Gui Shan's Fate Undecided
So they thought master Huang Ju is going easy on him for the time being. Ru Yuo was happy to see me that Gui Shan was okay.
Meanwhile, during the course of Gui Shan's training, master Yang Jun had already began intense training with Hu Mei.
Master Yang Jun had pledged to teach Hu Mei all the skills and techniques he needed to grow powerful. It was indeed a fulfilling moment for Hu Mei.
That morning, Hu Mei woke up early. His training at the academy has changed him a lot. But one thing he never forgets is that Gui Shan is his personal rival.
It was his desire to surpass Gui Shan that has kept him and made him push harder. Fortunately enough, here is another opportunity for him to get stronger.
Master Yang Jun coming out of his chamber was surprised to see that Hu Mei was ready for the training that early.
"Good morning master", Hu Mei greeted immediately he saw master Yang Jun.
"Morning! Hu Mei. I can see that you've finally dropped your laxity and desire to grow stronger", he said.
After that, they both headed for the training ground, but this time around, they used a solemn environment.
The other students were training in the main bowl and desired to get stronger even without a direct teaching from master Yang Jun. They didn't mind the fact that Hu Mei was chosen over them.
They always respected their masters decision. Training that day was intense. It was as though Hu Mei wants to master all the skills in a day.
"Take it slowly", master Yang Jun would say. Hu Mei on his part seems to be progressing since he started with basic skills.
...
The day finally came, it was the day Gui Shan was to put his study the previous day to practice.
Gui Shan that morning was lost in thoughts.
"Who would I be facing this time? Would it be master Huang Ju?" Gui Shan asked himself.
He quickly got dressed as he headed to the ancestral temple for his training exercise. He got there and as usual he met master Huang meditating there.
He always wondered if master Huang Ju slept in his chambers last night.
"Good morning master", Gui Shan said.
"Morning my student, hope you're ready for today's training?" He asked.
"Yes master", Gui Shan responded.
"I want you to know that the training today would take a difficult form", he said.
"Your life may depend on it as it's a very risky one", he said.
After saying this, master Huang Ju took Gui Shan to an underground basement in the ancestral temple where the training would take place.
"Master what are we doing here? This place looks odious", Gui Shan said as he looked around.
"Hahaha...hahaha...", Master Huang Ju laughed as he led Gui Shan deeper.
"We're in a dungeon where ferocious beasts and animals are kept", he said.
"You'll soon meet your challenge", he said.
After some walk, they came to a portion of the dungeon where an 100years old scorpion had been kept.
Immediately Gui Shan saw this, fear was already running down his spine.
"Master, don't you think we're taking this training too far?" Gui Shan asked.
"We've only just began", master Huang Ju said.
"Master, but this is dangerous, I may end up dying in the hands of this scorpion", Gui Shan said.
"No, I have faith in you. Know one thing that the greatest and most powerful men always attempted and confronted the most dangerous challenge", master Huang Ju said.
"Believe in your self", he said.
...
Master Huang Ju stood still for a while and ruminated on some things.
"If truly he's the wolf warrior, he won't die in this. I hope he survives it", he said within himself.
"Gui Shan... if you feel you can't defeat it after some trial, you can retreat and try another day, the gate is always open",
"Know that your life depends on your actions", master Huang Ju said.
"But how can I defeat something so huge an ferocious?" Gui Shan asked.
Giving answer to his question, master Huang Ju spoke;
"The task is a bit difficult. On the chest of the scorpion, Is a gem, It was crested years ago and this is what keeps and provide the scorpion with vital energy",
"This is the reason why the scorpion has lived for hundreds of years", he said.
"If you successfully remove the gem, then the life force of the scorpion is taken away", he said.
"But master, there is no way I can get the gem out without defeating the scorpion first", Gui Shan said.
"Know that no matter how big and mountainous your opponent looks like, they would always have a weak point",
"To defeat this giant spider, you need to look for it's weak point. The book you read should have guided you on how to do that", he said.
"But mind you, even you have strength or any plan of defeating it, your agility is needed. The ball is in your court, defeat the giant scorpion and continue training or you just give up", master Huang Ju added.
So after the discussion, the gate was opened and Gui Shan entered to confront the scorpion.
He knew it was dangerous, but he had no choice but to pass this test and continue his training.
The giant scorpion had been asleep all this time. So Gui Shan needed to do something and wake it up.
He took a stone from the ground and hit the scorpion hard. The first throw wasn't enough to wake the scorpion up.
So Gui Shan picked another one and threw it at the beast. This time around, he heard some shaking as the scorpion rose up.
It was as though it had been sleeping for all ages, the ground quaked. As the scorpion rose up, it now appeared more larger and fiercer than it's lying state on the ground.
Gui Shan was terrified for some moment of time, but suddenly braced up.
"All I just need to do is to carefully avoid the attacks and reach out for the gem", Gui Shan said within himself.
"But this isn't going to be easy", he said.
As he was still strategizing, the giant scorpion stamped it's legs and stinger on the ground which caused a stampede.
Gui Shan was out of balance until he took a firm stance. Master Huang Ju watched closely from afar.
"I'll going go to his rescue if he is at the brink of death and beside, a close shave with death awakens a person's dormant potential", master Huang Ju said.
The show began as the scorpion attacked restlessly. Gui Shan was able to evade the attacks because he had a quick reaction time.
He avoided the scorpion's stinger which was very poisonous. Several times, he dodged being clutched by the claws of the scorpion.
Gui Shan was real having a tough time. As the battle continued, the scorpion in many occasion flings Gui Shan and throw him against the wall.
Gui Shan would get close to the abdomen but eventually gets knocked away. He tried several times but sustained some bruises, he was careful enough to avoid the stinger.
Gui Shan discovered that he was losing strength and eventually got tired. The scorpion was really a strong opponent, so Gui Shan decided to end it before the scorpion ends his life.
He came out of the cage rolling on the ground. Master Huang Ju seeing that he has done enough quickly sealed up the cage using Qi in order to prevent the scorpion from chasing after Gui Shan.
Gui Shan was panting where he sat.
"Master this seems impossible", the spider doesn't seem to yield or surrender.
"Possessing such amount of Qi and vital energy from the gem is actually giving it an advantage", Gui Shan said.
"I need to go back home and think of my own way of defeating this spider", Gui Shan said.
So that fateful day, Gui Shan and master Huang Ju returned back to the Crimson manor. Today was a bit different because Gui Shan came back with some bruises.
All the students wondered why Gui Shan was in a different shape compared to the previous day.
"Gui Shan...it seems today was really hard on you", Ru Yuo said.
...
That evening, Ru Yuo nurse Gui Shan and took care of the bruises. Gui Shan felt better in an instant.
"Thanks a lot Ru Yuo", he said as he sat upright.
"Please put aside the pleasantries, I'm your sworn sister, so it won't be a big deal if I decide to help my brother", Ru Yuo said.
They both laughed as Ru Yuo made the statement. Ru Yuo eventually left Gui Shan to rest on his own and have strength for the next day's training.
Moments after Ru Yuo left, Gui Shan lay on his bed as he looked up observing the design and structure of the house.
He looked at it for a while as though he just moved into the rooms.
... continue from next chapter...