Chapter 76: Zixin Siu

He saw a large human-shaped palm of water about 3 meters wide squashing down on the Hell Wraith.

*SCREEEE….*

Before the Hell Wraith could even finish letting out its death wail, the palm of water squashed it down to the ground as a wave of energy rippled in the air till there was nothing left except water on the ground.

Not even a speck of the Hell Wraith was left, and it was as if it never existed in the first place.

"This is shocking. How did it even get here…"

Arion was flabbergasted and turned around to see that it was Old Zi standing behind with his arms behind his back, looking like a true expert as his beard danced in the air.

"Old Zi!" Yaro was surprised to see him down here while Mei sighed in relief and said, "Thank you, Old Zi. That Dreadling really took us by surprise. But how did a Hell Wraith get here? They are too powerful to be here, and I doubt one of them would travel so far from their lair just to attack us? It just seems strange."

Old Zi nodded with a thoughtful expression as he continued to look at the spot where he killed the Hell Wraith, "I know...this is something I had never seen before or even spotted a Hell Wraith in these hills before. Not for over a hundred years anyway, nor any rumors of them being sighted here before. Maybe I should report this to Old Aslan later."

"Oh my god, Aunt Yaro. Let me see your hands," Mei called out as she noticed the burns on Yaro's arms.

Old Zi sighed, but since Mei was here, he was confident that Yaro would be alright soon.

Yaro wryly smiled as she showed her arms to Mei, "I will have to trouble you, Mei."

Old Zi looked at Arion as he came forward and said, "You must have been quite shaken when facing it. I am sorry about that. I thought I had cleared up the way ahead, but then I sensed something was wrong, and here I am."

Arion smiled and said, "Yeah, I was quite shocked, but I am glad you three took it out. But what kind of a monster was it? Why did it seem like a ghost but at the same time not?"

Old Zi explained, "It was not really a ghost, but maybe you could consider that it something similar to a spectre. Normal weapons wouldn't affect such Dreadlings. These kinds of Dreadlings mainly stay in their hotspots most suitable to their comfort. And that is why it's very strange that one of them came all the way here and attacked you all. But I am glad you had Yaro and Mei to protect you; otherwise, this old man would have been so guilt-ridden had anything happened to you."

'So my bow and arrow were not going to do shit anyways,' Arion inwardly sighed and wondered how he could kill something like that without using normal weapons.

Then he remembered the strange powers and techniques these three used to weaken and kill it, which seemed like he was watching a fantasy movie.

He felt a fervent sense of enthusiasm thinking about when he could use powers like them and shape the world around him.

He was greatly impressed by Old Zi's attack that took down the Hell Wraith with such ease and style though he knew that it was in a weakened state.

He suddenly felt so small but at the same time excited that he had a lot of room and chance to grow and evolve.

But his bloodline worries were still in the back of his head, and he had no idea whom to approach or ask for help regarding this.

"Not at all. In fact, I have to thank you for coming back to help us," Arion said with a bright smile, but then he noticed that a certain someone was missing.

"Looking for me?"

"God damn...where the hell was you?" Arion asked with an incredulous stare as he turned around to see Shun suddenly popping up before him.

Shun shrugged his shoulders, "What? I was always here. When that ugly creature attacked us, I just hid."

"You hid?" Arion asked with a confused expression. He then remembered in between the confusion when they were all under attack from the Hell Wraith, he didn't notice Shun at all.

"Of course, I did behind that rock. Or do you expect a weak boy like me to face a powerful Dreadling which I have no chance against?" Shun asked with a look of disbelief.

"What the…" Arion couldn't understand how the Hell Wraith just ignored him and only attacked him and the others.

In fact, anything Shun did or was involved in mostly didn't make sense to him.

"Oh, who is our little friend here?" Old Zi asked as he stroked his beard as he didn't expect another boy to accompany Arion.

Arion finally glanced away and said, "Ah, he's Shun. No need to mind him. He is just in for the ride since he's also participating in the Ironheart test."

"Good, good. I take it then that he is prepared," Old Zi said with a smile.

Arion eagerly said, "Of course—"

"Of course not! Master, please teach this unworthy disciple lest he dies an early death!" Shun immediately kneeled before Old Zi's feet, much to Arion's surprise.

'What the fuck is he doing? And when did he learn to speak so humbly?' Arion could only stare at the kneeling Shun with a slack jaw, wondering how thick-skinned this guy was. He could rival his level of shamelessness in his past life.

Shun barely knew who Old Zi was, but he was already kneeling before him and addressing him as 'Master' so emotionally.

"This…" Old Zi had a difficult expression as even he didn't clearly know Shun much other than seeing him in the crowd the other day.

And the last thing he expected was him to kneel before him and pleading to him to take him in as a disciple in a pitiful way.

"Please, Master! Within just one year, I promise not to disappoint you, and you can throw me away within one week if you are not satisfied with my performance," Shun bitterly said without raising his head.

"Sigh...please get up, child. There is no need for all this," Old Zi said with a softened expression as he pulled up Shun.

'Damn this cunning guy....he is trying to fool him into taking him in!' Arion couldn't stop glaring at Shun's back, seeing how he was throwing powder into this old man's eyes.

But then again, he didn't say anything since he already had his training spot saved, and it didn't matter to him what Shun did.

Old Zi had a lot of hesitation since he had only planned to train Arion but seeing Shun so eagerly and pitifully asking him, he couldn't help but consider his words.

But at the same time, he couldn't just accept him as a disciple directly since he would have to devote time for Arion as well since he promised him.

So as an expert, he had to make sure Shun was worth his time and extra efforts which he could have used in protecting other people.

But if Shun was indeed worth it and could grow up into a powerful and heroic figure, then he wouldn't mind giving it his all to train both Arion and Shun.

The only reason he even came forward on his own to train Arion was that he was highly impressed by the noble deed Arion did despite his circumstances. It was not something he came upon daily. In fact, it was something he usually did not see in today's generation.

He felt that Arion had the spark in him to become the beacon of hope for everyone, especially when people come to know about his story if he becomes a great hero in the future.

And now, with all the years of experience he had, he could see that Shun not only possessed wits, but he felt that there was some hidden potential in him based on his gut feeling.

He finally decided on something and said, "I actually only promised to train Arion, and I really don't have time to train another person."

Arion smirked, seeing that Shun just embarrassed himself.

Shun looked up with a sullen look, and with his face, he kept on looking at Old Zi pitifully.

"But I can take you in if you can pass a test."

Old Zi's next words surprised both Arion and Shun. Arion suddenly felt as if Shun was the hero protagonist here who was supposed to gain the recognition of his potential master through a test.

Shun excitedly jumped to his feet as he bowed, "Of course, Master! Please go ahead and tell this unworthy one what he should do to prove his worth?"