The Kong Family Trial

That night Kong Jin didn't sleep well at all.

He kept going over it in his head again and again. How did that old witch find him? Did the Manager's daughter kill him?

The idea tore at his heart, after all, he was attracted to the girl.

"Was she suppose to knock me unconscious and didn't realize her own strength?" This was definitely the conclusion that Kong Jin was coming to. After all Old Lady Void was infatuated with him, imagine her anger when she found out as she once phrased it, "Her one true love," was killed.

Then there was this boy, whose body he had possessed.

Kong Jin. The little Kong. As he was known to most of the Clan members.

He the grandson of the patriarch. The Kong Clan was very small and was nothing to talk about when compared to the huge clans of Zhou. With only around ten Kong family members and their few servants.

The Kong Clan may be small, but it is not trifled with. Even the two starred sect that owned Winterleaf Town didn't insult them. There was a reason for this though. According to what Kong Jin knew, the local Kong Clan were actually an exiled branch from the Main Clan!

From what his father had told him, the Main Clan resided in the Eternal City, which was apparently the powerhouse capital of the different country!

His grandfather had once been an Elder from the Kong Clan but had been cast out, for reasons his father wouldn't let him know.

These matters weighed heavily on Kong Jin's mind until he eventually drifted off, falling into a deep sleep.

****

As the morning sun rose, Kong Jin rubbed his eyes. He was tired, extremely so, but excited nonetheless.

In his mind occupying this young body is nothing but divine luck. This boy, although extremely untalented, had an amazing body. When circulating some Qi around his body he had discovered none of it had leaked!

This was absolutely miraculous to somebody such as this Bard, going from a body unable to store the stuff, to a seamless body! This would allow cultivators to conserve their energy in battle, and cultivate faster!

Residing over this fact, he had become rather sad. This boy Kong Jin, whose body he had inherited only managed to make it to the 1st level of the Qi refining stage.

This was mind-boggling to him. A boy at the age of 13, who had a seamless body had only managed to refine one strand of Qi?!

Was he purposely trying not to cultivate?

Thinking about these matters a large knock came from the door to his courtyard.

"Come in." Kong Jin yelled so that the person could hear him.

Through the gate came an old wrinkled man, who was wearing a long dark robe, with the insignia of the Kong Clan.

Kong Jin recalled that this was the Patriarchs personal servant, going by the name Uncle Lu.

Not many knew if Uncle Lu was an actual member blood member of the Kong Clan, all they knew was that as long as the Kong Clan had been in Zhou Uncle Lu had been here with them.

Uncle Lu came in with a big smile on his face.

"Xiao Jin, I'm glad to see you feel better. Your grandfather might have had to make a personal visit if you didn't recover in time for the family trial."

This caused Kong Jin's mind to light up! The family trial, of course! That was what the former Kong Jin was running away from when he met his untimely demise.

The family trial was a very secretive matter, and his parents refused to tell him about it! This made Kong Jin unfathomably paranoid, causing him to run away! After all, 'Xiao Jin', was the only member of the younger generation in this branch of the Kong Clan, the pressure he felt was unimaginable.

Unlike the former Kong Jin though, the current one was different. He retained the music from his former life, which calmed his soul, he would never again need to feel erratic fear. Soothing himself like one would for a guardian of the underworld.

Kong Jin took a deep breath, stood up and bowed to Uncle Lu.

"Please lead the way, Uncle Lu."

Seeing his calm manner Uncle Lu frowned. This wasn't the boy he knew. He shook his head though, simply imagining that tree branch struck some sense into the boy.

He then lead Kong Jin out of the courtyard.

On there journey Kong Jin felt repeated disappointment in his heart. The Kong Clan, while grand in their origin was extremely poor. The household they inhabited was poorly lit, and made of weathered limestone.

It truly was a falling house. Compared to the Void Lord's Halls, the grandest place he had ever seen, it was hardly worth mentioning.

Uncle Lu and Kong Jin finally reached the large black iron gates that lead to his grandfather's chambers.

A hint of shock appeared in his eyes, this was because the quality of this dark iron was at least premium grade, and was of great contrast to the rest of the Clan.

Kong Jin tutted to himself slightly, thinking that the patriarch was evidently a vain man.

Uncle Lu waved his hand, causing three inscriptions on the gate to slowly light up, causing Kong Jin to wince slightly, as the brightness hurt his eyes.

Seeing the boy out of the corner of his eye Uncle Lu chuckled, "Don't worry Xiao Jin, nobody in the clan apart from me and your grandfather has the ability to see past these runes."

Kong Jin's face lit up hearing this and asked hesitantly, "Uncle Lu, what realm would I need to be to see these runes?"

Uncle Lu continued his hearty chuckle, "You'll need to be at least Nascent Soul Realm to read the first two. Perhaps a talented Runic Master would be able to read them at the Sea Realm, but to read all three..."

A smirk started to appear on Uncle Lu's face, as the massive gate finally opened.

"Enough, run along to your grandfather, he had requested to see you alone." Uncle Lu waved him off.

"Yes, Uncle Lu." Kong Jin clasped his hands and bowed.

"One more thing." Uncle Lu interrupted him.

"You seem different." he murmured.

"Different Uncle Lu? How?" A shiver ran down Kong Jin's spine, and his hands started to become damp.