Trade Off

Lin continued running, ducking tree branches, pushing through shrubs, and dodging trees. He could hear his heart pounding in his chest, fear coursing through his entire being with a deep side of anxiety. He couldn't hear the birds chirping, the tolling of the bell in the city, shouting coming from his family home. All he could hear is the rushing of his blood, the throbbing of his heart, and the insecurities that corrupted his thoughts as it reminded him of his impending doom. Sweat was beading down his face but it wasn't from fatigue, the fear was what brought it upon him as he held back his gullet from making him puke. He could feel the rising from the contents of his stomach as he barreled towards the entrance of the sect, soon the life he knew was going to end and whatever his family had planned would be his fate.

The entrance of the sect wasn't grand but rather plain. It was resemblant of a normal gate found in most cities, a red tile roof that had seen wear, the sect's name plastered on the front as a declaration, as well as large wooden doors with metal studs worked into them. It was auspicious to see as he raced through, the tired-looking guards hardly noticing him as he zoomed past and down the cobblestone road, his feet stamping down as raced towards his family home. He dodged, weaved, and whizzed through the streets. Children played in the streets, parents watched with overseeing eyes and vendors lined the streets but now wasn't the time for any of it as he got closer to his home.

The heads of the family were gathered in the main courtyard, waiting and partially expecting Lin to run from his fate but Lin's father knew better. He may have raised a failure but not a coward, his son would accept his fate even if it meant dying. He would give his son credit where credit was due but there was only so much to be given for one who couldn't overcome even the most simple of tasks. The face of the 47-year-old man was one of displeasure as he sighed, the wear and tear of training as well as battle evident as his pale leathery skin sat unmoving in discontent. The other heads of each separate part of the family waited. The elder was a wrinkly mess kept contained in a loose-fitting grab of silk, his almost closed eyes wore the years of life as he grumbled impatiently.

"This damn waste of Yu seed was spread to an outsider, a foreigner who left the moment the cord was cut! Thanks to the tainted blood it has grown as a failure and a mistake, natural-born trash! When is it going to be here so we can seal its measly power and send it away!" the old man bleated out as Kim Yu sighed, his father was a pain in the ass at times but it was getting a little late even for his son Lin. He rubbed his head and looked up at the sun. Dusk was soon to fall on the land and yet no sign of little Lin.

Lin reached the entrance to his family home when he stopped, the voice of his insecurities began to grip him and spread lies.

"I could go home, gather up all my clothes and run away, make my own way in the world, cultivate in my free time and come back when I am strong enough to spit in the face of all the old men as well as my grandfather's. I would be able to fight my bully at an equal level and perhaps even become a great warrior!" The enchanting voice of reason echoed in his head as his heart dully thudded in his chest. He took a deep breath as he took a step back before his senses came to him and true reason brought him to his senses.

"No, I was raised to face my fate head-on and without fear. Even if I am to have my life end here then I should do it like a man and not a sniveling child running away from my problems. It takes a true man to step up to the foes he faces and fight them head-on. I will not give up and run away." He huffs as he quells the negative thoughts and pushes open the door of his family home, ready to face the challenge before him and take this strife with a grain of salt. He walked through the empty hall as he found himself at the end, the end of his life as a cultivator and the start of whatever was planned by the corrupt senseless geezers that lacked brain cells. He took a deep breath and pushed through the doors of the main courtyard, everyone was lined up as all his family turned their attention to him as the elder slowly stood up, using his cane to steady himself.

"Lin Yu, Son of Kim Yu and a foreigner. Today is your eighteenth birthday and by the tradition of the Yu family, your skills as a cultivator will be judged. We know you have mastered the Thunder God's March and you have the basics of the Thunder God's Strike but what truly matters is what stage your foundation lies at. The first level is Febel Soul, the weakest and what all people of Murim start at, it has ten stages to it. After refining your soul to Feeble's max you must also refine your body to Mortal Flesh. Each level after that goes as such, for soul after Feeble is Subpar, Nihility, Foundation, Iron Core, Steel Core, Gold Core, Diamond Core, Soul Wandering, Nascent Soul, Ensoulment, Ascension, anything after that is something that few people have achieved. As for the body, after Mortal Flesh is Deviant Flesh, Beast Flesh, Demon Beast Body, Half Demon Body, Demon Body, Half-Immortal Body, then we assume Immortal but same as soul, very little have reached this peak. One does not have to have the soul to achieve each body cultivation but one must have the specific body to achieve the soul." To most all cultivators this was common knowledge, known by those who sought the path and were practitioners with a sect or master behind them to guide them. Lin knew this as well for when he was looked upon with favor by his family they made sure to teach him the ways of a cultivator.

"Now Lin Yu, we shall begin the test! Bring out the stone!" Kim sighed as the old man was being demanding once more. He waved at one of his cousins who bowed and brought a stone on a silken pillow, presenting it to Lin Yu who reached to grasp the stone. This stone was a Soul Tester, able to tell what one's soul power was by shining depending on what their level was, the brighter the better. He gulped as he manifested all the power he could and sent it into the crystal, it lightly vibrated before weakly flickering like a flame with little oxygen to feed off of. A wave of snickers overtook his family as the little old man began to bellow with a surprising might in his voice.

"Weak! Look how weak that pathetic soul of his is, it barely even allows the crystal to light up! What a laughable excuse for a soul, barely even Feeble!" The old man's words caused an uproar as people began to laugh so hard tears welled up in their eyes, every member of the family in a fit except Kim Yu who held a stone-cold expression as he stood up. A rather thick miasma of anger, disappoint, and sorrow emanates off him as he stares down his child.

"Lin Yu, you have had eighteen years to refine your soul to at least Subpar and you have failed to do so. The ancient Yu traditions that was developed from the wilderness dictates that you are unfit to be a cultivator, apart of the Yu family or my son! You will be branded as a failure, a weakling for all those to know. All family skills will be stripped from you, your soul sealed so you can be a normal mortal and you shall be expelled from this family. Accept your fate and discard your top so the next step can ensue!"

Lin felt uneasy, the fact was known and all the punishment he was about to receive was because he was weak, he lacked skills and talent. This is what he had been dreading for the last eight years and now was time to accept his fate as he got on his knees and berid himself of his shirt. The heads of the family all gathered as each of them placed their hands on a rod of metal that sat in blazing coals, pouring some of their power into it as they chanted. Slowly each withdrew their hands from it as the elder stood, the clacking of his cane on stone like a gong of a church counting down his demise. The old man gripped the rod and joined in the chant as he pulled it from the coals, a red hot emblem brand stood at the end as he poured his own power into it and made his way to Lin. He hadn't even felt the searing burn he felt the heat coming closer to him, the metal engraining itself to his brain as he took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself for what was to come. The elder came behind him as his father held out a bit of leather as Lin gulped and took it, placing it in his mouth, in between his teeth as he felt his heart racing. He placed his hands on his knees as he took a deep breath. The chanting filled his ears as the heat licked his back before he felt the pain, the sound and smell of burning flesh sizzled as the pain arched from between his shoulder blades. His teeth clamped down on the leather as he yelled behind clenched teeth, a weakness spreading through him as he nearly cried, tears welled up in his eyes as his consciousness began to fade. As everything faded to black he took a deep breath as he fell into the darkness.

Kim looked down at his son who just fell into slumber due to the pain. He felt guilt as he took a deep breath, slowly reaching down to grab his son before he was met with a wooden cane.

"Leave him. You said it yourself that it is no longer your son or apart of this family. I have already found it use and hitas made us more coin than it could while in our family. Soon no one will remember the name of Lin Yu and we shall get rid of this stain on our family name."

Anger began to boil inside Kim. Yes he disowned his son and part of him loathed the boy but the actions he made were out of anger and disappointment.

"What have you done you damn old man!" The elder chuckled and a smirk rose on his face.

"That is for me to know and you not"