Author's Note: So sorry everyone  ! I thought that I would be able to write at least one chapter a week, but school got really busy and I also got very sick (got pleurisy, and food poisoning)  . I will try to post more often in the future when I can, but here is chapter 12, enjoy!

“The first step to physical endurance is balance.” Chief Chu gave Yu Lin and He Llan a stern look. “Stand width shoulder length apart!” He ordered.

“Yes Master!” He Lan quickly did as he instructed.

“Yes Master.” Yu Lin quickly followed. Chief Chu nodded as he pulled out an hourglass from his sleeve. He set it on the ground.

“You two will stand like this until the hourglass is done. Understand?”

“Yes Master!” The two replied in unison. Chief Chu pulled a chair from inside the home and sat on it while reading a book. He would occasionally glance up to see how the two were doing. He Lan kept a serious face on as Yu Lin just yawned.

“Something the matter Yu Lin?” Chief Chu raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing Master Chu.” Yu Lin gave him a reassuring smile. Chief Chu just shook his head. ‘She will soon see what this practice is about.’ He thought as he licked his finger to turn a page.

Thirty minutes has passed as the bottom side of the hourglass was half full. Chief Chu stood up and set his book down his chair. He looked at He Lan to see He Lan struggling to maintain his position as his legs started shaking. He Lan was also sweating while trying to keep a straight face. ‘I will not lose to that monster!’ He thought as he concentrated on standing. Chief Chu was impressed that He Lan could go this long at his young age. He walked up to He Lan.

“The purpose of this practice is to find out how long someone can manage to stand with equal weight distributed to the ground. When someone stands they are usually leaning to one side, and then to the other. They do this to relax one leg while the other one is working. This will work if you were an ordinary person, but for martial artists, balance is a crucial key in mastering both the body and the chi center.” Chief Chu said.

“Yes Master.” He Lan nodded. Chief Chu smiled. He turned his head to see how Yu Lin was doing. His eyebrows rose as his mouth slightly parted. Yu Lin was standing like how she was originally standing earlier. There was no shaking from her legs, or sweat dripping down her face like He Lan. Instead she looked rather bored as she crossed her arms. He Lan noticed Chief Chu’s face and looked over. His eyes widened before he squinted at her while clenching his teeth. ‘I will not lose!’ He Lan turned his attention away as he tried to concentrate on something else other than his shaking legs. Chief Chu walked up to Yu Lin with a puzzled look on his face.

“Yu Lin, has either of your parents taught you martial arts yet?” He asked. Yu Lin looked away from his face hesitating for a moment before answering.

“Not yet Master.” She replied. Chief Chu cocked his head to the side and furrowed his eyebrows. He couldn’t understand how Yu Lin was so physically fit if she hasn’t been taught any martial arts. Just because she was half dark elf and half troll, that does not make her stronger, in fact it should make her weaker. ‘It could be possible that she has natural talent.’ Chief Chu thought for a moment. ‘But that still wouldn’t make sense.’ Chief Chu thought for a long time. Although he was confused about the situation he was also quite happy for that means that he had found an amazing disciple to train. He couldn’t fathom her strength but he decided not to dwell on it too long. Chief Chu bent over to pick a stick up from the ground.

“Seeing that you are far more advanced in balance than He Lan, I will have you move on to stage two. Which one is your dominant foot?” Chief Chu was slightly worried but didn’t think much of it. Usually one would move on only when they have stood completely still for the whole hour but Chief Chu wanted to see Yu Lin’s potential.

“My right one, Master.” Yu Lin replied. Chief Chu took the stick and lifted Yu Lin’s left leg up into the air until it was over her head. . If Yu Lin’s foot touched her head Yu Lin would’ve formed an oval shape.

“Arch your back and your neck.” Chief Chu tapped Yu Lin’s back with the stick.

“Yes, Master.” Yu Lin did as she was told. Chief Chu then took the stick and raised both Yu Lin’s arms. He raised her right one so that it was touching her left calf, and the other one he had her stick it out to the side.

“Now hold this position.” Chief Chu sat back down. Yu Lin tilted her head up, closed her eyes, and breathed in and out slowly as she tried to clear her mind of any distracting thoughts. He Lan glared at her from the side, but he stayed quiet and focused on his training.

After ten minutes has passed He Lan finally collapsed on the ground, his legs shaking uncontrollably. A trail of sweat trickled down Yu Lin’s face as she felt her right leg going weak. Chief Chu walked up to her and with his stick, he pushed her left foot down gently. Yu Lin let out a breath of relief, until she felt Chief Chu pull her right leg up in the same position that her left was in.

“Your dominant leg will always remain stronger than your least dominant one, so you must train your least dominant one to be as strong as your dominant one.” Chief Chu said.

“Yes… Master…” Yu Lin clenched her teeth. Chief Chu nodded his head nonchalantly however inside, he was surprised that Yu Lin was still able to stand. ‘What strong endurance and determination,’ he thought as he returned to his seat. He Lan sat on the ground propped up on his elbows as he continued to glared at Yu Lin, but within that glare was a hint of admiration.

After twenty minutes passed, Yu Lin seeing that the top half of the hourglass was now empty, slowly put her foot down back in place before falling and sitting on the ground. She stretched her leg out in front of her as she watched them tremble. ‘I guess this body is still a child’s body,’ she thought as she looked at her legs shaking furiously. In her past life, Yu Lin could have stood for hours in the positions that Chief Chu gave her for she worked very hard on physical endurance as Hu Die. Yu Lin watched as Chief Chu took out another hourglass and set it on the table.

“When this one is done we are going to do another training, until then rest and drink a lot of water.” He said as he threw each of them a leather canteen. He Lan drank thirstily as Yu Lin took small sips, enjoying the feeling of having her thirst quenched.

When the hourglass settled Chief Chu took them out on a short jog and run session around the town. Many kids stared at Yu Lin however Yu Lin ignored them as she continued to run with ease. He Lan also ignored the kids who greeted him as he focused on staying ahead of Yu Lin, however due to Yu Lin’s long stamina, he eventually ended up trailing behind her. Afterwards Chief Chu made them do a series of stretches, and light exercises such as push up and squats. Chief Chu decided not to teach any of the two any martial arts that day as he wanted to evaluate Yu Lin’s physical abilities for the day. It was soon time for lunch as Chief Chu led the two to the dining hall.

Sen Feng and Ju Hua were already there, and bowed to Chief Chu before taking their seats. Yu Lin took her place next to him as they all began to eat.

“How was your first day training Yu Lin?” Sen Feng said with a forced smile on his face. Yu Lin raised one of her eyebrow as she eyed him curiously.

“Why the sudden interest uncle Sen Feng?”

“Uncle?!” Sen Feng exclaimed. “How can I be an uncle to you. I am still young. You can just call me older brother.”

“That’s weird. I call pretty lady, aunt Ju Hua, however you want me to call you older brother? Just by looking at your face I can tell you are much older than Aunt Ju Hua.” Ju Hua giggled and Chief Chu burst out in laughter.

“What?! You are spouting nonsense! Ju Hua is older than me by five years!”

“What? How is that possible? Just by looking at your face alone I would think you are at least ten years older!” Yu Lin stuffed her mouth with the dumplings on the table as she made that remark. Sen Feng gaped at him and turned to look at his father and fiancee for help but they both just sat there laughing. Sen Feng scrunched his nose and then took the dumpling that Yu Lin was reaching for.

“You can say what you want, but I bet you fell pretty fast while trying to balance yourself. I bet He Lan did better than you!” Sen Feng scoffed. He Lan coughed choking on his food while Chief Chu stopped laughing. Sen Feng looked at them with a huge question mark, and then realizing what prompted his actions he turned back to look at Yu Lin. His eyes widen and he swallowed hard as fear tugged his mind. ‘What a frighteningly strong little girl,’ he thought, ‘as expected of Yo Mei.’ Sen Feng kept his mouth shut and grabbed some of the food that was on the table. The group ate in silence for a while as no one knew what to say to another.

“It was good. Training was good.” Yu Lin said trying to break the heavy atmosphere. “I am happy to be able to start practicing martial arts. Thank you ma- grandpa.” Yu Lin said and gave Chief Chu a bright smile. Chief Chu smiled back.

“Of course.” Chief Chu said.

“A brat like you can’t get far into cultivation on your own anyways.” Sen Feng sneered.

“Give me ten years and I bet I can reach your level, no I may go even further. From the looks of it you aren’t even that strong.” Yu Lin looked at him and stuck out her tongue. Sen Feng’s face grew red.

“Yah!” He yelled before lightly hitting Yu Lin’s head.

“Ah!” Yu Lin yelled surprised.

“Sen Feng!” Chief Chu furrowed his eyebrows.

“She needs to be taught a lesson father! Disrespecting her elders like this.” Sen Feng got up and turned to look at Chief Chu. Yu Lin saw him turn away and kicked his leg, although not with all her strength because she didn’t want him to be crippled. He let out a yelp before falling back into his chair.

“Yu Lin!” Chief Chu yelled this time.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” Yu Lin grinned. “And people earn respect, they are not just given it.” Sen Feng’s face grew red and he gave her another punch.

“I guess people just earn beatings then.” He said.

“Yah!” Yu Lin yelled and then slapped his thigh. Sen Feng let out a quick yelp before aiming his fist at Yu Lin’s head.

“Chu Sen Feng! Du Yu Lin!” Chief Chu roared. The two froze as Sen Feng’s hand hovered in the air before slowly turning their heads to see a fuming angry Chief Chu. He let it fall back down to his side as he took his seat again. “Mind your manners at the table.” Chief Chu said sternly and Yu Lin gave him a nod before sitting back down.

After lunch Chief Chu took He Lan and Yu Lin to a room with two desks. The two sat down as Chief Chu told them to wait for the teacher to come as he left the two alone. Not long two people walked in. It was a man and a woman. The man was tall with a shiny bald head, and stern blue eyes. The woman had a seductive aura with her and was also tall and voluptuous, with clear purple eyes and hair. He Lan stood up and bowed to the two respectfully.

“Mr. Liao and Ms. Chen, your student He Lan greets you!” He said. Yu Lin got up after her and also bowed.

“Nice to meet you Mr. Liao, and Ms. Chen. My name is Du Yu Lin and I will be under your care for a while. Please look after me.” She said before sitting back down. Mr. Liao and Ms. Chen observed Yu Lin carefully. They were both told by Chief Chou that Yu Lin was very strong and wise beyond her age, so the two wanted to see for themselves how she was.

“How old are you Yu Lin?” Ms. Chen asked with an eyebrow raised in the air.

“I am three years old.” She answered. Ms. Chen nodded slowly before smiling.

“Then let’s get started with class.” Ms. Chen said.

Ms. Chen taught the two writing and chi energy. Mr. Liao taught them the physical body along with history behind each kingdom. Yu Lin already knew most of the things they were teaching about however she played along that she didn’t know anything.

“Where do you guys want to go in the future?” Mr. Liao asked the two as he pointed to a map of the world. Yu Lin pointed to the Sky continent.

“I want to go there in the future.” She said with a shy smile on her face. Mr. Liao looked away for a second a painful looking flashing through his eyes. Yu Lin’s raised her eyebrows. “Is something the matter Mr. Liao?” She asked.

“No.” He replied quickly before turning to look at her. Yu Lin saw the look in his eyes and she knew that look. That look of fake hope that adults give to innocent children. She saw that look many times in her nanny’s eyes in her past life. “I’m sure you will be able to go there one day.” He said before plastering a fake smile on his face.

For the rest of class Yu Lin didn’t really pay attention to much of what the teacher were asking. She wanted to know what happened to Sky Continent. She wanted to know why Ju Hua told her that she may never be able to visit Sky Continent. She wanted to know, yet a part of her didn’t want to know. A part of her didn’t want her to find out the harsh truth behind the reason why she couldn’t go. A part of her knew the reason why. It's because I am half dark elf. The words echoed in her head and the person she hated the most came into mind. Lan Hei Kong, if I knew you were going to do this, I would have never saved you! Yu Lin clenched her teeth and balled her hands into a fist so hard blood started to seep out.