The people in the Yue clan began to slowly gather as they watched Yang Dao sparring with Jill. Steward Jill was the second strongest steward in the family, after the person who followed beside the patriarch. She was at the peak of the nascent soul realm. He might be known to everyone and the people were all respectful towards her.
They watched as she taught the guy without holding back her strength in the slightest. It would have been fine if she attacked Yang Dao, but the utter despair for even the onlookers was, no matter how strongly the boy attacked, she did not budge even a speck. She only used a finger of her hand to block his attacks.
In the past, a few children in the family had approached her for guidance, and she did help them all but she did not display her full strength, but she would not be this cruel. Yang Dao stopped after a few minutes and asked, "You can use your aura and spiritual pressure on me. That will help me temper myself better."
Jill asked, "I will not use my aura over you, because you are already immune to it. The spiritual pressure will increase slowly over a uniform interval of ten minutes, do inform me when you find it unbearable."
Yang Dao nodded and from his space ring he took out his sword. He took a deep breath and struck forward at the lady. Jill did not take the weapon in his hand lightly and took out a sword of her own. The two swords clashed together and Jill commented, "You have a good sword."
Yang Dao just smiled as he began to perform his basic sword attacks, like a stab, parry, and slash. The stance was firm and fluid. The spar continued for thirty minutes before Yang Dao called for a break. He was exhausted. Although his body was getting used to the spiritual pressure from Jill, it was still draining for him.
The moment he decided to stop it was like he was stuck inside a gravitational pull ten times stronger than normal. His attacks were losing the strength behind them, even breathing was becoming a task for him. After the sparring stopped the boy said, "I will take a rest and then we will continue again."
Jill nodded as she watched the boy sit down on the ground and cultivate. Yang Dao was comprehending the things that he had learned in the spar and at the same time, he was replenishing his spirit energy reserves. The people, both old and young, in the clan, watched the exchange. Some came to the field in open while some watched it through the shadows.
While the young people were confused over why Yang Dao was practicing like this the old people had keen eyesight to see through his potential and purpose. The boy was killing two birds with one stone. First, he was rallying the supporters behind Yue Lei Wang by showing them his potential, assuring them that they sided with the right side.
Second, those who sided with Yue Jiren were being warned. If they messed up with him, then they must kill him. If they failed to deal with him. Then the counter will leave them in despair. It was very clear as this ten-year-old boy was going at it against a nascent soul realm person for half an hour, none of his peers would even imagine this.
If the people accept you are a threat to them, based on the degree of fear, they will either deal with you, ignore you, or be scared to even think about you with bad motivation in their minds. Yang Dao wanted the third effect and this was for his safety. He did not intend to get into the thick of family politics with these old coots. He wanted a buffer period for himself.
He wanted to get a stronger protection shield than Yue Lei Wang alone. In one of the books he had read back at his home, he had found that a safe shelter always has more than four walls. That was why he wanted to find a few more walls.
After he sparred with Jill for another round they returned to his room. This time, Yang Dao followed half a step behind Jill, like a student would follow his teacher. Jill suddenly realized this when she noticed the staff looking at her. She was surprised and asked, "Young Master, why are you following behind me. This is not appropriate."
Yang Dao snapped out of his thoughts and said, "You do not have to worry about that sister Jill. At this moment, you are the person who taught me something very important and crucial. I am your student. So, me following behind you is only fine. Those who think that just because you are employed in this house, makes it inappropriate for you to be respected, are wrong.
Mum used to say those who do not realize the importance of the people who work with them, are idiots and ungrateful. I am neither of those words. So, this is appropriate."
Jill was surprised but she said, "But, Young Master..."
Yang Dao cut her off, "No buts, if they ask you or punish you, then you tell me. Humph, I would like to see."
Then he walked inside his room and sat down in cultivation, leaving Jill standing at the door. She did not realize when had they arrived in front of the room while she was guiding him. She bowed slightly to the meditating boy as she mumbled, "You are truly different, Young master."
Then she gently closed the door and stood outside to guard his room. Yang Dao spent the next few days, meditating and practicing with Jill and Yue Yun. A few of the children who belonged to the allied faction came over to train with him. Yang Dao made good progress with his connections and cultivations respectively.
On the seventh day, Jill knocked on the door of his room and came inside. She saw a young boy wearing a white hanfu and said, "Young Master, we are ready. Lady Yue Yun is waiting for us at the port."
The day for the exam was here and Yang Dao was to depart with Jill and Yue Yun beside him. Other than that, he had two male guardians assigned for his safety as well. The boy nodded and said with a smile, "Let's go Sister Jill."