Chapter 5 - Ghost Rider

Ehm, i'm here to register for the team exercises..

Who are you ? Fowliang balked ...

An outer disciple.. never mind.. Can i join ?

I don't see why not, if your documents are proper.. The place is cold, and killing is allowed.. Let me warn you..

Killing ? Why would fellow disciples kill each other ?

This exercise is designed to make you get in touch with your killing intent, we aren't forcing you, its for those who wants to train in these arts.. So everyone agrees to the rule, its fair.

So there is much blood and violence huh ?

Fowliang sighed.. A light shone in the corner of her eyes.. Anything else ?

So am i allowed ?

You are.. i see no issue.. No disciple over the 8th level of your realm can join.

Don't wanna risk the ones with potential eh ?

I advise you to.. watch your mouth.. perhaps, use your.. inner voice yeah ?

So is it going to be a public event ? Why is an elder making registrations...

Well, if you must know, although .. i recently cleared some trouble for myself, they powers be, still decided to nudge me in the right direction.. consider it community service.

You look.. depressed, Elder Fowliang said. Want to ease your burden ?

Ehm, no.. who won the previous competition ?

Hmm, let me see, one of our disciples dominated, so he was rewarded first place.. i have to look up the name.. She was totally feigning interest.

Larchen rolled his eyes.. What time do you get off ? He asked..

What did you say ? I must heard have you completely wrong...

Larchen rolled his eyes again, he was feeling completely shameless, so he decided to be playful. We could go on a meal in the town ..

Er..

I''ll treat you to any dish you want anywhere.. what do you say, elder ?

Elder's eye reddened.. Her faced shifted colors.. What exactly are you saying here , be frank ...tell me what you mean

Larchen grinned..
....

The dinner was awful. Larchen's expression was frozen, he felt like he was going to die from lack of air. They sat on the table in the luxurious restaurant.

So, what are you planning hmm ? She casually asked

what ?

What are your plans, surely you didn't ask me our just for dinner ? Tell me your plans, so i decide..

Well, i've big pole.. he said..

I bet its saucy, she said... Or we could do training.. I can teach you hundred dawn art..

Elder Fowliang, if you trained with me, other disciples woud kill me. you are such an unapproachable beauty

I think i've reached the end of my potential, i don't think i can advance anymore with training, eldress..

Have courage.. what is this.. attitude, let me see your wrist.

Larchen rolled his eyes.. was she some kind of date rapist ? He extended his arm...

Her expression changed.. impressive Larchen.. With proper resources you could be an inner courtyard disciple..

I guess... What then, after I graduate ?

She moved in her chair... Well, i can find you some work to do.

Larchen rolled his eyes.. So what, we'll be friends ?

Depends on how much money you have....

I've zero money..

That's a tragedy Larchen, poverty makes me nervous..

Well, there is this house, near the old church.. I'm sure you've heard of it.. one can dream..

Maybe if we pooled our money.. keep at it regardless Larchen.

What.. like live together ? Eloping ?

It's not a problem really.. we already slept together...

...

The ghost Larchen already remembered this memory, of course.. He paused here for a second, he sat down, examining her expression. For some reason he felt that this was an excellent place to observe the environment but after much effort, he couldn't figure out why that is.

He thought about so called bottle necks.. A cultivator would never be able to advance for long amounts of time, at an important juncture. Their martial prowess frozen as it is without improving. He was bonded with Fowliang, it formed certain structures like branches, and it operated in a setting of a difference of age.

At the end of these paths, there were inventors.. the originators and founders, and even god like beings, which formed religions. Old masters.. His mind went through a huge amount of knowledge, frankly he disliked cultivation... It looked .. like a chore, he could barely remember which is what, too much information.

Hey what are you standing here for ? A charred, playful voice sounded in his ear..

Larchen turned to look at the stranger.. He was a bone framed skeleton with a smiling face. Ehm, who are you senior ?

Religion, i found it. I've started the old religion. May i ask why you are sitting here ?

Ah.. its cause i sensed something important, but wasn't able to figure out why..

That'd be me.. peeking in the scene.. i really like this one..

Ehm, why ?

When i originally let you roam in the dark forest i made it so you'd learn your lesson. It's here that i've learned my lesson instead.. Your heart is too strong.. It's rare i come upon such occurences.. You used the power i gave you, for good.. instead of evil, as most would..

Is that something rare ?

It's always the same. Talented have no heart, the brave has no talent.. You are smart. Larchen, only way to have them both is not to have any...

What about, Fowliang ?

To me its the proof of your extraordinary courage, its just an extension of what i've suspected.. What about it ? Its pretty usual.. You've provided her.. as any man. You've done it honorably, are you not ?

Extremely, so..

You've done something great, but you've no understanding of it. But naturally the rule is ignorance of the success doesn't prevent its value. Via your actions, you've fixed her soul, which was essentially dead and gone. In her heart, she has long given up on anything.. It wasn't cultivation divertion, it was suicide..

So she tricked me ?

I tricked you... I let you find the paper.. She was planning to kill herself anyway.. with all her debts taken care of.. instead she got a new life and she got you..

You then insisted on a relationship and married her... You went on the help on the land.. And i've noticed your efforts..

Meaning what ?

Old religion, is horrible, there is no place for.. mushy things in it. We've tried that path, and you can see the result, even the best of us couldn't make it to the end. It was perfect... We've done our worse, to the best result as we can.. But this result proved to me, we've rushed.. Just like you rush.. you feel it too, but you turned it towards positive acts..

That sounds.. really really boring..

You do not understand Larchen, best of us have faded, because we were so perfect.. They have fallen in darkness, they were the toughest purest people, with hearts like furnaces.. Their talents overwhelmed the skies..their honor almost endless, their valiancy unmatched, in the end, nothing remained..

Ah.. except Fowliang ?

Nobody answered.. The wind flew silently as ever..