Hei Ren - 353

Ying Xiong, Tong, Lu Zhong, and Feng Lie were walking up Zhou Fan's mountain in the direction of his courtyard.

Despite being in his own sect, Ying Xiong did not use his divine sense to look at Zhou Fan, mostly out of respect. Tong was the same. He also did not fly with the children, and instead walked up most of the way.

Of course, his walking speed was incomparable to a normal cultivator's full speed, but the children walking with him did not sense anything abnormal.

It had been a little more than a month since Zhou Fan and the rest of them had gone their separate ways, and the children were now at the 1st level of the foundation establishment realm.

As they got closer to Zhou Fan's courtyard, they heard the sound of metal clashing.

Not a single person in the group was uninterested in what was making the sound, and they soon reached the doors.

The two children went ahead and opened the doors with excitement.

As they looked inside, they saw two black blurs flashing around the courtyard, occasionally meeting, causing the clashing sounds.

When the two children were noticed, Zhou Fan appeared in front of the lake and the tree, while the child, Hei Ren, appeared behind him with sweat covering his entire body.

Hei Ren was wearing custom made black clothes, and his black pupils intimidated Lu Zhong and Feng Liu for a moment.

Suddenly, Hei Ren's facial expressions changed and they saw what seemed to be an innocent child behind Zhou Fan.

Over the past month, Zhou Fan had not only taught Hei Ren techniques and fighting skills, but also how to act.

Zhou Fan did not mind Hei Ren's personality, but the children would.

With Hei Ren's intimidating looks gone, Lu Zhong and Feng Liu began to approach Zhou Fan with excitement.

They seemed so energetic that Zhou Fan feared they would begin to climb on his body, but they became interested in Hei Ren behind him.

"Who is this, Uncle Zhou Fan? Is he a new disciple?" Feng Liu asked.

"Indeed. He will join the cosmic sect, but he is my personal disciple." Zhou Fan said.

Both Feng Liu and Lu Zhong instantly showed faces of jealousy.

"Why is he your personal disciple, but we aren't?" They asked.

"He's a little bit different from you. I don't know if Ying Xiong could handle him." Zhou Fan said with a laugh.

He gestured for Hei Ren to step out in front of him, which he did.

"Hello. I've heard a lot about you. My name is Hei Ren." Hei Ren said with a smile.

Feng Liu felt a slightly uncomfortable feeling when Hei Ren spoke, but Lu Zhong did not. Feng Liu called herself crazy and acted normal again.

"Hello Hei Ren. My name is Lu Zhong. This is Feng Liu." Lu Zhong excitedly introduced.

Hei Ren shook his hand, and then Feng Liu's.

Only then did he turn his attention to Ying Xiong. He could instantly recognize him, although he seemed different from the paintings he had seen.

In the stories, he seemed domineering and arrogant, but the man in front of him seemed like a peaceful old man.

As for Tong, Hei Ren instantly considered him on the same level as Ying Xiong.

Over the past month, he had begun to believe what Zhou Fan had told him, but only now did he finally lose any doubt.

"Go and greet them. They can also be considered your teachers." Zhou Fan said with a nudge.

Hei Ren hurriedly trotted forward and slightly bowed his head.

"Student Hei Ren greets teacher Ying Xiong and teacher Tong." He said with respect.

"Hello Hei Ren." Ying Xiong said. "It seems you found a respectful and calm student. I wish I could say the same." 

Zhou Fan chuckled.

"You kids go out, me and uncle Zhou Fan are going to talk for a little bit." Ying Xiong said to Feng Liu and Lu Zhong.

Zhou Fan said the same to Hei Ren, and the three went out on the mountain to do who knows what.

Only Ying Xiong, Tong, and Zhou Fan were left in the courtyard.

"I don't think I like that kid." Ying Xiong said.

"Me neither." Tong agreed.

"Don't worry, I won't let him corrupt the other two. He is my personal disciple. If you don't want him to, he doesn't even have to join the cosmic sect." Zhou Fan said.

"Don't worry about it. It's just a personal thing, he can join." Ying Xiong assured Zhou Fan.

"I expected so." Zhou Fan said.

"Still, I am interested. Can you explain his talent?" Ying Xiong asked. 

Tong was also curious.

"Sure." Zhou Fan said as they walked over to a table with chairs. Ying Xiong even brought out tea.

They spent around 10 minutes talking about Hei Ren before leaving the courtyard to go find the children.

The children had gone up the mountain, and Zhou Fan, Ying Xiong, and Tong soon found them next to a river, sparring.

Both Lu Zhong and Feng Liu were teaming up on Hei Ren, but Hei Ren was effortlessly fighting them off without counter attacking.

They had only cultivated and barely learned a few techniques, but Hei Ren had been undergoing harsh training with Zhou Fan.

When he saw Zhou Fan arrive, Hei Ren helplessly glanced at him. Zhou Fan gave him a signal, allowing him to defeat the children, though not harshly.

The battle was mostly being fought with weapons, but there was no intent to kill or seriously harm. Only a little bit of Qi was occasionally being used.

When Hei Ren saw Zhou Fan's signal, he suddenly fell into the ground as if he had been turned into water.

Both of the other children were confused, and as they were looking at where Hei Ren disappeared, he silently came out of the ground behind them.

Another knife had appeared in his hand, and he held both of them to the other children's throats.

"I win." He said.