Chapter 18 - Separation

Chu Xin is undoubtedly a heavenly talent, with almost limitless potential. Despite that, there are several factors that could stall her growth. Tatsuya could already point out the different factors that could affect her future.

Although, she is overly matured compared to her peers, she's still a child with no combat experience and other fundamental knowledge about the cultivation world. She only knew some basic things, due to the knowledge that she thought that she had received from her Heavenly Yin Profound Veins.

*Thud*Thud*

Continuous sounds rang afar, as different shockwaves were generated from the multiple collisions. Two shadows could be perceived within the flat land, as their figures moved swiftly and precisely. Their collisions of fists generated different craters within the perimeter.

After a few minutes, the two shadows gradually manifested on two opposite sides, as they stared at one another. Tatsuya still wore his usual clothes, as his indifferent gaze landed on Chu Xin's exhausted figure. The latter was breathing heavily, as she felt exhausted from fighting Tatsuya.

"Hm. Looks like after learning the way to control your profound energy, you gained better control over your own movements and attacks, Xin'er."

"B-big brother Tatsuya… How could you not break a sweat after that spar?"

Facing the curious Chu Xin, Tatsuya only smiled at her question. Although, they had spent more than an hour sparring, Tatsuya also noticed the vast improvement on his stamina. This is because of the continuous supply of energy from his profound veins.

Tatsuya had been manipulating his control over the profound energy to suit his combat style. The profound energy is like a medium that could ignore the different law governance, as he had even recently made a technique that could ignore the air resistance, vastly improving his agility.

(Xin'er sure improved, but she still lacks the thing that she should possess, and that is the determination to kill someone.)

Tatsuya pondered to himself, as Chu Xin did her best in stabilizing her own condition. The Scarlet Dragon that once accompanied them had already gone back to its own habitat. After all, Tatsuya didn't want such humongous dragon, accompanying them into their travel towards the New Moon City.

(Even after the different encounter that she had experienced within the week, I could still not sense the determination and courage in her eyes…)

Almost a week had passed since they had left the Scarlet Dragon Mountain Range. Usually, a cultivator would only take a few days to reach the New Moon City, but Tatsuya and Chu Xin took their time and traveled slowly.

In that week, they had encountered bandits and different kinds of hostile entity. Tatsuya mostly dealt with them, while Chu Xin mostly watched from the sidelines. After all, Tatsuya couldn't just throw Chu Xin in the frontlines without her own consent.

(Anyway, she would soon possess that courage. Maybe the New Moon Profound Palace could help her realize the cruelty of the world.)

Tatsuya halted his line of thinking, as he noticed that Chu Xin had finally stabilized herself. He took a step forward, and instantly appeared before Chu Xin. The latter felt surprised, and swiftly took a combat stance while taking a step back.

"You really did learn a lot, eh."

Tatsuya felt satisfied over Chu Xin's performance, as he patted Chu Xin's head. The latter felt delighted, as she let out a thin smile that intensified her beauty.

"Ehehehe, it's all thanks to big brother."

Chu Xin replied back, as she desired to convey her gratitude to Tatsuya. She knew her rapid increase in strength is all thanks to Tatsuya's effort. She knew and will forever know the sincerity that Tatsuya had shown her.

"Well, shall we stop your training right here?"

"I… do not want to."

Chu Xin sadly replied to Tatsuya, as her thin smile faltered. She stole a glance at her side, and saw a city from the distance. Right now, she knew that reaching the New Moon City only pointed to a single thing, Tatsuya and Chu Xin would be separated from each other. She obviously didn't want that to happen, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to change Tatsuya's mind.

"Okay, we'll spar one more. Show me what you've got."

"Mm!"

Chu Xin's face brightened, as her natural smile returned. Tatsuya inwardly felt helpless, as she stared at the preparing Chu Xin. He took a step back, and instantly appeared on Chu Xin's opposite side. They stared at one another, and waited for a specific signal that they could use.

The wind blew softly, as it swayed the plants and trees within the forest. The sun had begun to set, as its rays colored the forest. Tatsuya and Chu Xin waited patiently, as a leaf from a tree slowly fell from its trunks. Slowly but surely, the leaf descended.

…

"Amazing…"

Chu Xin stared at the different infrastructure before her, as her face showed her astonishment. Tatsuya nodded his head, as he also felt that New Moon City is way advanced compared to the cities that he had gone to.

This view certainly shows the development of New Moon City. Different clans and sects had built their own branch in this place, making this city one of the most popular city in the whole country. Xia Sect also have their own branch here, but Tatsuya isn't planning to visit it anytime soon.

"Hey, have you heard? Xiao Clan's cripple was poisoned last night! No one knew who did it, as the Xia Clan and Xiao Clan deployed their troops to investigate…"

Tatsuya picked up a statement from someone, as he recalled that Xia Qingyue was scheduled to marry someone from the Xiao Clan. He instantly knew that the man they were talking about, was her fiancé. Either way, Tatsuya didn't care…

"Let's go, Xin'er."

Tatsuya grasped Chu Xin's little pale hand, as they both walked towards the towering palace within the center of the city. Their current destination is the New Moon Profound Palace, as Tatsuya plans to leave Chu Xin here, to further incite the potential hiding within her.

After all, Tatsuya doesn't have the time to babysit and take care of Chu Xin, as he also has different tasks and goals to achieve. Maybe, after taking dealing with his plans, Tatsuya would come back to check Chu Xin's state.

"Mm…"

Chu Xin nodded her head, as she followed Tatsuya towards the New Moon Profound Palace. They both walked slowly and leisurely, as Tatsuya would smile at Chu Xin from time to time, to comfort her. Chu Xin suppressed her sadness, as she smiled back at Tatsuya.

Time quickly passed, as they both found themselves standing before the New Moon Profound Palace. They earned quite a bit of attention, as Chu Xin's attractiveness instantly smitten several males of her age. Tatsuya also earned some of the girls' attention, as they would sneak a glance on his direction.

"Are you enrolling here?"

A disciple managing the enrollment of the aspiring disciples, obviously noticed Tatsuya and Chu Xin. He pretended to be indifferent, as he cooly asked Tatsuya and Chu Xin.

"She is, but I'm not…"

Tatsuya pointed to Chu Xin, as the latter took a step forward. The disciple smiled, yet a sneer was hidden on that smile. The disciple couldn't sense Tatsuya's profound energy, as he instantly deduced that Tatsuya is nothing but a cripple.

However, that sneer instantly vanished and was soon replaced by a mesmerized expression, as the disciple stared at Chu Xin in daze. Chu Xin's black hair that had white tinge on it, possessed the ability to charm different men, as her eyes showcased her noble demeanor.

"Is this young lady interested in joining our New Moon Profound Palace? By the way, I'm actually Lu Mozhi, a inner sect court disciple. I could help you, if you want."

Lu Mozhi entirely ignored Tatsuya, as he went forward and greeted Chu Xin. During this week, Chu Xin had learned a lot from Tatsuya, as her talent really showed her insane comprehension. She was able to learn the ability to discern different emotion from a person's gesture, and habits.

She knew that this bastard had sneered upon her big brother, as she felt utterly displeased of his attitude. She ignored Lu Mozhi, as she grasped Tatsuya's hand while walking forward.

"…"

Lu Mozhi, who was still smiling, had his body frozen. The smile on his face gradually vanished, as coldness began to emanate from his eyes. He glared at Tatsuya, as he thought that everything was Tatsuya's fault.

(Hm. This guy might give Chu Xin trouble in the future, huh.)

Tatsuya quickly turned his gaze backward, in lightning speed. He emanated a terrifying sensation that only Lu Mozhi could sense, as the latter shivered and shuddered beneath his gaze.

"Why is this guy shivering in daylight? Did this guy caught a cold?"

"And he's even smug over his position, when he can't even take care of himself?"

Everyone, who was completely oblivious of Lu Mozhi's situation, can't help but sneer at his disgraceful state. They all stared at him in contempt, as Lu Mozhi's face darkened. Despite that, he could still recall the terrifying chills that Tatsuya produced, as he swore to not provoke Chu Xin in the future, lest he provoke a demon.

"I almost f*cked up! I didn't knew that such powerhouse hid his own strength…"

Lu Mozhi thought to himself, as he tried to forget the situation a while ago. He knew that the terrifying sensation is absolutely real. After all, Tatsuya was staring at him back then, and he completely felt that he had been stripped of his control over his life.

"2nd stage True Profound Realm?! And she's 12 years old?!"

While, Lu Mozhi was thinking of the terror he had just experienced, he heard a loud gasp of shock and surprise. Once, he heard that someone had attained 2nd stage of True Profound Realm at the age of 12 years old, he also felt curious, as he knew that someone would soon become a talent that the New Moon Profound Palace would focus on.

"Isn't that her?!"

Lu Mozhi widened his eyes, as he stared at the peerless figure on the distance. There lied the indifferent Tatsuya and the graceful Chu Xin. Lu Mozhi soon felt more depressed, as he realized that he had provoked a woman, he shouldn't have provoked…

"Why did I just do…?"

Lu Mozhi said to himself, as he stared at the sky. He felt a gloomy atmosphere descend on himself, as he tried his best to stabilize his own emotion. Meanwhile, Chu Xin could only feel sad, as she knew that from now on, she would have to stand on her own ground.

Despite that sadness, she knew that she must not disappoint Tatsuya, as she tried her best to maintain her emotion from bursting out. In that moment, she felt a hug from behind, as Tatsuya conveyed his warmth and his care for her.

"Good Luck, Xin'er."

"Mm…"

She nodded her head, as the sadness she felt instantly disappeared. Determination and courage flashed within her eyes, as Tatsuya took a step back. Chu Xin smiled, as tears dropped out of her eyes. Only happiness remained on her heart.

"Thank you for everything, big brother Tatsuya! I promise that I would someday stand by your side!"

"Mm. I look forward to it."

Chu Xin soon turned her body away from Tatsuya, as she felt that staying any more would only make her cry more. She quickly ran inside the New Moon Profound Palace, as the elder that examined her strength nodded at Tatsuya, while also following her.

Tatsuya also turned his body away from Chu Xin's direction, as he knew that this is also but a beginning for them. He had already experienced different things that had honed himself, as he knew that this separation wouldn't impact him.

Yet, a flash of sadness crawled into his face. It soon disappeared, as his face returned to its initial state. Tatsuya stared at the sky for a bit, as he walked forward. Now that he had already reached the New Moon City, he might as well find out for himself, if he could find some Spirit Profound Realm cultivator. So, he could analyze their molecular structure, before finally leaving the city itself.

(After this, I would travel towards the Heavenly Sword Mountain Range, huh. It is time to tame the White Tiger God inheritance…)