Wild interest

"Master Hu!"

Leonard exclaimed, gasping for air.

"Why the hell did you come in without knocking?!"

shouted Liu angrily, casting a severe look at Leonard.

"I need Elder Hu's help," Leonard said, still breathless.

"What do you need me for, boy?" Elder Hu asked, approaching Leonard.

"I looked for you across the three mountains. The final match of the entrance test just ended."

Leonard replied, regaining his composure.

"And what does that have to do with me?" the elder asked, curious.

"Well, Participant Hyu Park was gravely injured!" Leonard said, revealing Hyu, who lay slumped over Leonard's back, staring into nothingness with a hollow gaze.

"Damn it, I missed the fight because I went to find you, Sae!" Liu exclaimed, frustrated as he ruffled his gray hair.

"That's your problem," Sae replied just as Elder Hu rushed past him to check Hyu's vital signs.

"He's still alive! Quickly, all of you, get out of here—I need space to treat this boy!" Hu shouted as he laid Hyu on the same bed where Izuru was resting.

"We almost lost him," Izuru murmured, observing Hyu's limp body.

"Who was he fighting?" Liu asked, curious.

"It was Robert. The senior elders had been speaking very highly of him," Leonard replied, heading for the exit.

"Kaina returned with Kelly right after Sae took Izuru, so she should be introducing the sect masters to the candidates by now," Liu said, glancing at Izuru.

"In your case, it won't be necessary for you to go, as I'll choose you as my disciple," Sae said, extending his hand to Izuru.

"Actually, Sae, Izuru's coming with me. If he knows what's good for him, he'll choose me," Liu replied with a smirk.

"You've already taken Pyo Wol, you plan to take Kelly, and now you want Izuru too? Can't I have a disciple of my own?" Sae asked, glaring at Liu.

"I actually plan to take Hyu, Robert, and Rin as well."

"Selfish old man."

"What makes you think they'll choose you? Robert and Rin might accept without hesitation, just as Pyo Wol did, but from what I saw and heard, Hyu and Kelly have their eyes on other masters," Izuru interjected, confused.

"That's because they didn't expect someone as powerful as me to choose them. But once they see the opportunity, they'll accept without hesitation. Just wait and see," Master Liu replied with a smug smile, already imagining the faces the candidates would make upon seeing him up close—and especially the reactions of Kelly, Rin, and Robert upon being chosen by him.

"Don't listen to him, kid. He's just an old man with a superiority complex, all proud just because he survived a fight against God," Sae said, completely deflating Liu's fantasy.

"How many people do you know who could pull off something like that?" Liu asked, attempting to defend his point, but Sae's answer would leave him deeply unsettled.

"Does the name Julian Noah ring any bells?"

"Where the hell did you meet that man?" Liu asked seriously, his body filling with Qi.

"Seems like Alzheimer's is kicking in—you always forget I lived with Rain for most of my childhood," Sae replied, signaling Leonard with a single glance to lead Izuru away. Sae was preparing for a possible full-scale fight.

Meanwhile, at the Kamubura residence…

Enso lay on the ground, exhausted, completely beaten, and without strength. On the other hand, Reiji was being held back by more than ten security guards and fifteen police officers at once.

The battle cries, the look on his face, and the way he fought against everyone was something Sanemi would never forget. This was the sight of a man with nothing left to lose.

Finally, after overpowering all the guards, the police were able to subdue him using tasers.

At last, Reiji Kamubura fell to his knees, steam rising from his body, his bloodied fists, and his vacant stare the last thing Sanemi saw of his uncle before he was arrested and charged with resisting arrest. (Feel free to add other charges here when reviewing this chapter, as well as edit or correct as needed.)

Back at Elder Hu's residence:

Liu was glaring fiercely at Sae, who remained unfazed by his master's overwhelming presence.

"Do you really want to anger Elder Hu? You and I both know what a divine-level healer can do when he's furious," Sae said, stepping closer to Liu until they were face-to-face. However, before a brutal battle could ensue, Elder Hu burst through the door, demanding his brother's presence immediately.

"Don't you dare mention that man around me again, because I assure you, next time I won't hold back at all," Liu warned, entering his brother's house and stumbling upon a strange scene.

"What kind of hit would leave someone in this state?" Liu muttered to himself as he watched Hyu kneeling on the floor, clutching his head and shouting in joy.

"I'm alive! He didn't take my head off!"

If Liu had ever had doubts about Robert, they were gone now. He officially wanted that young man under his wing.

Chapter 7, Part I: Wild Interest

Three hours later…

All the sect's masters stood before the candidates who had passed the entrance test.

As the minutes passed, masters and disciples reached mutual agreements, until the final fifteen candidates remained.

"It seems we all think alike. Everyone except the scruffy-looking black-haired guy," Kelly said with a smile as she saw the entire top ten, minus Pyo Wol, among the fourteen candidates.

"Tell me, little brother, were you able to win your battles?" Kelly asked, smiling at her brother's serious expression. Robert's response? He lunged forward and hugged his sister tightly.

"Don't ever risk yourself like that for me again," he whispered, holding back tears.

"Relax, little brother. It takes more than some prodigy who doesn't know how to treat a lady like me to take me down. Or else you'll never get a girlfriend, Rin-Rin."

Kelly teased with a grin as she looked at Rin, who glared back with a twitching eye.

"Attention! Presenting the sect master and his number one disciple!"

End of Chapter