Chapter 12: The Request of an Old Man
The next few days flew by. Learning practical survival skills with Vicky, strength and fighting techniques from Marcus, and pill making and herbal knowledge from Lucas, I was busier than I had been in my entire life. I was soaking up the knowledge like a sponge. Yi Meng approached me one day as I was practicing some techniques that Marcus wanted me to practice.
"Jason, Heng will be coming to talk to you about something extremely important. I hope you can make yourself available for a few hours." She looked serious.
I stopped what I was doing and stretched. My body was stronger than ever. I had pushed through the peak of the golden realm and had broken through into the early stages of the Nascent Realm. Energy flowed around me like a river. Yi Meng is no longer surprised about my monstrous growth. She watched me with the eyes of a hawk.
"So how did you like Vicky?" she asked me with a chuckle as we walked down a path lined with cherry blossoms.
"She cares enough about her students to teach the truth. No matter how awful it might be. She shows us that the real world outside of here is even more merciless than most of these spoiled brats." I replied shouldering my bag.
She looked at me kind of shocked that I didn't rant or rave about how evil Vicky was. After all, to untrained eyes, she seemed that way.
Our walk took us through parts of the school that I didn't know were there. A stone path lay under our feet as we walked through groves of willow trees, a light wind carrying white little puffballs in the air, the sight mystifying. We small talked and laughed at awkward jokes.
"You realize that when you hit my age that you most likely be stronger than me, heck might even be stronger than Heng at the rate of your growth. You must have some kind of holy body type. You are truly a monster. I think you're going to make several people afraid. Remember that with success there will be people who want you to fail and will do anything they can to make you fail. You need to keep yourself protected and be wary of others. Even now forces are waiting for you to screw up. I wonder how you will respond." She giggled.
"Anyone who stands against me is my enemy. After Scott, I decided that it didn't matter how strong someone was, that I would stand toe to toe against them. Giving every ounce of strength that I have to resist all. If that means I leave a trail of bodies in my wake, then so be it." I replied with a shrug.
She looked at me and nodded. I had been showing everyone around me that I wasn't that scared little kid anymore. Those chains that had bound me, had been shattered and I was finally free from that. I stood tall for the first time in my life. I had already thought that Scott would be the one to end my life just because of the sheer amount that I had survived.
We arrived at a small lake with a large rock sitting under a waterfall. On that rock sat Heng, being constantly pressured by the waterfall above. He looked peaceful as the water crashed around him. Yi Meng sat next to the shore and brought out food. She motioned for me to sit down beside her. I sat down and was handed a small box filled with rice, chicken cutlets, and eggs. I devoured the food in moments, something I noticed about cultivation. My hunger has increased tenfold. Yi Meng smiled with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"You seem to like the food I make." She laughed.
"I could eat it every day and be a happy man," I replied as she handed me another box full of steamed meat and some weird kind of buns.
She looked shocked but happy. She looked down and blushed.
"You should be careful saying such things to a lady they might mistake you for falling for them." Yi Ming said quietly.
I looked at her and smiled.
"Sister Yi anyone who would be the subject of your affection would truly be lucky. You are beautiful, strong, and can cook amazing food. There's no downfall to being loved by you." I said while munching on the food.
She studied my face before Heng interrupted us.
"Jason, you have grown a lot!" Heng said with a smile.
He sat down and was handed a large white bottle. He grabbed two small bowl-like cups and poured the liquid into them. He handed me one and looked at me with a serious face.
"Jason, I know that you have had a very hard life up to now. I feel so sorry that you ended up suffering in such away. However, I would like to make sure that it never happens again, so will you grant this old man a request." He looked sad.
"Anything for you Master Heng," I said with a slight bow.
"I would like to adopt you and take you back to China with Yi Meng after you finish school here. I don't have a son or any kids for that matter. That time has long passed, and I see you as my flesh and blood. What do you say?" He asked.
I looked at him for a second, there before me sat the man who gave me a second chance at this life, A man who taught me to stand on my own. Tears welled up in the corner of my eyes as I Vigorously nodded. Heng laughed and downed the liquid and nodded for me to do the same.
"Thank you, father, Sister Yi Meng," I said before bowing and then downing the liquid.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone