First Lesson

Bai Jie went near the tree and sat down while Ming Jia sat in front of him. 

" How are you feeling " asked Bai Jie. He was concerned about this. Ming Jia's condition was very serious, especially his brain. 

" My head feels a little fuzzy but overall I am fine or say for some reason I feel much better. Thank you for saving me and my sister" replied Ming Jia. 

Bai Jie frowned hearing him. He felt Ming Jia was too calm. 

" Master, I know what you are thinking. I should have been sad and wanted to seek vengeance. But I feel it doesn't matter anymore so no point burning myself up. " replied Ming Jia with a smile. While Bai Jie could see heavy guilt plaguing him. 

Bai Jie smiled and shook his head. 

"So you don't want vengeance,  But I have already done it. " Bai Jie replied in a teasing tone while he looked at Ming Jia. 

" huh what do you mean? Ming Jia asked, confused by Bai Jie's tone and reply. 

" The thing wasn't even related to you guys. " Bai Jie explained everything in the simplest way he could. How a personal guard had started all this and he has been already eliminated by the people he contracted themselves. 

They were just easy targets so someone chose them. It was no one's fault or a person to blame for it. 

While he didn't tell them about the contract that was on his head. Also hiding the truth about the old lady. 

" It was just a few kids and a weak old lady perfect targets for venting his anger. What good fortune the guard had the victim doesn't even want revenge. If he was alive I might as well congratulate him. I think I have done some thankless work" Bai Jie spoke sarcastically. 

"  " Ming Jia's eyes showed a flair for a bit but disappeared. He returned back to his calm state again. 

 " While those who took the job also have already been eliminated too. " Bai Jie told Ming Jia about the red cross gang and the Head Hunter who took the contract. 

While describing the brutal scene at the cottage. 

While Ming Jia felt all those sealed emotions bubbling up inside him again when he heard about the Head Hunter. The faces of his fellow brethren started appearing in front of his eyes. While two streams of tears unknowingly escaped from his eyes running down his face. 

Bai Jie didn't wait for him to calm down. For a kid, the things he told were very harsh. But it was also necessary for what he wanted to say further. 

" Today I am going to leave this village so I wanted to ask you again," asked Bai Jie in a solemn tone. Even though Ming Jia had confirmed it before he still asked for some reason while looking at a tree behind Ming Jia. 

" Master, I will follow you wherever you go, " Ming Jia replied hurriedly while wiping the tears on his face. Even though he felt that his Master's strange gaze but he didn't dwell on it. 

" I want you to think this through you have a sister who is not a cultivator. While I have nothing, this village is just a stop for me but for you, it's your whole life. You can live the rest of your life here peacefully while I will give you the money to live and not worry about the food. " said Bai Jie while his gaze was moving between from Ming Jia and the tree behind him. 

" No Master I want to be stronger " Ming Jia voiced in between 

While Bai Jie continued further. While his calm attitude started shattering.  

"What do you think would have happened if you died that day and I wasn't able to save you, or your sister died someday? " Bai Jie spoke in an even harsh tone. Because he knew the place he was going might be even more dangerous than this village. That place was literally on the border. 

" That's why I want to be stronger. I want her to always be happy" Ming Jia also lost his cool. 

"In future, I might not be able to save him or even I might die " But Bai Jie continued, not paying attention to Ming Jia at all while looking at a tree behind him. 

While Ming Jia felt words from Bai Jie was like an arrow piercing through deep in his heart. He couldn't even imagine Ming Xue dying. 

" While you wanted to be a hero saving others while you can't even protect your sister properly just because you became a cultivator you think you had the responsibility to save others." Bai Jie spoke even more harshly but this time his gaze was locked on to Ming Jia. 

" I " Ming Jia felt his throat getting dry. He felt suffocated. But he suddenly noticed that his master shifted his gaze from him and towards the tree. 

" TELL ME WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS A JOKE, DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HIDE BEHIND HIM FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE," shouted Bai Jie. While his eyes locked on the tree. 

Ming Jia couldn't understand anymore their conversation started between them but he felt his Master was talking to someone else.  

" " Ming Jia suddenly heard a thud sound behind him. Like something falling. He looked back and Ming Xue was crouching on the ground while breathing heavily while marks of tears could be seen in her eyes. 

" Master " Ming Jia looked towards this young man in front of him. While he looked back at his sister who was almost breaking down. 

Even though Ming Jia was a little dense he understood what Bai Jie was doing. His words were not only for him but also for his sister. 

Ming Jia hastily moved towards Ming Xue while she started crying even louder. Even though Bai Jie wasn't completely correct Ming Xue felt it was her fault deep down and She was the weakness. 

" Don't think that your life is meaningless just because you couldn't save others. You have something that is also very precious. You did your best in that situation" Ming Jia heard Bai Jie's voice. He felt his own self getting overwhelmed with emotions. He felt the guilt he was feeling in his heart-melting away like ice in a warm wind. 

" Master what can I even do, " Ming Jia asked in a quivering tone. While he was holding Ming Xue in his arms. He didn't know what to do anymore. 

"First thing is that you don't have to act tough in front of me, I am your Master after all," said Bai Jie gently while he put his hand on Ming Jia and Ming Xue's head. While he felt Ming Xue shivering a little when he placed his hand on her head. 

" Don't suppress your emotions, anger is not a bad thing while vengeance is your right if someone tramples on your dignity don't back down. Some things should not be tolerated even if the other person had a righteous goal in mind. You did your best now don't fret over it. " said Bai Jie to Ming Jia. 

" While sorrow and fear, isn't weakness. Our mind feels emotions for a reason; don't let it cloud yourself. Let it all out. But you can't hide behind him, you also have to step forward  " said Bai Jie towards Ming Xue. 

While both Ming Jia and Ming Xue grabbed Bai Jie and started crying even louder. 

Bai Jie sighed while he hugged them back. Three of them stayed in the same position for quite a while.

While Ming Jia was a strong kid he was sheltering his sister too much. 

While Ming Xue was a good girl. But this world isn't suited for her.  

'The world does not move around people while we have to adapt to it. ' thought Bai Jie. This was the first lesson Bai Jie gave them as their master.  

" Thank you, Master. " It was Ming Jia who first let go. He looked towards Ming Xue. 

" Big brother. " Ming Xue mumbled in a low voice. While her eyes were closed and she nodded. 

" Master, we want to go with you. " Both Ming Xue and Ming Jia spoke at the same time. While both of their eyes showed hope shining in their eyes. 

Bai Jie looked in those eyes and it was the same as the first time he met them. 

Bai Jie didn't know the inner turmoil of Ming Xue but he could still feel some reservation. But he felt it was much more relaxed than before. Not as Ming Jia who trusted him from the beginning. 

" Master where we are going," asked Ming Jia. While he felt a lot lighter than before like a huge burden has been lifted from your shoulder.  

" Mortal village. " Bai Jie replied. 

" I want you both to still think this through. The road ahead is shrouded in darkness. It is a path that might not lead you where you wanted to go but remember there is no medicine for regrets," said Bai Jie while looking towards the sky. He didn't know what the future holds. Both of them nodded affirmatively. 

" You should rest while you can and not hide anymore," said Bai Jie while looking towards Ming Xue. 

" Yes," Ming Xue spoke while her cheeks went a little red. While she ran back in the cave with her head lowered. 

"Ming Jia I want to ask you something. " Bai Jie asked suddenly while he had a thoughtful expression on his face. 

" Yes," Ming Jia nodded while a serious expression appeared on his face. 

" Did you see an evil spirit?" Bai jie asked.

" huh!!!!!!!!" Ming Jia's lips twitched hearing Bai Jie. He didn't know where this evil spirit came from. 

While Bai Jie saw the confused and funny expression on Ming Jia's face. He described the scene he saw while he was with that evil spirit. The grasslands spanning up to horizons. 

" Master I don't know about the evil spirit but I had a dream like this while a voice was guiding me and the surroundings were not green as you said. It was up to 120 meters I think. But it was only a dream. Is this something important? " Ming Jia first felt confused about the question but still replied honestly. 

" No, just my curiosity," replied Bai Jie. 

' That thing knew Ming Jia but he thinks that it was just a dream ' thought Bai Jie in his mind. 

" Master, I am also curious about something. I want to know how you handle everything. You are always happy and cheerful. How do you move past these things " Ming Jia asked a thing which was going through his head. 

"I am an evil man. So I don't feel a thing hehe " Bai Jie replied with a smile and he disappeared. 

" " Ming Jia was stumped with the answer Bai Jie gave him. He smiled and shook his head.  

" Master I think you feel the most of all of us," mumbled Ming Jia in a low tone while he moved back inside the cave. 

Ming Jia knew their master had no obligations to save them. But not only he saved them from outside but also from themselves. 

He moved back to the cave and saw that Ming Xue was sitting waiting for him. 

" I am sorry. " Ming Jia sat near her. He realized how his sister felt. 

" Brother, There is something I want to ask you " Ming Xue suddenly asked. Even though she agreed she was still skeptical about it. 

"  " Ming Jia nodded. 

" I want to be strong like you too, will you help me training as you did, I don't want to be a weakness anymore," said Ming Xue while resolve could be seen in her eyes. 

" But " Ming Jia felt that someone just scratched his heart hearing her and wanted to find an excuse as he always did. But he suddenly remembered what his Master said to him. 

' You cannot protect everyone. ' 

It was the meaning behind his words today. And he shuddered at the thought of her falling into the hands of those people. 

 Ming Xue was his world. He never let her suffer hardships. While cultivation was to be on an arduous journey which might lead them to death. 

" Fine " Ming Jia agreed with gritted teeth. He understood what his Master meant is to let her choose her own destiny than sheltering her every time. 

" But remember there will be a lot of pain though. " Ming Jia looked at the little girl and her eyes showed resolve he never noticed before. 

"YES " Ming Xue replied with her eyes showing unwavering resolve. 

"Let's start then, see that stone lift it 100 times," said Ming Jia teasingly. 

" Brother you are not joking right. " Ming Xue looked towards Ming Jia with a shocked expression. That stone looked very heavy to her. 

" Well if you are scared then " Ming Jia tried to speak. Even though it pained him to do this but this world isn't a peaceful place as he dreamt about. 

" No, I will do it. " Ming Xue gritted her teeth and followed Ming Jia's steps. 

***********

While outside sitting on a tree Bai Jie was keeping an eye on them. This was also his first lesson for them. 

" It's when you reach your lowest point in life that the greatest change happens. No matter how much I think about I always marvel at the resourcefulness of the human mind," mumbled Bai Jie. This ability to find hope in the time of despair is what made humans a dominant race back on his planet. This unwavering desire to live. 

Bai Jie shook his head and sighed. While he thought back to that evil spirit. 

' What were those symbols? I felt they had a consciousness of its own. ' Bai Jie felt those black marks weren't something ordinary. 

While Bai Jie sat cross-legged activated his simulation screen to decipher his further cultivation pattern while waiting for the dawn. 

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