12. Aiming The Stars.

…

At noon Hiro opened his eyes.

"Hmm,"

His eyes fixed on the ground as he thought quietly. Seeing this Izuhi removed the barrier and asked.

"Is something the problem, sir?"

"Huh? No, nothing. Take me to old Sai's courtyard,"

"Okay sir,"

"Where's Aki?"

"The matriarch called for her,"

"Okay, let's go,"

Hiro and Izuhi left the courtyard and Izuhi led the way. They walked for a while and came across a group of people.

A group of four, led by a young man. He looked like someone in his early twenties and was quite handsome. He held a fan in his hand and led the three behind him. They were two young ladies and a man following him.

Izuhi bowed slightly and continued to lead Hiro away.

"Who is this servant that has no respect?" the young man asked.

The young man behind him blocked Hiro's path and stretched his hand to Hiro. Izuhi caught the man's hand and said.

"First young master, this is my young master, the patriarch's son,"

"Uncle Enji's son? The newly adopted one?"

"Yes,"

"Hmph, the dog picked up by a lion," the young man murmured. "Sorry for my rudeness, junior brother should learn to greet his elder siblings,"

"Sorry, I heard the Lu family rejected me. I only have one sibling and don't remember that being you,"

"You…"

"Izuhi let's go, old Sai is waiting for me. I don't want to keep him waiting,"

"Tch, let's go," the young man said.

Izuhi freed the man's hand and watched them walk away.

"Forgive me for asking sir, does sir old Sai knows you are coming?"

"No, let's go,"

Izuhi nodded and continued walking. Hiro followed after him quickly. Soon they arrived at a gate and Izuhi knocked.

"Come in,"

Old Sai's voice sounded from behind and Izuhi opened the gate. They both went in. Old Sai was seated in a meditation pose.

An incense pot was beside him. It filled the courtyard with a scent that was rather calming.

"Greetings old Sai," Izuhi said and bowed. Old Sai nodded at him and turned to Hiro.

"I didn't think you'll come visit me so quick, what brings you here?"

"This junior greets senior," Hiro bowed. "There's something I would like to ask,"

"What's that?"

"The body tempering realm is all about cleansing the body and tempering the bones. If so, is there no way to do that with pills?"

"I see you are the impatient one. Sit down,"

"I just feel, it should be possible," Hiro said and sat down.

"First, it isn't all about cleansing and tempering the bones. It's also about gathering energy, Qi. The amount of energy matters, and what hinders the easy flow or gathering of energy is impurities and weak bones,"

"That's why it is important to cleanse body and temper the bones,"

"Yes, you should know you are a cultivator starting over again. Your bones aren't weak and the body isn't as impure as a normal mortal,"

"That explains why I reached the first stage in one night,"

"Yes. Concerning your question, there are two ways. They are both expensive and both torturous even to cultivator experts, so people don't bother to use them. Most people die from the pain of it,"

"How effective is it?"

Old Sai looked at him and said. "You don't need it, getting to the foundation realm will be a walk in the field for you. Things may get slow at the fifth stage of the foundation realm but your speed won't be inferior to most cultivators,"

"My goal isn't the foundation realm and neither is it the core formation realm nor the nascent soul realm,"

Hiro stared at Old Sai with a serious expression on his face. "I'm sure the major reason you guys saved me is because there's a chance I can reach the ancestor realm quicker than others,"

He paused and continued. "If there's a chance to increase that speed then why don't we do it. I'm sure grandpa will be happy to see an ancestor level expert by the time he recovers,"

"You want to reach the ancestor level realm in one year?" Old Sai asked.

"Yeah,"

"That's impossible lad. It's like trying to reach the stars by jumping,"

"Let's try it then. If I can't reach the stars I may land on the moon. If I can't do that too, I'm sure I'll surpass the clouds,"

"Fine. Elta was here this morning, talking about how she's happy to have you in the family. You should go tell your family first,"

"No, this is between us. If they knew, they wouldn't want us to proceed. Izuhi you can't tell anyone,"

"Yes young master,"

"And if you die?" Old Sai asked.

"And if I succeed?"

"You are just like your sister, both stubborn. Go spend time with your family, come meet me tonight,"

Seeing the look on Hiro's face he continued. "Don't look at me like that, I won't tell them. I have to prepare the materials and you need to enjoy life a bit more, just in case things go south,"

"Understood,"

"Promise me one thing lad,"

"What's that?"

"Don't chase strength for a wicked aim. Your reason for gaining strength should be to protect. Izuhi is your guard, I'm sure you'll be proud of his strength since he will be using it to protect you,"

Hiro looked at Izuhi and then at old Sai again.

"It should be the same for you. Make those around you proud of your strength because you are protecting them,"

"Junior understands,"

"The patriarch and matriarch should be busy, go play with Elta,"

"Okay,"

…

After leaving old Sai, Hiro and Izuhi made their way to Elta's courtyard. On their way there they met Aki.

"Young master," she bowed slightly.

"Mother called you,"

"Yes, I'm just returning from her,"

"Okay,"

"Where is young master headed?"

"I'm going to see Elta,"

"Oh, the young lady isn't in her courtyard. She's at the flower garden. This way sir,"

Aki took the lead and they followed. It was a bit of a long walk. The trio arrived at an opened field as big as a compound.

Divided into two, with one side having flowers and three open tea houses, and the other, green carpet grasses from beginning to end

The tea houses each had a table and five chairs. Hiro found five people seated at the tea house and about nine standing in a straight line behind the tea house. Xue Li stood among them.

~Ting~

"Yah!"

"Not strong enough, your speed is good but your aim isn't,"

Opposite the tea houses, on the other side of the division, Elta clashed swords with someone Hiro found familiar.

"Those seated are the young masters of the Lu family," Aki whispered to him.

"If that's the case let's head back to my courtyard,"

The trio turned to leave then Elta's voice sounded.

"Oh, Hiro, you are here. I forfeit eldest brother,"

Hiro turned and found her running over.

"I thought you were cultivating?"

"I got bored and came looking for you,"

"So why are you leaving? Come let me introduce you,"

She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the others. Hiro got a closer look at who she was sparing with and remembered who he was. The first young master of the Lu family.

"This is first brother, Lu Aoi. Eldest this is Hiro, my younger brother,"

…