Another year, another batch of new students—young and old. Another round of schooling at the start of the class, because there are always overconfident teenagers hanging around. Another round of the headmaster's winded speech.
After two whole years of teaching, Karni had already found that some things do not change within the job of a teacher. There was not that much repetition, especially not with his job of teaching the combat class, but there were always certain things that simply happened in all generations.
One of those was at the start: the need to get the unruly students in line. By now however, Karni had gotten efficient in it. In just around three weeks, he had them being mostly obedient and respectful.
Karni looked over at a sulking student, the one he had to get in line yesterday. He was the last one of the unruly bunch that still tried to fight back against him here and there.
"How's your leg? Can you walk yet?" Karni asked.
The whole class turned toward that student. The student showed his leg, looking perfectly fine, but was slightly shaking. Karni's Sound was in it—unpainful, unfelt, but so was the leg, unpainful, and equally unfelt. The teen simply couldn't walk.
"Teacher Val, please. I get I was wrong. It's been three days. I'll be good." This was the advanced class, so Karni dared to be a bit more unruly.
"Hm." Karni walked over to his student, tapped the leg with his finger, then walked away.
The teen's eyes widened as he felt his leg again. He smiled, but his smile was short-lived.
"A single step out of line and you get another three days of that." Karni smiled. He wasn't being forceful with them; he did not cause them pain. He found that the most egregious thing he could do to these students was cause them mild inconveniences. Like not being able to easily walk with that leg. The student could still walk; it just required an exhausting amount of mental focus to do so. Painless, but most importantly, annoying. And if nothing else, it at least served to train their focus and did not allow the teens to be lazy. Because getting lazy in their state would mean falling over. It was the perfect punishment in Karni's mind.
The student straightened his back. "I promise to follow your teachings from now on."
"Good. Then let's start today's class."
The new school year was only in its first month, yet the classes were already in full swing.
… … …
"Hm. A whole week? Then how will the classes be scheduled?" The Headmaster looked at Karni and Siduo proposal. "I get that it is just before the winter holidays, but still. We have certain curriculum that the federation demands of us to fill."
"Yes, we've thought of that as well." Karni put in another list. "We've checked the schedules of the other teachers and asked them for their opinions. We've planned it out with them and even taken them to the baths on one of the weekends."
"Oh, I read the post you sent. The one that went around last month?" The Headmaster asked.
Siduo nodded. "That's the one. We've also checked with the owners, and with how big the whole school is, they've agreed to let us use some of their facilities for normal teaching in the morning, as well as give us a twenty percent discount, since we'd bring in a lot of business."
"Besides," Karni said. "Think of it as one last goodbye from us. I know we'll technically still teach half a year after the winter holidays, but still. We felt that the students would enjoy this. Classrooms in the morning and free time for them to fool around in the afternoon. We've even talked about organising some events there when they have free time, so they have something to do."
The Headmaster looked at all the papers they provided him—neatly organised. He looked at the pictures as well. It seemed like quite a nice place. Thermal baths, big ones as well. Should be able to take in a couple thousand people. And even if it couldn't, they made sure the places the students would be allowed to go to would be divided so that it wouldn't feel crowded.
And they planned this half a year ahead of time, now gave him the papers three months before the trip would start. A school trip to thermal baths in the twelfth lunar month… he went through the papers some more. There was even a nice ski resort next to it. A popular place for a sport that normal humans enjoyed. The students likely wouldn't go skiing, but they had a whole hill to play around in the snow during the winter.
"Alright, we'll do a meeting in a week to discuss everything with all the teachers in greater detail. This should be a good event for the end of the first semester." The Headmaster put the papers in a file and sent the two teachers away.
… … …
Two people met, hidden in a shadow, behind a decently wealthy estate.
"Is everything in order?"
"Yes. All the papers are done. I am the legal owner of the house, and they already know that it will be co-owned after today."
"Good. Lad. You better make her happy."
"I will."
… … …
"Alright, thanks everyone for gathering ahead of time." Karni talked to his students. The Special Class. In it were Jianyu and Wang Chao, as well as a student that joined last year after performing exceedingly well in the Intermediate Academy which they joined from the outside; and this year there were another two new students that have been talents since the Junior Academy.
As for why they were gathering early today; today was the twenty-third day of the ninth lunar month. Back on Earth they would call this 23rd of September. Just like on Earth, this day was an equinox—when night and day were the same length, but more importantly, when Siduo was born. Today was her 18th Birthday.
Jianyu and Karni therefore informed the Special Class, which was in the afternoon, of this fact. Karni had already heard Siduo complain that all the classes were congratulating her, which had never happened the past few years.
Of course it hadn't, this time it was Karni himself who spread the rumour. It was an exciting event for him.
It was quite interesting that her birthday was on an equinox. Perhaps that was why her Martial Souls were both Hell Cat and White Tiger. Equal day, equal night. Equal Yin and Yang.
Karni knew Siduo would find receiving another gift annoying by now—all the classes have given her a gift, and most them were the same. Since Siduo was running out of space for gifts, they would make the Special Class's gift… special.
It didn't take long for Karni to recognise Siduo's footsteps starting from her office.
"Everyone get ready. Teacher Wu will be here in approximately five minutes."
The students all hid, as did Siduo.
Soon, Siduo appeared on the field with no one there. She raised her eyebrow and took out her Soul Communicator. She whispered under her breath. "Did I miss a message?"
Then, in an instant, her body exploded into Yin Yang Flames, and she jumped.
A net of electric vines shot at her and behind it, yet more electricity followed.
In a split second, a humongous rock came flying over from the other side, a tiny black creature on it.
Siduo shot out a single wave of light, Black and White energies mixing on it, about to cause a humongous explosion.
As if someone expected the light wave to come, a normal looking hiking backpack appeared in front of the Lightwave, swallowing it whole. It increased to twice its size by force, clearly due to the explosion releasing inside it, but the attack was now useless.
The rock was about to smash into Siduo, and two of her Soul Rings shone. First and Third. Diamond Transformation and Diamond Layer. The first Soul Ring was primarily used to shatter the rock into pieces, while the third one was used for the tiny black spot which was on the rock.
As the rock shattered, the black creature jumped on her face covered in a diamond layer and started slashing. It had a big fluffy tail, but terrifyingly sharp claws that even left imprints on Siduo's defences. It was a Black Squirrel.
Its tail enlarged, wrapping around Siduo's eyes. She couldn't see through. Purple Demon Eyes couldn't see through solid objects after all.
Their teamwork was immaculate today, and that was proved even further when more thick and heavy vines stretched toward her in just that moment and wrapped around her.
Electricity and lighting exploded from the vines, attempting to paralyse her.
Siduo actually grunted, being slightly overwhelmed by their teamwork.
Her fourth Soul Ring shone, the Sun Meteor activated, making her rush out of the entanglement.
She destroyed the vines and dodged another rock flying at her. Then she stopped, looking around to see if any more attacks would come. She smiled. "That was fantastic. You guys actually forced me to use my fourth Soul Ring. Congratulations, even if your teamwork was a bit too perfect."
She smiled at the incoming group and at Karni who smiled back. "Well, the two new members didn't have enough practice yet, so you could say this was also a proof of concept for how they'll be a year from now. You like our gift?"
"I loved it." Siduo smiled. "Though there are a few criticisms to go through."
The kids' shoulders slumped. Karni chuckled about the children's response. "Of course we would criticise you. Even if I did help, it wasn't perfect yet."
"For starters, Jianyu." Siduo started with her little brother like always. Being her little brother seemed more like a curse to Jianyu this past year. "After your initial charge was taken by me, you didn't attack anymore, you just stayed by the Wang Chao. You don't need to stay by her side to activate your electricity through her."
Jianyu stepped forward and nodded in thought. "I'll be careful next time." There was no traces of the slightly spoiled Jianyu from when he first joined the Special Class with a loophole.
"Wang Chao, no comments. You used your vines perfectly, we will focus mostly on strengthening your control and durability this year."
Wang Chao nodded with joy.
"Xu Haoyu. Great job tanking my Yin Yang Flames; however, you could have been more active. From your lack of cooperation, you're still a bit unsure how to use your Backpack Martial Soul effectively in battle. You'll learn to cooperate with the others more."
"Okay!" The student, Xu Haoyu, stood straight. He joined last year. He was from a smaller junior academy on the outskirts of Star Luo City and joined after three months in the normal Intermediate Academy by impressing Teacher Ye during the combat class.
"As for you two girls, I can tell that your teamwork has been built well. Sun Ai, great use of your Black Squirrel, covering my eyes and attacking together with Cao An's Great Rock was crucial."
Sun Ai's Martial Soul was the Black Squirrel; however, it was quite unique. It was an outer Martial Soul and acted like a summon. Her body did not receive any strengthenings.
"Cao An, especially good on the decision to keep attacking at the end. Unfortunately, your teammates did not follow up on that." The girl's Martial soul was a Great Rock, a genuinely humongous Martial Soul.
"However, you two attacked at your own pace. Others had to adapt to you. If not for Jianyu's and Chao's experiences, it would not have worked out that well. But don't worry, next month we'll start with Spirit Ascension Platform, and you will practice as a group. Your Captain will be Jianyu and main control system will be Wang Chao."
"Yes!" The group all said as a whole.
"Man, Teacher Wu really doesn't want to have fun on her birthday." Karni coughed from behind.
Siduo turned to him with stern eyes. "Birthday or not, we're still in class."
Jianyu approached the two new kids who were still getting used to everything. "Don't think of them as too strict. They're strict in school, but chill outside of that. Teacher Wu is my sister—and don't tell anybody outside of Special Class this—but they call each other Kiki and Sisi on the outside."
"Jianyu, you do know what my Martial Soul is, right?"
"And the second lesson," Jianyu smiled. "Is to never whisper and talk behind the teacher's backs, because Teacher Val can hear quite literally everything. His Martial Soul is one of the strongest Sound types there is."
"Yeah, just because you pretend to do this as a warning to them, doesn't mean I won't give you harsher training."
"And that is the third lesson." Jianyu nodded. "Don't try tricks. Now then, I'm gonna go do laps with weights."
"Nope." Siduo intervened. "You'll have a one on one with me." She smiled.
Jianyu paused. "But that's not what we usually do as punishment.
"Yep." Siduo smiled. "It's my birthday, and you just revealed something quite embarrassing, so prepare for consequences- OI! Don't try to run away!" Siduo chased after the already running Jianyu.
… … …
It was evening. Siduo was walking alone with her mother, Ta Siyu. Siduo did not know where they were going, though she recognised the streets.
"This is some sort of a surprise, isn't it?"
"You're so smart, Sisi. Now walk." Ta Siyu said sarcastically.
Siduo chuckled. Of course it was a surprise. It wasn't hard to figure out. But seeing that this was coming from her family, she was actually kind of excited, despite all the gifts she had already gotten during the day.
She was 18 after all, which meant that she was one step closer to being unbothered about her relationship and age with Karni. Now she only had to wait for Karni to be 18, but that would happen soon anyway. His birthday was in the last month of the year.
The streets were becoming more and more familiar, oddly so. She couldn't exactly place them. They weren't the main streets, but they weren't some hidden side streets either. There were a few shops around the street, a bakery in one corner that looked especially familiar.
The two turned to a house she didn't fully recognise. The only unfamiliar thing in this neighbourhood. A recently renovated house. Though the shape felt sort of familiar.
The two women entered. It was completely dark. As soon as they closed the door, the lights lit up and balloons started popping.
"Surprise!" A whole group shouted.
Siduo smiled widely. "You guys!"
Karni was at the forefront. He was the first she hugged. Then she went over and hugged everyone else as well. Her loved ones were all here. Karni, Jianyu, her parents, Mo Qing, Teacher Ye.
The last members were Wang Chao and Mr. Wang who had become quite close with the family since Jianyu and Chao started hanging out.
"Wait. Teacher Long? You're here?!" Siduo's voice suddenly rose a few pitches higher. Long Yeyue. The Light Dark Douluo. A Limit Douluo, the Vice-Pavilion Master of Sea God's Pavilion. And Siduo's master.
"Indeed. Val Karni invited me. I felt that it would be appropriate, since we only see each other once a year. I see you're already at the Soul Emperor threshold."
Siduo bowed. "Yes. I am holding myself back, as I still feel that progressing right now would be detrimental to me rather than helpful."
"Good. You do me proud. Now go hang out with your family. We're here to celebrate you after all. I'm just another person celebrating your birthday today." She would not usually join, but Siduo was one of her final personal disciples whom she was very proud of.
"Thank you, master." Siduo bowed one final time.
She went to look around. Snacks, music, lights, and most importantly, drinks. This was a party. And she would get wasted today, whether she liked it or not.
Now that she was inside, she noticed a certain vent in the corner.
"Oh, my gods. That house?" Siduo couldn't help but be genuinely surprised.
"Yup." Karni smiled. "It was just rotting away. And while our memories here aren't exactly good, I felt like we could rescue this sorry place and refurbish it. Make it mean something."
"Wait. What do you…" It slowly dawned on her. "You…"
"Yep. I bought the building. Super cheap, though the renovations were expensive. Two story house, two bathrooms, a big kitchen area, two bedrooms. It is a good-looking house now."
Siduo blinked and for a second forgot about the party. She went to look around the house. Both the downstairs and the upstairs.
"Of course," Karni accompanied her. "We can always change how things look; we do have the money. Alternatively, if you don't want to live here, we can currently sell it for more than the renovations cost, since your dad and I did most things ourselves."
Siduo looked to her dad, who was silently shadowing them, slightly nervous at her reaction.
"What do you think?" Karni asked. "It is meant as a gift. A place for us. We can move in together for the next year, and… we will always have a place to return to."
Siduo looked to Karni, tears in her eyes. She hugged him, then she went to her dad and gave him a big hug as well. "I love it. Can we move in this week already?" She looked excited.
"Oh, thank gods." Karni released a long sigh. He was the most nervous of them all. He came up with the whole idea.
Siduo chuckled, seeing his reaction.
"You guys can move of course." Her dad nodded with tears in his eyes. "Everything is already taken care of. The people at the city hall even know to wait that you become a co-owner of the building. The current one is Karni."
"It was done with your dad's help." Karni added, not letting Wu Jianguo downplay his involvement.
"But first," Karni continued. "We can enjoy the house later. We need to get you drunk. We're celebrating!"
"Yes!" Siduo shouted aloud. "I'm going to be an animal tonight!"
Karni and Wu Jianguo fallowed Siduo. Karni went to the drinks. He drank alcohol even though he was still technically seventeen, but not too much. He was still the organiser of this whole thing.
Wu Jianguo stepped next to Ta Siyu. Siduo's mother was already slightly drunk. She had also quite clearly been crying, but she was full of smiles. Wu Jianguo looked at their daughter. "Our little girl had grown up."
Ta Siyu nodded. "She really has. And she hadn't lost her mischievousness."
The two parents looked proud at their big little girl.
There was dancing, there was drinking, there was kissing. Especially a lot of kissing once Siduo got some alcohol in her. She did not care that all of their loved ones were looking.
The music changed from party music to the ones everyone knew how to sing along, to a slow dancing music. Karni and Siduo were at the centre of most of these things. Ta Siyu and Wu Jianguo obviously also went and danced together, and Mo Qing somehow managed to tease Jianyu and Wang Chao to dance together as well. They were incredibly awkward. Awkward eleven-year-olds, just starting to get a semblance of what that feeling of liking someone is.
Though in that regard, Wang Chao was ahead of Jianyu. She was blushing hard. Her mental state grew a tad faster than Jianyu's which meant she was also more conscious of it all.
When party music started again and people were drunk, Soul Rings started flying around. Of course, Karni made sure the Music would be perfectly set to a point where the eardrums just would not be ruptured. People danced with their Martial Souls like maniacs—though at least they watched out for the furniture.
As if there weren't enough colours due to the lights, Purple, Black, and even Red Soul Rings made this place quite the party. Siduo's Yin and Yang Flames were eye-catching as well.
"Teacher Mo? You became a Titled Douluo?" Siduo asked in a squeaky voice when she looked at him. He was covered in earthen armour and dancing with an Earth Axe and Shield together with his niece who wore a similar attire. But Mo Qing had nine Soul Rings around him. Five Purple and Four Black.
"Haaaaa?! This is what happens when you kids don't care about your elders anymore! I've been a Titled Douluo for almost a year!" Mo Qing cried crocodile tears.
Siduo ignored the crocodile tears and just went in for a hug, laughing. "Congratssss!" She hissed a bit at the end, while Karni had to catch her so she wouldn't fall.
"Let's partyyyyy!" Siduo screamed.
… … …
At eleven in the evening, before Siduo's birthday would end, they brought out a big cake. People have sobered up just a little by now. Sparkles flew while the lights were off. Wu Jianguo recorded the whole thing with an unstable hand and tears in his eyes.
Karni, even after all these years still hadn't gotten used to this world's version of the Happy Birthday song. It just sounded wrong. Siduo made a little comment that it had been different songs in different ages, so she only ever got attached to a very old and ancient one.
After the celebration of the cake was over, Siduo cut it apart and gave everyone a piece, then they all sat at a large dining table.
Everyone but the kids were a tipsy, even Long Yeyue the Limit Douluo was enjoying herself. After everyone got a bit drunk, they accepted her with greater ease.
At some point, Wu Jianguo stood up, ringing on a glass. He stood up with a bit of sway. As everyone expected some sort of a speech, Wu Jianguo went in a very different direction.
"So. When are you two kids gonna give us grandkids, eh?"
The room fell silent. Karni and Siduo facepalmed in unison.
"We aren't even married yet!" Siduo added.
"So? Get married!" Wu Jianguo howled with a smile.
"I haven't even proposed yet!" Karni added.
"Well, just so you know…" Jianguo had to catch his weight a bit, then pointed at Ta Siyu. "You have our full support."
Karni chuckled a bit. "Well, at least I won't need to go through that stressful moment of asking your parents if I can marry you."
Siduo smiled. "Even if they didn't agree, it's not like I would listen to them."
"That's my girl!" Wu Jianguo yelled. "I taught you well."
"But dad, just so you know," Siduo added. "Karni and I aren't getting married until he reunites with his family."
Wu Jianguo sat down, a bit silent. "Huh… Do you know how long that will…"
"Not really." Siduo said. "But I want everyone to be there." She held Karni's hand and then leaned on him. "Marriage is a partnership after all."
Ta Siyu smiled with a slightly sombre look, because the whole Wu Family was aware that Karni might never find his parents.
Mo Qing cleared his throat. "I might not be your blood relative," he started. Everyone looked to him.
"But Val Karni, Wu Siduo, if it somehow does not work out, and you cannot find Karni's parents. I've seen you grow up from a little boy and girl to a man and a woman. Both powerful, both experienced, both good people. If you wish to… and I'm not saying you have to… but, Karni, I would be honoured if I can play the role of your father if nothing works out."
Karni was speechless, but he found himself crying. It wasn't even his birthday, but he heard something like that. He hadn't seen his family in so long, most of his memories had become blurry. But he found a new family here. People who cared for him. People he cared for.
"I would be happy to accept. And if I do find my parents, I think you'll get along with them quite well."
Mo Qing smiled brightly. A genuine smile from him, which was exceedingly rare. A smile of warmth. He cleared his throat again. "Now then. To Wu Siduo!"
"To Wu Siduo!" Everyone exclaimed.
"To future grandchildren!" Wu Jianguo shouted.
"To future grandchildren!" Everyone yelled, except for Siduo and Karni.
… … …
Siduo woke up the next day disgustingly early. Her belly didn't feel right. She should've dissolved the alcohol away with Soul Power before she fell asleep.
She was in a soft bed alone, a new bed. Their new bed. However, she distinctly remembered going to sleep with Karni. Nothing really happened, she was sober enough to remember not to do that, but she remembered him with her.
She stood up and walked down to the hallway. Her new house. It was genuinely beautiful. One wouldn't be able to imagine what kind of things happened here before Karni renovated it. The memories of plotting against a police gang as small kids seemed so far away.
She went downstairs and found the messy place they left it as cleaned up. A soft smell of breakfast and cocoa was in the dining room instead. There, Karni was sipping cocoa with a relaxed face.
She looked to him. Her man. He cleaned it all up already. She went to him and hugged him. "I love you so much."