Friends

Finally, the fierce fight between Ho Chen and me came to an end, and luckily I got out of it alive. If the master was not there to help me. I don't know what the result would be. But one thing is clear that I have to get much stronger if I want to live in this world alone.

Master told me that she has only 18 days max, and during that time, I have to get strong enough to survive without any wicked plans.

After the fight, Ho Chen approached me.

- "The way you used the field was quite good, and the way you deflected that punch was too awesome. You are one heck of a fighter, aren't you? Up until now, no one of my age group was able to survive against me this long. They would just give up after 3 to 4 punches at max, but you survived so long. You have earned my respect, and so to show my respect, as the way I promised to erase our past feud, if you survive against me until the end of the fight, I will stand up to it."

"No, it was cool, I also had fun competing against you."

I replied sarcastically.

But my luck was good that Ho Chen stood by his word, and as the battle came to an end, he allowed the anger for me that he kept during the fight go or else my life here would become hell just like back in my family, where I had to live in constant fear of getting killed by someone.

-"Hey, if you don't mind, can we be friends now. I know you don't want to become subordinate to anyone. But we can be friends, can't we?"

"Well, we can be. But are you sure you want to become my friend? I don't have any family background or anything else, I am just a poor living being who was able to survive until now with pure luck and nothing else. There is no benefit for you in becoming friends with a person like me."

-Hmm... If you are talking about benefits that may be and may not be true."

"Maybe and may not be…

What do you mean?"

-" If you are talking about the family background, that is true, but if we take other data, you are more beneficial to me than most of the people."

"Is that so? I don't think that the way you see me is true."

-"It certainly is true, you will see that in the future, and even if it is false. I do not want to become friends with you for the benefit, it's just that you seem kind of awesome, and all.

And you are the first person who ever stood against my decision.

Until today nobody ever dared to stand against me even if I was wrong. So I never really tried getting close to them because their behavior was so just because of the power my family and I possess. And such a person will never be faithful in life or death situations.

So what good are they?

They are just rubber stamps with friends written on them.

But for you, it's different, I can feel it.

For you, I feel like you will be more than a rubber stamp, you will become a real friend of mine.

A friend who always stays by my side in every situation, a friend who can stand against me if I am wrong.

That's why I want to become your friend."

Ho Chen's face was red due to embarrassment, but the situation was no different on this side either.

This was the first time when someone gave me so much respect in the past 10 years. So it was obvious, for me to glow.

So I accepted Ho Chen's offer without any second choice.

"I would love to be your friend this is the first time someone asked me to become his friend, I am way too happy."

-"Well, this is the first time for me as well to ask someone to become my friend by myself.

Until now, people would approach me to become friends, not the other way around, but this time it is the other way around.

Well, we will talk about these things later.

The 2nd test is about to begin."

"Oh yeah, by the way, do you have any idea about the task of the 2nd test?"

-"No, they change types and sequence of tests quite often, previous year, battle-royal was held, in round 2, but this time it was held in round 1."

"You are quite familiar with the pattern."

-"Of course, I am. Who do you think I am?

And besides that, I participate in these exams every time they are held, to find the best person to take them under my umbrella and make them follow me.

You know how tough it is to do so."

"It is tough?"

I asked while smiling.

-"Of course it is, for this purpose only I have to do mischief with such a high level that helps me get thrown out of the sect just 1 day before the exam.

Before, it was easy, but as time passed, the list of mischiefs that will help me get an exit got shorter and shorter, and now I don't have many mischiefs left, it will just work for 1 to 2 more times."

"So, does the patriarch allow you to enter again after getting kicked out?"

-"Yeah, basically he does, he knows the reason behind those problems I create, and he was the one who suggested this method to me in the first place. And there are very few rules that stop you from entering the sect after getting kicked out."

"The patriarch himself suggested this method to you…

What is the reason behind doing this madness?"

-"Well, the basic reason is to find good talent."

"Good talent?"

-"Yeah, you know everyone is not as lucky as you. Some people have talent but, due to circumstances, are not able to pass the entrance exams, so I find those talents and test their talent.

If they pass, then I suggest their names for direct entrance, and if they don't, then they don't."

"Wow, that's cool. But why does a student like you have to do all these things? Why don't the elders or teachers who conduct exams do this? Aren't they more experienced than you?"

-"What you said is true, but you can't tell the extent of one's talent just by seeing them fight. And that isn't the only reason that I help here, there are other reasons, but I can't say that."

"Hmm…"

-"What with that disappointed tone?"

"No, it's just that I didn't think you were this mature."

-"Hey, I am a mature person and, if you are making your opinion by watching me knock that last person, then I want to tell you that that was the plan, and that was the thing I wanted to do. It wasn't a mistake or something.

Do you think that I will allow a talented person like you to get knocked out here?"

"Hey, there is no need to cover up your mistake. I know that you weren't able to hold back enough."

-"Oh, is that so then I want you to remember the distance between the arena and the place where the last person fell."

Listening to him, I started thinking about the time when the last person got knocked out.

"The distance was about 2 cm or so…

So what isn't possible that you applied just a little extra force to knock him out."

-"Are you an idiot or something? Do you think it's possible to knock someone out by mistake and not throw him about 50 cm away or so?"

Now that he mentions this, this logic does sound valid then the reason. I passed this exam wasn't due to my talent or luck. It was due to him.

Hearing this makes me sad, I didn't pass this exam due to anything I have.

First, the master helped me to escape Ho Chen, and then Ho Chen helped me by preventing me from getting knocked out by the last person.

I am the same as when I was in the village the same weak Lin Mo nothing changed during the last year. Even though I passed this exam, I didn't do anything myself to pass this round.