11. Chance.

…

The next day arrived and an hour after sunrise the Hiro opened his eyes. He stretched his body and yawned. His bone made creaking sound as he did.

When he was done he turned his gaze to the two in front of him. A man and a young lady. They bowed sightly at him and the man waved his hand, removing the barrier.

"Greetings young master," they chorused.

"Sorry, who are you?" Hiro asked.

"I'm Izuhi, your bodyguard sir,"

"I'm Aki sir, your personal maid,"

"We came in yesterday, but we dared not disturb you," Izuhi said.

"Oh, okay,"

"Will the young master like a bath?"

"A bath? That would be amazing, my body is all sticky,"

"This way sir,"

"Sir, someone is at the gate," Izuhi said.

Almost immediately, a knock sounded and the gate opened. Elta rushed in shouting.

"Hiro! I'm here!"

Hiro looked at Izuhi before turning to Elta. Xue Li had followed after her after closing the gate.

"What are you doing here so early?"

"I came to see you. No way!" Elta yelled and grabbed his arm.

"What?"

"You reached the first stage in one night! No way… it took me three days,"

"Hmm? I don't feel different though,"

"It's only the first stage, duh!"

"Then I need to continue. I'll go take my bath, eat and then proceed with cultivation,"

"Okay, then Xue Li and I will excuse you. Let's go play later, I'll come by, around mid noon,"

"I don't think…"

"I'm not hearing it. Let's go Xue Li,"

"Oi, I said…"

"I'm not listening,"

~Dong~

A knock came from the gate and Ming Lu walked in along side Enji.

"Mother, father! This child greets you. You won't believe it, Hiro reached the first stage,"

"Greetings father, mother,"

"Really?" Ming Lu widened her eyes.

"She said so, but I don't feel any difference,"

"It's true,"

"That's good, keep it up," Enji said.

"I will. Please excuse me, my body is very sticky,"

"Okay, we'll wait for you,"

"We might as well eat together when you are back," Ming Lu said.

"Okay,"

Aki led Hiro away while Ming Lu turned to Xue Li.

"Xue Li, please set a table for us. Izuhi, please help her out,"

"Yes matriarch," the two chorused.

…

Aki led Hiro to the bathroom. She stood beside the door and said.

"I already arranged a clean garment for you sir. If there's anything you need let me know,"

"Okay," Hiro said and went in.

A short while later, Hiro stepped out of the bathroom. Aki's eyes widened at Hiro's appearance.

"Young master, are you done?"

Hiro was drenched completely, from head to toes. He had not changed his clothes. He looked at Aki and proudly said.

"Yes, I feel much better. Let's go,"

"Young master, please wait,"

"What? I'm really hungry,"

"Please, you need…"

"I can't wait, I'm hungry,"

"Please wait,"

Hiro ran away from her. She wanted to stop him but she didn't dare to use force. She shot passed him and blocked his path.

"Mother! Father!"

"Please wait, you didn't bath properly,"

"What's going on?" Ming Lu's voice sounded.

"Matriarch, patriarch, I didn't expect this to happen so I didn't follow him in. Please forgive me," Aki said as Ming Lu, Enji and Elta arrived.

"Huh? Hiro, you are so silly,"

Flabbergasted, Enji and Ming Lu looked at each other and laughed silently.

"What now?"

"Come, let me teach you,"

"Hold up young lady," Enji coughed and said.

Ming Lu stretched her hand and a force pulled Elta back. "You get too carried away when you are excited,"

"Huh? How?"

"Come with me," Enji said and took her away.

"Aki, please prepare another bath,"

"Yes matriarch,"

…

"That should do," Ming Lu said. "How does it look?"

She had just finished combing Hiro's hair. She placed the comb in her hand on a table and turned his face to a mirror on the wall.

"It's good, thank you,"

"Welcome,"

After helping him have his bath, Ming Lu brought him to his room and taught him a few things while she combed his hair.

"I still don't get why we have to spend time doing this,"

"Like I said before, it is good to be neat. One's appearance matters. How you look brings shame or honor to you, your parents and those around. This include your maid and guard,"

Hiro frowned slightly. "A maid and a guard are people too. They have their dignity too. So if their young master does not appear decent it would shame them,"

Aki who stood at the door, smiled slightly at Ming Lu's words.

"Noted mother,"

"That's good, it's time we head out. They are waiting,"

The three of them stepped out of the room and made their way to the others, who were under the tree. Elta and Enji were seated behind a table.

"You are back," Elta said. "Eat before it get cold,"

"I'm sorry for shaming father, it will not happen again," Hiro bowed and said.

"Huh?"

Enji looked at Ming Lu, who gave him a smile.

"Alright, let's eat," she said. "We have something to discuss with you guys,"

"Again?" Elta asked. "I hope it will be good,"

Ming Lu smiled wryly and said. "Some good and some bad,"

"Oh,"

"Let's eat first, we can discuss it after," Enji said.

"Okay,"

…

After eating, Xue Li and Aki cleared the table and brought them tea.

"Well, we'll start with the good news," Ming Lu said.

"We would be having a party, a grand one," Enji said. "To celebrate three things. Your sixteen year birthday, the victory of the battlefield and Hiro joining our family,"

"Awesome!"

Hiro looked at Elta and then asked. "What's the bad news?"

"Huh? Hmph, you!"

Enji looked at Hiro, exhaled and said. "Some of the elders of the family did not accept you joining the family,"

"Oh, so that means I can't be your son? It's not a big deal…"

"No silly, father didn't say that," Elta said. "He said the family not our family,"

"The Lu family didn't accept you, but the Enji family did," Ming Lu said.

"I'm confused,"

"You are Hiro, son of Enji. So you are a member of our family," Enji said.

"Oh, that's good. May I know why the Lu family didn't accept me?"

"They wanted to watch you first and see if you are talented in cultivation. But your father and I made it clear that once rejected they shouldn't go back to their vomit,"

"Hmm, so this is a chance,"

"For what?"

"To prove their decision wrong and make you three proud,"

The three of them stared at Hiro. Enji bursted into laughter and said.

"Haha, that's good. You really are a son of Enji,"

"You better make your elder sister proud,"

"You are not the eldest,"

"I am,"

"You are not!"

"Alright you two, we still have more to say," Ming Lu said.

"Right, after the party we'll send you to a school in the capital to acquire knowledge and experience,"

"Oh, can I go too,"

"Your cultivation is high already," Ming Lu said.

"Hmph,"

"Besides, the ranking war will be starting soon,"

Elta's eyes widened. "Really? Hmm, sorry Hiro, this is my chance too, so I won't follow you to school,"

"What's the ranking war?" Hiro asked.

"In every generation of the Lu family, a competition is held among the children of the Lu family to determine their position as future head and elders of the family,"

"Okay, so you fight a war,"

"Something like that. All the children are sent out of the family for a period of time with no resources or help whatsoever. Even our identity is hidden. We'll go out, make subjects and when it is time, we'll come back to fight one another in a war setting. The one who comes out victorious becomes the next head of the family,"

"Hmm, was the reason I was rejected because of this?"

"An elder rejected you because of this. Other two rejected for a different reason,"

"If I was strong enough, will I be allowed to help Elta?"

"Of course," Ming Lu replied.

"How long do I have?"

"Roughly six months,"

"I'm going to cultivate then," Hiro stood up.

"Huh? Right now?" Elta asked.

"In the ranking war, I'll prove the elders wrong and bring honor to the family,"

Enji gave a big smile. "Then we shouldn't disturb you,"

"What? Father, we are leaving now?"

"Come on let's go," Ming Lu said.

"I'll come later!" Elta shouted.

"Don't come,"

"You!"

The trio left and Xue Li followed after them. Hiro walked up to the tree and sat down in meditation pose. He closed his eyes and began cultivating. Unknown to him, Izuhi placed a barrier over him.

.

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Author Here

Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please do not forget to comments your thoughts, views, likes and criticisms of this chapter. I care so much about them.

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Thank you everyone, I hope you have a lovely day.