(Author: Hello all. Decided to release this chapter before going off to bed. Hope you enjoyed that semi-military chapter. Now on to the fun stuff: training and cultivating qi! I apologize for a time skip but I want to start writing about qi and a child soldier doesn't sit well. Don't worry, as I promised military campaigns as a side-element. Hope you enjoy Liao's first steps as a martial expert. May you never feel the Great Dragon God's wrath. Sorry for the short chapter this time.)

Chapter 4: Go to School

Liao Lu's personality didn't change after his first kill, but he no longer hesitated to take a life. He had seen the soldiers under his temporary command die and knew that showing mercy meant a sneak attack at your back. This was why his father ordered his soldiers to allow no prisoners and annihilate all rebels.

His father told him, "In order to kill a tree, you must tear it at its roots. A rebellion is like a tree Liao. Not only must the leader be killed, all his followers must be killed or the dead become martyrs to infatuate the weak-minded and the rebels will gain more followers. This is war. Death, blood and sacrifice of morals and ethics are an inevitability. That's why a wise and benevolent leader must remain on the throne. He who prevents war and ends conflict before bloodshed is blessed by the heavens. Remember this Liao."

Liao followed his father's commands and continued to escort supply lines for two years as a lieutenant captain. General Lu wanted his son to grow used to killing and start small in gaining leadership experience. His son was smart, but his two elder sons, Lei Lu and Liang Lu, were born gifted. His second son, Liang Lu, was a natural born leader and would become the next head of the Lu family. Thus, Liang was trained in the Lu family arts as he was the successor. His eldest, Lei Lu was a gifted scholar and his political potential shocked General Hui Lu. Hui knew Lei would be a great pillar for the Lu family and a welcome addition to the army with his political connections in the future. His third son just wasn't useful enough for him on the battlefield.

"Liao," the general said as his third son entered his tent. "It's time for you to leave the military."

"But why father?" Liao asked. "Did I disappoint you? I'll try harder! You know I will."

His father held up a hand and said, "The military is not in your heart. Over the past two years I have received reports of you meditating during the night. No doubt you are cultivating your qi. You have done enough. Perhaps when you are older, and skilled with a blade, will I allow you to return and fight alongside me and your brothers. Go to school Liao. Study ancient techniques. Make a name for yourself."

"But why?" Liao asked as General Zhao grabbed his arms and started pulling him out of the tent. "I followed your orders father! I never failed my missions! FATHER! FATHER!"

General Lu smiled weakly to his son and turned away as General Zhao pulled a screaming Liao away. He had to believe he was doing the best for his son. Perhaps Liao will forgive him someday unless he lost his life on the battlefield. He breathed deeply to calm himself and resumed his duties. There are soldiers to lead and rebels to slaughter.

"Cheer up lad. Your father is doing this for your own good. You'll see him again," General Zhao said as he and Liao got on a carriage. "Look, your father is a tough guy. He orders men to their deaths everyday to kill other men. He would spend a few hours every night in a silent vigil after every battle to honor the fallen. He doesn't want you to be one of those dead soldiers. You might be smart and got the "qi" that martial experts can use, but you don't know how to use it. What's the point of gaining power without the knowledge to use it effectively?"

"I should be with him," Liao said silently. "I don't want to lose another father."

General Zhao scratched his head in confusion and the duo left the battlefield. General Zhao had been given temporary leave to escort Liao to an academy in the kingdom of Roshalt, one of the five nations that swore an alliance with the Wei dynasty. In the academy Liao would go to, all kinds of different qi, or inner energy, techniques from all over the six allied nations were learned and Liao would gain much attending the academy.

Liao would also make friends with people from other nations, allowing the Lu family to gain more allies for the future. No empire lasted forever. Especially empires during a civil war. Liao was too young to understand his father's intentions. Liao was doing the Lu family a task of even more importance than his brothers.

After two weeks on the road, Liao and General Zhao had arrived in front of the academy known as Twin Star Academy. The academy was ten miles wide and each building was made of white marble. Inside the academy, students took classes that were determined by the school after a series of initiation trials. Students accepted in the academy had to be under the age of thirteen and have the ability to cultivate qi.

"Your father meant to give it to you, but couldn't bear to do so as he was sending you away," General Zhao began as he takes out a black lacquered box. Inside is a nine-ringed, crescent shaped blade. "Most martial experts use swords, but what's wrong with blades? A single-edged sword is just as deadly as a double-edge sword."

"Father made this for me?" Liao asked as he opened the box.

"This blade was made by your father out of a meteor that landed nearby during one of his campaigns. The grip was made from tiger leather and he named the blade Meteor Fang. the nine rings are made from bones of a spirit beast's skeleton. I don't know where your father found those," Zhao continued. "If you ever run across a spirit beast: run away in the other direction as fast as you can. Even an entire battalion of a thousand strong can't defeat a spirit beast, let alone kill it."

Liao nodded and accepted the blade from the general. Liao would have to wield the blade with both hands until he got older as the blade was thirty pounds. He was only able to use it at his age because cultivating qi made his body stronger and faster than an average boy his age.

Liao received the recommendation letter from the general as well as a black inter-spacial ring with a jade tiger engraving. Inter-spacial rings were special and valued by many martial experts as the owner can store items inside the ring as well as go inside to see the full inventory. General Zhao told Liao to look inside the ring was ten thousand gold and a few hundred thousands of silver coins.

Liao was shocked at the amount of money inside. He had only ever been on the battlefield and never met his brothers who fought on the frontlines and the rest of his family back home. General Zhao wished Liao luck and left to return to the battlefield.

Storing Meteor Fang in the inter-spacial ring, Liao turned towards Twin Star Academy. His father sent him here as he was useless for the Lu family for now. He remembered seeing the plane crash that killed his real parents and started walking. He would make his new parents proud. He had to.

Chapter 3: Life or Death MAIN PAGE Chapter 5: Forming a Party