Honor of the Imperium Battle

When the clansman spoke, Xu Lian and Xu Hanyu quickly turned to the entrance as their focus shifted. They exchanged worried glances, both understanding that the moment they feared had come. The guest from Tri-Orchid Institution was here, meaning Xu Lian's departure was close.

Lord Xu sighed softly upon hearing the news, and his expression became serious. He turned to Xu Lian and said,

"Lian'er, it seems it's time."

Xu Lian nodded quietly her eyes showing mixed emotions, while Xu Hanyu stood next to her, looking sad and anxious.

Then Lord Xu turned his gaze to the clansman again, nodded slightly and said, "I understand. Bring the guest from the Tri-Orchid Institution inside." With that, he dismissed the clansman, leaving Xu Lian and Xu Hanyu alone with him again.

The guest from the Tri-Orchid Institution soon walked into the reception hall and captured Xu Lian and Xu Hanyu's full attention. It was a man dressed in fancy high-class clothes and gave off a sense of importance and elegance. His straight backs and confident stances showed that he was not an ordinary visitor and had an air of authority.

Lord Xu approached the guest from the Tri-Orchid Institution, and they exchanged formal greetings. Lord Xu spoke first, "Thank you for coming all the way here. I appreciate your presence."

The elder guest from Tri-Orchid Institution smiled and responded, "The pleasure is ours, thank you for welcoming us into your esteemed home, Lord Xu. We are here on behalf of the Tri-Orchid Institution to personally escort your daughter, Xu Lian, to our academy."

Lord Xu nodded, his face showing both concern and acceptance. "Yes I understand. Xu Lian needs to go to the Tri-Orchid Institution to continue her training," he paused before saying, "Please look after her during her time there."

"Rest assured, Lord Xu. We will take great care to ensure Xu Lian's safe journey to the Institution." He said reassuringly.

"There is something else I would like to ask of you. I would like you to deliver this to my son, Xu Rong. I would really appreciate your help." He showed a small box to the man and handed it to him.

The man nodded and replied, "Of course, Lord Xu. I'll ensure it gets to Xu Rong safely." He took the box carefully and put it into his storage ring to temporarily keep it.

Xu Hanyu stood quietly, watching the scene. He felt lonely thinking about being apart from his sister Xu Lian. But a small hope grew inside him. He thought that maybe one day, when the time comes that he is able to get rid of the curse and cultivate without troubles, he can go to Tri-Orchid Institution and see Xu Lian again.

"Lian'er," Lord Xu called out, and she obediently walked over to him.

"yes, father," Xu Lian responded full with a resignation and sadness in her voice.

Then, the man from the Tri-Orchid Institution gestured for Xu Lian to follow him, saying, "Xu Lian, come with me." Without hesitation, Xu Lian nodded and complied, following the man as they made their way towards the door.

Just before Xu Lian reached the door, she stopped and looked back at Xu Hanyu. He was staring at her with sadness and longing. For a moment, their eyes met, and they shared a silent understanding.

Xu Lian felt a strong urge to hug Xu Hanyu one last time, Xu Lian suddenly ran back to him and wrapped him in a tight, warm hug.

As Xu Lian ran back to hug Xu Hanyu, he said softly, "Jie.." The nickname showed both love and a wish for one last hug, and his eyes revealed his feelings. In that moment, they held each other tightly, knowing that their separation was coming soon.

At the same time, the man from Tri-Orchid Institution paused and glanced back at Xu Lian, waiting patiently by the door.

"When we see each other again," she said softly, leaning to Xu Hanyu as her voice is barely a whisper in his ear.

"I want you to grow up and be stronger.... Until we meet again..." she added, as a mix of sisterly love and both sadness and hopefulness in her voice.

"Yes, until we meet again."

***

After saying goodbye to Xu Lian, Xu Hanyu excused himself from his father to visit the shoreline to seek comfort by seeing his little companion. As he walked, he thought about the baozi his sister got for him earlier but he decided to save it for Xu Hei.

Upon reaching the shore, he saw Xu Hei playfully interacting with a crab on the sandy ground.

"Xu Hei! Over here! I've got your favorite, baozi!" Xu Hanyu called out to Xu Hei as he waved the baozi in his hand.

Xu Hei's ears perked up at the mention of Baozi, her usual apathetic expression changing to one of excitement. Without hesitation, she darted toward Xu Hanyu, quickly leaving the poor crab behind, which immediately burrowed into the sand. It almost seemed like the crab was annoyed, watching Xu Hei's unwavering love for the buns and abandoning the crab instead.

The cat meowed in a pleading tone, its soft fur brushing against Xu Hanyu's clothes, signaling its hunger.

"I know you're hungry, don't worry, here you go." He handed the remaining baozi to Xu Hei while watching it devour her share.

Despite the distractions, Xu Hanyu's thoughts kept drifting back to his sister's departure. The memory of her departure left him feeling a profound loneliness that couldn't shake off, no matter how hard he tried.

As the day turned into evening, Xu Hanyu spent his time lost in thought, engaging in a one-sided conversation with his companion Xu Hei. Despite the fact that Xu Hei couldn't verbally respond, Xu Hanyu found comfort in talking to the cat as if it understood his thoughts and emotions perfectly.

Xu Hanyu lay down on the sand, glancing up at the night sky and watching the dancing stars.

"Xu Hei," he called out, "do you know what it means to be strong..?"

Xu Hei, his silent companion, replied with a "meoww...", showing that she didn't understand.

"You don't know, do you? Maybe... neither do I.." the young man's gaze turned distant, and sadness filled his voice as he continued.

"Do you think I will become a great cultivator one day..?" he closed his eyes for a brief moment and took a deep breathe.

Then Xu Hanyu opened his eyes again, letting his words sink in, he stroked Xu Hei's soft fur, feeling comforted by her presence.

"Maybe," he said with a sigh, "I'll never be able to cultivate well... or Maybe I'm just meant to be different..."

"meoww.." Xu Hei nuzzled his hand, and silently comforting him.

Xu Hanyu realized that it was already late. He turned to Xu Hei and said gently, "I should get going, Xu Hei, It's late. I'll see you tomorrow, alright?"

Xu Hei meowed softly, it seems to understand it. The cat then walked away toward the simple stone house that Xu Hanyu made for him.

***

Xu Hanyu at the training ground.

He decided to shake off the loneliness he felt by training himself. It was a quiet night. As he grabbed the training sword from the side, he started striking the boulder.

"Hei! Hei!" he grunted, each hit echoing in the stillness.

As he continued, he feel into deep thought, remembering every word his sister had told him about becoming stronger for their next meeting.

As Xu Hanyu reflected on the achievements of his sister and brother, Rong, in gaining admission to a prestigious institution, he felt a deep sense of longing. He yearned to follow in their footsteps and become stronger and more capable. Despite pushing his physical strength to the limit, his efforts felt futile. He understood that without wuqi, he wouldn't be able to enter the institution, no matter how hard he tried. The weight of this reality pressed down on him, leaving him feeling deflated and frustrated.

Wuqi is a vital force in the Wu Shu Continent, crucial for strengthening one's core and body. It allows practitioners to master various skill techniques and symbolizes an individual's innate abilities and hidden potential, serving as a significant status marker in the martial arts culture.

Just like before, the young master still felt the despair feeling. He wonders if will he remain like this until he becomes an adult, he thinks it will be too late.

The fifteenth year, no progress. Still useless like I used to before.