Lesson 2: The Special Sword

Junior doesn't quite know how he was roped into this. Actually, that's a lie. He knows exactly how he got into this position.

Not wanting to offend a Core Disciple, even if he is planning on leaving this sect in the coming months, he decided to entertain her, "guidance." So, here he is, swinging his sword once again despite having just given it up not an hour prior as she watches.

This time, the sensation he feels is the same as always. A sense of oneness. Fulfillment in a life otherwise devoid of it. Joy.

This is it. This is the only time Junior isn't bored and depressed in this new world of his. Because aside from his delusions of grandeur playing with ants, there's really not much to do aside from cultivate, eat, sleep, and practice.

Thankfully, practicing is never boring for Junior, even if he hasn't been making the progress he so desires. Just swinging the sword mindlessly, it can't get old to him.

The teenager becomes lost in the process. Time loses all meaning. If he could, he would just do this every minute of every day. But he can't. As that wouldn't be living this second chance of his to it's fullest.

Junior is shaken out of his trance by Wen Jia. He looks at her, sweat dribbling down his forehead.

Wen Jia has wide eyes as she stares at him with her mouth open dumbly. He tilts his head questioningly at her, which snaps her out of her shock.

"J-Junior Brother, could you... do that again?"

"Sure, I guess." No skin off his back, really.

Another few hours pass, and finally, Junior is done with his sword swinging. He turns to Wen Jia, only to see her staring at him in a mixture of shock and awe. He quirks an eyebrow.

"Junior Brother, you're... you're more talented than you realize," she tells him. Her words makes his expression sour.

"I used to think so," he murmurs. He let's out a deep sigh.

"Look, if all you're gonna do is waste my time, can I go?" he says bluntly.

"That's not the attitude a Junior Brother should have towards his Senior Sister," she sternly advises. He looks at her with a deadpan face.

"Cool, I got it, thanks for the tip." He shrugs and begins to walk away. She stops him by quickly walking in front of him.

"You should really listen to your Seniors, Junior Brother," she suggests to him with a smile that's really not a smile. He narrows his eyes, only to smirk.

"I did. But I determined my Senior had nothing of value to say, so now, I'm leaving," he annouces.

"Do not take a single step," she suddenly utters in a domineering tone. Feeling better at making her angry, Junior acts as if he doesn't hear Wen Jia and turns around, he takes one step forward, and...

In an instant, she's in front of him. He can't move, some invisible pressure weighing him down. He looks at her, eyebrows furrowing.

"Why are you giving up? Can't you see how much talent you have? Or are you just lazy?" she questions, as if talking to herself more than Junior.

'Lazy. I'm the lazy one?' Junior recognized Wen Jia's name the moment she said it. She's the Sect Master's only disciple. Which means she spends most of her time in seclusion, cultivating. That also means she's the most talented person in the entire Moon Lotus Sect. This person is calling him lazy.

"So fucking what?" he growls.

She's taken aback. Clearly not used to being spoken to this way. Good, because he's done caring at this point.

"I don't see what your goddamm problem is. If I want to give up, I'll give up. If I want to continue, I'll continue. I don't see how that concerns you, so stay the hell out of my business. Understand?"

She just dumbly nods. He leaves, and this time, she doesn't stop him.

*****

Wen Jia has never seen anything like it. This Outer Courtyard Disciple whose name she has yet to ask for, his swordsmanship... it's the greatest she has ever seen.

Better than her's. Better than any Elders. Better than even her Master's. He was one with his sword.

So she can't understand it.

Why? Why is he giving up? She tried to convince him, but it didn't work, his decision already made. She tried scolding him, that didn't work either. Nothing got through to him. It made her unbearably angry to see that talent wasting away. She believed he doesn't deserve it.

And now, before she notices it, he's gone. His last words resonating within her mind.

Should she... apologize? She basically demanded that he stayed instead of trying to understand his decision and accepting it, that was unbecoming of a Senior Sister.

As she looks back on it, his harsh words were well deserved on her part. She really messed up.

*****

Ever since that conversation with Wen Jia, Junior's mood has been terrible the entire week. Despite that, he hasn't missed a single day of swinging his sword. Not for training or anything, just for fun this time.

Swinging a sword with no expectations for progress is the best. It's liberating. Damn near intoxicating to him.

He forgets his jealousy. His resentment. His insecurities. The only thing he has in his eyes is the sword.

That is until...

Knock knock

Junior snaps out of his stupor, and looks at his door. 'Who is it this time?' he thinks grumpily as he marches to it.

He swings it open in one wide pull, sees the face of Wen Jia, and instantly slams it shut. He isn't in the mood to converse with her.

"Hey! Wait! I just want to talk!" she shouts. Junior deliberates for a moment.

'She's annoyingly persistent. If I don't talk to her she'll probably come every day and bang on my door...' It seems using his silver tongue is the lesser of the two evils.

Letting out an utterly massive sigh, he drags his feet on the floor and opens the door. He crosses his arms.

"What do you want?" he asks impatiently. She clears her throat.

"Ahem, uh, I thought about what I did... before. And I... I want to apologize, for... you know..." she averts her gaze.

"I do know. So, is that all?" He doesn't accept her apology. While she does seem a bit pitifully unaccustomed to people, most likely from all that time spent cultivating by her lonesome, that's no reason to try to force him to do something he clearly isn't interested in.

"Uhm, no, I... look, you're really, really, really talented in Swordsmanship. You're the best I've ever seen, and I'd hate for that talent to go to waste as a fellow member of the same sect," she explains to him. Junior can't help but wonder where this confidence in him is coming from. Or maybe she just really hates being wrong.

"Uhuh, so?"

"So... I want you to stay until the tournament. You can leave after it's over, I won't stop you," she promises.

"And why's that?" He has a bad feeling about whatever she wants him to do.

"I want you to participate in the tournament," she states. He blinks.

"What?"

"I want you to participate in our sect's tournament," she repeats. He stares at her as if looking at a dumb person.

"Why? You know I'm just going to lose, don't you?" he says a little more bitterly than intended.

"No, you won't. I believe you can win," she declares. Junior wants to laugh at her words, but is unable to as he sees her conviction. Her eyes that stare straight into him, seeing something he just can't.

'She... really thinks I can win?' In this life, the only people who have ever believed in him are his parents, and himself. The latter's belief eventually faded as reality set in. That he isn't anything out of the ordinary. That this second chance of his was just some fluke, despite it being literally life changing.

"Really? And how am I going to go about that?" His voice is dripping with sarcasm.

"I'll help train you, I'll be your sparring partner," she replies. He looks at Wen Jia, as if studying some strange creature.

It's the first time he's actually taken a proper glance at her features. He just wrote her off as beautiful person number 394.

She has fiery red eyes, spotless pale skin, and long blue dark hair. Her eyes shine with confidence and faith. Faith in himself.

"What, I... why? I don't understand?" is all he can inquire.

"Your sword is special."

Her words, her dumb belief. It can really make someone feel special. He despises it. It takes awhile for Junior to formulate a response.

"You don't even know my name." This makes her stop. Her face becomes ruddy.

"I... I'm super sorry. You must think I'm crazy..."

"Yeah, I do," he unhesitatingly confirms.

"Your name is...?"

"Junior. Just call me Junior." It's not like he would ever be anyone's Senior Brother.

"Right, Junior Brother... Junior?" That's not confusing at all.

"Don't start with that. Just say Junior Brother or Junior, not both."

"Understood. So, what's your answer?" she asks, a hopeful look on her face.

"I... fine. Staying a few more months won't change anything," he responds while pinching the bridge of his nose. He would attend the damn tournament, if only to prove her wrong.

"Great! We'll start training tomorrow!" Wen Jia exclaims excitedly.

"Sure. Bye." He shuts the door on her face.

*****

Within these three months, Junior resolves to train harder than ever. To undeniably prove, that he isn't special.

Because among the many things he hates, being wrong is one of them. He continues swinging his sword, this time, with a ferocity rarely seen in his strikes.