22 Tai Yang

As the door had said, it appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Once I passed through it, I found myself at the very same spot where I acquired the second piece. I marched towrd the second set of stairs and took a step. I felt like my mind was going to collapse, but I had no choice but to sit, since it was forbidden to take a step back. The first step took me 3 days in order to overcome it, and the second took 7 days.

However, this set of stairs didn't help in cultivation, but it improved the soul of the cultivator by tempering it under enormous pressure.

In a blink of an eye, 2 years passed since I took the first step on the second set of stairs. My soul was so powerful that I could clearly sense it. It took the form of clear ice crystal sword.

On this day, I was preparing to take the last and final step. Once I took it, the piece of blade appeared in my hand. I redone the process of joining the piece with the sword.

"Uh", said Pangu, but now not in my mind, but he spoke like any other person, "finally, I can talk like before".

"I prefer that you talk only when we are alone. I don't appreciate people knowing that my sword can talk", I told him.

"Why?"

"Why? Are you kidding me? Do you know something about the greed of cultivators?"

"Come on, lad, you can't blame me. I have been asleep for a very long time. The cultivators back then were generous and kind".

"Okay. If you don't want to appear in wrong hands, just talk when I allow you to, understand?"

"You can't give me orders! I am your creator!"

"Was my creator".

"Whatever. What's your name by the way?"

"Hasan".

"Pleased to meet you, Hasan. I am Pangu".

"I already know that". Apparently, he didn't want to keep talking so I shifted the sword back into wand form and sheathed it. It was still in the early morning. The door once again reappeared and I entered, but this time I walked to the room of Tai Yang. The poor boy was surprised that he jumped on his bed, his mouth hanging open.

"Sorry," I apologized, "I wasn't the one that wanted to be sent here".

"Not a problem, martial uncle", he said while bowing.

"Please, I am exactly your age, I am not an 'uncle'. You make me feel too old".

"Which you are", said Pangu.

"What have we talked about earlier? Don't you learn?"

"Not really. I split my soul into two in order not to create a chaosverse, but here I am, in the same one I created! And the second one also created a small chaosworld!"

I turned to Yang helplessly and said, "Please, don't tell anyone about him. Would you mind a walk?"

"It would be my pleasure", he replied. We walked through the sect while he gave me many historical facts and stories about China. Then we strolled through the forest, I wanted to show him the stairs. I am 90 percent sure that senior brother Sun didn't tell anyone of this. And I was right. But once we went to the place, we only found trees like other parts in the forest.

"Eh?" I said, "Pangu, what happened here?"

"Dunno, lad. But I think that it was only an illusion. Or it may be an artifact, that can help in cultivation, for the emperor and he took it back".

"The second one is more likely", said Yang, "Master has a lot of artifacts that are even useful to him".

"It's okay", I said, then asked Tai Yang, "How come you are not arrogant and spoiled? Every chinese story I have read mentioned that the most talented members of sects and families are spoiled brats. You can choose not to respond if you like".

"In other sects, they are just as you described. However, I hate arrogance."

"Same as me. But Your name, Tai Yang, means the Great Sun, isn't it a bit too arrogant?"

"It was the name that my parents gave me. I was a spoiled brat before the accident that led to my parents' death".

"Oh. I am so sorry, Yang. I didn't know."

"It is okay, I am proud to be their son. But their death was also my fault."

"How come?"

"I angered a very ill-tempered guest of ours, and he also happened to be a powerful cultivator. I refused to admit my mistake, which angered him more. My parents tried to calm him with precious things but that only led to their death. However, he left me alive to live in torment. Ever since, I had made a vow to destroy that man and kill him".

"I understand you're in grief, but sometimes, it would be better to let go."

"Why would I let go?

"Calm down. I am just saying that no one can know his destiny. What if you die, huh? What if you'll never reach his level?" He didn't answer and we stood in silent. Once he calmed down, he said, "Forgive me, uncle. I shall return to the sect".

And without looking at me anymore, he stormed to the palace to meet his master.