Chapter 51: Wuhua's holiday
"Clank!" "Swing!" The sound of hitting metal could be heard over a workshop from the Blacksmith Association. In it, Xueqin stood trying to refine some colored metals over his desk.
"Buff!" Xueqin stopped hitting the metal. He attentively observed each of the seven metals over his desk "They are truly peculiar. Besides having a little element power, they didn't seem worth much, being too brittle to be used in a mecha. However..." He took some papers lying around the room that were the ones given by Weilan and started reading like he did countless of times before "If this is true, they would only show their worth once spirit refined."
He clenched his hammers and shook his head "I'm not there yet" He withdrew his hammers and approached the metals, taking the red one that even if it was kind of hot, it was unable to hurt him "Solid Flame." that was the name of the metal "It seems that it had the best resonance with my spirit, making it easier in the future to spirit refine, so I will choose it."
He fell over a chair and sighed leaning all his body over it, lifting the red metal and looking it over direct light "Sister and Grangran really made everything more complicated. Even if I am able to refine it, it would change completely the engine output, needing a total reformation of the design" He sighed again "My knowledge about design is somewhat lacking in this aspect. The best should be to talk about this to the others."
Xueqin had a shower, cleaning his sweat and making himself somewhat presentable. Then, he hurriedly went to the dorm "Let's see if Wuhua hadn't left yet."
If what about pure designs and designer rank, there was no doubt that the best of the middle class would be Tang Wuhua. Even if Xueqin had strange knowledge and way of design, he didn't reach her overall level and experience.
However, there was a problem today. Today was the start of the holidays. Shrek had two big holidays, one in the middle of the year and the later after the end of the school year. Students used that time to return with their families, traveling around or some stayed in Shrek.
Most of the middle-class students went for the latter option. Lizhi didn't have a family, being Shrek his home. Xinglan really preferred to not be dragged by her family, deciding to not leave Shrek as they wouldn't dare to act here. She had already planned to go to the Sword Valley in the next holidays and would spend these holidays training at Shrek with her master. And both Weilan and Xueqin could visit the Pagoda Headquarters anytime, so they would spend the holidays around there.
The only exception was Wuhua. She had a very caring family and she greatly loved them, so she was very excited to return with her family and see them again.
Xueqin went towards Wuhua's room to see if he was lucky enough for her to not have left yet. Even if she went with her family, Xueqin wanted her to think about the problem, maybe she would have some idea.
"Tock! Tock!" Xueqin knocked on the door, but he didn't receive any answer. He tried to open the door but found it closed "Strange" Xueqin furrowed his eyes. He leaned over the door and he could listen some low cries coming from it.
"Wuhua!" Xueqin shouted knocking out the door, but again no answer came from it. "Something must have happened" Xueqin said worriedly. It was strange for anyone here to close their rooms and the cries and not answering were bad signals.
Xueqin invoked his left twin sword and slashed over the door, cutting the lock. It wasn't a difficult thing to do as most of the building was a little tattered, nothing able to stop a spirit master attack.
He pushed the door open to find Wuhua over her bed, her face buried over her pillow as she cried. Over her hand there was an opened letter, that seemed somewhat wet.
"Wuhua" Xueqin said worriedly as he approached her.
This time, Wuhua finally seemed to notice his presence, quickly lifting her upper body, turning towards Xueqin.
Xueqin was a little surprised, Wuhua's eyes were red, tears falling from them as snot dirtied her cute face. She was sobbing a lot and it was clear that she had been for some time.
"Wuh-" "Go out!" Wuhua shouted a powerful wave of soul energy leaving her body, making Xueqin unconsciously flinch.
Xueqin was shocked, not really knowing what to do, but he quickly shook his head, showing a resolutely look as he stepped forward, cutting over her pressure "Wuhua, what happened?" He said with care.
"Leave!" Wuhua shouted, more power surging from her, but as a spirit grandmaster there was little that she could do against a spirit elder like Xueqin.
"I won't move until you tell me what happened" He said determined "If then you want some time alone, I will go."
Seeing herself unable to chase him out, more tears flowed from her eyes "Why?!" She shouted "Why they must leave me alone?! I did it all for them. I only wanted for us to be happy, then why?" she sobbed more.
Xueqin quickly realized about her problem. In these months together, he had known her a little and he knew that it should be something related with her family to have such a deep reaction from her.
Xueqin approached her, sitting on the bed next to her "You can tell me what happened. You can trust me" Xueqin smiled warmly "I might be unable to help, but talking about it with another might help. I'm a good listener."
"Sniff!" Wuhua looked at Xueqin's smile and feel something warm coming from him, something warm and kind of nostalgic that calmed her a little. She tried to clean a little her face with her hands, not really wanting to show this side of her.
"Take" Xueqin offered her handkerchief.
Wuhua with some doubts took the handkerchief and cleaned herself. Then, she cautiously looked at Xueqin, thousands of thought crossing her mind. In the end, she shyly lifted her hand, giving Xueqin the letter clenched on it "Read it"
Xueqin carefully took the letter and he could see it wet with tears. It was a letter from Wuhua's parents. They explained that they had left the house, going working far away, making it impossible for them to meet again. They nether said where they went or some kind of contact information. They said that they were very proud of their daughter but that she didn't need to have their weight over her shoulder. It finished saying that they would see in the future but never saying when, and that she should act for her as she pleases without minding them as they would do their part.
Having read the letter, Xueqin lifted his face looking at Wuhua "Why they go away? First my little sister and then my parent. The next one would be my brother. Everyone is running away from me" She said between sobbing "I did it all for them, for them to be happy. Why did they need to leave me? Wh-?!"
Wuhua shut up as she was embraced warmly by Xueqin "You really love your family" Xueqin whispered warmly as he patted her back "And they also love you as much" Xueqin knew it having read the letter. Her parents were full of love for their daughter but they were very worried about her as she was too selfless, giving all herself for others, living her life for them rather than herself.
"Buaaa!" Wuhua leaned her face over Xueqin's chest and started crying while Xueqin stood there patting her and receiving her tears.
After half an hour, Wuhua stopped cried, calming herself "Finally, calming yourself" Xueqin said with a warm smile "Do you want to talk about it?"
She shyly nodded and took a new handkerchief offered by Xueqin before starting talking "You might already know but my family is nothing like yours. We were five at home, my parents, my big brother, me and my little sister. My parents aren't spirit master, dad works designing mechas' components."
"So you followed your father's steps becoming a designer" Xueqin said.
Wuhua nodded with a smile "He was the first one that taught me and I really liked being taught by him. Even when I reached his level, we had a good time talking about, he never being jealous of me having greater talent than him. Mom was a little angry when we let her aside. She stays at home and cares about us."
"My big brother is very kind, caring and strong, always wanting to protect me from everything. He awakened with an innate rank 3 and a trash spirit, but he wasn't disappointed and put all his effort to become strong and strive for his dream to be a mecha master" She said smiling "He is a great blacksmith like you."
"My little sister isn't blood-related but it is like if she was. My brother and I found her when we were returning from the academy when we were 6 years. She was all alone, lost and without any memory of her. We took her, protecting her from some grunts. In the end, she was adopted by my parents, we all taking her in the family. You know?" She said turning to Xueqin "She is the cutest of the world. Sometimes, even causing some problems as she draws too much attention, needing big brother to protect her."
"Both my siblings really eat a lot!" She said excitedly as she remembered her precious memories "They can eat more than the servings from 5 adults. I'm sure than even Lizhi would lose against them."
"We were all very happy, smiling and laughing. But..." Wuhua turned serious "I knew that we were too much for our parents. My sibling ate too much and with two spirit masters... I knew that they would be unable to pay for our education and needs, that they were overexerting themselves. So I decided to join the Spirit Pagoda in exchange for their help as I showed my talent. I was quickly recruited by your grandmother who would cover all our expenses, from resources to even spirit souls."
"There wasn't any need for them to overexert. I would become the strongest if it was needed for them to fulfill their dreams" Wuhua stopped for a moment and made a sad face "But my little sister left 6 months ago. She explained that she had recovered her memories and had to return with her family. But why she needed to abandon us? Without anything except a letter saying goodbye and noway to see her again!" She curled hugging her legs "I want to see her again." She said with a sad tone. "And now even my parents abandon me" Even my brother is busy this holiday. Maybe is an excuse to not see me." Wuhua made a very forced smile "I am awful, everyone is running away from me."
"Never say that again, Wuhua" Xueqin said furiously "You are an incredible girl!"
"I don't know about your little sister, but she would surely think the same." "What do you know?" Wuhua said with a little sob.
"I also have a sister that left me and I am trying to search for her. She is also not blood-related but we were together since birth. I love her as if it was my true family." Xueqin explained "Even now, after more than 3 years, I am searching for her without any result, but I know her. If I continue becoming stronger our path will finally meet, that's my dream. If you put enough effort you surely would meet again."
Xueqin swung the letter of Wuhua's parents "Moreover, I know that your parents really love you, but you are too kind. They didn't want you to live for them. Even your only dream is for them to be happy, but you know? They want you to be happy. You should live for your own, that what your parents want. Don't put everything on you and trust others to help" Xueqin smiled "You have me and everyone in the middle class to help you anytime. We are all friends!"
Xueqin turned serious "Wuhua, what do you want?"
Wuhua was a little shocked, not knowing how to answer. She wanted her family to be happy but she herself what she wanted? She never had thought about it "I want for everyone to be happy" Wuhua said gaining a somewhat sad look from Xueqin as she seemed to not have really changed her mind "For them to be happy with me!" Wuhua stood up and said resolutely "I want to be with my family and with you and my friends. I want to be able to have fun and laugh together. If it's strength what I need to accomplish it, I will strive for it!" Wuhua turned to Xueqin and smiled "Thanks, Xueqin."
Xueqin smiled at her "No need. You won't lose us so easily, I'm sure of it"
Wuhua giggled, flowers bloomed around her, and her face was totally cleaned, without any trace of her crying. She breather profoundly and returned to her usual strong and confident self, like if all was a dream "Truly thanks" She smiled brightly. "Now that I think" She tilted her head "What did you come to my room? It's not normal for you."
"Oh?! Of course, I wanted to ask for..." Like if the previous talk was a dream, they started talking about the designs, Wuhua's eyes shining in front of the new information and challenge. They spent all day writing and drawing, discussing different fronts to take out the problem with an energetic debate for their design.
Wuhua's holidays changed, deciding to stay over Shrek. It might not been the heartwarming holidays with her family that she thought, but the memories of spending time and having fun with the others at the middle class became irreplaceable for her nevertheless, especially a sad but important talk with a certain boy.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
picaco
picaco I posted a chapter but it wasn't the correct one, before being this. I took it out after an hour, so some might have already read it.
Anyway, the other chapter I would post it in two hours or something.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone