Chapter 31 - Master and Disciple

It didn't take long for Haize to wake up, just a short few minutes. When his eyes opened, they were full of sorrow and sadness, before having a carefully disguised calmness. When he attacked Xian Zi, he was out of his mind in some sense. After waking up, he looked around before he found the old man sitting calmly in a chair.

Without hesitation, he bowed down and apologized, ''Old man, I'm sorry for attacking you. I know you didn't have any malicious intent, but I didn't want my younger brother to feel any pain. I lost my mind for a second, for that, I apologize.''

As someone with a Chinese mother, Haize was instructed ever since he was a kid to at least have proper manners and to respect the older ones. While he didn't use most of the things taught to him, he still respected old men and old ladies. According to the situation, of course.

Haize was many things. Calm, paranoid, vicious, ruthless, and domineering. However, he never lacked respect for those who deserved it, nor was he unnecessarily disrespectful to others.

''Sorry? You were unnecessarily over-protective, brother!'' Lyse complained a bit while adding, ''Xian Zi just wanted to help me break the bottleneck so that I could advance to Peak 0-Star. What if there is a little pain? I'm not a kid anymore, I can already deal with things by myself!''

'So his name is Xian Zi? What a peculiar name, the Graceful Immortal...'

Names can tell a lot about others, at least in Haize's opinion. His own name means Sun Wind, and his abilities are Infinite Sun Flames, Abyssal Wind, and Heaven Light.

Massaging his own forehead, Haize sighed bitterly. In this matter, he truly was wrong, ever so more now that his own younger brother complained, dealing a blow to his heart, ''Yes, yes, I was wrong. Even so, that doesn't change the fact that you tried to deceive me, old man. I need some compensation, you nearly broke my younger brother's, fragile heart.''

''...You were the one to attack me so suddenly.'' Xian Zi muttered under his breath while feeling that there was no warmth in this world anymore. Then, he simply gave up trying to argue with such an unreasonable person, ''I'm in the wrong for trying to deceive you, anyway.''

Xian Zi smiled gently, his old face couldn't help but reminiscence about the past, and thinking that these two brats remind him of his granddaughter, ''Then, I'll introduce myself formally. I'm what you, native humans, call otherworldly humans. My name is Xian Zi.''

''I'm the Omniscient Space Emperor, someone at the Emperor Stage!'' A powerful, majestic aura burst out of Xian Zi's body. The siblings had an illusion that they were seeing an Emperor who was overlooking the entire world.

But Haize, who didn't hear their conversation, couldn't help but ask, ''Hm... What is the Emperor stage?''

Sighing in a helpless manner, Xian Zi explained everything he had previously said to Lyse before he continued, ''Those at the Emperor stage carry titles fit of their power, and I, who possess the Eyes of Space, am called Omniscient Space Emperor. I prefer a simpler title like Spatial Emperor, but that one is enough to show my power.''

''Collectively, each Star is a big stage, but also a small stage. As a whole, from the Mana Core stage to the Emperor Stage, it is called the Decaying Mortality Realm. It is rumored that those who surpass the 7-Star will break free from their mortal shells, thus it is called the Decaying Mortality realm.''

It was as if a sea of stars shone within Xian Zi's black-purplish eyes, as it shone with countless white-colored dots. Under his star-filled eyes, there was nothing that could escape his sight. Even insects who were hundreds of kilometers away could be seen clearly as if he was inspecting them with a microscope.

''Damn, your eyes look cool, please don't say they can copy others' technique as well! Or, do they have special abilities or evolutions?'' Lyse said excitedly, his golden-colored eyes shining with a curious glint. Xian Zi stared at him speechlessly, wasn't he supposed to say 'Oh my holiness, you're so cool, so amazing!' or something like that?

The illusions of an old man thousands of years old wanting to act cool were shattered by a youngster just about 17 years old. Looking sad, Xian Zi shook his head lightly.

'I think being straightforward with these brats is way better. Not to mention, one of them is the goddammit Pioneer of Light, for holiness' sake!' Xian Zi thought to himself, knowing that trying to slowly convince Haize would be useless. He had already grasped a bit of the golden-eyed man's personality and temper.

Being straightforward and honest was the best option because that was just like Haize was. It was like wanting to beat someone weaker than you, but purposely making mistakes, it wasn't time-effective. Taking a deep breath, Xian Zi said, ''I'm not going to keep beating around the bush anymore. I didn't expect to search for you, who I deemed worthy of being my disciple, and find that you're the Pioneer of Light.''

Under the silent stares of Haize and Lyse, the old man continued with a gentle, but old smile, ''I, Xian Zi, have lost too many things in my long life. I provoked many people, but under my power, no one could oppose me. Maybe this is the objective of others, and so it was my objective when I was young.''

''But as I got old, I noticed that this wasn't my way of life. This led me to search in this new world, searching for a disciple who may become my successor, and try to live peacefully.''

''Basically, I want you to be my disciple.'' Xian Zi concluded with a slight nod, satisfied with his speech. Haize had to admit, he felt a bit of admiration towards this old man, there was no trace of falsehood in his words. He was especially sensitive to lies, and so Haize could notice it was the absolute truth.

And Haize wasn't the kind of arrogant guy that thought he could solve everything by himself. In his path to become the so-called underworld emperor, he suffered too many injuries, both physically and mentally. When Haize entered the dark side of humanity so that he could gain power, he was just an 18-year-old young man who had lost his parents.

He had illusions that it would solve everything, but he was just an innocent boy at that time. The harsh reality hit his body and tore his mind violently. But Haize grew stronger and stronger, both physically and mentally.

Through the years, his talents showed themselves, but the cost was his blood and sweat. Even if Haize was saddened, he wasn't the kind of person that would victim himself, because that wouldn't solve anything. He also wasn't a power-hungry person.

Instead, the golden-eyed man was just a hurt soul whose meaning of life was Lyse, his biological younger brother, and John, who he considered a younger brother in his heart.

Even if not for him, he needed to get stronger so that Lyse and John could at least live the best part of life. Without any hesitation, Haize bowed down before he said, ''I'm willing to become your disciple.''

======

Support me on Pa treon for advanced chapters: patre on.com/onyat