Chapter 6: I'll Be A Common-folk!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Yan'er, there's something you'll need to be mentally prepared to know."
The Lord of the family, Zhou Wuzhen, reluctantly spoke after a long silence.
Zhou Yan was no longer the naïve child he was back then. The fate of his father was uncertain at that moment and he was reprimanded by others as a trash after pushing his body's physical limit to the extent that, perhaps, more grim news is here.
Throughout his life, he had a handful of experiences with people looking down on him. In the sage's memories, there were plenty of events that scarred his soul.
Thus, his mentality was matured and he was no longer the same naïve child that did not understand the world. This was the reason for his confidence in his future training.
"Speak your mind, Grandfather," Zhou Yan replied calmly.
"Sigh… I'm sure you know about your father's current state of health...If the people of the Zhou family's main branch were to arrive and notice how disappointingly weak the heir of the great Genius of our Zhou family is, it would not please them. At that moment, the chances of your father surviving would be slim."
Zhou Wuzhen sighed.
Zhou Yan's expression was unchanged as he remained silent.
"Hence, the three elders and I meant to send you and Ning'er out on a journey thus, temporarily cutting ties to the family. I know you and Ning'er are extremely close to each other, so you both won't feel lonely on your way."
Added Zhou Wuzhen.
"What all of you actually want is to secretly exile me from the family. Then allow both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao to replace my position. Make use of the opportunity that my father fought his life with to allow them to enter the main branch of the Zhou family and further enhance their skills. Isn't it?"
Zhou Yan was not a fool, he saw through their lies.
So he confronted them directly.
Zhou Wuzhen was slightly stunned, a hint of uncontrollable urgency and sadness was evident on his aged face. He nodded, "Your foundation has been crippled and there is not much hope… Even if you weren't crippled, being a mere rank one Blade's cardinal would still be unable to reach the standards of the main branch of our Zhou family."
"The nurturing and library of resources was equally provided for you, Lingyi and Lingyao in the past. However, the Zhou family is currently going through some trying times. Your talent, when compared to Lingyao and Lingyi, there's still a big difference."
"Allowing Lingyi and Lingyao to pretend as your father's children, compared to you doing it yourself, would vastly increase the possibility of winning."
"What happened to your father was real, if his heir is not outstanding, he would be of no value. He would then be refined into a 'Blade's heart' because he is a genius that had the chance to step into the realm of mysteries. His soul, once infused into an equally legendary blade, would undoubtedly evolve into the 'Spirit of the Blade'!"
"We do not wish for the Genius of our Zhou family to face such a tragedy. So, we can only… aggrieve you."
Everything Zhou Wuzhen had said finally led to the change in Zhou Yan's expression, it turned sour...His own father would be refined into a 'Blade's heart' by a powerful person from the main branch of the Zhou family?
And a condition was given? To allow the heir of Zhou Wangchen an opportunity to train within the grounds of the Zhou family's main branch?
Zhou Yan had mixed emotions in his heart. The Zhou family was so naive!
Would things really turn out the way they desired? He was afraid that from the moment his father compromised, he would undoubtedly be refined into the 'Blade's heart'! The so-called promise had absolutely no value.
Perhaps, it was in preparation for nurturing the second or third 'Blade's heart'?!
Zhou Yan pondered about a few things. These thoughts were a natural instinct to him as a result of infusing the ancient sage's memories.
Before any of these,he was undeniably innocent and would never have such complex thoughts. He would never have such an ill perspective towards the people in this huge family.
However, all of his thoughts made him feel that it fulfilled the law of this world.
"Since all of you have decided on the matter, then we shall follow as you have decided. I am in no position to have any thoughts."
Zhou Yan had lost interest in the matter, he knew that he could not change anything. Thus, he had to stay low.
Perhaps, with his secret 'exile', leaving the sight of everyone, would be an excellent opportunity to further hone his abilities.
He could not change everything that had happened. However, he believed that he would have the ability to change someday in the future.
"Zhou Yan, it's not that you are in no position to speak your mind. Please understand that this decision was made wholeheartedly for your own good! Be a normal person and live your life, alright?"
"I know that you have feelings for me, but I must search for an extraordinary genius to be my partner. With the small improvement that you achieved after you stimulated your potential, I will never look up to you!"
"Do you know about Zhou Yuntian from the main branch of Zhou's family? He is one of the four unmatched geniuses in the entire Capital City of Xiao Yao. He grasped the meaning of the Blade's Essence when he was a mere rank one Blade's Cardinal! When he ascended to rank one Blade's Enforcer, he had already acquired the knowledge of a Blade's Menace! His capability of fighting, even at rank one Blade's Enforcer, were stronger than some of the stronger fighters of rank three Blade's Enforcer!"
"He is a prime genius!!"
"I, Zhou Lingyi, do not have wishful thinking. It is because I am confident that I will be able to be a genius that is not lesser than your father, Zhou Wangchen. Hence, only geniuses like that, will be the target of my admiration!"
With your talents, you should stop wishing for the impossible! Being a commoner might be a blessing!"
The tone of Zhou Lingyi's speech was still filled with arrogance.
Being the descendants of the Zhou family that trained under the same roof, Zhou Yan felt that this person had always put herself on very high grounds and looked down on those who were weaker than her.
Even so, the descendants of the family still had a thing for her.
Zhou Yan simply smiled after hearing her words and calmly said, "You were right, it was me who disappointed my grandfather's hopes over and over again. Hence, what happened today would be as expected."
"I clearly understand your ways, and I am indeed grateful for...your abandonment of the benefits, doing this for my father. I am simply speaking my mind, without any comments."
Zhou Lingyi was stunned, she could not imagine how Zhou Yan could still smile at that moment. She also couldn't imagine how his emotions could be so calm.
Zhou Wuzhen took a quick glance at Zhou Yan. However, he could not see any difference. He only felt that this child seemed calmer than usual.
It was only Zhou Wuyan, the Elder of Lore, that seemed to have thought of something but was holding back his tongue as if there was something he was reluctant to discuss.
"Being a commoner would be a good thing. Under the guidance of the family, it would be unlikely for him to go astray and bring shame to the family's good name," said the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuwei.
"Yes, sometimes there is no future for masters of martial arts like us. A lot of times we yearn for the life of a commoner, to be able to raise children without any concerns and worries of death," said the Hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuhen.
At that moment, only Zhou Lingyao, top pupil in training of the third generation, and the handsome youth, said nothing.
From the beginning, he did not pay any attention to Zhou Yan. Instead, he stared at the hand-carved effigy in Zhou Yan's left hand multiple times.
"Grandfather, Elder of Lore, Grand Elder, and his Hand, I will go back for a rest. When the arrangements are made, just send me on my way."
Zhou Yan was sorrowful but he did not show any emotions. He only spoke with a faint smile.
"I will have the Elder of Lore send you on your way tonight. You may bring with you the resources of training for this year. There will be none from this point onwards. You are on your own."
Zhou Wuzhen made this painful decision with a heavy heart.
Zhou Yan said nothing and nodded.
He turned around and walked out of the forbidden chambers.
Up until this moment in his life, this is the first time he had the chance to enter such a place, but it seems to be the last time too.
He had boiling emotions of dissatisfaction in his heart, however, not a single hint of emotion was shown on his face.
It did not matter if they spoke the truth. He was unable to claim his legal status as his father's true son, isn't that ironic?
At the current state, he was weak. He needed to strengthen himself and return to the family in order to prove himself and reclaim his position.
He, Zhou Yan, knew, from the moment he walked out that door, the journey ahead for him would be hard.
However, He did not regret it!
It was unclear to him if the situation escalated because of his father's enemy. Hence, before he could enter the main branch of Zhou Family, before the presence of someone with unprecedented power, he cannot fully showcase his true potential.
…
"Lingyi, I know you're only trying to provoke him, however, don't you think it's a little too harsh? His own father had already fallen to such an extent until the Lord gave us his birthright. Why did you still act so ruthlessly?"
After seeing Zhou Yan off, Zhou Lingyao questioned with a frown.
"Provoke him? I'm not encouraging him with provocation since there's no need to!"
"He chose not to work hard and wasted all his natural gifts. I will never change my perspective toward him, so why would I provoke him?"
"I'm merely speaking the truth from my heart."
"In the past, when 13-year-old Zhou Yuntian took down Zhou Wangchen with a single strike, causing him to kneel and cough blood on the podium, making him a living joke of the Zhou family's main branch!"
"Don't you know about this?"
"Ever since that day, the image of uncle Zhou Wangchen in my heart was completely shattered."
"It was also at that moment, I started to fall for Zhou Yuntian, the genius."
"Hence, the words that I say are the truth from my heart. Else, a man like Zhou Yan, who pushed his body beyond his physical limits, all in the name of progress; and would rather wager his own life with so little regard… Hehe, just as the Grand Elder had said before, living the life of a commoner. This will allow him to remain on the righteous path."
"If he actually ventured the path of evil, he would only become a danger to the world."
The entire forbidden chamber went into silence after Zhou Lingyi spoke.
At the same time, Zhou Yan shivered slightly after already walking several hundred meters away.
He paused for a split second before he continued his walk with steady and firm steps, moving further away.
-- Gift
received