Chapter 30: Becoming a Disciple

Guo Huo reached for the axe strapped to his back and held it

out toward his right side.

He then jumped down and by using his flames, flew down to

the battle, landing between Zhao Yue and the berserk Jia Yuan.

He then let his domineering aura float over the village

center, encompassing all those participating in the fight.

Whether it was Jia Yuan or the Zhao family, or even the Zhao

family patriarch, nobody was able to move under the domineering force.

Guo Huo looked at Jia Yuan and felt a pang of guilt. After

all, it was because of his choice to thoroughly test Jia Yuan that had driven

the child to such a state.

He tapped his necklace and took out a pill. He then used

solidified part of his aura and used it to open Jia Yuan’s mouth and placed the

pill in the child’s mouth. He then lightly hit the underside of Jia Yuan’s jaw,

making him swallow.

A few seconds after consuming the pill, Jia Yuan’s eyes

slowly became less bloodshot, and his thoughts and demeanor returned to normal.

After a few more seconds, Jia Yuan started as if waking from

a dream.

Hmm? What was I doing?

Why does my left shoulder hurt so much?

He then saw Guo Huo standing in front of him. He blinked, then

looked around the village center and saw the destruction and dead bodies

surrounding him. He looked up at Guo Huo and gazed at the old man with a look

of distrust.

“You promised you’d help with the Zhao family head.”

“No, I promised to deal with him if you dealt with everyone

else first.”

Jia Yuan shut his mouth, but still stared at Guo Huo with a

look of distrust.

Guo Huo gave Jia Yuan a wry smile with a bit of guilt in his

eyes. “Alright, alright. I made a mistake okay? I just wanted to test your

fighting prowess. Was that your first time getting injured in a fight?”

Jia Yuan nodded.

“Whoo… that explains a bit. However, it appears that you don’t

have much self- control, or you wouldn’t have gone berserk. That will be

something we have to fix in the future.”

While the two were chatting, the members of the Zhao family

were held in place by Guo Huo’s aura. They stared at Guo Huo with eyes of fear.

How strong was this person, to be render them unable to move with just his

aura?

It also seemed that this old man who had jumped down was

well acquainted with Jia Yuan. It was fortunate that the Zhao family couldn’t

move at all, or they would have been shaking with fear. In fact, Zhao Hai, the

patriarch’s son, had taken the liberty to wet his pants.

Seeing this scene, the surrounding villagers began to sound

some voices of hope.

For the last few months, they had been continually suppressed

and mistreated by the Zhao family. Seeing that there was a mighty power dealing

with the Zhao family, it felt to the villagers as if justice was being dealt.

“Wow, that man is so strong!”

“I wonder who he is! That kind of strength should be rare

even within the entire Kingdom!”

“Why does he know Jia Yuan? Is it because of that child that

this man came here?”

“Screw that, didn’t you see Jia Yuan fight earlier? He’s

only 11 but he was able to decimate most of the Zhao family himself!”

Previously, the villagers had all been either too enthralled

or frightened by the fighting going on to make any exclamations. But now, since

none of the fighters were able to move, they had a sudden lull. As such, phrases

such as these began to flood the houses surrounding the village center.

Having finished speaking to Jia Yuan, Guo Huo turned back to

Zhao Yue.

“Your family has continually broken the laws of the Fire

Kingdom. As such, today, I deliver justice.”

With that said, he waved his arm. Instantly, every remaining

Zhao family felt a burst of flame coming from their abdomen. Seconds later,

they all died as their insides quickly burned from the deadly fires.

Guo Huo turned back to Jia Yuan. “Child, I am sorry for

testing your limits today. However, it is important that you get a true taste

of battle when you are young. Otherwise, you will be too brazen when you fight,

like when you tried to fight the bandits at the neighboring village. If you

keep fighting like that, you will die young.”

Jia Yuan was still full of bitterness, but even he had to

admit that the old man’s words were true.

“Fine, fine. I forgive you, but only because you dealt with

the Zhao family.”

“I have another request.”

“What is it, old man?”

“I freed you from your master for the purpose of you

becoming my disciple. I’ve spent the last few days observing you, and I’ve come

to the conclusion that you possess a very high level Song and have some

fighting experience. However, you lack an education and as such you lack

self-control and deductive reasoning.”

“If you wish to become a truly strong individual, you will

have to learn these things. I am one of the strongest people in the Fire

Kingdom, and I am an experienced fighter. Furthermore, I have friends who are

extremely adept at teaching the things you do not have.”

“So, what do you say?”

Jia Yuan looked at the old man. Everything Guo Huo had just

said seemed very sincere, which suggested that he really wanted to help Jia

Yuan. Seeing this sincerity, the bitterness in Jia Yuan’s heart began to fade

away. After considering Guo Huo’s proposal for a bit longer, Jia Yuan

responded.

“Fine, but I have a condition. You have to explain to me why you wish to have me as a disciple.”

"Hmph. Very well, you have the right to know..."

"Long ago, I was like you, at the bottom side of the Absorption realm. I dreamt of power. I dreamt of being so strong, that I would be worshiped by the massive as a god. In this, for the most part, I succeeded..."

"But the stronger I became, the weaker I realized I was. Over time, I eventually realized just how vast the world is... I am no longer young, and I will be unable to conquer this vast world. But someone like you, who has such a high level Song, and is like a blank sheet of paper, yet to be hit by the cruelties of the world, may be able to do so."

"So that is my answer. I wish for you to be my disciple, because I wish to leave behind a legacy. If I cannot achieve the peak of martial cultivation myself, I would at least like to be remembered as the teacher of one who did."

With that clarified, Jia Yuan had no reason Guo Huo’s offer. Jia Yuan was a rather foolish kid, but when it came to moments like these, he was still sincere and knew what to do. He abruptly dropped to his knees and kowtowed to Guo

Huo three times. He then stood up, cupped his hands toward Guo Huo, and said, “Teacher.”