Chapter 3: Travel

After Lei had arrived home his parents had been curious about why he had been escorted home by someone as important as Elder Kai. Lei, however, had refused to say anything and had gone to bed. His parents did suspect that he had something to do with the destruction of the arena. When they questioned him about it he had just shook his head and said,"The City Lord will be here early tomorrow morning to explain everything."He had then walked off. His parents looked at each, worried, then they hurried off to start scrubbing their house clean so that it would be spotless when the City Lord arrived.

The next morning a loud knocking noise woke the Kun household from their slumber. A voice shouted through the front door, "The honoured City Lord requests an audience with the Kun family!" Lei heard the sound of footsteps on his parents floor as they hurried to get ready. Lei started to get ready and as he stood up he realised that he was extremely tired, not physically but spiritually. He realised he must have exhausted his spirit with his display of power the day before. Lei slowly got ready and walked downstairs where he saw his parents letting the City Lord into the house, bowing as they did so. Lei bowed when he saw the City Lord. The City Lord looked at him and said, "I suspect it won't be long before I'm bowing to you considering your… condition." Lei's parents looked curious at his words before showing the City Lord and his entourage of guards into the living room. 

The City Lord settled into a chair before saying to the captain of his guards, "Lee would you mind giving me, this young man and his parents some privacy and please make sure that there is no one listening in." Lee bowed and led the guards out of the living room and out of the house where they then spread out around the property making sure no one was listening in. 

As soon as the guards had left Lei's father spoke up, "Honoured City Lord, what can I assist you with today." The City Lord leaned forward in his chair and said, "Mr Kun, have you ever heard of arcane cultivators?" Lei's father nodded and the City Lord continued, "As you may know there is only one arcane cultivator in Chuxun and he is King Shu Ye ruler of the Ye kingdom. I'm here to tell you that there are now two arcane cultivators in Chuxun. The second is your son." Lei's parents sat in silence before Lei's mother spoke, "Honoured City Lord how is that possible Huan and I were completely unremarkable earth cultivators during our time in the army and since we have left the army we have had no use for our skills. We are, in truth, terrible cultivators. How could our child be an arcane cultivator?" The City Lord Shrugged and said, "The heavens act in mysterious ways." Lei's father suddenly spoke up, "City Lord who will train our child. I've heard that the Ye kingdom ruler struggled to contain his powers when he was young and devastated many cities." The City Lord sighed and answered, "Your son will be taken away from the Jin Kingdom and sent to the Ye kingdom to be trained. King Shu sent a request to our Kingdom years ago stating that if any arcane cultivators are found; they must be sent to his kingdom immediately for training otherwise they might wreak havoc. I have been in communication through spirit stone with our own ruler, King Rou, and he has arranged for your son to start his journey to the Ye kingdom this afternoon. He has also conferred with King Shu and it was decided that if you, as the parents, wish to come with you will be allowed to." Lei's parents looked shocked at what they had just heard. Lei's mother spoke again, "Will we be allowed to accompany him?" The City Lord looked uncomfortable before answering, "I previously assured Lei that all would be taken care off but unfortunately I was mistaken. King Shu thinks that family will be a distraction. He did say that he will allow visits every three months and he will cover all the expenses." Huan looked the City Lord defiantly in the eyes and said, "What if we refuse to send our son to this foreign man to be trained by a man known to be cruel?" "You have no way to fight it. Our King is desperate to impress King Shu. If you don't agree, we will have to take him by force."

Lei spent the rest of the day packing his bags for his journey to the Ye kingdom. He thought that he should be nervous but he felt only a vague sense of excitement and adventure. His parents had stopped by his room a few times to help him pack. They were both downcast because he was leaving. Lei finally finished packing and brought his bags downstairs to the front door. The City Lord had instructed him to be ready and packed by four o'clock; he had also been told he would be travelling with a member of the royal family who had been in the Jin kingdom on holiday. Lei checked the clock on the wall and realised he still had two hours to wait. He decided to go and visit Wei and tell him that he was leaving.

Lei made it home from Wei just as the clock showed four. Lei had had a very uncomfortable conversation with Wei. He had told Wei that he was leaving but would be unable to tell him why. Wei had then asked if it had anything to do with what had happened at the arena. Lei had spent the rest of the conversation dodging questions and was relieved when he finally had to leave. When he had arrived home his parents had helped him carry his bags outside to the street where they now stood waiting. Soon the sound of hooves came from up the street and a group of three carriages clattered down the street. The carriages at that front and back were grey and utilitarian and filled with soldiers. The carriage in the middle was covered in masterful carvings of roses and other flowers. The carriages slowed to a halt in front of the Kun house. A tall soldier stepped out of the front carriage. He walked towards Lei and asked, "Are you Lei Kun? I am captain Xue and I have been tasked with escorting you to the Ye kingdom." Lei nodded and said, "I am Lei Kun… Sir?" The captain nodded and then called to two of his soldiers. They gathered up his bags and packed them into the first carriage. "You will be travelling in the middle carriage with Princess Xiang, King Shu's youngest and favourite daughter. I must warn you she can be quite… eccentric. Please say your goodbyes. We will be leaving in five minutes. Lei turned to his parents, tears welling up in his eyes, he embraced each parent before bidding them farewell and walking towards his carriage where a soldier waited for him. As he walked away he pretended not to hear his mothers sobbing. When he reached the middle carriage the soldier bowed and opened the door. A young beautiful woman around his age stared out at him and he thought that maybe this journey wouldn't be too bad.