The hazy rays of the morning sun shone upon a small little courtyard.
The imposing and immovable figure stood upright like a statue. The only change happening was his shadow, shrinking as the sun rose.
He had been standing there for seven days, unmoving and silent. His thick brutal aura kept anyone at bay, sending them shivering.
A faint tune wafted over as some small-time elder passed over.
The statue’s ears twitched, and his eyelid trembled, turning his head, “Ol’… Elder Yuan, you’re back!”
The statue wanted nothing else but to spew curses, but thought better of it, opting for a respectful reply.
Elder Yuan started, then grinned, skipping over, “Ha-ha-ha, sir Gui Hu, what would you need of me?”
“Er…”
Gui Hu frowned, lost for words. Zhuo Fan and Kui Lang did say this guy was more than it seemed, but he just couldn’t figure out how. The old man was just that, old and average. He had always been subservient and flattering like any other nobody and made it all the harder for the grand top inner sect disciple to bend a knee and ask for help.
Zhuo Fan’s words of respect for the old coot rang in his mind once again, and his discomfort faded. Throwing his little pride away meant nothing when Zhuo Fan got off his high horse to debate with this guy.
Gui Hu stammered at long last, “E-Elder Yuan, Steward Zhuo had sent me for advice in the way of the heart. Please enlighten me.”
Gui Hu flushed in an instant, dying of embarrassment for speaking like a three-year-old.
Elder Yuan raised an eyebrow, then smiled, “Ha-ha-ha, very well done to have overcome your hubris in talking to little old me. This act alone marks great progress in your near future. Being next to Zhuo Fan for so long does have its perks.”
[Eh, how come his mood changed?]
Gui Hu was dumbstruck, seeing the old Old Yuan losing his ingratiating air of a nobody and gaining an air of mystery.
His eyes were so deep that Gui Hu felt like he was sinking into a bottomless well.
[Who the hell is this guy? What’s with the Labor Office hiding so many freaks?]
Gui Hu’s heart jumped. Elder Yuan’s imposing aura left him feeling a majestic air that not even his master or Venerable Shi could unleash.
“Ha-ha-ha, Gui Hu, come, I shall impart to you the way of the world.” Elder Yuan smiled as he walked deeper into the Labor Office.
Gui Hu was right behind him.
Elder Yuan stopped before an ant mound, seeing those busy little critters carrying food.
He said, “How would you go about killing these ants?”
Gui Hu was baffled, “With a stomp, how else.”
“Ha-ha-ha, right you are. These little creatures can die just from that. Try it.” Elder Yuan held his beard with a vague smile.
Gui Hu did as he was told despite the increasing doubt about where this was going. When he lifted his foot, he saw tens of ants dead, but some crawled back up still, going about their way.
Elder Yuan shook his head, “See that? Someone slipped through. This is your current state, having power but no means to use it, making fighting even someone in the Radiant Stage like you a challenge. You’ve had your way in the inner sect all this time, not because you’re strong, but because there was no real expert around. You will see that Double Dragon Gathering will have only people with a firm heart, especially those from the middle and superior three sects. Being pushed, they’ll be sure to push back harder.”
Gui Hu was flustered, urging Elder Yuan, “W-what should I do?”
“We come back to the same question. How to kill the ants.”
Elder Yuan leaned over and picked an ant, “Your kick was casual because you took these ants for nothing. What if you were dying of hunger and these ants were the only thing around?”
“Er… Elder Yuan, I’m a Radiant Stage. I don’t get…” Gui Hu blinked.
Elder Yuan shook his head, “How thick-headed. I was only making an analogy. Or you can also take it as being a child and hungry. How would you have dealt with these ants?”
Gui Hu stared at the scurrying little bugs, and his eyes turned red.
“Yes, that’s right, you’ll eat them all, or you’ll die.” Elder Yuan nodded, releasing a bloodthirst so thick it left Gui Hu shivering, feeling icy water dumped over him.
He turned a dumbstruck look to Elder Yuan, putting that ant in his mouth and swallowing.
But the shocking bloodthirst continued, and doubt came then, [Who is this man?]
Elder Yuan held his beard with a smile, “See, even when dealing with an ant, you must give your all or starve. You must find your own reason to kill, or you’ll never give your all in killing anything. Heaven is cruel to all living things, yet also fair. Thus demonic and righteous paths coexist. The righteous love life and the demonic pursue slaughter. But killing must be done for life to give it meaning.
“Or slaughtering all in your path would end up consumed by it, erring from the right path. To pursue the path one must become demonic, that is the only way. Tell me, when you killed any disciple you came upon, was that your true strength? You do not even know what that even is. You’ve seen Zhuo Fan, his simple yet precise strikes, they all were meant to kill.”
Gui Hu shuddered and respect painted his always stern face for this old guy.
“Go, be a laborer like Zhuo Fan said and it will help your heart grow. Youth is arrogance, it is something every one of you has, and that goes double for talents. But the road is filled with twists and turns, and sometimes, it pays to show restraint. When you learn to do it like Zhuo Fan, you will have made progress. It will be of great help to you in future cultivation.” Elder Yuan said.
Gui Hu gave a deep bow and left.
His leaving was followed by a clap.
Clap~
“Ha-ha-ha, Elder Yuan’s words ring true and home as always. It’s the first time I heard you need to be demonic to thread the right path. I’ll have to analyze it further.”
Elder Yuan smiled then shook his head, “Steward Zhuo, now don’t make fun of these old bones. You’re much better at it than me.”
“How kind of you, Elder Yuan. I only wished to have a night chat with you. As Gui Hu waited seven days for you, so have I.”
“It happens to be a wait in vain. It’s best if you return.” Elder Yuan shook his head.
Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, “What purpose does this serve?”
“That’s my line. When did you get on Demon Soul Sect’s bad side? They’re at our door and asking for you!” Elder Yuan shrugged.
Zhuo Fan said, “Third young master Han?”
“Him too, but someone else as well. His second brother, second young master Han is here to challenge the elite area. But that should be no problem to you.” Elder Yuan nodded.
Zhuo Fan mumbled, “He’s after my laborers?”
“What man would come to poke in your Labor Office’s affairs? Though Sect Leader had the Labor Office clean up the ring. It is your duty, but if you won’t go, it’ll have to be one of the elites.”
Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes and cursed as he left, “Xie Wuyue is forcing my hand. They came for the elite area so why the hell are you dragging the Labor Office into this?”
“It’s not my fault, he’s the Sect Leader paying attention to the sect’s reputation. As the manager of the Labor Office, that’s something you don’t have to worry about.” Elder Yuan chuckled…
