due to his age and availability. 

He was still a kid.

To him, Aunty Zhang placed quite high. He respected her from the bottom of his heart.

But I don't like her when she forces her thinking on me. I know and admit that in experience, she had seen and understood the worldly affairs far more than me but that doesn't mean that she could force her knowledge or thinking on me. 

I don't like being restrained or compromised. I hate it. I also don't like to fight or show off what I have to others.

I never dreamed of becoming someone great and majestic. Nor do I want superior strength or status. I don't care about the politics or what's happening to the world. 

I just desire a simple life. Freedom to choose what I like and just die when old age hits me.

I like the cold breeze in autumn. Gentle wind in the summer. Couple it with the calming noises of the insects at night and I will sleep like a log without any life. 

I like to roam in the forest, laze around on the beaches, watching the clouds and whatnot.

I could sleep all day. I could sleep all night. I could just sleep for an eternity. Just don't wake me up and I might not even wake up.

I have many hobbies. Hobbies that others considered boring or weird. I don't want to change my liking. I don't want to change myself.

Those were things that felt ingrained in me along with this intense hate for anyone that disturbs my boundaries.

Aunty Zhang says that it is wasting my life. I am wasting my life. I still liked how I lived though.

My happiness, my calmness, my peace and my serenity, sometimes I feel as if the whole world just depends on it. That if I change, the world would not be the same again.

Venturing out and exposing myself to the matters of the world is wasting my time. At least to me.

The differences that I have with Aunty Zhang on what I consider good for myself vs what she wants me to do is making me hard to properly talk to her. Whenever I try to hold the conversation, she says something and then I get mad and don't want to continue the talk. 

I get mad easily. That's a problem but I will focus on it. Give me a few years and a peace of mind, I will be the calmest being that you will ever know.

"I might be in wrong for not trying to listen to her and she might be saying everything for my goodwill but she should at least listen and understand to me as well."

"What I do may seem like a waste of time for her, but not to me. Isn't it cruel to always deny the way of life that I like, I want."

*Sigh*

"Whatever... I will apologize. She helped me a lot... I am still not changing how I live though."

He said and after some time, drifted to sleep.

The next day.

Early Morning.

He picked some of the vegetables and fruits along with a makeshift bag that he brought and trotted towards the shop of Aunty Zhang.

"You didn't go to school?"

She saw him while opening her shop and asked him.

"Still time for it... sorry for yesterday."

He spoke while looking down. He hated apologizing when he wasn't in the wrong. He wasn't completely in the right though.

"Don't worry, I didn't expect much from a six year old anyways."

She said with a smile and took out a chair to sit. This time two of them.

She sat on one and Fabulous Lin sat on the other while putting some vegetables aside for her.

"I was thinking a lot of things last night and I wanted to ask why did you help me? I couldn't think of an answer at all. Even after all this time."

"It's not the first time that I thought about it. I thought a lot but the answer was just not there. You aren't a philanthropist or you would have just adopted me or something along the lines but you actually told me to earn a living through foraging. That's just raising a pet."

"You also never gave me anything to eat after my first meal even though you boss me around all day and suggest me things for my good future as if you care about my future. Sometimes even hysterically."

"But then you seem quite apathetic about my situation so--"

He stopped and looked at her before finally giving in and asking.

"Why?"

Aunty Zhang looked at him as he spoke and couldn't help but shake her head with a big smile.

"I was waiting for you to ask this for a long time."

"My ancestors came here in search of a better livelihood and I have been staying in this town since my birth."

"In my youthful days, I was quite a looker as boys begged to even have a chance to talk to me. Then my father fixed my marriage to this apathetic bastard who died a year later after our marriage in a gang fight."

"He was a Mecha Corps member in the Eastsea City by the way. So I returned here, ah, I forgot to tell you that I moved to Eastsea City after marriage. So I returned here after he died."

"But that son of a bich left me with a cute responsibility in the form of my child. I raised him up with care, always loved him and even sent him far away to get better studies."

"He later came with a pregnant woman, an indigenous woman from Star Luo continent at that! So I flew in a rage and kicked them out of home."

"It has been years since I last saw them. I hope they are at peaceful now."

She became silent after saying that.

Fan Lin looked at the path in front of the jewellery shop and couldn't help but silently think - Aunty Zhang needs a therapist.

"I regret that. I regret kicking him out at that time. I didn't even listen to him. What could I even do at that time? My husband's family didn't provide a dime to me to raise my son. My father also passed away after some time due to his age. My mother had already die a long time ago due to illness and my sister was with her husband and in laws in another city."

"I... raised him alone, I worked day and night, even sold many of my ancestors stuff to fund his further education. I spent my whole midlife catering to him and when I asked: this is what I sent you to study for?"

"He had to guts to reply: I didn't ask you for all that. You did it on your own."

"How couldn't I be angry at that point? Why wouldn't I? I have the right to do so? He did something wrong, I, as his mother and guardian, should have the right to punish him, right?"

Tears began to well up in the eyes of Aunty Zhang as she continued while taking out a handkerchief from her bag.

"And that I did, I kicked him out of the house, along with the woman. Am I petty? Shouldn't a person be punished or reprimanded when he did wrong. So why did I cry over remembering it again and again?"

"Everyday, I think about that moment and wish that I could turn back time and have him some time to explain at least."

Aunty Zhang wiped her tears and stared at the roadside in front of her shop as well.

"As time passed, I realised that what's right and what's wrong is often determined by us, from our own perspective that we gain throughout our life."

"What I deem right could feel wrong to you. What you deem as right could seem wrong to me."

"That still doesn't answer why you helped me and I do understand your words. I do but I think you should learn a bit from your experience and let others talk before saying things." [Fan Lin]

He said as he still didn't get the answer that he wanted.

"I told you about my son and how he brought a pregnant woman who was an indigenous person from the Star Luo continent."

"You mean like me, right? Ahh, you are using me as a substitute for your grandchild."

He said as if realising the answer.

"Nope. And yeah, she was like you, with bronze tanned skin tone, brown eyes and but black hair color unlike your brown."

"And no, it's not that I am using you as a substitute as my grandchild, you just remind me of my husband. He was stupid and dumb as well."

Fan Lin's smile forze as he immediately looked at Aunty Zhang with goosebumps on his body when she mentioned that he felt like her husband. His grip on the chair tightened as a defence reflex was activated in his mind. He was ready to smash the chair!

Fortunately her later words calmed him down or a regretful moment would ensue.

Wait a minute...

"I am not stupid or dumb. Well I am, but not most of the times, and I ain't as stupid as your husband, probably. Give me a few years and I will show my smartness."

He said with weak confidence in himself. He knew the things he did and they weren't the brightest of the actions of mankind. But he could do better, he knew that.

"Escaped a place that provided free shelter, food and clothing. Begged people to earn money to buy food when there is free food available in the elementary school. Refused to attend any schooling because of past trauma."

"Does that ring any bells. You are given one in ten thousand chance to be above the rest of the normal humans and you chose to waste it based on the things that you have heard from others."

"Don't you want to take revenge against those that caused the fear of strangers in you? Don't you want to live a life without fear ? A life where you are true to yourself."

"Let's say, you want to spend the rest of your life living as you are, what if one day the forest was cut off? Don't say that it won't because when I was young, there were forest even beyond what my eyes could see. Now the only forest left is the one that comes in another territory."

"Everything had been wiped out. Skyscrapers and parks taking it's place. Change doesn't take that much time to happen and time passes without waiting."

"No one can be free of regret but one can be free of the guilt of not trying."

"In your youth, time flies, in your old-age, time crawls."

"I know that you are a mature kid who doesn't like violence and has been diverting that rage to other things but standing against something that you want to stand and deem as rightful isn't something to be shameful of."

"You tried your best. The others have as well. There are a lot of things that you don't understand now. Things that you will need to experience to understand, no one can teach you that."

"When I say you remind me of my husband's stupidity, I meant the way you are trying to run away from your fears. My husband was a cowardly and weak hearted person, not having any talent for fighting."

"He got his job by the dealings of his family and died a stupid death doing something he wasn't mean to. All because he was afraid to fess up about him being afraid to handle bloodshed or fighting. He lacked courage. He was a coward."

"You are acting cowardly as well but you aren't a coward. Refusing to trust others because of a single incident that you don't even have a proper knowledge of. Who do you blame more: your previous orphanage or the kids that bullied you due to your indigenous background, whose eyes you mistakenly damaged."

"The orphanage, right? Because you are afraid of the people, the officials and all those adults in power. You have heard about their workings and ferocity from the others, haven't you?"

"Now you have a chance, a simple chance to change your life. And I am not saying to level up and murder their entire family. I am saying to strengthen up and live a life when you are strong enough to not fear anything but your conscience."

"Being strong doesn't mean fighting everyday or just sitting at a place and spending your whole life there. That is for those that want that kind of life."

"For those that want to improve, want to become better, those who desire to reach the peak or those that had a motive."

"There's no one forcing you to continue once you have made your mind that it's enough. Just stop there."

"Just become a person who would not blame others for his own actions, nor would he kill his desires to do the right thing, the thing he deems as right."

"As for how to decide that, broaden your horizons, know both sides and trust yourself. You have been living in a world where the laws had been realised and implemented a long time ago."

"You have lived your whole life subtly learning what you feel is right and what's wrong, just trust your instincts or someone whom you can trust with your life."

"Everyone makes mistakes so don't think everything you do will always be the right choice. Just repent when you make a mistake and move on instead of acting like a crybaby kid and mopping around while saying big things but doing nothing."

"I am not afraid of them. I just don't want to hurt others since I know the consequences of my actions. I may not always be right but having strength might just blind me to my own self. I don't have anyone that I care for, what's stopping me to just one day brand the whole world as my enemy and cause misery upon it. I get angry easily, doesn't listen to others pretty much most of the times and I particularly have no idea of what's too much." [Fan Lin]

"Can't I just let time heal my wounds, my fears, and let nature take its course? Why do I have to worry about a future that uncertain and unknown by everyone? If I am doomed then whatever actions I took will lead me to it. That's destiny, beyond the control of mortals." [Fan Lin]

"If I am blessed, then I will be fine the way I am living. The forest where I live is just a place that I stay at. If it's not available, then I will just find a different one instead of wasting my time on remembering it." [Lin]

"It's just a shelter, the world doesn't lack it and till the time I am able, I will earn my food with my own hands." [Fan Lin]

Fan Lin got up from his chair.

"The time for my classes are near. I will take my leave." [Fan Lin]

He left after saying that.

Aunty Zhang looked at his back and took out a fruit to eat from the sack he forgot to take with him.

"Children and their egos."

She shook her head with remorse. 

.....

Light academy.

Fan Lin slowly walked towards the gate of the Light Academy in thought.

A Spirit Master who was standing by the gates saw him and moved to greet him.

"Hi student, come with me!"

He said it with such confidence that Fan Lin nearly accepted that he might have filled the form for the Soul Masters class.

"I want to choose a normal class."

He said to the teacher, his words catching him off-guard.

"... you are in the Soul Masters class though."

"I chose the normal one." [Fan Lin]

"Your guardian had placed you in the Soul Masters curriculum." 

The teacher replied while showing Fan Lin his placement. 

'Aunty Zhang!!'

"How many normal students are there in the normal class?" [Fan Lin]

"Normally, normal students in the elementary grade are around 50 students per section. Why do you ask?"

The teacher answered while asking a question of his. Fan Lin didn't reply him though. He seemed to be in a deep thought.

The teacher looked at his state and chose to stand aside and wait for the other two soul master students to arrive.

"Can I change my curriculum on my own?" [Fan Lin]

"No. Only the parents or guardians are allowed to do that." 

"... Take me to the Soul Masters class then."

Fan Lin said after sometime, his eyes sour and his mouth bitter. The teacher nodded his head and took Fan Lin on a tour of the Light academy.

An hour later.

Fan Lin was in a big class with two more students and the same Soul Master that greeted him.

He was their teacher. After a really brief introduction ceremony of the students, he started the class.

"Today is your first day of class, so I'll be explaining the different classifications for martial souls first. In the afternoon, I'll teach you how to meditate. Meditation is the only way to temper and improve your soul power. If you want to become a true Soul Master, then you all must strive your hardest."

"As you all know, everyone in our world has a martial soul. One's martial soul awakens at the age of six, and it can be anything. If one also awakens soul power, then they can cultivate to become a Soul Master. Now a question for all of you, what classifications are there for martial souls?"

"First of all, the two main classes are tool souls and beast souls. Among them, all of the martial souls that appear on the body are beast souls. If they appear separately from the body, then they're tool souls. By cultivating your soul power, you're able to upgrade your martial soul. After your soul power reaches rank 10, then you're able to become a Soul Master."

"There are also two main classes of Soul Masters. The Battle Soul Masters and Utility Soul Masters. Those who cultivate with the goal of fighting are Battle Soul Masters. Regardless of what someone's martial soul is, they are still a Soul Master. There are also many minor classifications…"

Just like that, he spoke for two hours before ending the morning class. The next forty minutes were break time and after that the afternoon classes start.

"The cultivation method that I am teaching you is the botched up version of the Mysterious Heaven Method of the fabled Tang Sect."

"Mysterious Heaven Technique was deemed a beneficial tool for humanity and was thus revealed to the public for anybody to practice, but as I said before, only a botched up version was circulated to us by the federation because not everyone has the comprehension to cultivate the actual method at the age of six."

The Soul Master said while explaining the process of cultivation.

He then taught them the cultivation technique and guided them throughout it.

...

Fan Lin left the Light academy and trotted towards the shop of Aunty Zhang. He forgot his vegetables and fruits in her shop when he left in anger and now he was returning with anger and rage.

His anger was silent though...

"Or maybe I am just afraid to show my anger to adults, they unreasonably use violence whenever they feel like."

He reached her shop and after seeing him, her first words were:

"What are you here for?"

"To get my bag, you know about it already."

"Then here's the money, I sold the vegetables to my neighbour and ate the fruits myself."

She gave him some Federal credits while pointing at the makeshift bag at the side.

(Sack sounded wrong to me, I don't know why, so makeshift bag.)

Fan Lin silently looked at her for a while.

"You have nothing else to say?" [Fan Lin]

"It's not that I don't get angry kid, it's just that with age, I have learnt to control my anger on people that I don't want to leave. I do feel angry, I just eat something like I am crushing that person to death with my jaws and my anger calms down after a while."

"Your words now contradict your words in the morning." [Lin]

"I never said that you shouldn't be angry. I just said that you should understand whom you can be angry with and whom you can't. My suppression of anger isn't due to the fear of a person but the fear of losing what I like."

"Still not saying it?" [Fan Lin]

Lin sighed and sat on the chair next to her. He really couldn't win against her in a verbal confrontation since he didn't know where to begin... as for physical one, let's not think about that....

"Wisdom comes with experience not age."

She said as she enjoyed the sight of the bustling street.

"Time changes, the streets were empty as far as the eyes could see in the morning, now you can't even properly see the shop at the end of the street."

She slowly remarked.

"I like my current life." [Lin]

"I never said to abandon it. I just suggested for you to change the way you live not how you live. You can be as lazy and carefree as you want but at least have a proper income and place to stay."

"Why did you never meet with your kid when you are this regretful?" [Lin]

Lin changed the subject as he didn't want to delve too deeper into his own choices.

"He is really far away from me now. I can't reach him even if I want to."

"Sorry for saying that. I didn't know he died." [Lin]

Aunty Zhang turned to look at him, Fan Lin did the same.

"He isn't dead?"

He asked. She shook her head.

"He just lives really far away. It would take around five days by train. I also don't know where he lives in that city."

"Ohh. How did you know about it then?"

"My neighbour's child's bride's brother had been married to a woman in that city who were acquainted with them. My neighbour saw their pictures in the wedding pictures background and informed me about it."

"??" [Fan Lin]

"Hah, I really don't know how he was able to move that far away. When he returned with that pregnant woman, he had quit his studies and was unemployed with a baggage with him."

"I wonder how he did that, well good for him that he is fine."

Aunty Zhang continued while watching two women fight over something. Fan Lin also paid some of his attention there as well.

"He even has a child that took on his mother. That weak chicken couldn't even produce a proper child of our heritage. Such weak genes."

She shook her head as if disappointed by her son.

"Your son never tried to contact you."

Lin asked after some time.

"He did, in the beginning he did, but I destroyed my soul communicator. What? I was having my anger phase. I did a lot of weird and regretful things at that time."

"Anger and pride destroys a person from every side. I learnt that the hard way."

"I am content now though. He... is happy, that's what all I wished for when I sent him to study. For him to have a good life, get married and have some cute children who will call me grandma but that bich, aah just remembering about it is making my blood boil!."

"I do feel lonely all alone. Life is boring. I have also passed the age when I can restart and get married to have a family again."

"There's nothing much to do except watching how the world changes. That's when I heard about you from a patron of mine."

"I thought of raising you since you felt interesting."

"So I am basically a pet to you?" [Fan Lin]

"What do you think?"

"I don't want to talk to you." [Fan Lin]

Lin said while silently sitting beside her, staring at the fight that was reaching its climax, a small smile formed on his face as his heart was in peace after knowing her reason. However wretched it was.

He knew Aunty Zhang and she might just have decided to help him on a whim, but she did help him when others didn't. When he didn't trust others.

*sigh*

"Just remember kid, nothing is eternal, everything ends and no one can stop it."

She said while ruffling his hair. He didn't resist.

"Why are you planning to live a normal life when you can enjoy an epic life by being a Spirit Master?"

"This and that are different, you can't compare it. And for the millionth time, I am not doing that hectic profession where my whole life will just be a hamster race against the others." [Fan Lin]

"The world may need Spirit Masters but the world has no need for me. [Lin]

"Stubborn as always."

"Same to you. Why do you always force these things? Studying at school, doing something else or being a Spirit Master? Why?" [Fan Lin]

"I already told you yesterday, you just didn't listen."

"Then just tell me again. Its just some words, you don't need to make it dramatic." [Lin]

"It's so that you won't regret later on. Life is a mystery, you don't know what going to happen. You even said it yourself. I just want you to be ready for everything."

"And what if my happiness doesn't lie in that? What if I lose things precious to me when I do what you said? Life is unknown, you said it yourself." [Lin]

"Happiness needs to be found kid, what you get isn't true happiness, it's just a moment of elation. You still haven't found your happiness. The life you are living is just a passing moment of elation that will end sooner than you think."

"Mind explaining that a bit, I can't come with a suitable argument since I couldn't understand it. If I follow your words and in the future, my life is ruined. Can I blame you for everything then? Would that change anything?" [Fan Lin]

"You~ That's hard even for me, just know that happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."

"You mean my life, right? I want to live a normal life, I talk about it as well and I am living a normal life as well. I am happy now, in this small town, in this backward place, away from all the worldly troubles, without fear, without worry. I am at peace, my life simple and serene." [Lin]

"This is my desire, my choice." [Lin]

"Do what you like."

"I planned to." [Lin]

...

[Timeskip - 1 month later]

Fan Lin was slowly returning to Aunty Zhang's shop from the Light academy.

He had been going there for a whole month and following the classes and cultivation half heartedly.

He just planned to perfunctorily graduate his elementary schooling and then switch to some practical learning intermediate schooling tailoring, smithing or calligraphy.

Those were in high demand due to the rising population and shops.

As he scooted closer to Aunt Zhang's shop, he saw a small crowd gathering and discussing in the street where Aunty Zhang's shop was located.

"Did something happen? Aunty Zhang must know. I will ask her about it later."

He thought while increasing his speed.

After their last big conversation, Aunty Zhang seemed to have given up and didn't continue to bother him about becoming a Spirit Master. They did talk and debated about lots of things daily after his school ended though.

Aunty Zhang also talked about the various things like how she had a grandson who must be stupid like his father and grandfather.

That she was secretly nouveau riche after selling all the things owned by her ancestors who were merchants by nature.

He knew her personality and what she said along with the fact that he had never seen a patron in her shop in the past four months that he was here, she might be right when he said that.

"Huh, something's wrong?"

When he came near Aunty Zhang's shop, he felt that things were off. Aunty Zhang's shop was surrounded by the security officers and Aunty Zhang was nowhere in sight.

He ran towards the shop to look for Aunty Zhang but was stopped by the security officers who grabbed him by the hand and began to ask questions.

"Who are you?"

The officer asked him.

"Fan Lin. Where is the owner of this shop? An old lady going by the name of Aunty Zhang?"

Fan Lin asked back.

"So you are the kid. She was attacked by someone last night. Her shop was also wrecked by someone. That's all I can say to you. Go to the hospital and meet her, she asked for you."

The officer said and began to talk with the others, completely ignoring Fan Lin.

Fan Lin looked at the messed up shop and dashed towards the hospital where she was taken.

'Why was Aunty Zhang attacked by someone? Was it because of her secret wealth or is it something else?'

He reached the hospital and after asking the nurses, sped towards the room where Aunty Zhang was admitted.

He immediately opened the door and saw her looking out of the window.

"Aunty Zhang, you are fine!"

She turned her head and looked at him blankly.

"I got stabbed kid! I am fine, I should be right, it's just a stab to the stomach with the intent to kill."

"You know I didn't even need the hospital, I would have healed by my own. Like hell I am fine! Can't you see all this tubes and machines connected to me, you blind kid."

She sweetly looked at her nurse while mouthing out words that weren't sweet.

"So you are fine. I thought something serious happened to you."

He heaved a sigh of relief and brought a chair to sit closer to her.

"A knife wound is serious."

She also sighed and looked at him wondering what could she do about this apathetic child.

"What happened? The Policemen said that you were attacked."

He asked her and she, after some hesitation, told him slowly.

"Your teacher told me that your cultivation aptitude was beyond anyone that he had seen. I am stated as your guardian in the Light Academy so he often gave the weekly reports to me."

"So I had brought a panacea.."

"I told you didn't I Aunty Zhang, I don't want to be a Spirit Master, you don't need to do all that. Look what your stubbornness has caused."

He interrupted her in the middle of her talking and got smacked on his head by the nurse.

"Listen to me first. The panacea was brought for myself. It can prolonged my life by a few years. A mystical treasure that I spent all my savings and wealth to get."

"Why?"

He interrupted her again but became silent after her glare.

"Listen to a small story of mine. I am old and I was going to die a few months ago. My body had started deteriorating and everyday was just regret. Regret about the past, my actions, my pride and about my child."

"One day, as I heard about a certain rebel of a kid, I had this immediate thought of meeting him. I wanted to see which stupid kid has left the free meals on an orphanage and ran away. I wanted to see something poor like you before I die"

'...?'

"After some findings, I met you, you looked like a malnourished gutter rat who hadn't had a proper meal in weeks."

"That's just insult now." [Fan Lin]

"Shh, don't disturb. So I took pity on you and decided to do something good before I died. I took care of you, fed you, gave you your current clothes and oversaw your struggle as you worked hard to eat, to earn, all the while controlling your childish desires. I liked to see that." 

"Time seem to passed like that. My life hasn't been any different. There was a new excitement but I unknowingly didn't hate it, I wanted to live a little more every passing day. I wanted to see just how far will you struggle. How far will you go."

"Like a pet?" [Fan Lin]

"You are stupid. Just like my husband or my son. If not for the fact that I grew up in a family of capable men, I would have thought all men to be the same: useless and stupid. Turned out, only the people that I know are stupid."

"So I went to get myself checked up and took medicines to prolong my life but even the medicines has a limited effect on my aging and it could only make me live for a few more months."

"Time again seemed to pass as it had been 3 months since I knew you. You turned out to be a good lad. Hence one day, I took you fk get your martial soul awakened. Part of me just wanted to see how you were going to react but you can't understood the happiness that I felt for you when you awakened your martial soul with soul power and it was the Bluesilver Grass."

"Don't get me wrong this time. My feelings had changed in the three months that I have been watching over you. Now I was genuinely happy for it and there was a good reason for it." 

"Rank 5 innate soul power with Bluesilver Grass meant that a child would gain the status of a Spirit Master but due to his martial soul, he would be able to enjoy the rest of his lifetime in some countryside in relish. He will be paid every month for just existing, and revered by all(countryside only). Who doesn't want a life like that. At least I know that you were going to love it."

"You know what you said? I do not want to be a Spirit Master... even gave some pathetic reasons for it. Truly a debauchery!"

'You didn't explain it like that before!' [Fan Lin]

"Listening to your words, I got reminded of the foolishness of my husband who went to take on a position to save his 'manly pride' even though he was totally incapable as a fighter."

"Or my useless son who quit his studies and got home a pregnant, foreign, woman with any employment or my permission. Haah, I am surrounded by stupid people."

"I tried to make you understand about the status of the Spirit Masters and the benefits it provided. It all went in empty ears as you never listened to me."

'Once again, you didn't explain properly! How would I know it would be easy when everyone said hardwork was the key to success?' [Fan Lin]

"I once again felt the frustration from before, when my husband left, the same frustration the I felt after my son argued with me about my upbringing. They both left me after that, leaving me alone."

"I thought you would do the same. You even showed on your face many times and yet you didn't leave. You continued to stay with me. Beside me, even when I said hurtful things to you that was just 6 years old, even though you had no need for me, you didn't leave. I wonder why."

"I realised that you weren't stupid. You weren't like my husband or son, you are just an innocent and naive child. A small one who formed connection with others really fast. It wasn't that you didn't want to leave me, you were just reluctant to leave a person you felt grateful too. You are too emotional, despite claiming otherwise."

[That's right]

'That's wrong. I was just lazy.'

[No. You were not.]

"Too naive and innocent but in a good way. My desire to watch over your future grew. I wanted our lives to continue like that. Some verbal debates, some disagreements, some quips here and there and lots of happy memories, I wanted to enjoy life."

"But soon I realised that fate was often cruel. Karma had come for me, finally returning what I owed. Now it was my turn to leave."

"I loved my child. I raised him up with the utmost of my capabilities, I wanted him to become someone who would always be happy, get married, had some kids and we all live happily. The result was disappointing though,"

"When he came home with a pregnant woman and announced that he quit studying, I couldn't control myself. It felt like my whole life flashed by my eyes as a thought appeared in my minds, 'What was the point of all the hardships that I faced to raise you then? I didn't raise you to get some girl pregnant without any jobs or source of income. What about asking for my opinion? What about even considering how I would feel about all this?"

"I kicked him out in rage. As I thought back, I think I should have listened to him, maybe he had a reason, maybe it was a teenage mistake or maybe it was his friends. I don't know. I didn't listen. To me there was nothing to listen."

Aunty Zhang looked at Fan Lin, her eyes watering up as she finally said the truth that Fan Lin had wanted to hear from her mouth.

"... I lied to you when I said that they are alive. My daughter-in-law died while giving birth as my son couldn't provide enough to get her to a better hospital or nutrition. He died later on due to exhausting himself to pay for the loans he took to save the life of his wife and his child."

"I don't have a grandchild, he never existed as he died with his mother..."

"Just before all this though, my son had come to beg me for money. I was still angry, too hung over my pride and ego to consider his words. I ignored his cries of plea and begging. I am terrible mother, aren't I? A terrible human..."

"After their deaths, I grieved again and again. Thinking that if I could turn back time, I would not do that again. Wishing for everything to be a dream. Hoping that my life ends..."

"I indulged myself in my sorrows and grief, neglecting my health and drowning in guilt."

"Then years passed and I passed out one day. My neighbour, my only friend, took me to the hospital and then I realised that years of neglect had caught up to my old age. It was time for me to die."

"That was 9 months ago. It wasn't some miracle of God or a misdiagnosis. I just met you 6 months ago. After meeting you though, I felt like living, so I took medicine, took care of my health and somehow persevered through it all. Good times."

"Life was just a little bit more fun with you around and I wanted to live like this just a little more. So I used whatever wealth I had to find something that could increase my lifespan by a few years."

"And after a few tries, I was able to get spiritual panacea that could extend my life by around five years by undoing the damages that was done due to my unhealthy lifestyle. The panacea was delivered to me a few days ago and I had booked the appointment with the doctors in its usage and their aid but things happened."

"The rest is the present. I don't know who but someone knew about my purchase and ransacked the spiritual panacea. Now it's gone as well."

She gazed at the eyes of Fan Lin who was silently listening to her.

"I was wrong to force you to become something you didn't want. I know that as well. I just said those words because I don't want you to end up like my son, poor and destitute enough that he couldn't even afford his wife's medical bill or a decent meal."

"You can hate me all you want, maybe even leave me as well. I won't mind, nor would I blame you because from the moment that I have met you, till now in this hospital. I have never thought of something bad for you."

"You are given the perfect conditions that fit your desires. Your martial soul and innate soul power would easily allow you a smooth and peaceful life but you need to take the right decisions. But since you refused to do so, I decided to guide you through it."

"You could have just told me." [Fan Lin]

"You would have still not followed it. And I know that I was wrong. You aren't like my son, nor like my husband, you will survive fine on your own, although it would be full of hurdles but you will. You have the tenacious desire to live no matter even if it's to survive by eating trash or work hard to gain something to eat. You want to live."

"That's why I stopped pestering you. I had realised that you will succeed on whatever you want but more than that, you know of the responsibility that comes with status. You won't be like my son who stupidly left everything for a woman and had no way of properly feeding her."

"You are one in 10000!"

"Don't mock me." [Fan Lin]

Aunty Zhang looked at the small boy in front of her. He was looking straight at her, his eyes clear and serene.

He hadn't experienced what she had and just knew them on words. She felt sad leaving him alone.

"So you are not dying?" [Fan Lin]

The boy asked her. She smiled at his question as she considered it his way of politeness.

"I won't. At least not now. I won't be able to open my shop or leave this hospital for a few days though."

She answered while shaking her head. A stupid child he was.

"Oh. I will visit you everyday then." [Fan Lin]

He looked outside the window, at the view that she was looking at before his arrival. He didn't know the exact feelings that he felt at that time. He was too young for that.

He just knew that if he didn't cherish the few moments he had, he might not be able to experience them again.

'Is this dread?'

He asked himself as both of them silently looked outside the window. No one talked. The nurse had already gone.

Aunty Zhang hasn't given her reply but he knew that she would be happy to have someone to accompany her during her last moments.

"A hospital ward is far less boring then classes."

He said after sometime.

"Really? Tell me about it."

"Well there really isn't much to tell but I have been..."

In a small hospital room facing the soul train station of the Silverlight town, an old woman and a young child talked till night.

The woman was bedridden with vials and machines connected to her body, yet she was smiling at the words of the kid.

The young kid, a child with a dark brown skin tone and iridescent brown eyes continued to talk to her.

They were smiling.