Yun, I forgive you
"What Competition?" Xue'er became eager to know more.
"Four Great Academy Competition," sighed said Lin Jian, "Your mother said, she will accompany Young Master to spectate the competition. If you can participate in it, you will have a chance to see him again. But it's too difficult to get a quota and we don't have much time."
"What is this Competition and why have I not heard of it?"
"Do you know the four great clans the rule the Azure Heaven Continent?"
"Yanchu in the North, Long in the East, Xiao in the South and Yan in the West, they have fought against all evil since thousands of years and protected the continent," said Xue'er.
"Correct, but do you know that each Great Clan has established different academies in their domain to teach cultivation to the Younger generation. Yanchu Clan established Black Tortoise Academy in the North, Long Clan established Azure Dragon Academy in the East, Xiao Clan established Vermillion Bird Academy in the South and Yan Clan established White Tiger Academy in the West. These are known as Four Great Academies,"
"Then the Competition you mentioned is …" Xue'er gasped.
"Yes, every ten years the Four Great Academies hold a Competition for their Younger Generations to show their skills and earn glory for their Academy. After hundreds of years, it became a way to compare and rank the Great Academies. Three years ago, Young Master was in the Academy and Vermillion Bird Academy was ranked First. The Strongest of the other three Academies was initial King realm, but Young Master was already in peak King realm at that time. They specifically made rules that he cannot participate this time, ha-ha-ha," laughed Lin Jian, he was really proud of Xiao Yan.
"Seven more years till the next Competition, do you think you will be able to make it?" asked Lin Jian. He still thought it was too much for her.
"What should I do?" she was determined to meet Xiao Yan again.
"First, you aren't even the student of a recognized Academy. The Four Great Academies to ease their burden has set up their branches in all countries in their domain. There are One hundred and thirteen countries under Xiao Clan's influence. Vermillion Bird Academy has set up one branch per country in each of them. Pure Mist Country also has a branch, it's the Pure Mist Academy. Every three years, the Core disciples of these branch Academies can participate in Entry Test for Vermillion Bird Academy and if you pass the test and become their disciple, you will naturally learn how to get quota for Great Academy Competition."
"The next entrance exam for Vermillion Bir Academy will be held close to three years later. So, you only have that much time to become a Core disciple of Pure Mist Academy. If you can't even do it, then it's better to forget everything …"
Lin Jian was speaking but Xue'er cut him, "Don't, Dad please don't even speak about forgetting Big brother Yan. It hurts just thinking about it. Three years to become a Core disciple, right? I will definitely do it."
'Ming'er, you are always right. She really just lacked motivation,' thought Lin Jian.
"Since you have decided, I will not stop you. No matter what happens, remember that I am always there for you," said Lin Jian, "Now, We still have three weeks before entrance exam for Pure Mist Academy begins and we will need at least five days to reach the capital. Why don't you participate in this Year's Fallen Star Hunt to hone your skills before we depart?" suggested Lin Jian.
"Okay, we will do as you say,"
"Good, then I will prepare to transfer all responsibilities here to Grand Elder and we will leave once the Hunt is over," said Lin Jian.
"Dad, are you leaving with me?"
"How can I let my baby daughter fight alone? If you want to face the world, I will clear the way for you," said Lin Jian with a smile.
"Dad …" tears welled up in Xue'er's eyes. She was proud to have such a father who supports her whatever she does.
"Anyway, I heard that Thousand Poisons Sect is working with the Long Clan, we will be harming the Lin family if we stay here any longer," said Lin Jian, "they might even try something once we leave for the Capital, it seems I have to contact some of my old friends."
"One more thing, most of those admirers of Young Master are going to participate in the next Great Academy Competition. So, you must perform well, we cannot have them laughing at Young Master's choice now, can we?"
"Also, as much as possible don't reveal anything about your relationship with Young Master. Although those people won't do anything in the open which may result in Young Master's hate, the same cannot be said about underhanded actions."
"Okay"
…
After Xiao Yan asked Lin Jian to give Yun another chance, Lin Jian had already ordered that no one is to mention her previous actions again and she is to start anew. She was once again appointed as Xue'er's maid.
Yun couldn't believe it when she heard it from Lin Jian.
'It must be because of Young Master Yan,' she thought.
When dawn came, Yun experienced the pain from Spirit Worm again. After these days of constant pain, she became adjusted to having it in the morning. After washing herself and went to perform her tasks as Xue'er's maid. When she arrived Xue'er was peacefully lying on her bed with her eyes closed. She thought Xue'er must be asleep, so she sat cross-legged in one of the corners and closed her eyes to cultivate. After Xiao Yan had told her she was one of his best friends, she thought she should put maximum effort into cultivation. Although she knew she would never catch up with him, she still wanted to try as much as possible. Therefore, she never wasted a single minute these days.
"Yun," Xue'er stood up and came to where Yun had sat.
"Young Miss," Yun bowed.
"Yun, look at me!" Xue'er said. Ever since she came back and asked for her forgiveness, Yun had never looked at her face. She always had her head lowered whenever she came in front of Xue'er. Probably because she was afraid to see disappointment and hate in her eyes.
"I don't deserve to, I am your servant," said Yun still looking down.
"I said LOOK AT ME!!" shouted Xue'er. To Yun who had been with her since they were children, she instantly understood, Xue'er was not angry, she was desperate. What in the world happened?
When Yun looked at Xue'er's face, she felt pangs of pain in her heart.
Xue'er's face was pale and her eyes were already red from crying. 'Young Master Yan! Something bad must have happened between them!' Yun understood immediately.
"Miss, what happened? Is it because of Young Master Yan?" Yun panicked.
"Yun, I forgive you. I forgive you for all you have done!" smiled Xue'er although tears were still flowing from her eyes.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yun trembled and closed her eyes. The Spirit Worm that had latched on to her soul dissolved instantly. It turned into pure Qi and rushed into her dantain which caused her dantain to crazily expand. Initially, she was at Second stage of Qi Condensation realm, within seconds she broke through to the Third stage and her dantain kept expanding crazily like there was no end.
Fourth stage Qi Condensation realm.
Fifth
Sixth
…
It finally stopped at peak Ninth stage Qi Condensation realm. Within minutes, she went from low-level to peak Qi Condensation realm. She just needed to consolidate her cultivation and she could try breaking through to Qi Sea realm.
The reason this happened was simple, even though Spirit Worm gave her tremendous pain each day, it was after all Xiao Yan's Qi and he was in the Emperor realm. Just a bit of his Qi was enough for Yun to increase her cultivation by leaps and bounds. But it still wasn't enough for such an increase, her case was special because the Spirit Worm had to absorb Qi from surroundings when it released pain. After these days of absorbing Qi and releasing it in an instant was as if a dam broke and her cultivation instantly shot up. Even Xiao Yan didn't know this method of increasing cultivation of low-level cultivators. Because this happened only when Spirit Worm dissolves on its own. Back then Xiao Yan had forcefully freed people implanted with it and hence, there was no such effect on them.
Fate is a mysterious existence. It is ethereal and all-encompassing. When Xiao Yan befriended Yun, he had told her that he would free her of the Spirit Worm if she still couldn't get rid of it herself within a week. Due to circumstances, he was seriously injured and was carried away by Hao Ming before he could remove it. But, because he was injured by Xue'er, she broke the barrier that held her from truly giving Yun another chance, because she herself wanted to ask for another chance from Xiao Yan. Thus, the Spirit worm was removed.
The Spirit Worm which couldn't be removed because Xiao Yan was injured turned into, Spirit Worm was removed because Xiao Yan was injured.
Fate, Ahhh!!! Impossible to understand.