Chapter 24: Joining The Tang Sect... Sorta (2)
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'HAHAHA!' Kronos laughed, slapping his thigh.
"Wha—!?" Tang Ya stammered. Even Bei Bei was baffled. Why would he refuse? Sure, the Tang Sect wasn't what it used to be, but his blunt rejection still stung. "But why?"
"It's simple." Huo Yuhao said calmly. "Even though your offer will help my future development and the acceptance slot for Shrek Academy is amazing, I don't want to be tied down by joining a Sect. While I respect your founding ancestors' legend, I won't trade my freedom. I'm sorry, but I simply won't." He looked at them resolutely, his mind unchanging.
Call it arrogance, but he did things himself because that was his greatest form of strength, and it was because of his freedom that he achieved the level of power he once had. The freedom to do whatever he wanted and not be tied down by others, and that wasn't going to change any time soon. The Silver Demigod thrived in danger because he could handle it all by himself. No matter the peril, he would make it out the victor because that was what he was trained to do—what his silver water was born for.
If he died on that hill, then that was on him. With Kronos back in the game offering newfound support, getting stronger was an inevitability. So, no, he will not join the Tang Sect, not when he loses his freedom doing so.
Bei Bei's voice broke the silence, firm but understanding. "Little Yuhao, I understand your reluctance to join a Sect but think this through. Are you sure you want to give up on this opportunity?" He didn't want to see his talent wasted. After all, how many Soul Masters can slaughter a variant like he did at such a young age?
Gathering his things, Huo Yuhao replied, "I'm positive. Thank you for watching over me while I was unconscious. If we ever meet again in the future, I'll be sure to repay the favor. Goodbye, both of you." He turned to leave.
Tang Ya panicked, mind racing to come up with a solution. Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Wait! How about you become an affiliate instead?" Her tone burned with determination, halting Yuhao in his tracks.
"...Excuse me?" He turned back, wondering what she was on about.
"Huh!?" Bei Bei blinked, just as confused. "Tang Ya, what are you talking about?"
"Exactly what it sounds like." She said quickly. "You can join as an affiliate—for six, no, five years, Yuhao!" She held up five fingers. "During that time, you'll have access to our techniques and act as an ally of the Sect. By the end of those five years, if you still don't want to stay, then you're free to go, along with our techniques, and there'll be no repercussion. Furthermore, you won't have to return anything and can still continue as an ally if you wish. The only rule is that you must never leak what you've learned."
Kronos himself smiled devilishly at the proposition. This was getting interesting.
"You can't possibly be serious?" Yuhao retorted with stunned wide eyes.
It wasn't completely out of the ordinary. Sects often ally themselves with external forces, both large and minor. It was like hiring mercenaries, but not any of them were willing to teach their techniques. That was nearly unheard of and would be thought of as a foolish idea.
Bei Bei frowned deeply, clearly against it, yet Tang Ya's conviction left no room for argument, and as her disciple, he had no choice but to go along with her decision.
Yuhao stood silent, torn between refusal and acceptance over such amazing conditions until Kronos stepped in. 'You should do it. It'd be unwise to turn down this offer. Shrek Academy, from your memories, is a prestigious institution, right? If what they said was true, these techniques alongside proper schooling could be valuable.'
'And what about our prior plans?' He countered.
'Those were half-baked at best, and you know it. But this will give us more time to plan and learn. This Shrek Academy is an institute that specifically caters to Soul Masters, and judging from your memories, it's the best on the continent and provides a lot of resources. If you're thinking this will hamper my plans for your next Soul Ring, I can assure you it won't. Seeing as those two are here, we can also confer that this academy allows their students to go on teams to venture out and get their own Soul Rings, so that shouldn't disrupt my plan to get you your second Martial Soul. You have all to gain and nothing to lose in this. So just do it.' He pressed, and his grandson couldn't disregard the Titan's reason.
Even if things soured later, Kronos was confident his grandson would crush them with ease.
Seeing she almost had him, Tang Ya pressed on, her expression softening again. "Please, Yuhao. Just give us a chance. I know I can change your mind." She extended her hand with a hopeful smile.
After a long pause, Yuhao exhaled slowly. "Fine. But let's make it an even six years. During that time, I'll help the Tang Sect as an affiliate. After that, I'm gone. We can work out the details later.' He grasped her hand firmly.
"Thank you, Yuhao!" She shook back. "You won't regret this!" Tang Ya cheered and, excited that he was now on board, moved in for a hug—only for Yuhao to sidestep, leaving her pouting. "Aww, come on…"
Bei Bei sighed, half amused, half stern. "Little brother, even though you are now an affiliate, do make sure to remember there are limits. Don't go thinking this gives you free rein." His tone was serious but not unkind.
He wasn't angry at Yuhao for his earlier reluctance, but he had to make his stance clear to avoid any misunderstandings in the future. While he'd admit this was far from ideal, deep down he believed he was a good and bright kid with trust issues stemming from his past, so he'd be patient with him going forward.
Yuhao merely nodded. "Not to fear. I won't do anything that'll tarnish the Tang Sect's reputation." He assured.
'Six years is nothing. You'll be more than strong enough to kill them by then if they try anything. As far as I see it, the only person who's a real threat is that violet-haired brat who's giving off the scent of a dragon and electricity. The girl, on the other hand, is so weak it's not even funny.' Kronos broke into maniacal laughter. He was clearly underestimating them.
Bei Bei nodded slightly, uneasy at his unfazed attitude but accepting. While it was unconventional, it wasn't all that bad considering. Sects often joined hands with outsiders that helped them without being part of them. The same goes for clans, so it wasn't that strange. As long as relations were kept well, all sides would benefit. It was like a business partnership. And he had to admit that the Silver Demigod was far more mature than his peers if his mannerisms and speech were to be taken into account. As for his skills, even though he didn't personally witness them firsthand, he could tell they were more than decent by the way he brought down a ten-year-old Soul Beast, and a variant at that, all by himself while coming out of it relatively unscathed, while the variant Wind Baboon looked like it was mutilated.
He knew of another person just as young as Yuhao who had defeated a variant Soul Beast by himself and absorbed their rings at an even younger age. That boy was physically stronger than Bei Bei himself without going full power, and all three of his Soul Rings came from variants, so in comparison to that person, he can rightfully assume that the Silver Demigod must be qualified enough. Not to mention he was a rare possessor of a spirit Martial Soul of the body, which held many secrets not even he knew about.
With proper guidance, Bei Bei believed Yuhao could become accomplished through effort. The Tang Sect needed all hands on deck, even if they were from outsiders, so all things considered, they really lucked out with Yuhao. And how right he was.
Tang Ya smiled brightly, satisfied. She'd managed to rope him in, even if just halfway. She was confident she could make him a full member one day. Of course, she'd never admit that part of the reason she wanted him around was for his cooking. Nope—not at all. It was purely for his talent. Yup, that's it.
"Little Yuhao, since you're now an affiliate of the Tang Sect, it's time to take me as your teacher. Our Sect is small, so we don't have many formalities. You just need to kowtow once and address me as "teacher," and from then on our partnership begins." Tang Ya said gently.
"..." Yuhao stayed silent, his face showing clear reluctance.
"Yuhao, is everything alright?" Bei Bei asked.
...Umm, actually, can I not do that?" He said, looking uneasy.
Both Tang Ya and Bei Bei blinked, confused by his reaction. "Why, little Yuhao? Is something wrong?" Bei Bei asked, more puzzled than irritated by his reaction.
"I'm not trying to be disrespectful." Yuhao said, his expression tightening. "I just… I was forced to kowtow against my will by my family. I won't do it again!" His silver eyes hardened. The very idea made him puke.
In his past life before he was imprisoned on that accursed island, he was forced to kneel in front of the Olympian council. He was put on trial after his fiasco with Dionysus, where he brutally beat the wine god with his Silba transformation. He was chained with Celestial Bronze chains in front of the very man who killed his only family alongside the rest of them. Long story short, the Silver Demigod, while put on trial, cursed them until he was out of breath while trying his absolute best to pry his chains off. Needless to say, many were insulted by his defiance, and a few petitioned to have him killed on the spot, except for a few like Ares, who enjoyed his savagery, but that's another story.
Suddenly violin music began playing in his mind. 'You hear that? That's the sound of the world's smallest violin.' Kronos mocked, miming the gesture.
The vein in his eyes grew a bit in anger as Percy breathed through his nose to calm himself and continued. "Don't expect a kowtow from me." He said coldly, turning his head away. "If that's not ok with you, then let's terminate this partnership here, and we can go on our separate ways."
Tang Ya and Bei Bei exchanged a look. They figured his family life was rough, but this… it clearly ran deeper than they imagined. Surprisingly, they were more understanding than he thought.
Tang Ya sighed softly. "Alright, Yuhao. You don't have to kowtow if it makes you uncomfortable. Since you're only a semi-member of the Tang Sect, it wouldn't make much sense anyway. Just… speak your mind if something doesn't sit right with you, okay?" She kept her hands to herself, careful not to touch him even though she wanted to give him a hug.
Even Bei Bei was willing to let this slide given his junior's harsh past. They weren't heartless. The Tang Sect, while traditional, was mainly about being open and kind amongst each other, not overly strict and harsh to the point of ignoring personal feelings.
"Okay." Yuhao nodded, his gaze low before saying, "I, Huo Yuhao, pay my respects to Senior Brother Bei Bei and to Tang Sect Master Tang Ya. Upon our alliance, I swear never to reveal the Tang Sect's techniques to outsiders. Should I break this vow, I offer my eyes in recompense." He bowed with a fist to his palm.
What he did earned him a smile from both Tang Ya and Bei Bei, knowing that he wasn't being difficult on purpose, but he was just a troubled person.
'A little too much if you ask me.' Kronos himself sneered at that but kept silent. He was willing to let at least this pretense slide.
Bei Bei chuckled lightly. "Little junior brother, I'm glad to have you with us for the next six years." He extended his hand, and Yuhao shook it, though the term "junior brother" rubbed him slightly the wrong way. He let it slide since it was just a part of the custom.
Tang Ya looked relieved and said, "Yuhao, from now on, you can call me Teacher Xiao Ya like Bei Bei does, or just Miss Tang Ya, if you prefer. Just don't be too casual like your senior, okay?"
"That goes without saying, teacher Tang Ya. It only stands to reason that that's Senior Bei Bei's privilege in the Sect." He replied evenly.
Both blinked at him, confused. "What privilege are you talking about, junior brother?" Bei Bei inquired.
"Huh? Oh, my apologies," Yuhao said calmly. "It just seemed to me that you two were… together. Like a couple."
The moment he said that, Tang Ya's cheeks flushed a faint pink, and Bei Bei froze as though caught off guard. Yuhao tilted his head, genuinely puzzled.
Tang Ya's lips parted, her hands fidgeting as she quickly waved them. "Y-Yuhao, you're only twelve. How can you think something so naughty?"
"So, you two are not a couple?" He asked, one brow raised as Kronos snorted with laughter.
Bei Bei coughed, turning his face away. "N-no, it's not like that!"
Yuhao blinked once, then shrugged. "Sure."
Tang Ya coughed into her hand, eager to change the subject. The head of the Tang Sect flipped her palm, and from thin air, a book appeared. She handed it to Huo Yuhao. "Little Yuhao, here. Take this. This is a copy of the Mystic Sky Records, which contains the ultimate techniques I told you about."
"Thank you, Miss Tang Ya." And took the scroll from her hand.
"You're welcome." She smiled warmly before continuing, "Inside is the Mystic Sky Method. That one is especially fundamental to your growth. Using it will speed up your cultivation. Since you are still starting out as a Soul Master, switching to this method of cultivation won't affect you in any negative way. Bei Bei and I will guide your cultivation later on once we find a good place to rest.
"Apart from the Mystic Sky Method, the Records also contain five other ultimate techniques. Mysterious Jade Hands for the hands, Purple Demon Eyes for the eyes, Controlling Crane and Capturing Dragon, which are both capturing techniques, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track for movement, and finally, Hundred Solutions, a guide to hidden weapons, which our Sect is most famous for, but you must first begin building a solid foundation before starting that cultivation. What you need to do now is to start practicing the first five techniques, and later I'll teach you about hidden weapons."
'Those are some long-ass names. What the fuck?'
Yuhao ignored him, though he silently agreed. Instead of commenting on that, he instead tucked the Mystic Sky Record into his chest, sneakily placing it inside his treasury for safekeeping. "I'll be sure to use them well, teacher."
With the Mystic Sky Method, cultivation would flow much smoother.
Tang Ya nodded approvingly. "With that attitude, I have faith you will." Then she paused, realizing something. "Oh, Yuhao, when we came to find you, we didn't see your sword anywhere."
"She's right." Bei Bei chimed in. "While she was looking after your body, I searched everywhere for it, but I found no trace. Sorry." He apologized. They both guessed that the weapon meant a lot to the Silver Demigod, and just by looking at it, they could tell that it wasn't cheap. They didn't want him to think that they stole it.
Knowing they meant his silver water short sword, Yuhao shrugged. "Don't worry about it." He waved it off casually. It was just an extension of his power. He could recreate it anytime, especially now with his new Soul Ring, not that they needed to know that.
"Are you sure?" Bei Bei asked. "It didn't look cheap. We just don't want you to think we took it or anything. We really don't know what happened to it."
"It's fine." Yuhao said lightly. "If I asked my grandfather, he'd send me as many as I'd like.' He explained, and the two nodded, though their curiosity about his background grew.
'Nnnoooo, that doesn't sound like something I'd do.' Kronos drawled lazily.
'I think I liked it better when you weren't here.' The demigod countered, ignoring the Titan's offended look.
"Alright then." Tang Ya clapped her hands. "I mentioned earlier there's a Tang Sect technique perfect for you, and that's the Purple Demon Eyes. Once cultivated to a certain extent, it can unleash a powerful attack. Since your Martial Soul is your eyes, this technique should go hand in hand. Practice it diligently."
"Will do." He nodded, making a mental note to practice it and see what it can do.
Bei Bei then pressed a button on his belt, revealing a black belt inlaid with round white jade pieces. "Little junior brother, this belt is modeled after the Soul Guidance device, Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night, possessed by our founder. With it you can carry certain items inside much more conveniently. This is my gift to you, and you may keep it even after the end of your temporary membership is done." He handed over the belt.
'Again, with the overly long names!? Oh, my me!' Kronos exclaimed with a smack to his head.
"But I'm not even a full member of the Sect. Are you sure I can keep this?" He looked up to Bei Bei.
Secretly, he didn't need it. If anything, he'd just dump this in his treasury along with the rest of his vast wealth. But just like the variant Wind Baboon, he could use it as a cover for when he takes things out of the Gate of Babylon. He can also just put weapons and other items in his treasury and place it inside the belt. So, this had its uses. When they stop at some place, he'll make sure to do just that.
"Of course." Bei Bei smiled. "This is to build trust between us, and I hope it helps us earn yours in time. Please take it."
"Bei Bei, you're so kind to your juniors." Tang Ya teased, earning a laugh from him.
Ignoring their playful banter, Yuhao said, "Thank you, Senior Bei Bei, for this gift. I'll take it graciously." He fastened the belt around his waist.
Bei Bei then proceeded to teach him how to use it. He explained how the twenty-four jade pieces around the belt held half a cubic meter of space to store nonliving items and could be opened or closed using Soul Power. The device consumed a fair amount of Soul Power, but Yuhao caught on instantly, mimicking Bei Bei's demonstration flawlessly.
"Yuhao, before you leave, you should take the horns from the Soul Beast you killed," Bei Bei advised.
"How come?" The Silver Demigod asked.
"It's because variant Soul Beasts are not like your typical Soul Beast. They differ drastically from their normal counterpart. What they leave behind after dying can be used for many things, from medical properties to weapons, etc. They are of higher quality. You'll learn more about them in the academy, but right now you should take out its horns and place them inside your Soul Guide. It'd be wise to keep it before other Soul Beasts get to it first."
While the rest of the variant Wind Baboon's mangled corpse was unsalvageable, the horns on its head can be sold. Because of their hardness and luster, they fetched a decent price in the market. Last he checked, the price for a variant Wind Baboon's horns was about 20 to 40 gold, depending on the buyer.
Yuhao nodded and went to the variant Wind Baboon's corpse, where he proceeded to cut out the golden horns with his White Tiger Dagger. Bei Bei offered to help, but he refused as he skillfully cut the horns out from its skull in quick fashion. The horns, with their almost meter length, barely fit inside the Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night.
"If one of these had pierced me, I'd be dead for sure." He muttered, examining them before placing them into the belt's storage.
During it he thought to himself how it wasn't all that different from the spoils of war from his world. It was enough to make him wonder. Something to discuss with Kronos later. Once finished, he returned to Tang Ya and Bei Bei's side. "So, where to now?" He asked.
"Little Yuhao, your elder brother and I came out to hunt a suitable Soul Beast to increase my strength. You just follow us for now. After we've completed the hunt, we'll camp for the night and take you back to Shrek with us in the morning. On the way we'll help you out on the Tang Sect techniques." Tang Ya said.
"Yes, teacher." Huo Yuhao replied respectfully as the three left the area.
Tang Ya chuckled softly. "You don't need to be so formal, Yuhao. With just the three of us in the Tang Sect, there's no need to be stiff. You can call me Tang Ya, or Miss Tang Ya if you like." She smiled and reached out to pat his head.
"Miss Tang Ya… please don't." He groaned, stepping aside.
"Ohhh." Tang Ya pouted, downcast. "But it's so soft and shiny!" She leaned closer, fingers fidgeting. "Please let me touch it just once. Just once? I could even style it!" She said with stars in her eyes.
Could anyone blame her? Since meeting him, she has been entranced by his striking silver hair. She'd touched it once while guarding him and couldn't believe how smooth it was, like something out of a fairy tale. It reminded her of her friend and her gorgeous blond hair.
Bei Bei swooping in just on time like a superhero said, "Uhm, Teacher Tang Ya, did you forget that we came here to find you a Soul Ring? The sky is getting dark. We should hurry on our way if we want to get you a suitable Soul Beast."
Tang Ya paused, then nodded. "Mhm, you're right. Spoken like a true disciple. Alright, you two, let's set off!" She led the way as they ran into the forest.
Yuhao threw Bei Bei a thankful look, receiving a thumbs-up from the older boy.
They ran through the forest swiftly. At first Bei Bei expected Yuhao to lag behind due to his low cultivation and was going to have to give him a hand, but to his surprise, the silver-haired boy did not slow them down. His demigod body, strengthened by his first Soul Ring, carried him with ease.
With a demigod body and increased physical parameters, on top of the already added boost from his first Soul Ring, he didn't lag behind and could even surpass them if he wanted. Tang Ya and Bei Bei were both impressed and confused at the same time about how he was able to keep up with them, especially when he hadn't begun learning one of the techniques for improving the body, but chalked it up to the secrets of a body Martial Soul.
Bei Bei slowed his pace to talk. "Little junior brother, the Tang Sect's Mystic Sky Method is among the best on the continent. If you practice diligently, you'll gain great rewards. Let me explain its finer points. Make sure to remember them."
"I'm listening." He replied and, just as he said, listened intently to Bei Bei's explanation and even his personal experience using the Mystic Sky Method.
Since he was new to cultivation, Bei Bei took care to explain things simply, offering personal insights. The two quickly fell into a rhythm, their conversation flowing naturally and immersing. The son of Poseidon gave theoretical questions, making sure not to say anything that would give him away, while the violet youth did his best to answer them all.
During it all, Tang Ya smiled faintly at the sound of her disciples getting along.
"And that's the basics of cultivation." Bei Bei finished. "You'll have to grasp the rest through practice. If you don't understand something, come ask me."
"I will, Senior Bei Bei." Yuhao nodded, greatly appreciating the knowledge. This short conversation about cultivation methods was enlightening, and it gave him some inspirations for some spells, but that was something for the future.
Before they could continue, Tang Ya suddenly exhaled sharply. Her steps turned fluid like an assassin as she flickered toward a tree on the left. A cold flash of light followed.
The weapon flew to the tree and struck something. In the same moment a body fell from the treetop and landed on the ground with a loud thud. It was a Soul Beast, and it was a Wind Baboon just like the one he fought. The only difference was that it was smaller, less muscular, and had no horns on its head.
"These things are so annoying, always launching attacks and preferring to ambush." Tang Ya crossed her arms with a frown.
"Miss Tang Ya," Huo Yuhao, who noticed her movements, walked up to her. "I saw you use a movement just before you shot your weapon at it. Was that a Tang Sect technique?"
"Yes. It's a combination of three of our Tang Sect's techniques. The Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, the Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon, and the hidden weapons. Cool, right? Practice well, and you'll be able to do the same."
Just before the two could get their conversation of Tang Sect art going, Bei Bei's expression became tense as he shouted, "Xiao Ya!" He warned as he violently raised his right hand, making a clawing gesture towards Tang Ya.
Tang Ya trusting Bei Bei tapped the ground with the tip of her foot. Her body became weightless, being pulled over by the pulling force in Bei Bei's hand. Huo Yuhao was quick to react himself and moved to their side.
A shadow loomed over them, thick with bloodlust, bringing with it a heavy, thick, and disgusting scent that assaulted their noses and would've made a person feel weak in the knees. Trees fell as something massive approached them along with the sound of multiple snakelike hissings.
Danger nearing, all three released their Martial Souls in response.
From Tang Ya's feet, light spread instantaneously as bluish whips of grass appeared underneath her feet along with two Soul Rings. They were both yellow, signifying that they were hundred-year Soul Rings. From her hands, two daggers appeared, ready to shoot at the slightest moment.
*ZAP!*
Streams of blue-purple lightning danced like tiny snakes, erupting wildly around Bei Bei's body. From his forehead a blue lightning mark appeared as if he were Harry Potter, followed by the sleeve on his right arm bursting into ashes as his arms swelled a bit and had transformed. His entire right arm was now covered in thick blue-purple scales. His hand became claw-like, surrounded in the same scales.
The Silver Demigod tossed aside his baggage as his eyes lit up. His gaze landed on the Soul Beast, examining its features and already preparing plans for its downfall as it slowly made its way to them, its footsteps becoming louder and louder.
'Sigh, first the monkey, then a worm... and now I'm dealing with a Hydra. Perfect.' His Soul Ring appeared, hovering over his head. Multiple droplets of silver water were summoned, floating by his shoulder. 'Alright.' He cracked his head from side to side. 'Bring it.'
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(I'm sure you're all seeing a pattern. Yes, the Greek monsters from his world have travelled to Soul Land and had offspring with the native Soul Beasts. Reason why is because I think it's cool. Goodbye, have a good time.)